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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Diet for Christmas Challenge 2023

516 replies

bigdecisionstomake · 23/09/2023 06:35

This is a continuation of the Diet for Christmas Challenge thread started by @OhFatty in 2022 and the Diet for Summer Challenge thread started by @Dashel earlier this year. Thank you to them both.

It is open to everyone, whether you have a lot to lose, just a small amount to go or you're at target but facing the enormous challenge of maintaining your loss ongoing.

It is a thread for positivity, support, cheering each other on and the very occasional kick up the bum if and when requested.

Hopefully previous members of both threads will join us again and new members are always welcome.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
15
Openmouthinsertfood · 21/10/2023 20:37

Well done for swerving the pizza @SnuggleBuggleBoo ! Good going on the exercise. 💪
You can do it @CatMattress ! I don't envy you trying to cope with a trigger (Your mums house.) and a further trigger(s) of pets and children! Is it half term soon? Deep breaths, just think of when the kids are in bed asleep and you can relax.
I understand about going off track @LBB2020 . You've done the right thing though, getting back on the horse. Hope you've had a better day today. Smile
Finally found my Christmas day outfit! Found a gorgeous dress on Shein, then was gutted as it was out of stock in my size. Kept looking and found another one I really liked, at a good price so went for it. I hope it fits!

Bloodylovetelly · 22/10/2023 08:31

Hello all,

Just logging my weekly weigh in.
sw 154
cw 149
gw 140 by christmas

No change weight wise this week - which is understandable as I’ve not really stuck to plan. I haven’t logged my meals this week, I’ve also had far too many glasses of wine and slices of cake. Back on plan from today.

I’m like you @CatMattress, if I eat breakfast I’m just hungry all morning and can’t stop thinking about food. Eating lunch at 12 and then an early dinner at 5pm seems to work for me.

Is it nine weeks left until Christmas? Hopefully I can lose a steady 1lb a week from now until then to hit goal. Back to logging food, meal planning and a 19:5 eating window.

LBB2020 · 22/10/2023 10:34

Morning all, just weighed in and again I’ve stayed the same at 10st12lbs which is annoying but better than a gain! Exercise has been good this week but food/diet not the best (but not excessive either). Off to the zoo today so will get a lot of steps in at least! Hope everyone has a good day

Openmouthinsertfood · 22/10/2023 18:24

Hi @Bloodylovetelly , very good luck to you on your goal. Sounds achievable. I don't know what I think I'm going to do at Christmas (Diet wise.) as I've been buying chocolate for it like nobodies business! Going to try and be as sensible as i can (So not at all then. 😂). My nieces came round today and they wanted the tin of Roses so I let them. I had 3 which for me is a lot of restraint! 😃
I hope you enjoyed the zoo @LBB2020 ? What was the weather like? We actually had some sunshine here today.☀
How are you today @CatMattress ? Not tearing your hair out I hope?!
How are you @SnuggleBuggleBoo ? And @bigdecisionstomake I hope you are both having a great weekend.

Openmouthinsertfood · 22/10/2023 18:42

Sorry, didn't mean to leave off @Gemzee, and @Yocal . How you doing too @Extragravy ? I hope all three of you are having a good weekend too. Smile

CatMattress · 22/10/2023 18:59

Openmouthinsertfood · 22/10/2023 18:24

Hi @Bloodylovetelly , very good luck to you on your goal. Sounds achievable. I don't know what I think I'm going to do at Christmas (Diet wise.) as I've been buying chocolate for it like nobodies business! Going to try and be as sensible as i can (So not at all then. 😂). My nieces came round today and they wanted the tin of Roses so I let them. I had 3 which for me is a lot of restraint! 😃
I hope you enjoyed the zoo @LBB2020 ? What was the weather like? We actually had some sunshine here today.☀
How are you today @CatMattress ? Not tearing your hair out I hope?!
How are you @SnuggleBuggleBoo ? And @bigdecisionstomake I hope you are both having a great weekend.

Pretty good day today, though kids are being a handful. Managed my run - took DD and puppy w me so feel I deserve bonus points for that. Did some extra walking, too. Had a roast chicken lunch, but new potatoes, no gravy, lots of veg. Kids had chips. Was only about 330 calories I think. Luckily, as I had sticky toffee pud for afters and that was 381 calories 😅 think I've earned it though. Otherwise had tea, coffee, chocolate rice cake, satsuma, grapes and planning a banana for tea.
Currently not even at 1000 calories yet.

The sunshine was lovely today and really helped. Everything's easier when it's sunny.

Yocal · 22/10/2023 19:02

I'm home from a weekend in the lakes, cumbria. It was lovely to have a change of scenery and not thinking, too much, about dieting. My choices has been poor in nutrients, but good in terms of a mental break. Ready to carry on as I have been tomorrow with plenty of nutrient dense stuff.

It is strange to see the October tints are becoming November tints at this rate. It was all so green still. At least winter will seem shorter.

Hope you've all had a good weekend.

Gemzee · 22/10/2023 19:12

@Openmouthinsertfood Hiya 😊 I've had a great weekend ... way too much food though but hopefully claw back some damage through the week (only weigh on Fri mornings). Hope you've had a great weekend!

Openmouthinsertfood · 22/10/2023 19:15

Hi @CatMattress you certainly did earn bonus points. Smile Well done. Sounds like a nice walk too. It's nice to see blue sky isn't it?!
Hi @Yocal , sounds like a lovely break away. October is flying past isn't it?! I can't believe it's almost Halloween!
I've got a ton of sorting out to do. Have almost finished my Christmas shopping (Present wise) and am trying to find places to store it all! I have a small built in wardrobe but it's currently housing my Christmas tress and decs, so I'd have to find a new home for that for now if I decide to use that cupboard. My flat is so small! I have no more room on the tops of other cupboards so the presents are currently taking up space in my living room. Will have to have a game of Tetris with my flat. lol
Off to watch the Strictly results show, see who get's kicked off. 💃

Openmouthinsertfood · 22/10/2023 19:17

Gemzee · 22/10/2023 19:12

@Openmouthinsertfood Hiya 😊 I've had a great weekend ... way too much food though but hopefully claw back some damage through the week (only weigh on Fri mornings). Hope you've had a great weekend!

Edited

Glad you've had a good weekend. Smile Mine has been lovely thank you.
I weigh on Saturdays. Good luck for this week. Smile

Misspacorabanne · 22/10/2023 19:27

Hi, am I too late to join?
my weight has yo-yo’d since having my last dc.
I started at 11 stone at about 6 months pp, and managed to get down to 9stone 10.
In the 3 or 4 months I’m back up to 10 stone!
My target is 8 stone 10, but im
beginning to think I’ll never reach it! I haven’t seen that weight since before kids, I don’t know if I’m being unrealistic thinking I can get back to it, but I’m going to try.
I just start off with good intentions and lose my willpower come the evening, I definitely snack when I’m bored/tired/watching tv etc.
so I do need a kick up the arse ladies!
Well done all of you that have lost, those that have maintained and those that are trying!

SnuggleBuggleBoo · 22/10/2023 19:40

Today:

Breakfast: Smoothie - 150
Banana - 100
Activia yoghurt with smooth oats mixed in - 100

Lunch: Cheesy mushrooms on toast - 300
Rocket leaves - negligible
Cake bar - 100

Snack: Ginger immunity shot - 50

Dinner: Houmous - 150
Folded flatbread - 100
Cucumber and mixed leaves - negligible
Cheese - 100
Falafel - 150

Dessert: Plum - 50
'Cheats trifle' - 150

Total: 1500

That's more like it! Ideally I'd be below 1400 but at least it's shifting in the right direction!

I just had one walk today, around 35 mins. Too tired to do more as I slept really badly last night.

I weighed myself today. 12.7, so 1lb lost. Could have been much better but could have been worse.

Wishing everyone lots of luck for the coming week!!

Cherryblossom81 · 22/10/2023 20:11

Hello all. Would it be ok to join you? I'm looking for a bit of moral support/accountability and you all seem to be really kind & supportive to each other.

I'm officially still a 'healthy' weight but have realised today (with a bit of a shock) that I've gained over a stone over the last 6 months (not really sure how) but want to stop this and lose what I've gained. Not sure if that's possible by Christmas??

To be honest, I'm struggling a bit to work out how to do this, as I think I eat fairly well (but clearly something has caused me to gain a stone!). I'm also quite short, so my daily recommended calories is already quite low.

If anyone can relate to this or anyone has any thoughts/advice, please do let me know.

LBB2020 · 22/10/2023 20:12

@Openmouthinsertfood the zoo was nice and the weather was perfect (my children however were a bit wild!).
Well done @SnuggleBuggleBoo, 1lb down is brilliant!
@Misspacorabanne welcome! I’ve struggled to get back to pre children weight since having my second (who’s now 3!). I initially lost the majority of my baby weight pretty quickly, then turned 40 and it’s just kept creeping up! Before the kids I was 9st7lbs but I’m now aiming for 10st.
Sounds like a lovely weekend away @Yocal

Misspacorabanne · 22/10/2023 20:31

@LBB2020 thank you!
My youngest is also 3, so I can’t keep blaming the baby weight. 😆
I do have a sweet tooth and tend to have no willpower when it comes to the kids sweet treats! Or just snacking in general. I definitely think that’s the problem for me.
It’s not easy at all is it?
Im late 30s now and I’ve been told I may be peri (from blood tests, as early menopause runs in my family) so I don’t think that helps things. I definitely think weight is slow to come off now, and I really have to work extra hard…. I guess that could be age related! Sigh!

bigdecisionstomake · 23/10/2023 08:33

Morning all

And just like that it's a new week. Great to see so many posts over the weekend.

@Yocal I think that's a really sensible approach to increase your calorie allowance. It may take longer to get to goal but you're more likely to succeed with a realistic calorie allowance. Sounds like the Lakes was just what you needed. Good luck for your weigh in on Thursday 🙂

Well done for getting below 72Kg @CatMattress and on the C25K runs - I can't run any more due to osteoarthritis but remember the endorphin rush fondly! I know exactly what you mean about your parent's house making you comfort eat - I'm just the same. If ever I go to stay for a few days I go with good intentions and they go out of the window really quickly. The pets and children can't help though 😂Stay strong, we're cheering you on and it sounds like you're smashing it.

Haha @Openmouthinsertfood you are so right about limiting the sugar free sweets - I once ate pretty near a whole box in one sitting without realising and the consequences were not pretty 😱Great news on finding your Christmas outfit and thank you for all the encouraging posts 😊

Welcome to the thread @Extragravy your post sounds very similar to mine - a bad couple of years and then suddenly 2 stone overweight. Hopefully you can use the support of all the lovely posters on this thread to keep you accountable and smash those targets 😀

@SnuggleBuggleBoo well done on the 1lb loss 😃I think when you look at the amount you're eating plus the exercise you must be in some kind of deficit consistently. Keep up the good work and don't beat yourself up too much - you're obviously doing something right!

@LBB2020 I hate that feeling when you're really uncomfortable after eating too much (happened to me this weekend after half a tub of Ben and Jerrys...) At least you've stayed the same and not gained, that is progress in itself. Hope you enjoyed your day at the zoo and got lots of steps 🙂

Stick at it @Bloodylovetelly I've stopped logging again this week and gone off plan too. We just need to put it behind us and make this week a new week. 9 weeks to go....

Happy to have you join us @Misspacorabanne I think we can all relate to starting off with good intentions then losing the willpower. For me it seems to be the weekends that are my downfall currently. Posting here should help to give you some accountability. Maybe set some mini-targets rather than focusing on 8st 10lb to begin with? Good luck 😀

Welcome @Cherryblossom81 I think consistency is the key so you need to find a plan that works for you and your daily life and try to stick to it at least 80% of the time. I am a calorie counter and (when I stick to it) it works like a charm for me. Slow and steady is my mantra though - I don't think picking an ultra low calorie target and trying to lose a large amount quickly is very sustainable - at least I don't have the kind of willpower (or life) that would make that possible 😁If I were you I would find a calorie counting app you can get along with and have a play around with some numbers until you find something that will fit in with your life. I also make sure to do some exercise every day, partly for the health benefits but also to give me a few more calories to play with and make it enjoyable rather than a chore. Hope that helps for now but I'm sure others will be along with more advice soon.

Like @Gemzee I've eaten (and drunk) far too much this weekend. DP is in a bad place at the moment and I am easily led off track when he's eating takeaways and drinking wine. Amazingly I've actually dropped a pound to 10st 3lb although I think that is just because my last weigh in was following the chicken van debacle and I was carrying a lot of water weight due to the salt.

Back on it this morning with a good workout and my calories planned for the day. I feel like I've been bouncing up and down between 10st 2lb and 10st 4lb for ages so I really need to move things along a bit now 😂

Hope you all have a good Monday.

OP posts:
secondtimemumma · 23/10/2023 14:10

Hope you don’t mind me joining!
I don’t have a lot to lose but it’s so tricky for me to shift the weight. I’m hoping this thread will help me stay motivated and that a slow and steady approach might be the way to go.
Trying to be as active as I can and also eat healthily. I need to work on portion control and thinking about cutting out alcohol at home to avoid the excess calories that weekend wines bring. I won’t be calorie counting as such but more just mindful of them and trying to cut down on processed foods and up the veggies.

secondtimemumma · 23/10/2023 14:18

Forgot to add:
CW: 71 kg
GW: 67 kg

Openmouthinsertfood · 23/10/2023 19:04

Hi everyone. Just popping on to moan, then will catch up on the thread. Ever have one of those days where if something can go wrong, it will? I've had bin bags split on me, the bottom falling out of boxes, almost smashing glasses...Then I was too honest. Lol, not really I suppose. I had a delivery from Asda this morning. Checked my bank account earlier and had more money in there than I should so I checked my Asda account. On there it said that my order was cancelled and I wasn't charged. So I 'phoned them up and told them I'd received my order. They thanked me for my honesty and said they would take the payment manually. I have too much of a guilty conscience not to confess! lol

SnuggleBuggleBoo · 23/10/2023 19:20

@Openmouthinsertfood Urgh, what a day!! Tomorrow can only be better after that one!!

SnuggleBuggleBoo · 23/10/2023 19:31

Today:

Breakfast: Smoothie - 150
Cereal bar - 100

Lunch: Minestrone - 150
Banana - 100
Activia - 50

Snack: Raspberry immunity shot - 50

Dinner: Root vegetable mash - 300
Vege meatballs - 200
Broccoli - 50
Butter - 50

Dessert: Plum - 50
Cake bar - 100

Total: 1350

Whoop whoop!! First time I've actually come in within my calorie allowance! And I had a 45 minute workout today.

Openmouthinsertfood · 23/10/2023 23:11

Thanks @SnuggleBuggleBoo . Smile I hope my run of bad luck is over. Mind you, I've just remembered I saw a single magpie today...(One for sorrow.), Bloody bird. lol
Hi @bigdecisionstomake well done on losing the pound. Sorry to hear things are a bit stressy for you and your DP atm. I hope things improve for you both soon.
Hello newbies. Smile
Hope you are having an ok day @CatMattress ?

Dashel · 24/10/2023 06:45

Sorry it’s taken me so long to pop by and sign up.

I’m from previous threads and came back from my holiday on the Summer challenge and have struggled a lot.

The holiday was epic but without that to look forward to, I have really struggled.

I have an early start today and I couldn’t face the scales but I will tomorrow after a day of being on track again.

I did get my steps in yesterday and did my first work out since I got back. It was only a 2000 step GFWR but it’s a start.

Thank you @bigdecisionstomake for starting this and I will catch up properly later x

Gemzee · 24/10/2023 06:54

Hi @Dashel 🖐 good to see you!

I'm still struggling, my alarm went off and I was in a really deep sleep (dreaming) ..so I turned it off. I lay for about 10-15mins then forced myself up and did a 30min workout (had planned 50) so not all is lost.
Honestly all I want to do is eat & sleep! The only thing kind of keeping in check is the thought of going back to where I was in January! I do not want those 22-24lbs back!!!
I'm glad I worked out today, but it's a struggle! Also food has been not great so likely to see a gain on Friday that I'll just have to suck up - just keep swimming just keep swimming (as we used to say on the diet for Summer thread 😄)

Gemzee · 24/10/2023 07:10

Where has the edit button disappeared to!?
There's an edit button on this post but not my one above 🤔

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