🥳LOSE IT! 🥳Christmas 2023 Countdown Thread 🥳

[TheRealHousewife]

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN EDITION.

8 week countdown to Christmas. November brings a fresh new month to become a healthier version of yourself. If you’re up for being your best self in time for the festivities you’ve come to the right place.

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 8st 12lbs. 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 few lbs 😬 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 of a 1lb - 2lbs per week you could be a half a stone to a stone lighter by Christmas 🎄🥳

@witnessprotection73

OMAD - one meal a day
IF - intermittent fasting
SW - start weight
CW - current weight
TW - target weight
WOW Weigh on Wednesday

@witnessprotection73 OMAD = one meal a day
IF = intermittent fasting

I also only recently had heard of these abbreviations 😊

Hi @ILikeItHere We have all been there when all we want is comfort and convenience. Enjoyable in the moment; don't sweat it, you’ve not massively gained. Clean slate and move on 👍

@Newname2308 Sounds like your plan is working for you. Well done on the loss 👏

@secondtimemumma Great result this week! Congratulations 🙌. In regards to being offered baked goods when socialising; it can be tough to navigate for fear of offence. You could let them know you’re watching your intake and if you really must you could just have a sliver of something (your hips don’t deserve to carry the weight of trying to please others … literally). In regards to OMAD I personally think it’s fine on occasion.

@fedupofbuilders I totally agree that snacks were invented by the food industry to make money! If meals are nutritionally balanced there is no need for snacks … but I am old school 😬 BTW well done on your steady loss! 👏

@NothingTraLaLa Sounds like you’re creating a little buffer to accommodate the Christmas Fare that will soon be around. 👌

Some great results today from people, well done!

@ILikeItHere I want noodles now! Sometimes you just need salty carbs. We have a Cambodian restaurant nearby and I've been wanting to go for weeks now but haven't. I think I'll treat myself to a meal there nearest Christmas.

I forgot to weigh this morning! I've done so now but I've had a pint of tea, half a pint of water, yogurt- finally, and a big bowl of porridge so I've no idea how much all that has added but I'm 56.9kg after all that. I'll have to weigh in the morning to be accurate.

Ds has got impetigo and a throat infection so that's him off school the rest of the week which means no walking for me. I'm going to crack on with the jobs that need doing in the house once I've prevaricated and had another cup of tea. It's really cold in the house today and I'm tired so feeling the chill. Ds is under a throw on the sofa and all snuggly. We've been watching Christmas films and enjoying snuggle time. Dd is grumpy with me for trying to look after her and has gone to school very late and I'm full teenager mode 🙄

Keep going everyone, you're doing great!

Sounds tough @JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots. Being cold is so uncomfortable. I wear layers myself. A thermal long sleeve under top, shirt or polo then gilet or jumper. If trousers are on the loose side I wear tights under them as hate feeling ‘drafty’ 😬 Sending a hug and more tea ☕️❤️

@TheRealHousewife and @JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots thanks for supportive words. I was meant to have a cheat day with take away and cake on my bday next week but cracked too soon!
Anyway, today I had babybel for bfast, boiled egg and tinned tuna for lunch and cod with salad for dinner. I hope to see some change in the right direction this week.

@JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots I hope your DS feel better soon, sounds nasty.

I got a takeaway tonight, which wasn’t planned but managed to work it into my calories. You know sometimes when you are feeling, cold, tired and plain old can’t be arsed? That was tonight. Could have been worse though.

I think the damage has been done by DD sending me lots of lists of things she’d like me to cook when she gets home from uni!

Today's food:
Eggs and tomato
ham and low fat cream cheese lettuce wrap
cottage cheese
Chicken and lamb shashlick with salad

@JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots hope your son is feeling better soon! 💐

I had a half lbs gain this week. But I did have a NSV of 1 inch off my waist and .5 off my hips. I really need to up my game this week.

I've lost 0.8kg overnight. Very weird but I think it's due to anxiety so not counting on it sticking until weigh in next week (2 stressful medical appointments and an argument with my husband yesterday).

Today:
-boiled egg and rye toast
-soup and bread
-out for dinner so probably garlic prawns followed by steak, veg and chips (and maybe a dessert)
-fruit and greek yoghurt with honey

Good Morning All

@ILikeItHere Youre welcome :)

@Spudlover We’ve all had those nights, I totally sympathise! Every now and then is absolutely ok 👍 … and it’s good for the soul!

@LeftyLou Great nsv 👏👏👏

@PatienceOfEngels Nice overnight surprise but sorry to read about the stress/argument. Here’s hoping today is more settled ❤️

Menu
Meal 1 - Butternut squash and butter bean soup.
Meal 2 - Fish, peas, carrots, potato’s & tartar sauce.
Tea, black coffee and water.

Morning, back on track with last Wed weight. I need to keep posting daily or else I might cave in again!
Happy Thu everyone!

Evening all. I'm so super behind on the thread this week, I'll try to catch up properly but may have to cut losses and stay abreast of everything from now.

Very hairy week over here - big row with DH at the weekend (which seems sorted, but left us both deflated) and then my mum had an accident on Sunday night so everything has been a bit stressful, tiring and heightened. I've managed to stick to my cup-a-soup specials for lunches this week, and I've managed three dance classes instead of my normal one or two, but dinners have been more convenience over content, I've snacked where I normally wouldn't, and I haven't tracked my calories. I did have some wine Tuesday night, but not the rest of the week (although may have some tonight). Can't tell what tomorrows weigh in will bring as it's been good on some fronts, very much not so good on others. I'll remain accountable though, and hopefully things will be smoother next week. I'll update in the morning ❤️

I need a big pointy stick from you, lovely crowd.
@Spudlover the 'can't be arsed' mood has been me for past 2 days.

Since no loss for the past week registered on Tuesday weigh in, I just kinda threw in a towel in a 'i might just as well eat' for the past 2 days. The problem is... I can't stop. I just can't stop eating carbs and blooming chocolate sweets (I don't even like chocolate that much!). Someone please stop me!

I am still managing to drink 3L of water a day and not eat after 7pm, but it's not enough.

@ImALittlePea I am sorry to hear about your argument with DH and mother's accident. I hope she is well. Emotional turmoil is always a big challenge to diets. Sending 💐

Also, can anyone recommend where to buy pretty underwear that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? I am ready to part with my post c section granny pants, but don't want to spend a lot of money on underwear now when my shape will hopefully change again.

@ImALittlePea m&S always have nice stuff.

@ImALittlePea that sounds rough. I think it’s ok to enter survival mode when you need to. Good luck with the weigh in.

@DomesticElf do you want to join me back on the wagon? Better day today, although I did have a G&T.

I have had a frustrating couple of days. I weigh in every day (Noom) and I have been looking at a 3lb gain. I know it’s water as I have stuck to my calories and have all the other water retention signs but still, it’s hard not to say fuck it! Official weigh in is Saturday morning so must stay strong.

Slight gain this week due to no exercise and AF. It will drop off again by Wednesday I expect. Usually does. I've had a headache most of this week combined with backache and aching knees like everything is irritated or just missing my usual activity and spending too much time sitting. I'm down at least 40 miles and it shows in my mood and weight. Lots of people say that exercise isn't that important in weight loss but for me it's what makes the biggest difference. I'm only 200g up. But it's 200g.
Christmas is approaching fast now. I'm nearly done with the Christmas shopping but really need to get this 2kg gone. We go on holiday in February and I remember this time last year thinking I'd never get to 60kg which was my goal for the holiday. I remember the joy of reaching that goal early and my swimming costume being too big. I'm hopefully going to be 6kg less this time so will definitely need to get a new costume otherwise I might lose my top on the water slide 🤣

To those who are struggling: don't stress, just start again and forget any blips. Slow and steady for the win and remember you're human and not a machine that needs x in to achieve x. Things can be varied to fit your needs and as long as the overall pattern is shifting the scales down then a day or three of being off plan doesn't matter. Life's too short to beat ourselves up.

@Spudlover I'm back on a wagon too. Willpower found and dusted off.
@JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots do you have to walk a lot for your job or is it all for pleasure? Hope you are feeling better soon.

I don't drive so have to walk everywhere unless it's longer distances.

Thanks @DomesticElf @Spudlover mum is ok, she's home now and resting/recovering, but she's pushing 80 so it's always a fright and takes longer to recover.

Sorry, no pretty underwear inspo from me @DomesticElf I just do standard black pants. Boring but no-one else sees them 🤣

Hope you're feeling better soon @JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots and absolutely echo your second paragraph. That's absolutely the sentiment that we all need to remember when we struggle, which we all do. We're human, but we carry on.

Happy to report a tiny loss today. 4oz, which is what I put on last week. Still 2-3lb over where I'd like to be, hopefully I can chip away at that before Christmas and the inevitable gain!

The washing machine engineer asked me today if I'd lost a load of weight. Bless him. He's a fairly regular visitor to my misbehaved machine but it might be a year since he was last here. I don't see myself as looking any different so it's weird when people notice.

Hello all. I was 10 stone 12 this morning! I know it’s water weight but it’s still make me happy and motivated.

what’s everyone having for tea later? I’ve promised to make thick carved ham, egg & chips for my OH. I’ll have the ham and eggs but what else would to recommend?

off to the gym shortly. Hole everyone is having a good day x

My weight is all over the place from having a crazy stressful day (-0.8) then eating out way more and later than I normally do (+1.5) and then settling a little agin (0.4). I think I needs to step away from the scale and let everything settle 😅

Today:
-no breakfast as still full from late dinner tonight
-random lunch - apple, nuts, cheese, boiled egg, rye toast
-chicken bhuna and rice
-pear for snack

Hi all. Not done a weigh in yet. Have had an on off week this week. Been in work early in person twice this week and had fat free yogurt with blueberries for breakfast both times to save time and had a Greggs free salted caramel latte one morning!

Yesterday we had an away day at work where we had mini pastries in the morning (had 3-4 of those) plus sandwiches and salad (yummy with cooked yellow cauliflower and pomegranate seeds) and then after it met a friend for dinner at Wagamama (katsu curry, gyoza plus white wine) and had a cocktail before that.

@TheRealHousewife thanks for posting the baked cheesecake, looks yummy and will try!

Am similar with no exercise this week, didn’t feel great as slight cold but did do a lap of park and walking and also yesterday walked back home from the bus garage (approx 15 mins) and around London/office.

Hope everyone else has had a good week!

Glad to hear that @ImALittlePea

@JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots I bet that made you feel good! I’m holding out for that but it hasn’t happened yet.

@witnessprotection73 have you tried celeriac chips? I use celeriac quite often instead of potato, about one third the calories and carbs.

Not a bad day today. Food:
Chia seed porridge and cherries
Tuna salad
Babybel
cauliflower crust pizza, surprisingly good!

Weigh in in the morning although still retaining water so not hopeful!

@Spudlover pizza looks delicious.

I use celeriac lots too. I just had tinned tomatoes with it in the end. It was very nice and nice to not feel stuffed!!