LOSE IT! September 2023🍁Autumn Edition🍁

[TheRealHousewife]

Schools are returning, most holidays are over and Autumn is fast approaching; A perfect time to re-set the mind, outline goals and affirm intentions. There is definitely a cool nip in the air!

Another new month to initiate a fresh start to become a healthier version of yourself. These threads are for those who’d like to stay healthy, lose weight as well as those who wish to maintain; to encourage a healthy & varied diet and to exercise.

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 3lb. I had a blip a couple of years ago when my thyroid went wonky but now back (mainly) on track. I Would love to wave bye to another half a stone 😬 The main thing is to never give up! Keep going!

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

PS - Positive thought:- If you were to lose on average a 1lb per week you’ll be at least a stone lighter by Christmas 🎄

Evening All

Welcome to the thread @sayhellototheworld and congratulations on your baby 🥳 You’ll most certainly will make progress between now and Christmas if you knock snacking on the head. New mums = baby steps 😊

Story Time
Weight in 2017 - Approximately 12.5st/80kg. Could have been higher. I didn’t start MFP logging at the onset.

A 4 year old photo popped up today. I was utterly shocked and I could not believe how huge I looked. I have absolutely no memory of being that weight or size. I do remember a GP visit around that time when the GP prodded my belly area and advised losing weight which I had already started too. I checked what weight I was via mfp in relation to the dated photo. I’d already lost a chunk of weight but was still a good solid 2 stone + (30lbs/13kg). over what I weigh now (9.2st/129lbs/58kg) I’m pleased I have made slow but steady progress since then - averages out to 7lbs/3kg per year. Over my entire weight loss journey I’ve lost around 42lbs over 6 years. Certainly slow but definitely a solid loss.

If I’d not taken action when I did, instead of steadily losing weight I would have certainly gained weight year on year.

The moral of the story is never give up or give in, no matter how tough it gets. Don’t chuck the towel in, thinking f* ** and eating/drinking your feelings. I will admit it’s been tough at times; I have had lengthy plateaus, ill health, life’s crises & disability to navigate but I carried on regardless; to do otherwise would have been a disservice and self sabotage. Harming no one but myself. If I can do it, anyone can ❤️

Start Weight 12.5stone/80kg
Current Weight 9.2st/129lbs/58kg
Goal weight 8.5stone/120lbs/54kg

PS - Averaged out works out at a little over 1/2 lb a MONTH 😮😮😮.

Talk about the whole being worth more than the sum of its parts. It’s the consistency that got me there. No quick fixes, no magic bullets. Nutritious fresh healthy foods eaten in deficit. Sorry for the add lib I’m just shook at the time frame/numbers.

@TheRealHousewife I absolutely agree, slow and steady, healthy food in caloric deficit is the way. Very inspirational.
@sayhellototheworld I am in a very similar boat! Baby#2 is 6 weeks old, and I put loads of weight on during pregnancy. The same thing happened first time around too, and I managed to lose it all and then some within a year without any crazy methods.

So here goes, my numbers:
Start weight: 70kg - it was more, but I stopped weighing myself about half way through pregnancy.
Current weight: 68kg
Goal weight: 50kg - my pre pregnancy weight and usual baseline.

Today is DH's birthday, so I am writing this weekend off diet-wise. Hopefully breastfeeding will help to counteract some of the cake.

Thanks for sharing your story @TheRealHousewife just goes to show that chipping away slowly, over time, consistently really is a better way than big losses all the time. Even though it may not feel like it when you're standing on that scale 🤣

I'm pretty certain I came in under calorie yesterday but none of the choices were healthy! 1/2 pizza at lunch, a starter portion of croquettes mid afternoon, and a nibble on my DS's chips at dinner. DH and I bought some chips on the way to the theatre last night too but we had to abandon after a few mouthfuls as we had to take out seats. We had one beer and a handful of minstrels at the interval. Show was excellent!

Today I am out for lunch and drinks with friends I haven't seen for a year, so not expecting a good day, but I'm ok with that ☺️ it's the weekend after all!

Wishing everyone a happy weekend!

@TheRealHousewife congratulations on your weight loss, very inspiring story. It's a marathon, not a sprint and I noticed it's more difficult to gain weight back when it's been steady loss.

@DomesticElf congratulations on your baby, I hope you're doing well 🤗
I was really hungry in pregnancy, luckily the huge appetite wore off around 2 weeks postpartum. Now tiredness plays big part when it comes to food choices, but I'm on my 2nd day without snacking, I'm trying to do something nice to myself instead, like reading a book or pedicure. I still have half a packet of milk chocolate digestives left in the cupboard, but trying to ignore it. I never stop on one biscuit or chocolate, so better not to touch them at all 🤐

@sayhellototheworld congratulations on the arrival of your boy too! Is he your first?
Re biscuits, I am the same. It's either all or nothing. I'd say feed them to your other half/siblings/parents/neighbours so the temptation is not there.

My food choices today weren't exactly healthy diet - Indian take away and I did have few giant marshmallows with my second coffee.. but it was DH's birthday.. I did swap my normal plate for a smaller one though, so at least I ate a smaller portion but psychologically it didn't feel too bad as the plate looked full 😬
Tomorrow back to better eating.

I'm a pound down and literally 2 or 3lb from target. I've lost 17lb. It's been slow going over the last couple of months, but that's ok. I've not been really trying the last couple of months either.

I actually found some old shorts and put them on yesterday, it's really hot here (Australia). The shorts are a size 10. And I have been on cloud nine. I bought them a few years ago, maybe four or five years ago. I had lost weight and treated myself to some new clothes. It's maybe silly, but clothes have been my driving force. I've just had all these lovely clothes waiting for me in my wardrobe. Looking good in my clothes has given me so much joy and confidence.

I really needed a pick me up today. I just wanted to shop and treat myself and wash away some of my stress and replace it with endorphins from shopping! I know shopping shouldn't be the answer! But it felt just right today. I bought a new dress in the sale, a necklace and earrings in the sale and some new shoes in the sale.

Keep on keeping on everyone! Slow and steady can win the race, I agree with @TheRealHousewife :)

Writing off the weekend and moving on, after we had an Indian takeaway Friday after such a week and I got back so late after having to take shoes back for my youngest and get re-fitted, no wonder they chewed her feet up, they re-sized at 2 widths wider! Poor baby.

Then my inlaws came on Sunday and I made a brie and cranberry plait, and huge piles of roasted new season vegetables! Almond brussel sprouts, chipotle garlic honey butternut squash and skin on new potatoes. Followed by rhubarb and apple crumble!

So back to today. This week routine is all muddled as well, by needing to go to a school open evening Wednesday, so moving sports class to tonight. I don't cope well with routine changes.

B: Black bean burrito
L: peppers, tomatoes and egg
D: Broccoli, vegan mince bolognaise, cheese pretzel roll
raspberries.

Same here - writing off the weekend 😅 may have had some takeaways that we really didn't need (nor can we really afford 😬) and some wine. Moving on...

I've already done a class this morning. Quick shower, bite to eat, and I'm off to work.

Meals:
Brunch - 1/2 a frittata I prepped yesterday: red onion, red pepper, some purple sprouting broccoli, a small sweet potato, cherry toms, 4 eggs and 40g cheddar. Had it with a big green salad and some vinaigrette.
Dinner - pasta with bolognese (and no garlic bread for me!)

Have a good start to the week everyone!

Also writing off the weekend! 😂

@DomesticElf thank you ❤Yes, he's my first 😊

My meals today:
Breakfast: toast with 1/4 of avocado and fried egg
Lunch: slice of pizza from the fridge and salad
Tea: homemade vegetable curry with brown rice, and probably some fruit?

I don't know if we manage a walk today, but I will exercise for 30 minutes in the evening.

@WeirdPookah That menu sounds incredible. I would have very happily written off the weekend for that!

Weekend went quite well here - mostly because it was a quiet one without guests or celebrations.

My intentions this week are:
3 x swim
1 x Pilates
Protein focus
No shared / family size bags / bars of anything!

Did one of my swims this morning, so it's been a good start 👍🏻

LOL oh dear, it was A Weekend then for a few of us!

@LemonDrizzle23 it was pretty fantastic if I do say so myself, I love Autumn and looking forward to all the new season fruit and vegetables.

Hi everyone. I'm finally back after a dreadful summer filled with sadness. So I've been completely off the boils food and exercise wise. The good thing is that I don't think think I've put much on, but will weigh in on Wednesday to see for sure.

Exercise

• 15 mins of stretches (flexibility goal!)
• bodycombat class

Food
B - boiled egg & toast
L - home made soup plus an apple
D - chicken dish with broccoli and rice.

Had a cup of tea with a chocolate buscuit for an afternoon snack. Coming in just under 1200 calories, so must stay away from the fridge!

My win today is no snacks and smaller plates leading to smaller portions.

I mainly cook at home, and find it difficult to do calorie counting properly. Do you precisely work out each and every ingredient you use for the dish and then weigh out the portion? It all looks very tedious, and puts me off calorie counting.

I've walked 10km today! Phew, it's 33 degrees here and so walking really feels hard going in that heat. Anyway I'm glad to have been out and moved my body.

Just read your story of slow weight loss @TheRealHousewife .That is truly inspiring. It helps me to feel like I am still on track, even though I haven't lost any for a while. I haven't gained though so I am still on track.
Someone asked me yesterday 'if congratulations were in order' ie 'are you pregnant?' Tbh at my age that's a compliment!

Good Morning All

A quick menu post before I head out…

Menu
Meal 1 - Mediterranean omelette. Be-free gf oat bread.
Meal 2 - Hazelnut crusted cod, pak Choi, green beans, carrots.
Tea, black coffee, water

Enjoy your day!

Trying to catch up on the thread a bit - thanks for sharing your slow and steady story @TheRealHousewife I have been a bit the same (slower than you even) and I know combining it with exercise has done wonders for my health.

Today's menu
B - boiled egg with toast
L - home made soup and some fruit
D - Cuban beef with pasta

Exercise

• morning 15 stretch, still to be decided on later as I have an achy hip!

I've got totally stuck this week. Eating can quickly become emotional for me, and I need to get past this week's stress and move forward. I'm still active, not gaining (yet...)

@DownUdderer it's not silly, I don't think. Clothes were a big motivation for me too. Easily zipping up size 10 levis was a fantastic moment. I was elated. When I started my journey I was in a 14 with a terrible muffin top. I'm in Australia too and have just hit the Myer sale for summer camis and shorts. Wouldn't have dreamed of wearing those last year.
@2Early4Breakfast I hear ya! I have to really fight against emotional eating. Took a long time to knock it on the head and I think heaps of us do it. It's hard to resist when you're in a hole.
@TheRealHousewife I knew some of your story from previous threads but seeing it laid out like that is very inspiring.
I've just done Wednesday weigh in and am still on TW so I've been maintaining for about 3 months now.

WoW a bit early (tomorrow will be a corker of a day, so I thought I'd get it out of the way now):
Starting weight: 70Kg
Current weight: 66.5 Kg
Target weight: 50kg

I am pleasantly surprised and hoping it's not a fluke.

I use nutracheck to log. I'll weigh out ingredients for the recipe, but tend to try and split portions evenly by eyeball rather than weighing individual portions. I save the recipe in nutracheck along with the number of portions it makes, so whenever we have that meal it's east enough to add to the day's calorie count.

SW 86.45
CW 84.8
GW 82.0

0.6 kg this week, happy with that.
I'm down about 5kg overall, and have found I am finally starting to fit into my old work clothes!! Keeping going, although I may have to start thinking of something other than salads for lunch as it gets colder. What's the cup a soup special??
Keep going everyone ❤️