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.

Hi @bigdecisionstomake it's so hard to refuse when it's right there in front of you isn't it?! Keep posting, you've been such a support for me/all of us, so glad to return the favour. I did read on these boards a while back a good analogy. If your tyre got a flat, would you then go and deflate all the other tyres? I hope I got that right! lol Basically, you slip a bit, then get back on it before slipping some more, or waiting for next Monday to start again. Whatever you decide, we're all here for you. :)
Hi @ChickenChipsandBeans , congrats on the 7lb loss and good luck to you on the November deadline. Sounds like you know what to do!
Hi @CatMattress it's not fair is it? Men seem to lose so easily! Congrats to your hubby though, good for him.

Another dodgy day:

Breakfast: Smoothie - 200

Snack: biscuit - 100

Lunch: Cheese toastie - 550

Snack: Ginger immunity shot 50

Dinner: Large avocado - 350
Red pepper - 50
Sweetcorn - 50
2 x piadina flatbread - 150

Dessert: 'Cheats trifle' - 250

Total: 1750

I intended to do a short workout when I got home from work but I was too tired so it didn't happen

I haven't exercised all week @SnuggleBuggleBoo . 😊
Had a bit of a snackcident earlier. 3 Fibre one bars and two cereal bars. The good thing was I felt really sick after them. I can usually eat and eat sweet stuff with no off switch or feeling queasy. I hope it puts me off pigging out again!
I hope everyone has had a good day?

It's not been the sort of weather where you feel you want to! I'm determined to go on a walk tomorrow before work though!!

Try keeping your fibreOne bars in the freezer! That's what I do. It makes them chewier and takes them longer to eat.

Not easy this weight loss thing is it?!

I didn't even get to 1200 calories today. I think I'm finally beginning to adjust to the smaller portions.

Had 2 eggs for lunch. Followed by lots of fruit and a chocolate convered rice cake. Low carbs definitely helps with cravings and tiredness. Weigh day tomorrow. I'm optimistic.

Flu jab is making me feel like poo though.

Hi all, I’m still here plodding along in the background! I’ve had a poorly little one off school this week so not posted for a few days. Food has been ok-ish so far this week, not the best but I haven’t fallen too far off the wagon! I went to the gym last night and had a PT session today, hopefully will get to the gym again tomorrow and once more over the weekend.
The oatcake with Nutella sounds delicious! I definitely need to look for some over the weekend!

I hope you enjoy your walk tomorrow @SnuggleBuggleBoo . Good tip about the freezer! I don't have any left now till the shopping comes on Saturday but will give it a go then. Thanks. And no, it's not easy at all! But, we are both still trying so that's got to count for something.
Good luck for tomorrow @CatMattress , I hope you feel better then too. I had my covid and flu jab done at the same time. Luckily I didn't have a reaction to either of them. Nurse called me a weirdo though as I like to watch.
Hi @LBB2020 , I hope your child feels better too now? Well done on all that working out! 💪
I've been perusing the internet trying to find a Christmas day outfit. Not had much luck so far, but I suppose it's still early. Just want to find something with a bit of sparkle, not to low cut and not too expensive. Hopefully shops will get their Christmas stock in soon.

Hope you’re feeling better soon @CatMattress.
Thank you @Openmouthinsertfood, he’s not quite there yet we ended up at the out of hours doctors this evening. He has antibiotics now so fingers crossed he’ll be on the mend soon!
I noticed Next and M&S had started getting some sparkly clothes in the other day. I’m looking forward to a few Christmas nights out this year so would like to find something nice I can wear, hopefully will have lost a few more lbs by then too!

Aww, sorry to hear that, hopefully the antibiotics kick in soon. I'm glad kids these days have things like Calpol. I remember my mum giving me milk and magnesia as child in desperation to help with the mumps! lol Surprisingly it didn't work...
I'll have to check out M & S, thank you for the tip off. I want an outfit for the day itself. It gets very hot in here cooking a roast so don't want anything to 'heavy,' iyswim? But I want a bit of glammour and sparkle!

I lost a pound this week. I do have 3 meals out from now until Mon though so I'm likely to find that pound again next week 🤦‍♀️ (hopefully not more)

I hadn't measured my belly since July, and just remembered, I lost half an inch! Really happy with that.

I've done 4 workouts this week and been fairly good food wise - although winter has me struggling with motivation. I just want to eat all the carbs and hibernate!!

Have a good weekend all!

Morning all

Welcome to the thread @ChickenChipsandBeans and well done on the loss you've had so far, that's amazing. I am a daily weigher too - it has it's pros and cons but overall I find it works for me and as you say, gets you used to fluctuations. Good luck with your target for mid November and keep us posted.

Lol at DPs 2Kg being down the back of the sofa @CatMattress my DP is the same, the weight just falls off him without much effort when he decides he's dieting. The most annoying thing is when he starts offering me weight loss tips... 😡Hope you're feeling better soon after your flu jab.

Aaaah, thanks @Openmouthinsertfood it was delicious even if not good calorie (or health) wise. Managed to get back on plan fully yesterday though so taking that as a win! Sorry about the snackident, @SnuggleBuggleBoo tip about keeping them in the freezer sounds a good one. Also, do you record your calories anywhere? I do and make sure that if I over indulge I add them in so I can see the damage in black and white - it does make you think twice in future although granted it doesn't always stop me repeating the same mistakes...😅

@SnuggleBuggleBoo I have to do my workouts first thing in the morning when I get up otherwise they don't happen. It is difficult now the mornings are dark though - so much easier in summer when it's light and the birds are singing 😊Hope you managed to get a walk in this morning before work - it is absolutely pelting it down with rain here, I was drenched just putting the bin out, so definitely not walking weather here this morning.

Sorry to hear about your poorly little one @LBB2020 I remember those days well, hope he's feeling better soon 🤗

Well done on the pound lost @Gemzee and awesome news on the inch lost off your belly 😍mine is looking very flabby currently but like you I'm struggling to stay away from the carbs now we're heading into winter. For me dieting and exercise is definitely easier in the summer months 😫

I am finding all the talk of sparkly Christmas dresses quite motivating so I will have a little browse over the weekend and see if I can find something to treat myself to if I ever manage to get back into the 9s. Not happening currently as I've had a STS at 10st 4lb this morning. Determined to stick with it though and have done a workout already this morning and pretty much have my food planned to stay within calories. Don't quite have enough for a glass of wine but may go for a walk later to get the extra calories I need if the rain ever stops pouring down.

Have good days all.

I have changed my dieting track, so it must be announced 😂

I've moved my calorie goal up to 1700 cals per day on my fitness pal. 1370 was just too low after 10 weeks. I've decided I'd rather take more weeks and not be hungry than spend day in day out thinking about food so much. I want to really just get a sustainable routine that doesn't involve my whole headspace. I think it's going to take 60 weeks to get down to my healthy BMI. 😩

Im still going to weigh in once per month. I will report next Thursday. As for now I'm going to put my focus on something other than dieting. I will check in next week on this thread.

Have a good weekend you all and remember to enjoy the little things.

Thank you @bigdecisionstomake, he’s not often poorly so was a bit worrying last night!
@Yocal I think that’s a good idea, if you can do some exercise too that’ll bring your calorie deficit down too. Slow and steady wins the race!
Well done @Gemzee and enjoy your meals out!

Hey @LBB2020 I found some lovely dresses on simplybe, but the price! 😧Glad I wasn't near my debt card at the time. lol Hope little one is feeling a bit better today?
Well done on the lb and inch loss @Gemzee ! And well done to sticking to plan, it's not easy. I was talking with my mum yesterday about food to fit the weather...Sausage casserole, stew, soup...and I've ordered salad with my shopping! lol
Good luck to you @Yocal , I hope you find some diet free headspace. I know it's hard going slowly, but you'll get there.
Well done for getting so back on track @bigdecisionstomake . Sounds like you've got today in hand too. I hope you find something nice and sparkly to wear. You are trying to get to 9st something, and I'm desperate to get to 10st something. It's so close, but so far away! Why just those 4lbs?! lol To paraphrase Yocal, it takes up so much headspace. Just want to gt it done. Now!l lol

Morning all! Weighed in today - 200g down at 71.9kg. Yay! Finally got below that 72. V motivating. that's v nearly 2kg lost since beginning of September. And nearly 14kg lost since I was at my heaviest, but a lot of that was lost during post-divorce not-eating. At all. I think I lost about 3 stone in 4 months. This current approach is healthier.

I also went for my second couch to 5 k. This may not sound a big deal, esp as I used to run 7 or 8k in one go, but I am still recovering from Long Covid and my breathing has been problematic so being able to manage two of these in a week is really really positive and will hopefully help with the weight loss as I get a great endorphin rush, sleep better - all that good stuff.

I bought some sugarfree butterscotch sweets yesterday. Good tip! Also some salt and vinegar rice cakes as DP and I are both missing crisps. They're the Aldi ones and my goodness are they tangy! about 40 cals per rice cake. Had one for a pre-run snack.

Yay for the (Healthy) weight drop @CatMattress ! Glad you've managed to hit a goal. Well done on the C25K too. Can't be easy in this autumnal weather! Good for you.
Just be careful with the sugar free sweets. Does it have a little warning on the back about laxative effects? I've ignored that before, to my own peril!

Hah. It does and I'm well aware. I tend to lean the other way naturally so one or two won't be the worst thing in the world. I don't plan on chuffing the box though!

Can I please join. Its time to stop making excuses and lose these extra pounds. The last 5 years have been difficult and saw my weight go up 2 more stone leaving me 3 stone over my happy weight.
I've managed to reign it in the last few weeks and so I now have 2stone 6lbs to go to get back to happy or 1st 6 to get back to a healthy BMI.

I'm good for exercising so it must be my diet that is doing me no favours but denial all the way.

Cw 11st 6
1st gw 10st 13
Christmas gw 10st 6.

Well done to everyone so far on their losses.

Hah. It does and I'm well aware. I tend to lean the other way naturally so one or two won't be the worst thing in the world. I don't plan on chuffing the box though!

Lol, sensible idea. My mum suffers with her bowels. She is lucky in a way though, chocolate seems to mover things along her her. Chocolate, it's medicinal!
Discovered last night, there might be one tinny drawback to losing weight. Sitting and lying down is so much less comfortable! You lose the padding on your bones. Not complaining though. I'll take weight loss over being padded.
Hi @Extragravy . Sorry to hear you've had a difficult time.

Today:

Breakfast: Juice - 100

Snack: Mini tub houmous and cucumber - 150

Lunch: Cheese sandwich - 500
Lettuce - negligible

Snack 2: Kitkat - 100

Dinner: Tomato risoto - 500
Celery sticks - negligible

Dessert: Pear - 100
Yoghurt - 150
Cake bar - 100

Total: 1700

Still going overboard. It is depressing how I feel like I'm limiting myself but it's still all mounting up. It was pizza day at work today and I didn't have a single slice, so I am trying!! I also had a 20 minute walk and an hour's workout today.

Morning all, I went off track last night and am regretting it this morning (my stomach is not feeling great). No point dwelling on it though, today is a new day and all that!
Sounds like you’ve made a great start @Extragravy!
@SnuggleBuggleBoo I think 1500-1600 calories is much more realistic and you’re less likely to feel like you’re limiting yourself, with some exercise too you’ll be in a calorie deficit. Do you think maybe a more substantial breakfast would help so have have a lighter lunch? Maybe dessert could just be fruit and your cake bar rather than yogurt too? I think you’re doing great so keep going 😊

I'm away, house and pet sitting for my mum. She's such a feeder but thankfully hasn't left too many treats and snacks in the house. The kids, however (and pets) are driving me absolutely demented. I have so far been able to stick to the calorie controlled, but I have no idea how long it will last. I could eat a huge sticky cake right now, and a large sweet coffee and a slice of toast or a crumpet oozing butter and jam... my parents house just triggers me to comfort eating patterns. Going to be a tough few days, but if I can stick it out I will be so proud.

Today:

Breakfast: Apple and blueberry porridge - 200

Lunch: Egg sandwich - 400
Lentil crisps - 100
Babyleaf salad - negligible

Snack: Ginger immunity shot - 50
Cake bar - 100

Dinner: Cottage cheese - 300
Sweetcorn - 50
Red pepper - 50
Bread and butter - 300

Dessert: Carrot juice - 50
Cake bar - 100

Total: 1700 again. And no exercise dammit.

@LBB2020 Those pesky yoghurts! I bought them thinking they'd be fine as they're low fat, but they're still 100 cals more than Activia! I'm going to stick with Activia from now on. I'm not a very breakfasty person but did take your advice and had porridge today. I don't think it helped me eat less over the day but it did mean I didn't shop hungry, which is always a BIG mistake!

I hope you've had a better day. It takes real willpower not to throw in the towel after going off track I know! You can do it!

Is funny but having breakfast makes me hungry! If I stick to hot drinks until lunchtime (even if lunch ends up being at 11am) I definitely do better than if I have breakfast because when I do I end up really hungry for the rest of the day.

It does help that I usually don't fancy food till about 10am so I just hold on until lunch.
Today was a little lacking in veggies, but not too bad calorie wise. Must eat more fruit and veg tomorrow.

Coffee with 100ml semi skimmed - 50
Ham - 169
and 2 scrambled eggs - 126
with cucumber and salad - 8
salt and vinegar rice cake x 2 - 60
Chocolate rice cake x 2 - 168
3 fish fingers cooked in the oven - 177
1 tbsp ketchup -17
1 slice seeded wholemeal bread - 121
1/2 banana - 45
1 Mrs crimbles coconut and chocolate macaroon - 145
1 cup of tea with a splash of semi skimmed - 7

Total: 1,105

Did a little walk with the kids and run again tomorrow hopefully.