Joyful July

[Octopus45]

Well here's hoping anyway. I'm starting the thread about the same weight as I was at the beginning of June. Was full of good intentions, but it all fell by the wayside. TBH the more I focus on food the more I want to eat, so I'm aiming to turn this on its head in July. Dont know if that makes sense.

Can I join in with this? It's a general regular support sort of thing yes?

I've been calorie counting since January and lost 53lbs so far.

In the midst of a whole load of celebrations, birthdays, anniversary's etc and finding it hard going. I've been following my plans really carefully for the week, and then having the day of whatever celebration it is this time free to do as I please. I don't drink so that always frees loads of calories!
Had a holiday and put on 4lbs but lost that and then some since being back. But we have another holiday in in-laws caravan later this year.

Thanks for the new thread @Octopus45 Getting a healthy relationship with food is so difficult - you're not alone there.

Welcome @WeirdPookah and congratulations on an amazing weight loss this year! Holidays and celebration days are so difficult. I wonder how naturally thin people find the balance between enjoying it and not overindulging.

On 31st December my starting weight was 81.8kg and I set a target of 69.8kg. I'm about 71kg now so very much hoping to reach that target in July! I'll still be overweight then, but it seemed so much more achievable. So I'm going to keep going till I get down to 64 or 65kg. Nonetheless I am going to have a treat when I get to target.

Well I am another 1lb down this week, slow & steady. Or tbh not trying that hard!

@ScottishBeth I’m definitely a small treat a day needed kind of person, or else I will binge and restrict in a bad way.

I know that exercise is meant to be a very small part of weight loss, but I honestly think that for me it makes quite a big difference. I feel like more activity does a lot for me.

I was out for lunch today, had a bowl of very bad but very good Special K red berries, then Caesar salad with a shared side of chips and 2 biscuits made by DC. That’s it for the day!

*the Special K was for breakfast not lunch 😂

@Nojumpingorrunning that sounds like a good day. And I sort of agree about exercise. Well, mostly I think it makes me feel better about myself and then I'm more likely to eat better.

70.9kg this morning. It is a little disappointing, last week was 71.2, but my period came the next day, and the week before was 70.8kg.

Never mind. I am going out for lunch tomorrow but apart from that I have very little planned in the next week. So I'll get my head down and hopefully lose quite a bit in the next week. 1.1kg till I get to the target I set myself at the beginning of the year.

Found you! Thanks @Octopus45
Still 11st, a little disappointed as stayed the same during June but better than a gain!

Regaining at the minute depressingly. Poor sleep, work stress and exhaustion not helping. Will hopefully get a handle on it (weight, life, everything) at some point 🤷‍♀️

@swallowedAfly sorry to hear that. Work stress is just awful. I hope it doesnt last long. When I have a time like this I try to focus on self care rather than the other stuff - making sure I get some time outside, drinking water or meditation. But please feel free to ignore me if it's not helpful.

@swallowedAfly sorry to hear things are stressful for you at the moment. Agree with @ScottishBeth focus on looking after yourself.
I haven’t had the best week and evening snacking has crept back in! Have exercised as normal and am drinking more water but need to work on diet and getting more sleep (DS2 is finally sleeping though most nights so DH and I have been enjoying watching rubbish television together in the evening but staying up far too late!). Hope everyone is doing ok

Thank you Beth - definitely won't ignore. I'm keeping up with hydration and for now keeping boundaries and not bringing work home and getting out for fresh air and escaping the place at lunchtime. Not too long now till summer holidays so I'm hanging onto that and the fact I've got a holiday booked. I wasn't going to go because of the crazy flight prices but decided that I would put my sanity over money this year and needed to have something to look forward to. Longer term I need to leave my job but it's going to take lots of ducks in a row to get there.

Gain seems to have levelled off and started coming back down again thankfully.

LBB - it's tricky isn't it? You know you 'should' sleep when the baby/toddler is asleep but you also need some actual adult chill time. I remember it well! I'd be up messing about online or watching stuff whilst telling myself I should sleep but the luxury of being able to piss about online and watch stuff was lovely and needed too!

Hi, I’m really hoping for some advice or tips. I have a 2.5 year old and a 4 month old. I’ve recently been diagnosed with postnatal depression and I’m struggling with keeping on top of housework and looking after myself. Any tips on housework or continuing to loose baby weight would be great.

That's quite tough and you will be sleep deprived presumably. Are you feeding the baby yourself? Can he/she be left for a couple of hours in the evening or an afternoon with your partner/mum/friend while you go for a swim or to the gym? The fact that you have PND suggests that you really need to get out for a while rather than trying to exercise at home. It can be miserable to be cooped up at home 24/7, you need a change of scene.

@PoppyDumigan04 PND is hard. I was very bad after I had my first child.

Prioritise what housework needs doing and stuff the rest.
It will still be there when you are ready, precious time for yourself, your health and you mental health, you baby and toddler come before fluttering about with a duster.

Get outside, walking is a great bonus to your mental as well as physical health. Baby in the pram and off you go.

Eat nourishing food to help repair your body, you don't mention if you are breastfeeding, but regardless of that, you won't have the energy if you go really low calorie, so focus on eating some good stuff.

@swallowedAfly sorry to hear that things are stressful, glad you've got a holiday to look forward to. Agree that self-care is key. @LBB2020 look after yourself, know what you mean about the whole sleep versus adult thing, lovely that you're having that time with your DH though. @PoppyDumigan04 welcome to the thread. Sorry to hear you're struggling, try to look after yourself as best you can. You definitely need nourishing food, having a new baby and a toddler is really hard, I remember it well, I had a similar age gap between my two and I remember the tiredness absolutely doing me in. I couldn't have even thought about dieting. I second what @WeirdPookah says, try and get outside every day if you can, personally I found being out with a baby and toddler much easier than being in and fresh air helps. It's difficult with housework,, very hard not to get wound up by it (I still struggle with this now), but I would say, try and do the minimum, online shopping, quick meals, iron the minimum, cleaning wipes etc. Take care of yourself.

Not doing amazingly well again this month, have been quite busy and stressed with work, meditation and morning exercise have also gone out of the window. On the countdown to going on holiday, it is now officially under one month.

@swallowedAfly thats exactly me messing around on my phone or watching too much television when I know I will regret it when my alarm goes off in the morning! It’s been a long time coming with DS2 sleep, he’s almost 3 years old now so DH and I are enjoying the time to sit together and have time to scroll on our phones or watch a new series!
Glad you have your holiday to look forward to @Octopus45 and @swallowedAfly.
@PoppyDumigan04 go really easy on yourself, 4 months is still tiny and with a toddler too it’s really really hard! (My children are turning 6 and 3 and the early days were exhausting). Agree with everyone else just focus on getting out for a walk with then children and eating as healthy as you can. Housework can wait it will still be there another day! x

Poppy I think you really need time to yourself when depressed (ime at least). Is there any way your partner or parents or anyone could give you a guaranteed few hours child free in the week and/or at the weekend? Whether you used it to get out somewhere or to climb into bed doesn't matter - whichever you need - but just some off time where it's not about small people's constant needs really helps.

Sod the housework and no rush with the weight.

Struggling to not eat my feelings. I am so sad.
My 21 year old cat died today.
She was peaceful and died in her sleep, you can't ask for more really.

I've had:
B: egg, miso mushrooms, english muffin
L: rice free poke bowl
D: homemade blue masa soft taco's with quorn, refried beans, pica de gallo, dips

@WeirdPookah I'm not on this thread but sending you a huge hug. I know it's cold comfort but what a marvellous age to reach and the best way to go. I type this with my 18 year old girl beside me and hope that she follows a similar path. Hope you're ok.

So sorry to hear this @WeirdPookah, look after yourself. Sending hugs

@HuntingoftheSnark thank you so much, it's certainly made me (try) and keep her sister closer to me today. She isn't the calmest cuddly!
@Octopus45 thank you too.

@WeirdPookah so sorry to hear this. Hope you're doing ok. Xx

I've STS this week (70.9). A bit disappointing as I seem to be in a plateau. But when I had a look at what I ate last week there were a few too many treats.

I've got loads on this week coming so don't know how things will go this week. But I'm still going to try. And if I STS again I'll make a big effort next week.

One hilarious thing, I was feeling a bit rubbish about everything and was super hungry. I knew I was going to walk past Greggs, and had decided I would have something. But then Greggs had closed down so I came home and ate something reasonably sensible instead!

@WeirdPookah so sorry, hope you’re doing ok.
Reasonable start to the week for me
and work has been really stressful which usually leads to too much chocolate and other unhealthy snacks but I’ve managed to resist! Went to the gym yesterday and will go again tomorrow.
Keep going @ScottishBeth you're doing so well!

Thanks @LBB2020 you're right. I was 81.8kg on 31st December so that's loads I've lost. I was getting all in my head yesterday that this was the start of putting it all back on. But of course it's not!

I googled plateaus yesterday and found a helpful article from Second Nature which just reminded me that it is totally normal. A few weeks staying the same or even a small gain is inevitable at times. I'm feeling better about it. Just need to not give up because I'll lose more.

@ScottishBeth you have done amazingly. You should be so proud of yourself