Diet for Christmas Challenge 2023

[bigdecisionstomake]

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.

I stopped off at my sister's to drop something off yesterday and she always has buckets of treats left over that she plies me with! I was dreading it! Luckily she was out this time. But at the same time I was disappointed not to get any... No pleasing some people!

@Extragravy I can't believe you can run 8k, just like that! That's insane! Have you always been super into running or did you train yourself up to it?

Halloween completely de railed me. I will be lucky if I don't gain at the next weigh in. Back on track tomorrow. Will try and get a long walk or run in. It's difficult with the kids off school this week.

@SnuggleBuggleBoo I wouldn't consider myself super fit but I can plod along. Just take it as slow as you need to and walk run walk run. You will build up over time. I started running about 10 years ago for a charity race and have been on and off since. Have signed up for a few events next year to keep me focused. I find it really good to have a goal. Need to find a spring event to keep me training in winter.

Holding steady at 71.4 today. Which isn't bad considering I'm in deep PMT and bloated as hell.
Holding (relatively) strong today.

Today:

Breakfast: Banana - 100

Lunch: Vegetable soup - 200

Dinner: Gnocchi - 250
Pesto - 300
Peas - 100
Basil leaves - neg
Lettuce - neg

Dessert: Plum - 50
Cheats trifle - 200

Total: 1200

I reserve the right to have a snack before bed as I'll probably be hungry, but I'll keep it below 150 cals! I've had no exercise whatsoever today so don't want to push it!

(I know Yocal, no real protein at all! I'm going to have eggs tomorrow to make up for it!)

@SnuggleBuggleBoo you've got my thought summed up 😂get some protein for gods sake 😅

I thought of you earlier. I made capanata. Thats a rock solid low calorie healthy veggie dish perfect for this weather...(but low protein🙀).

Well done at keeping on it anyway. I've had a rough couple of days so just getting through them rather than calorie counting. I will get back on it though tomorrow. I needed a proper feed tbf! I feel ready to start eatinh like a little bird again. 🐦

Sounds like your doing great @CatMattress, PMT and bloating is rubbish hope you’re feeling better soon.
Another good day @SnuggleBuggleBoo, I love reading your daily write-ups gives me some ideas!
Hope you’re ok @Yocal keep going!
My day has been ok. Food ok but room for improvement, had a PT session, definitely need to drink so much more water!
I’m out for dinner tomorrow night so will try to find something healthy-ish and stick to one glass of wine!

Here goes. Back to the diet today. It is a lovely Autumn day so should be a good diet motivator. December feels a bit threatening with it being next month now 😳

Morning all

Thank goodness for Friday!

DP is a bit better now so I feel like I'm getting back on a bit more of an even keel. Work is still mad though so not much spare time.

@SnuggleBuggleBoo I don't run any longer due to arthritis in my hip but when I did used to run a few 5Ks a week I always found that after the first couple of minutes I would feel like I was going to die but if I pushed through that first bit of discomfort and kept going by around 5 mins in my breathing would steady into a rhythm and I would be fine. I am not a natural runner however, like @Extragravy I was more of a plodder! That's good advice too about walk, run, walk etc...

@CatMattress well done on keeping strong - it's not a gain so that's always a positive, especially with PMT. I am several years post menopause and so glad I don't have that to worry about all that any more.

Keep strong @Yocal I can really sympathise with having a rough time - just do your best, this too will pass as they say.

@LBB2020 enjoy your dinner out tonight and hope your plan to stick to one glass of wine works 🙂

I am still doing the best I can food wise but not managing any exercise at all. I think there will be another couple of weeks of work being really long hours but then hopefully it will quieten down a bit and I can get back on it properly and have a really good push in the run up to Christmas.

I love advent calendars and have one for myself and both my DSs (DP is bah humbug about Christmas). I love looking at mine on the side ready to be opened and in a weird way it is making me feel more motivated to get back on track and be a bit slimmer for Christmas 🎄👗🎉

Happy Friday everyone.

As expected lost nothing this week. Didn't deserve to lose to be honest. I'm back on it and thats the main thing. I hope to get into the 10s before the 1st of December.

@bigdecisionstomake glad dh is on the mend. I also love advent calendars. Which one did you get?

@CatMattress well done on holding steady with pmt its not easy.

Off to Google capanata @Yocal

Keep up the good work everyone. 4 weeks to December we can do this this.

Forgot to update earlier, I had another stay the same on the scale today. Happy with that, only did 2 workouts this week but did hit my steps target each day.

Christmas is looming, as much as I'm happy at my current weight, it would be good if I could get motivated to lose a couple pounds to help some of the Xmas damage!

Hello everyone, 👋

Just dropping in with my weigh in from Wednesday!

Start Weight 14.4st
Last time Weighed 14.0st
Current Weight 13.12st
First Goal 13.4st
UltimateGoal 10st-9.7st

Another 2lb down, and firmly in the 13’s now 😃

@bigdecisionstomake I hope you had a wonderful birthday 🎁 🎈

It’s been another crazy week and due to Halloween and another birthday coming up. There’s sweets and temptation everywhere!
I just want to bin it all 😳🫣!!!

Today:

Lunch: Vegetable soup - 200
Nectarine - 100
Cake bar - 100

Dinner: Scrambled eggs - 300
Toast and butter - 200
Peas - 100
Veggie sausage - 150

Dessert: Pear - 100
Cake bar - 100

Total: 1350

2 walks today, one an hour, the other a quick 20 minute stroll.

Hi 👋 just joined got 2st to loose so 10lb by x-mas will b a good start , hopefully this group helps me keep on track ,,
12st1lb as of today will update

Morning all, thank you @bigdecisionstomake meal was lovely and just had one small glass of wine and no dessert.
Welcome @Wrongsideoffourty

Morning everyone,

weekly weigh in results…

sw 154
cw 150
gw 140

I seem to be stuck at 150! I’ve given up alcohol for the month and have replaced with herbal teas and fizzy water. Am also having a no sugar month - fingers crossed that this will help.

My smart watch bullies me to move and I usually hit 10,000 steps a day but I think I’ll try upping my movement next month. I did couch to 5k and used to run up to 10k regularly a few years ago, but fell out of love with it as I seemed to be getting slower and less able to run even 5k. I also love lie ins more!

Have a good day everyone.

I've had a really crap weekend diet wise - totally gone off the rails. I'm very down as I had been doing so much better. Not going to weigh myself today, as it won't be pretty, but determined to start afresh tomorrow.

Morning all

Seems like a few of us suffering from the winter blues at the moment.

@Extragravy I have the Harrods beauty advent calendar which was my birthday present from DP and also a jigsaw one which was a present to myself. I almost always have a jigsaw on the go - I find it really helpful if I need a few minutes de-stress time. Creating order out of chaos really calms me 😄Can't wait for December....

Well done on hitting your steps @Gemzee and sounds like you're doing better than me on the workout front. I really need to get back to it but work is busy again. Must make more effort as like you say it would be good to have a bit of breathing space to let my hair down over Christmas/New Year.

@LostNoMore thanks for the birthday wishes and huge congratulations on dropping into the 13s that's an amazing achievement, well done!

Sorry you've had a crap weekend @SnuggleBuggleBoo - I have too. Put it behind you and look forward to a week of healthy choices - your determination is inspiring me to do the same 😊

Welcome to the thread @Wrongsideoffourty hope it helps you to meet your Christmas target. You're so close to being in the 11s that's a good motivation to start with.

Well done on sticking to one glass of wine @LBB2020 hope you enjoyed the meal.

Sorry you're a bit stuck @Bloodylovetelly I think you're doing the right thing by switching up a couple of things. When I've plateaued in the past I've needed to make a change here and there to kickstart things again. I think you also need to be wary of what I call 'the slow creep' where you've got into good habits but then let one or two extras creep in slowly over time like a slightly larger glass of wine or a biscuit with your tea and then before you know it you've pretty much eroded any deficit you had while still being 'almost' on plan. Well done on keeping your steps up though - definitely something I need to focus on.

I'm still not weighing currently however, I know I need to get a grip on things again. I have to accept life is difficult right now and probably will continue to be that way for a while so if I carry on using that as an excuse I'm going to end up really overweight again as I was in January.

Plan for this week:
Post daily on the thread again.
Try and add some exercise in or as a minimum increase my daily step count from around the 4K it currently is.
No alcohol at least until Friday and possibly until Friday 18th when my brother and niece are over from Ireland and there is a big family meal.

Wish me luck trying (again) to get back on track!

I had a mostly good weekend. Saturday dinner was a ready-meal curry which felt treat-y but was well within limits.

I spent Sunday doing a mass clearout clean and reorganise of DDs hole bedroom. It was exhausting, but so needed doing. Am hoping we can hit a bit of a re-set with her so she's a bit more organised and finds it easier to be independent with a tidy room and can work out where to put her clean laundry when I deliver it and where to find the things she needs to get ready (it's been a daily battle lately).

I got to dinner last night having been constantly moving and eaten about 300 calories, then had roast pork, gravy, roasted carrots, cabbage, crushed roasted new potatoes, apple sauce and sticky toffee pudding with cream. It was delicious, I couldn't actually finish my main, but then I had a total spiral about how many calories I had consumed and DP had to talk me down from purging (teenage habits rearing their ugly heads).

Having some job stuff going on atm which feels a bit rollercoaster and my response to being out of control in places is to get a bit extreme with my control elsewhere.

Sorry, I know this is a bit of a braindump, but am trying to manage healthy eating and calorie counting without it turning into a self-harm process and thought I might find some friendly listening ears here. If anyone is familiar with these sort of feelings and has useful advice I would appreciate your sharing it.

Wishing you all a good week x

@Backinthedress no experience of this to be able to offer advice but just wanted to send love, support and a big hug. Your DP sounds lovely and supportive and you sound like a great mum, helping your DD to find some independence in her daily life. Sorry you are struggling with your feelings around food - hopefully someone with more experience of this will be around soon to offer advice.

In the meantime, we are all here cheering you on and feel free to vent any time you need if it would help.

Unmumsnetty love and hugs 🤗

Thank you. Had a vv busy day at work today which helped take my mind off everything.

Hope you all had a decent start to the week

Morning, I’ve gone a bit off track over the weekend and yesterday! I’m due my period and can’t stop eating!
Booked a spinning class for this evening so that’s something at least.
Hope you are all doing well

Morning all

Glad to hear you're keeping busy @CatMattress and that has kept your mind off the food issues. Stay strong 💪

Put the weekend behind you @LBB2020 you're in good company being off track but that's done now and you can't change it. Make this week different 🙂

Not sure what's happened to me but seeing all you lovely ladies getting on and losing seems to have really motivated me so I've had a hunt down the back of the sofa and found my mojo again.

I didn't exercise yesterday or count calories but I did eat well, no snacking at all and had good portion control. In the spirit of not wasting that effort I have got up and done an Olivia Lawson 5000 step walking workout this morning (actually gave me 4588 steps but who's counting 😅) and have planned my food for the day to be just within calories.

DS is cooking tonight so it's pasta for tea which means my calorie allowance is really tight and I might try and sneak in a short walk later as I often find I need a babybel or something similar around 5/6pm to tide me over until our evening meal which we don't usually eat until around 8pm. Walking outside is so good for my mental health too which I have been neglecting a bit recently.

Feeling much more positive today! I haven't weighed as I think it will be a bit demotivating but if I can have a good week this week I might start weighing again from Monday.

Have good days all and let us know how you're all getting on 🤗

Well done @bigdecisionstomake, back on it

I'm gutted. I absolutely feel thinner, look thinner and my clothes fit better so I jumped on the scale and weigh the same as I did on the 26th November! I'm telling myself this is a fat for muscle swap. I think if I hit 90kg by Christmas that's a win, which is 5kg more than my initial goal. Trying hypnotherapy for weightloss on Friday to try make this process less about will power and more about subconscious moderation.

Thanks Yocal 🙂

Sorry to hear you haven't lost any KGs but if your clothes fit better and you look and feel slimmer then you have definitely swapped fat for muscle.

Muscle will burn more calories at rest than fat so keep going and stay strong, the scales will start to shift eventually 😊