⭐️LOSE IT! MAY 2023 COUNTDOWN TO SUMMER⭐️

[TheRealHousewife]

⭐️Open to previous members as well as new members⭐️

⭐️LOSE IT! April 2023 Countdown to Summer⭐️

Summer countdown starts here! The holidays are right around the corner so it’s time to embrace a fresh new month, fresh new start, fresh new habits. Jump right in to reset & refresh to become a healthier version of yourself. These threads are for those who’d like to lose and those who wish to maintain whilst eating a healthy varied diet.

As no one size fits all, members need to follow their own way of eating. This thread aims to offer guidance, support and a bit of hand holding.

We generally have WOW (weigh on Wednesday) day each week. However post and share your progress as often or as little as you prefer. Do what works for you.

The important thing is not to think of it as a diet (based on deprivation and unsustainable) but more a way of life (sustainable & enjoyable).

I calorie count based on a lower carb Mediterranean diet. I intermittent fast and eat twice a day. Im a long time healthy eater and overall I’ve lost over 3 stone. After having been on the wrong side of 12st Im now hovering around 9st. I had a blip a couple of years ago when my thyroid went wonky but now back on track.

Are you in😊 What food plan will you be following? What do you want to change and why?

Feel free to share your own links, tips & recipes!

@ImALittlePea get better soon! hope the antibiotics kick in asap.
@AutisticLegoLover well done on WOW you have done amazingly well!
I weighed myself today again and still at 68kg exactly which isn't surprising as i'm on day 2 of my diet but glad it hasn't gone up.
Struggling a bit with the fasting this morning but trying to push through by drinking lots of water. Only 3 hours until lunch 🤐
Today's menu - Lunch - chilli halloumi, pitta bread, tomatoes and fruit salad
Dinner- chickpea and roast veggie bake haven't decided on what to flavour it with yet

@Allthegoodnamestakken staying the same is better than a gain! Chilli halloumi sounds amazing! I love halloumi. I've got wraps on the shopping order but will have to go to the local Asda for some halloumi now because that's what I want for dinner. Thanks for the inspiration 😃

Came on to WOW, but going to be leaving with strong halloumi vibes and jealousy about French moves!

Happy WOW everyone. Sorry to hear about the chest infection @ImALittlePea. Great news about the old jeans @DownUdderer - sometimes those goals are more exciting than the scale numbers!
Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine.

0.5lb loss for me this week. Very pleased to still be heading in the right direction in May after a dodgy March and April!

Good morning all. Well done on all the NSVs and weight loss successes. Hope you feel better soon @ImALittlePea.
My WOW today:
12st 1lbs so on track for my first goal weight at the end of May. I’m very glad to have got back on track after the coronation weekend and time of the month seemed to set me back.
Have a lovely day all ☀️

Morning all! Weighing in at 61.2 kgs this morning, it’s a small loss but had taken me to half way to my GW on happy scale
i have lost 6.3 kgs since mid/end Jan. That’s about a stone right?
anyway, feeling quite pleased. Got drinks tonight with my friend who has just got out of hospital, 0% sipsmiths I think!

hope you are on the mend soon @ImALittlePea that was not a nice end to your big weekend
hope your bloods come back ok @AutisticLegoLover
yes, I have lived in France for 15 years or more and had both my children here
if you need any advice / pointers please let me know @Weatherwax13
so moving from Aus? My brother is heading that way soon I think is SIL is an Aussie.
where are you heading on your research trip?
@Allthegoodnamestakken your food sounds lovely. Do you roast the chick peas with the veg?

well done to everyone for the losses and NSVs!
‘yesterday’s food was a steak haché and courgettes for lunch and fajitas without the wrap but for dinner
today not sure as yet but it may be eggs / avocado for lunch and salad of some kind for dinner
this thread has really kept me accountable and persistent for much longer than I would normally have managed!
I am feeling better and really notice now when I eat badly / drink alcohol that it makes me tired, groggy and lethargic. Which then motivates me to carry on eating well.
have a good day everyone 🍾

Hello all, here for WOW and I'm delighted as I've gone down into the next stone bracket which was my target for the end of May. I've still got so, so much to lose but I'm celebrating all of these little milestones along the way.

It's hilarious though that I'm celebrating being in the 13s as during lockdown I remember going up to 13st 8lbs and being so upset and saying I needed to lose a stone sharpish. I didn't and just piled more weight on during lockdown. But anyway, I think my mindset has shifted and I'm determined now to stay on track.

SW: 14st 11lbs
CW: 13st 13lbs
GW: 11st

Menu today:

B - latte
L - banana and greek yoghurt
D - roast pork and loads of roasted vegetables
Fruit for snacks if I need it but trying to limit snacking as much as possible.

@Ninjachicken thankyou so much. That's lovely of you. You've been in France about the same length of time as I've been in Australia.
Do you mind me asking what brought you there?
We're heading south west initially. Toulouse is my happy place and the whole south west area up from there through Lot et Garonne and Lot.
But DH is still interested in Brittany. So there's quite a difference of opinion!!

I live in the lot!! I initially went to the alps doing ski seasons after uni and travelling further afield. Then got pregnant and moved here where we have family connections. It is also much cheaper than the alps ! It was never really a conscious decision to stay, it just sort of happened. And my OH really did not want to go back to the uk. Feel free to private message if you want more details!
what is your connection to France and the south west?

Congratulations on all the losses!

Congratulations on making your goal weight @AutisticLegoLover . I'm happy for you @DownUdderer about the jeans. @ThreeRingCircus yeah! That's like losing a whole stone.

WOW today
CW: 11st 1.5 lb ( down half lb since last week)
I guess the reason we're all here is we've not managed to maintain. The mistake I always make is to think I know what I'm doing and stop tracking. When I get there this time, I plan to still track on mfp.
Food today
B: berries, nat yogurt, walnuts
L: veg chilli,, cheese, toast & butter
D: Thai chicken curry & rice

I’m doing WOT this week because I’m on my period and are like a horse yesterday so am cheating a little bit and will be on day 5 of my period and hopefully following a fast day tomorrow

am just here for the expat chat really - we moved back to the U.K. from the US last summer and I am beyond happy about it! Having said that my parents lived in the south of France for many years, we got married in their back garden, they were between Toulouse and Albi, it a really gorgeous part of the country @Weatherwax13

@Citygirlrurallife this is so spooky. I have a very difficult day while we're in France. Tenth anniversary of my son's death. Albi is on my short-list of where to spend it as it's somewhere I feel really comfortable. Had some happy days there with my best friend last year.
Glad you're happy to be back in the UK. How did you find it, settling back in? I've heard mixed experiences from returning expats.

@Ninjachicken wow, that's crazy. Can't believe you're in Lot😁 I've spent many a day wandering around all the bastides. Love it! And I know what you mean about property prices.
I'll definitely pm you. Thankyou so much!
I spent a fair amount of time in France while I lived in England. But what really started the connection was when my son died. He was in England when he suicided and after the funeral I just couldn't face going back to Australia so my best friend essentially kidnapped me and I spent six weeks in a kind of bubble with him down in Languedoc.
Since then I've been back every year spending time all over the SW (nearly bankrupted myself in the process!) And last year DH and I made the decision that he'd retire early - he's quite a bit older than me - and move to France permanently. I'm happier there than anywhere in the world and I want one last crack at a life for myself. Spent the last decade holding the family together and getting everyone on their feet. I'm exhausted .
So there you go!
Sorry, that's quite an essay.

My WOW

SW 65kg
CW 62.4 kg
GW 59.9 kg

Have lost a measly 100g. BUT period started today so I’m taking any loss as a win.

I’ve listened to my body and eaten a bit more the past days. My average calories over the week works out to about 1400 a day- I normally end up bingeing at this time of the month so I’m really pleased with myself.

Fingers crossed for a downward shift on the scales in a few days time.

Hi,

Don't want to bring all the lovely losses down, but I'm full of self loathing at my stupid body. I know it's a marvellous thing, birthed 3 children, is strong, we shouldn't attach our worth to weight, yadda, yadda, yadda, but I just hate how it's making me feel. I've cried long and hard today.

Since April I've lost 7lbs, then put on a 1lb, stayed the same for 2 weeks, now put on 2lbs. So a grand total of 5lb loss in almost 8 weeks. I need to lose 2 more stone to be at a healthy BMI and it just seems impossible right now.

I'm 51, fat and feel invisible. I don't feel like me, I look nothing like myself.

I've been IF and charting calories at 1200 max a day- that's nothing! I'm hungry and pissed off, so I veer from self-loathing, to thinking 'Fuck it. What's the point?'. In my 30s I could lose weight steadily, after all my children it came off, but now it's stuck like glue. I know menopause has something to do with it, but why do all my friends not have this issue? They're the same age, eat a load more than me (never worry/ watch food) and stay slim.

I don't want my weight to define me, but it does. I'm not even a foodie, I eat to live not live to eat. DH loves me no matter what my weight and says it doesn't matter, but it does to me.

I've not posted for a bit as I just can't cope with everyone losing, or people at/ really near target, many of which are way lower than mine.

I'm sorry to be so negative, but I'm so done, so low I maybe need some advice.

Sorry again.

@Puffalicious sorry you're feeling so low. You seem to be doing all the right things. My only advice would be to get yourself checked over by the doctor. Maybe there is a medical reason that is hindering your weight loss.

Thanks Bikechic. That's perhaps what I should do- I have a very understanding, female doctor. I know she'll tell me to weight train, she's v into her fitness, but she's younger and I do not have the time (ASN child) or inclination for that. I should get back to swimming, but, again, I have limited time.

I've always lost weight without huge amounts of exercise, just walking, but it's obviously not enough.

It wow!!

Sw 79kg
cw-76.6kg
tw-69kg

That's 2.4kg so far, I'm losing very slow but it's better than gaining.
This week I upped my steps but still struggling with my water intake

@Puffalicious I'm sorry you're having a tough time. I agree that it would be a good idea to get checked over by your GP. There was another thread I read where someone wasn't losing on 1200 and she increased to 1400, felt better, and lost weight. 1200 might be too low perhaps?

Good Morning

Ive came to thread to see yesterdays post has not posted. I do remember the internet connection wasn’t brilliant so maybe it was that. Still frustrating.

Well done to all the WOW losers. I’m a smidgen up from last week: to be honest with the small holiday gain I had I’ll be happy to end the month where I started 😬. It’s tough at this stage.

@Puffalicious Im sending a massive hug and a mug of tea (or coffee) and I’ll say you’re a fabulous contributor on this thread (as all the ladies are) and you are very much valued! ❤️. Your family & friends all love you and will hate to see you so unhappy. If I was nearer I’d take you for a real coffee ☕️ PS try not to think fuck it as you’ll undo all your progress (I totally understand why you feel that way though!)

I’d like to say well done to those who haven’t lost but are keeping at it! Try to look at the long picture. I weigh nearly a stone less than this time last year. Another point is if we didn’t stay mindful we would be all be heavier, much heavier and not as healthy. We’ve all a week left of the month … let’s see how much weight we can kick to the curb 😬

Menu
Meal 1 - Minestrone soup and gf lentil/cottage cheese roll.
Meal 2 - Hake fillet, quinoa & side salad. Home made dressing of oil, white condiment, lemon juice, grated garlic/Parmesan, s&p.
Tea, black coffee and water.

@Puffalicious sorry you feel so sad love. It's incredibly demoralising. And I know what you mean - we're all supposed to celebrate our bodies not define ourselves by appearances etc etc. But we do! It's how we were raised (I'm about your age) You do sound really down and I wonder if you should have a chat with the doctor. Menopause can fuck with your mental health as well as weight. It effects us all to different degrees. Take care

Good morning all
Dear @Puffalicious so glad you felt able to have a jolly good vent on here - hope it was cathartic. It is much harder in your 50's I know but you are making progress. Sometimes I get stuck for ages ( and have had many one or two fuck it moments and it is a pain to come back from - this last 10lbs I have lost twice on our threads alone so try to resist💪
We are all willing you on from the sidelines!
I have taken 14 days to lose 0.4lb and am 127lbs exactly this morning. Posting now as we are going our for dinner tonight so I know I'll be up tomorrow.
I will get there but it is very very slow.

Well done on all the losses and hugs to those who are disappointed with this week’s results; you’ve got this.

I’m a day late, but here are this week’s stats:
SW 128 lbs
CW 127.2 lbs
GW 119 lbs

Extremely slow progress, but downwards is the right direction at least! I have been good at exercise this week but less good at cake-avoidance (baking is DD’s hobby so sadly there are often delicious things in the house. I’m trying to divert her talents into cooking dinner or at least slightly more healthy baking but she’s having none of it 🙄)