Diet for Summer Challenge 2024

[bigdecisionstomake]

This is a continuation of the previous Diet for Christmas and Diet for Summer Challenges started by myself, @OhFatty and @Dashel

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.

Your target doesn't need to be summer - you can set if for as soon or as late as you like. There are no rules other than being supportive and cheering each other on. Occasional kicks up the bum are available as and when requested.

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

I will update shortly with my start point for this challenge.

@bigdecisionstomake thank you, I thought the little one had turned a corner this morning...no more fever but after a day's break of snotty nose, it's back in full force today.
Sorry you're struggling at the moment with the weekends. It's so hard not to associate food and drink with relaxing at the weekend. I'm not sure if it's the same for you but my mind always automatically goes to comfort food when it's Friday (ooh what tasty things can I eat this weekend!). I was working with a PT, nutritionist, holistic health coach for 6 months to sort out this comfort / emotional eating and it's helped a lot even though I still struggle with it sometimes too (Friday... McDonald's was ordered with a fuck it attitude as both boys were back at the doctor).
I think avoiding the scales is a good thing if it's going to negatively impact you and let the bloat settle!

I had a bit of a wobble this morning for some reason! I've been trying to focus on the small goals, slow and steady, it'll take me two years etc. But I caught a glimpse of myself in the window and I just felt very demoralised all of a sudden. No idea where it came from. And I suddenly felt bad that at how much I'm overweight, it wasn't coming off "fast" enough.

I'm guessing this is coming from feeling a bit low due to lack of sleep and a stressful week so I need to find a way to push through it and not adopt a negative mindset or else I might spiral. It's a nice spring day today, sun shining, blue skies but a chill in the air. I love this kind of weather. Will get out for an evening walk with some music when DH is finished work and can watch the kids. That is one of my go-tos now instead of food🙈 it's just hard to ignore the need to eat when I'm feeling low until DH is back and I can get out on my own .

Evening all

That really resonates with me @IchGlaubMeinSchweinPfeift about getting to Friday and imagining all the lovely weekend food (and wine in my case). Not sure how best to avoid it other than focusing on wanting to look slimmer and more toned.

Really sorry you're feeling wobbly about how you look. All I can recommend is using this to focus yourself on keeping on track. Remember that losing slowly is meant to be more sustainable in the long run but I appreciate this is cold comfort when you're fed up with the process. If it helps, I had a similar moment at work today - I was in the loo and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror sideways on and couldn't quite believe how large I looked. With summer coming I definitely want to have a slimmer silhouette, never mind wear shorts and dare I say it, even a bikini.

I am feeling more determined that I have for a while to knuckle down now and get some of the excess weight off. I will admit though I had the first really good night's sleep I've had for a while last night so that may be contributing to my positive mindset.

Hopefully your little one will be on the mend again soon and you can get caught up on your sleep and start looking for the positives again. I think your plan to get out for a walk is a good one, the great outdoors always lifts my spirits, even when it's raining sometimes. Put a good podcast or some amazing music on and have some 'me' time if you can 🙂

I haven't weighed again today but have worked out and counted calories. I'll see how I feel tomorrow about the scales...!

I try to find something else to look forwards to at the weekend other than food, I'm being a snug running twat xurrently and looking forward to that, but make it something you'll care about, a nice film, a new shower gel, a visit to the shops...?

Also I've been spending extra money on out of season fruit. Having nice berries to snack on has stopped me automatically reaching for the chocolate after a meal and is something to look forward to that. Although not calorie free. Is at least lower calorie and nutritious.

Weight has started going down again and is staying in the 69kg range, but it's up and down day by day.

@bigdecisionstomake I know how you feel, I'm trying to train myself to substitute the food with other things - half an hour reading with a coffee, a walk with music. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but it's starting to work more than not so just pushing on and hoping it eventually becomes a habit.
You're definitely right, thanks for the encouragement! Slow is better long term. And that's the goal, not a quick fix but a long term healthy weight.
My youngest has finally turned a s corner, we've had no fever since Monday evening and today he's been playing again and is his cheery self again 😊snotty nose not fully gone but my gosh what a difference.
I also went for my walk yesterday 30 minutes, some music. Did the world of good.

That's great you've had better sleep. It's been quite an eye opener just how much lack of sleep can affect your overall mood / feelings /mindset. I hope it continues and the positive mindset continues as well 🤞🏼 having those summer goals are a great motivation.

@Backinthedress that's great you're seeing the 60s and keeping away from that 70 mark.

Weigh in day for me!
SW Jan 1: 15st 10
March 13: 15st 2.8lbs

1lb loss this week. Glad to see another pound gone. it's been a hellish week and I did my best not to order take aways or stuff myself with sugar everyday. One McDonald's was ordered but I kept it within my calorie allowance and I just didn't buy any chocolate so I wouldn't be tempted to eat the whole thing 🙈
My step average was 7900 so I've really confirmed my steps need to be above 7500 to see a difference for me. I ended up having to eat a bit more some days due to proper hunger (DS2 was off food and breastfeeding constantly) so I listened to my body and even on days my calories were used up (I think this happened twice) i made sure to eat. I was proper hungry so one night I had Weetabix, protein powder with almond milk, and the other a wholewheat wrap it chicken, peppers, mushrooms and sweetcorn and a bit of BBQ sauce. If I eat something proper when I'm hungry, it stops me binging sugar the next day.
Feeling positive after my wobble to keep going!
My first goal is -28lbs. 8.2 down, 19.8 to go.

Have a fantastic Wednesday all

Evening all

Those are some good suggestions @Backinthedress I think you're right, I need something else to focus on as my weekend treat that isn't food or drink related. I do enjoy being out in the garden so as the weather gets nicer that is something I can focus on and it will burn a few calories too. Pleased to hear you're staying in the 60s now - well done - being a smug running twat obviously works 😂

Well done on creating new good habits @IchGlaubMeinSchweinPfeift and reading with a hot drink is a good suggestion. Good sleep is so important - I generally have good sleep habits but have found the older I've got (and the more stressful work is) the worse my sleep seems to get - it really does make a difference to your mood when you're lacking good quality sleep. Awesome progress so far and congratulations on another pound lost this week - you are inspiring me 🙂

I've still not weighed as I continue to feel a bit bloaty but am back on it properly. My food is good and I'm back working out every day. Today was HR 4.0 Day 14 Core Strength and Back Mobility plus a 20 min GFWR. Although it wasn't a sweaty one the HR workout was a tough one and really good for me combining strength and mobility.

Here's hoping I can keep it up!

Hi all

Sorry to hear a few of you have been struggling. I also struggle with comfort eating/drinking at the weekend.

I've upped my workouts (time wise) and it's paying off, another pound gone! I'm back where I was last Summer & feeling pretty good. We booked a holiday for June recently so the threat of wearing a bikini has been helping massively with motivation!

I'm going to set a new goal of 1 more pound off by holiday but mainly my goal is to keep exercising at least 5 days a week. Hoping to keep toning up.
Have a good weekend all.

69.0kg. New low! Yay!

Here's to hopefully breaking into the 68s by the end of next week.

Hello all, nearly the weekend!

Huge congratulations on another pound gone @Gemzee you really are smashing it 💪I should imagine all the working out is paying dividends with toning up too 👙

Whoop whoop for 69.0kg @Backinthedress - so close to the 68s - you're doing amazingly well - keep going 😃

I finally feel like I've found my mojo again too. I now have two short UK breaks booked this year and am starting to think about our main sun/beach holiday for September so that is really helping.

I haven't weighed again as although I've been really good with food and exercise this week something (hormones probably) is making me bloated but I can feel that starting to recede now so I might risk the scales tomorrow - although DS is cooking pasta for tea tonight so I'll see how I feel in the morning but am going to try to be restrained in terms of portion size.

6 weeks until our first short break so focusing on being comfortable in my jeans by then 🙂

Happy Friday everyone.

Morning all and happy weekend

I took a deep breath this morning and got on the scales. I currently weigh 10st 6.8lb. I'm a mixture of cross with myself that I'm now a little heavier than I was when I last weighed in and breathing a sigh of relief that the damage isn't worse than it is.

I started the weekend really well by having a measured out and calorie counted glass of wine last night and not going back to the bottle for more afterwards. I've done a 20 min Up to the Beat 70s dance workout followed by HR 4.0 Day 15 which was legs. Altogether it gave me a really good calorie burn so I'm going to try to stay on plan and within calories today. My mojo definitely feels like it's firmly back in place for the moment - let's hope it stays that way. I could do with a good couple of weeks under my belt before the long Easter Bank Holiday weekend arrives!

Have good days all.

@Backinthedress@Gemzee well done to you both on the losses!

@bigdecisionstomake I hope the weekend is continuing to go well. It's very hard not to get discouraged by the scales but it sounds like you've been doing really well getting right back on it. We're also off in around 6 weeks and with the spring slowly starting, I feel it creates such a mental boost and more motivation.

My poor boy is still trying to get rid of this ear infection, 3rd round of antibiotics in 5 weeks. The good thing is though he's not in constant pain, it very much comes and goes and so long as his ear is covered, we are able to get out, which is great as for the most part he's fine and gets so bored at home 😆my youngest is back to his usual happy wild self! So fingers crossed we're at the end of the sick tunnel... this winter has been exceptionally bad. And I cannot wait for spring and summer this year when I'm usually a winter person 😁

My week is going well. I'm currently enjoying some time to myself whilst DH entertains the boys. I have a coffee, updating here then will read for a while. The window is wide open, blue skies, sun shining, birds singing and a chilly wind. It's gorgeous.
The positive thing which happened to me this week was grabbing the wrong jeans (my pre-pregnancy ones) and not realising until after I took them off...they fit me again! I haven't been able to get into them before ds was born (I think I switched to my pregnancy jeans summer 2022), and I had to buy two pairs in the next size up after DS was born in January 23 (a size I've only ever been once in my life) so that was a great win for me and i can now demote the bigger jeans to "house jeans" 😆. Knowing I'll fit into my summer clothes for my break in 6 weeks and then our holiday in May has already felt like a big achievement :)

Have a lovely Sunday all.

Morning all

Just did a big cheer for you @IchGlaubMeinSchweinPfeift for fitting in your pre-pregnancy jeans - that's such a great achievement, huge congratulations 🙂 Sometimes it's the non-scale victories that are the sweetest. Sorry to hear your eldest is still plagued with his ear infection, I remember it seeming never-ending when you have more than one child and a stream of winter infections just keep on coming. Hopefully this round of antibiotics will see it off and you can all move into Spring feeling much more fit and well.

I have managed to keep my weekend on track so far - first one in a long time which feels like a huge win. I stayed within calories and was quite active. This morning has seen a STS on the scales at 10st 6.8lb and I'm going to try to stick within calories today too. I've just walked this morning as I have some DOMS from leg day yesterday plus I like to have at least one day a week when I keep exercise fairly gentle. Hopefully I can keep myself on track for the rest of today as it would be good get into the 5s by this time next week.

How is everyone else doing?

Happy Sunday everyone 🙂

Hello - please can I join in? I need a place to be accountable.

I have 9 weeks until my holiday and I’d like to lose the last stone of baby weight (I’ve been trying to lose for it for nearly 4 years…..!). I haven’t worked out consistently for months (life does get in the way doesn’t it!) but yesterday I went for a 5K run (very slow) and was feeling good - then ate a whole packet of cookies?? Why did I do that!!!
so I am hoping to report and join in with you lovelies to keep on track and actually make some progress.

I am going to calorie count on mfp, try to go running a few times a week/do youtube workouts if I can't go running.

going to weigh and take measurements as a starting point tomorrow morning.

Morning all, I fell off the thread again as I’ve been struck down with a really nasty virus! I’m still not feeling great but better than I was. On the plus side I’ve lost 2.5lbs and am now down to 10st7lb which I’m delighted with (hopefully I don’t pile it back on once feeling better!).
Hope you are all doing well and are having a good weekend

Morning all

Usually I do a bit of an internal groan on Monday mornings but it is gloriously sunny here today and it really feels like spring is springing so I'm unusually happy for a Monday instead today ☀

@Frankgodno you are very welcome to join us all. I think having a goal like a holiday really helps although I would wholeheartedly agree that life has a habit of getting in the way! Posting regularly keeps me accountable so I hope it helps for you too and counting calories is the only way I reliably lose weight - when I stop I find I usually maintain or gain, even if I think I'm eating in a deficit. Hope MFP works for you and being consistent with exercise is certainly helpful for me. Well done on the 5K run yesterday - what matters is that you did it, never mind how slow you were. Hopefully you can avoid the cookie snackcidents in the future if you are logging consistently on MFP. Looking forward to hearing how you get on - 9 weeks to go 🙂

Sorry to hear you've been struck down with a virus @LBB2020 but it sounds like there is an unexpected bonus with the weight loss - well done - it's hard not to comfort eat when you're unwell. I'll cross everything for you it doesn't come back again once you're feeling better. Hope you continue to be on the mend as the week progresses and are able to get back on it fully soon 🤗

I have had another STS at 10st 6.8lb this morning which is a huge win in some respects as it's the first weekend in a very long time that I haven't gained since my Friday weight but also a little disappointing as I've religiously stuck to calories and also been far more active than I usually am during the week so was hoping for a little loss. On the positive side the scales flirted with 10st 6.4lbs a few times before they settled on the 10st 6.8lb so I'm hoping that means I should drop in the next day or two.

Target for this week is to be in the 5s by next Monday. I've started the week with a 40 minute Metabolic Walking for WeightLoss workout with Olivia Lawson and will try to get a walk outside later in the day if possible.

Have good days all.

I got down to 68.8kg on Saturday!
Last night i came down with the d&v bug my dd had.
Oh well. I suppose it'll only help the weightloss.

Am annoyed though as i was actually vaguely looking forward to this week. Fingers crossed I feel better soon. DP has it much worse, poor sod.

Well done all of you for carrying on. We're doing this! Welcome new people

@bigdecisionstomake snackccident is a good phrase 🤣
the walking workout sounds good. Off to find Olivia Lawson on YouTube 👍🏻

Hello

Whoop whoop for being in the 68s @Backinthedress that's great news, well done. So sorry to hear about the D&V though - make sure you drink plenty and try and take it easy if that's possible. Hopefully it will be a quick one and you'll be back running again really soon 🤗

Unfortunately I've had rather too many snackccidents over the years @Frankgodno so am rather too familiar with the concept 😳It's part of the reason I find myself here now. Hope you enjoy Olivia Lawson, I've been doing her workouts for several years now and like the fact that a lot of them are low impact which is good for me as I have a dodgy hip.

I'm slightly frustrated as my scales are still stuck on 10st 6.8lb. I've been logging every calorie and working out consistently every day again for a week or so now so would like to see some benefit. My calorie deficit is currently set to 500 a day which should be enough for me to be seeing some movement but I may have to review that if I'm still not getting any progress by the end of the week. I've done HR 4.0 Day 16 Back and Biceps this morning as well as an Eleni Fit low impact cardio session. Fingers crossed for a whoosh on the scales soon!

Have a good evening everyone.

@Frankgodno welcome! I find the thread a helpful motivator, I hope you do too :)

@bigdecisionstomake thank you for congrats regards getting into my new jeans, I've tried all three pairs meanwhile and they all fit. It's such a nice feeling and is keeping me very motivated.
Sorry the scales are being a stubborn mare for you though, it's frustrating seeing them stuck at the same number, especially when you're sticking to the cals and workouts. That's great about having a good weekend though! That's such a positive and hopeful motivator for the upcoming weekends.

Weigh in day for me. My steps only averaged 6863 so I fell short of my 7000 minimum (and my 7500 goal). My calories however were mostly within my limit save one day where I overate by a couple hundred (oops).

SW Jan 1: 15st 10
March 20: 15st 1.4lbs

-0.4lbs for me.

Technically half a pound a week is my goal so I'm happy. So close to that 14st bracket... Which I haven't seen since summer 2021. I'm determined to be in it for dh's birthday getaway weekend in April!

Have great Wednesdays all.

I've fallen off the thread lately because I'm doing the Second Nature App and it's pretty involved with changing habits.

I see everyone is having similar weightloss struggles - why does it feel so painfully slow and unfair? However, we all keep plodding on with it and that is what's key.

I'm 1kg off my half way goal from being obese to a healthy BMI. My initial goal last July was to loose 30kg (4 and 1/2 stone 😬). It's taken so much longer than expected (possibly peri menopause metabolism changes). So I could be looking at another 10 months to get to my healthy BMI.
...then once at the top of my healthy BMI, I will probably want to do another 1.5 stone to sit neatly in the middle off it at about 22 BMI. So looking at another good year to get this body in order!

I will keep dropping in for catch ups and share any relevant insights from the teachings on the SN app.

My biggest insight to date is its all about the meal planning and having the right ingredients in the house to make wholesome food at home. (In other words not eating ultra processed foods or restaurant sized and vegless meals)

Morning all

So pleased the jeans are motivating you @IchGlaubMeinSchweinPfeift Well done on getting the next half a pound off, you're so close to dropping into the 14s now and that's absolutely achievable by your getaway in April if you stay consistent - you're smashing it 😃

Glad the Second Nature app is helping you @Yocal and I wholeheartedly agree that meal planning and having good food choices in the house is key. I try to do this whilst maintaining a little balance by having a few treats around - it's getting the balance right that's key though. Hope you get that next 1kg off to reach your half way goal really soon - you've got this 😁

I'm giving myself a bit of a whoop whoop this morning as FINALLY the scales have shifted. I weighed in at 10st 6lb this morning which I am delighted with. I've done a 5000 steps cardio/dance workout with Ingrid Kick this morning and have my food planned for the day to stay within calories so hopefully there won't be any backwards slide tomorrow!

Have good days all.

@bigdecisionstomake congrats on the scales moving! Nice to see the hard work paying off.

Morning all

Thanks @IchGlaubMeinSchweinPfeift it's a bit of relief to be fair - when the same method has worked for you for 30 years and then suddenly it doesn't it's a bit disconcerting 😂

My body was obviously just taking it's time to respond as I've had another drop this morning to 10st 5.6lb. I'm very happy with this and the challenge now is to hang on to that number (or at least something in the 5s) over the upcoming weekend. I'm going to give it my best shot.

Today was a 20 minute walking workout with the Improved Health channel and then Day 17 of HR 4.0 which was glutes and hamstrings. I have osteoarthritis in my right hip so doing glute work is really good for me but it does leave me sore for a few days afterwards so I'll probably stick to gentle cardio tomorrow.

Have good days all.

Hope you don't mind me dropping in and joining you all! I'm hoping like @IchGlaubMeinSchweinPfeift says that I find this thread a good motivator.

I've been slowly but surely losing weight and trying to introduce healthier habits. I'm not sure how much more I'd like to lose (currently 9st10 at 5'6") because although I'm within healthy BMI I'm still feeling a bit wobbly and heavy.

I track cals on mfp and have them set to lose half a lb a week so it's manageable. So far, since Christmas, I've added in 2L of water a day, an extra piece of fruit with lunch and an extra vegetable at dinner. I also committed to a daily exercise of some sort (usually pilates/yoga or hiit) but I can feel myself getting bored and wanting to sack it all off, so here I am! Going to start at the beginning of the thread and work my way through 😊

Morning all! Another pound gone for me & I'm at my lowest weight for over 7 years - a weight I never thought I'd see again!😊
Upped my workouts and stopped eating chocolate, it's paying off!
Have a good weekend all!