🥳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 🎄🥳

Happy Advent everyone!

Too much going on here still with the latest drama instalment last night into the early hours. I made porridge but I can't stomach it this morning so I'll feel like shit later. My eldest Dd is very troubled and the drama is not constant but is irregularly regular so you never know when you're going to get blasted with the latest round of police and social services.

Everyone seems to be doing really well but to those who are struggling just keeps plodding on and you'll get there!

Hello everyone, coming to join your thread.

I started two weeks ago then immediately hosted friends for the weekend so lots of meals out etc 🤦🏼‍♀️ but happy regardless!

SW - 15 stone 9
CW - 15 stone 4

TW for end of 2023 is 14 stone 7

Happy 1st December all!

@TheRealHousewife you are very right I know that if I go all out I will not feel good about it so I am going to try and account for any indulgences! My aim this month is to continue to aim for a loss but will try not to worry if that doesn’t happen!

@JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots sounds like you have a lot going on. I hope things settle down for your Dd & all of you xx

struggling to get moving today but about to head to the gym. 10, 12 this morning.

I have my first Christmas night out tonight. Just a comedy night but will have a few drinks. What would you go for? Slimline G&T? Will
avoid wine.

food today
breakfast 2 boiled eggs
lunch small
jacket potato with prawns
dinner - tandoori chicken with cauliflower rice
lots of water!

happy December 1st! Let the madness begin x

@JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots sorry to hear all that is going on. Hope you and your daughter are okay 💐

@TheRealHousewife thankyou for your inspirational post 😊 it's going to really help me have a good think about what I want the end of December/ beginning of the new year to look like for me.

@OhpoorMe welcome 😊

I get 30 mins for my lunch and usually use that time to do a walk around the block but we are putting the tree up this evening so will use it instead to have a quick blast round with the hoover and then a quick walk on my afternoon break.
Having soup with bread roll for lunch. Apple and almond butter and then probably be a take away for tea to be honest but I should be able to fit it in without going over calories.

Happy 1st December everyone 🎄

@JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots sorry to hear that it sounds like a lot of stress.

@LeftyLou enjoy getting the tree up

@witnessprotection73 I love tandoori chicken so am jealous of your menu today!

I am back on the wagon today
Lunch was soup
Snack of fruit mid afternoon
Dinner will be gnocchi but a small portion!

Haven't managed much exercise but will take the dogs for a quick walk if it isn't raining later.

Planning to have a good weekend and first few days next week and brave the scales for WoW next week. Dreading what they show which is why I am holding off a little.

@GonnaGetGoingReturns Oooo lovely, thank you! I could do with some new staple recipes... In a bit of a rut with dinners atm x

Welcome to the thread @OhpoorMe 👍

You’re very welcome @LeftyLou 😊 To say I really enjoy decorating at Christmas … I’ve only got as far as elf on my shelf 😂

@ImALittlePea @rainbow616 👍

@witnessprotection73 Have a lovely evening! 🥳

@JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots as a fellow parent of a high drama child, you have my sympathy. I have been blindsided by one thing after another over the years. She’s at university now and seems to be loving it so I’m cautiously optimistic. I hope it gets easier for you.

@TheRealHousewife good advice for navigating December. Right now I don’t want to blow it, but all of that could change with the first Baileys inside me.

@witnessprotection73 hope you had a good night out!

I have a night out tonight with a group of friends I haven’t seen since the beginning of October. I was at my heaviest then and have since lost 20lbs so am feeling a lot better about myself and won’t look so awful in the photos hopefully! Halfway to my overall goal.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Good Morning All

@Spudlover Baileys … I know what you mean 😬🥳👌Have a great time tonight. You’ll look absolutely fabulously transformed ❤️

Menu
Meal 1 - Minestrone Soup.
Meal 2 - Halloumi, navo cavolli, red pepper, carrot, onion & butter beans stir fry.
Tea, black coffee and hot water, lemon, ginger & honey.

Afternoon all!

Yesterday -
Breakfast: the usual boiled egg and toast
Lunch: prawn cocktail open sandwich on homemade bread
Dinner: lentil, vegetable and bacon soup with homemade bread
Snacks: a million satsumas (bought some without realising DH had bought some the day before!), 2 squares of dark orange chocolate

Today -
Breakfast: boiled egg and toast
Lunch: small baked potato with butter, spinach and cheese
Dinner: Sweet and sour chicken with rice (Hairy Dieter's recipe)
Snacks: more satsumas, handful of chocolate covered kruidnoten (small spiced biscuits).

DH's going to do roast lamb with mashed potatoes and chicory tomorrow 😋

Feeling so much better about myself the last few weeks, physically and mentally. Have dropped another half a kilo since Wednesday so hoping it sticks for WOW. I can't believe I've lost 5.5kg since the beginning of October - would really like to get to 6.4 by Christmas for a full stone off.

@PatienceOfEngels amazing results, you should be so proud! Your meals always sound delicious.

@TheRealHousewife your stirfry sounds incredible!

@JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots Sorry to hear it's a stressful time.

I've had a busy day today, only went for a small walk but nearly at 13k steps from all the rushing, many of which will have been running up and down stairs, so I hope that makes up for a few days off my 'proper' exercise.

I have been house-hunting all year and had 2 purchases fall through before completion which has been an absolutely gutting experience. We're now moving to another rental, only for 6 months, and hoping that we can find a place to buy in the new year and it will be third time lucky. I've only bought property in my home country before, and I knew the UK was trickier but nothing prepared me for the reality! Anyway, today I've been packing up everything and am amazed at how much stuff we have accumulated (we don't have DC yet, the lack of stable home being one reason, so it's only me and DP)! I want to become much more minimalist in the new year in general, which I think fits in nicely with mindful eating

I'm on a more even keel now after a couple of days being more aware of what I was eating, and adding more green salad to meals. I was letting Stuff creep in or increase. Writing down every morsel has been a shock. Weighed and measured everything all yesterday, read any and all labels, and felt much more in control.

Sorted out the home-made lattes in particular. I'm not prepared to cut them out completely unless I absolutely have to, so when I discovered unexpected ingredients in the milk powder, I found a different brand and can continue to enjoy one or two each day.

Calculated all my carbs yesterday, and it totalled 77g. Ideally get that down to around 50g.

Down another half-pound, and a few more clothes fit and fasten. Feeling less creaking in my joints as I move around the house.

Had a totally derailed day! We are both coughing and spluttering so can't be bothered with prepping and cooking food. Had 2 portions of homemade minestrone (made yesterday) and a large handful of chilli honeyed cashews. Not ideal but it is what it is.

@2Early4Breakfast Great to read you're back on track 👍

@Toomanyemails I'll admit it's one of my favorites. If I had to I could eat it every day. The crispy halloumi makes it to be honest 😋

@PatienceOfEngels Roast lamb is my favorite dark meat ! Enjoy!

@2Early4Breakfast how do you do the homemade lattes, do you have a coffee maker? It sounds like you're on track with the measuring, I am also at the stage of making sure I track everything. I'm focusing on increasing protein for now because I wanted to pick one thing to avoid overwhelm (I saw a nutritionist last year who highlighted this as a focus for me), and I can see even on days I feel healthy I need to sort the carbs:protein ratio

Rescue salad to save the day 🥗 = Lettuce, celery, carrot, spring onion, cherry tomatoes, hazelnuts, pecans, chicken and feta. Drizzled in wizzed up jarred red pepper, garlic, evoo, fat free cottage cheese, fresh basil. Very tasty and includes 12 varieties of veg/salad/nuts/herbs.

Hi Everyone,

Hope you've all had a good weekend. I have been completely off plan! DS has come down with some kind of nasty cold, so sleep 😭 and any other plans went straight out of the window! I have eaten terribly! Been using sugar to keep me going I think! Also feel like today has been a super hungry day which really hasn't helped, but I guess all I can do now is put my best foot forward and get back on track tomorrow! Really hoping for a swift recovery for poor DS and more sleep tonight 🤞🤞🤞Feeling pretty annoyed at myself but it is what it is! These things happen I guess.

Hi @Newbornmum Sounds like a tough weekend! Sleep deprivation plays havoc with hunger signals and appetite so I’m not surprised you’ve reached for sugary snacks. Hope your DS soon recovers !

Hope everyone has a great week! With 3 weeks until Christmas I really need to up my game. My eating is chaotic and not healthy. I'm not eating much but what I have been eating is not great except for porridge and yogurt. My chia porridge is cooking and at least I'm starting the day right. I should clock up at least 10 miles of walking today and walked 54 miles last week. I had bad stomach ache yesterday and woke up with it this morning so not feeling great. It could be mince pies or the spelt and honey bread or just my dodgy insides but I feel rough this morning.
@TheRealHousewife that salad sounds awesome and I wished I liked salad but I just can't stomach it for some reason.

Good Morning All

Hi @JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots I know what you mean about salad … I struggle with a plate salad consisting of full lettuce leaves, tomato half’s cut with zig-zag top and a dollop of salad cream. Chopped up with all sorts of things including something for texture is the way to go for me 🥗 54 miles is impressive 👏👏👏👌

What an awful damp wet muddy day it is ☔️ All our snow has now gone and everything in the garden is mushy. I much prefer a frosty sunny crisp day!

Meal 1 - Minestrone Soup. Walnuts. Apple.
Meal 2 - ? Was going to have fish but don’t fancy it.
Tea, black coffee & hot water & lemon.

Not feeling great this morning as I well and truly went overboard at the weekend.

@TheRealHousewife you have inspired me to do a tasty salad this evening .
@JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots cant believe there’s only 3 weeks to go!

@Newbornmum hope your son is feeling better today!

Morning all!

Trying to get into the right mindset for the week. Weekend consisted of wine, pizza, a big roast yesterday, and too much grazing.

Currently sat waiting for my class to start. Nice hour of jumping and dancing around to start the week. Followed by a split shift at work, about 8ish hours on my feet over the course of the day.

Meals:
(Early) lunch - wrap with leftover roast chicken, lots of salad, drizzle of dressing or salad cream
Dinner - jacket potato with cheese and mushroom omelette, baked beans (I think)

Thank you @secondtimemumma and @TheRealHousewife He's still coughing and snuffling away but we all got some more sleep last night thankfully, so feeling a bit more human across the board I think 😊

@TheRealHousewife that salad looks delicious! I love a salad with loads of different bits and bobs 🥗😊

Happy Monday all. Wishing you all a great week!

@ssecondtimemumma Same here! Feeling pretty bloated and sluggish after a very overboard weekend here too... Resolving to drink lots of water today and hoping for the best! 🤞The weekends always seem trickier for some reason. I guess out of routine or something 🤷