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.

Morning all

Woke up this morning feeling far more raring to go with my strength workout but then the scales put a bit of a dampener on it by telling me I had gone up to 10st 4.7lbs. Last night's meal was quite salty/carby so might be that and I also have quite a lot of DOMs so might be that too or just the after effects of the weekend catching up with me.

Either way, I'm just going to keep channeling the picture of me on holiday looking lovely and slim and keep on keeping on. Would be great to be in the 3s by the end of the week but will be happy with a low 4 I think.

Have good days all 🙂

Morning,

I hope you are feeling better today @bigdecisionstomake but if not I would go for an active rest day and be cautious. Better than then end up injured and miss loads.

No news but another blood test so fingers crossed! I enjoyed my Maroon 5 GFWR and kept busy yesterday so about 13k steps including a 20 lunchtime walk. I also did another YWA movement is medicine calm before bed. Which got me to sleep but niggly thoughts woke me up at 1am for a few hours so very tired today.

I lost another pound so 10st 9.4lb which will be 95% water no doubt. But it’s less weight on my knee so that’s good.

The tiredness will make me hungry and lazy so need to be vigilant against that and have physio later on.

Hope everyone has a good day

Afternoon!
Good job on the loss @Dashel I hope your knee is appreciative of your efforts! I also slept terribly last night and it's just starting to catch up with me 😴
@bigdecisionstomake agree that rest days are important too- I think The Body Coach has some good info on this. My exercise efforts have dropped lately as I've been chained to my laptop but trying to fit in a bit of a stretch in the afternoon and a long way round for the afternoon school run when I have time.
There's quite a few social bits coming up and the school holidays are looming, maintenance is doable so far but I struggle without routine! Sticking around here to remind me not to go crazy...

Good morning,

@bigdecisionstomake the joys of the scales! Daily weighing keeps me on track but can be so frustrating. Hopefully you will be in the 3s soon. Sounds like with DOMs and salt there are very valid reasons but I know it’s frustrating.

@NahThen I did the Body Coach for a bit but have been advised against HIIT due to back problems. I love his strength workouts. Hopefully you can stay reasonably focused but I know how hard getting away from your laptop is and avoiding too much temptation when with friends.

I also had a small gain today to 10st 9.7lb. I was good with my food and 12k steps but I did a biceps and triceps workout and what I thought was a relaxing yoga but it was a bit more active than I was expecting. I enjoyed it though and great for a stretch.

Physio strapped up my knee and said that I have another 4 weeks of pain approximately. Still must carry on! I want to get back on my weights but no squats or lunges so need to have a good think to plan a leg day. I’m about to do a GFWR so trying so hard to keep going.

Still need to pick up Women’s health for the photos 😁

Morning all

Crossing my fingers for you for good blood test results @Dashel I hope you get them soon, the wait is horrible. Well done for keeping going while there's so much uncertainty around you. Sorry to hear it's another 4 weeks of pain with the knee. That will make a leg day quite tough I should imagine. Most calf and hamstring work doesn't involve squatting/lunging so maybe focus on those muscle groups and give quads and glutes a rest temporarily. Hope you find time to pick up Women's Health today - I have some blu-tac you can borrow if you like 😉

Glad you're sticking around @NahThen I think maintenance is sometimes harder than losing. I remember the lack of routine during the summer holidays when my boys were small. By the end of summer I would actually be ready for the structure of school days again even if they weren't. Have you got any time off work when you can try to add in lots of activities that will help burn calories?

Thankfully yesterday's gain must have just been salt/carbs as I've dropped down to 10st 3.6lb this morning. I did have a very active day yesterday so that probably helped and I was good with my food. In contrast I am pretty much entirely desk bound today but I have done a 30 min Olivia Lawson metabolic walking workout followed by Abs and Back Mobility with Heather Robertson.

Have good days all.

@bigdecisionstomake slightly jealous of your drop and you really are on fire with your exercise. Is it helping you cope better at work? I seem to remember that you get crazy busy in the summer.

I had a gain to 10st 10.1lb, I know it’s to be expected but even so meh!

I would really love to be back at 10st 7lb by the end of July.

I managed some leg stuff yesterday. I didn’t go too hard as it’s my first session in a while and with my back and knees, I really don’t fancy bad DOMs as well.

I made it to 14.75k steps 🤦‍♀️ so close to my magic 15k wish I had of checked that last night. I also did a 20 yoga session but deliberately picked something a bit more challenging with planks and downward dogs.

we are out for dinner tonight so need to be extra good during the day and I’m not drinking alcohol so that will help. Might be going out for lunch tomorrow 🤦‍♀️oh well.

I definitely feel better mentally than I did before when I was eating junk so I need to keep this up with all the uncertainties around me.

I hope you all have a great Friday x

Morning all

You're right @Dashel we do get super super busy in the summer but right now we're still in the planning stages, the actual hard graft is usually the last week of July and first couple of weeks of August. I may need to drop the exercise for that period (or at least some of it) as there aren't enough hours in the day. I end up eating a lot of ready meals/takeaways too as time is so short - so the perfect storm for weight gain.

I have a half formed plan to try to keep up the exercise next week if I can but then see how I go after that. I'm not sure the exercise helps me cope better with the mental load of work but some of my job is physically demanding in the summer so it definitely helps with that.

You're doing an amazing job getting that many steps in a day - you must be really disciplined to manage that many consistently. It sounds as if the combination of yoga, walking and eating clean is lifting your mood a little so that's a really fantastic benefit....but I know, like me, you really want to see the benefit on the scales too. It will come, and in the meantime, just keep swimming.

Enjoy your meal out tonight and lunch tomorrow, you're a seasoned pro at this so I'm sure you can balance making good choices with letting your hair down a bit 🤗

I've had a STS on the scales this morning at 10st 3.6lb. DS cooked a creamy pasta dish last night and I probably ate a little more than I should plus I had a small glass of wine 😳I don't usually drink on a Thursday but just had a bit of a 'hang it' moment. The challenge will be hanging on to a number in the 3s over the weekend as I've got quite a lot of work to do so some of my weekend is going to be sedentary. The weather forecast is good though so hopefully I can get some time in the garden too to balance it out.

Happy Friday everyone!

Well done on loses @bigdecisionstomake

Agree that's an impressive step count @Dashel my daily count is usually around 2000 thanks to the joy of health conditions and wfh.

Weigh in for me down 1lb so 1.5lb to get back to target (I don't weigh daily). Getting back into flow of low carb high veg and protein dinners seems to be helping.

Decided to splash out and treat myself in the ski sales on a size 10 stuff so it will help me keep to focus and not go back into bad habits.

Happy weekend everyone.

Thanks @Scottishskifun - I just seem to be 'in the zone' at the moment. Making the most of it as it may pass soon 😂Well done on a pound lost and being so close to back at target. The new ski gear is a great idea - I bought a couple of size 10 dresses last year when I got down to a number with a 9 at the beginning and put one on yesterday and it fitted so that was really motivating - hope it works for you too.

I've had a very small loss overnight to take me to 10st 3.3lb - very happy with that. On the downside I've woken up to increased lower back pain just above my bad hip so I've just walked this morning rather than doing any more energetic exercise. Hopefully if I rest it today and tomorrow I should be good to get another week of strength workouts in next week before my really busy weeks at work start.

Have good days all.

Morning all

Not desperately happy today as for some inexplicable reason this morning the scales have bounced up to 10st 4.8lb. Not sure what's happened to warrant a 1.5lb gain.

I did eat at maintenance yesterday rather than in a deficit but there was nothing unusual in my food choices. My rational head says this can't be fat as obviously whilst not in deficit I didn't go over maintenance either.

I did do less exercise than usual because my back is quite sore so maybe it's a glycogen excess building up.

Nevertheless it's quite demoralising and along with the sore back I have already found myself fighting the urge to eat crisps and chocolate to drown my sorrows 😫

I'm trying really hard to channel thoughts of the holiday...🛫🍹👙🌞

Going to try to keep busy....have good days all.

@bigdecisionstomake I think the Cloud strike issue has got to the scales as you aren’t alone with a huge increase. I am the same as you but please don’t let it demotivate you. Hopefully there will be a nice woosh tomorrow morning and as you say it won’t be fat.

I STS on Saturday after being careful on Friday and avoided alcohol and pudding and crisps at the BBQ. I didn’t manage any yoga or weights but got in 15k steps on Friday and 17k yesterday.

Our meal out was really good, but no alcohol and I had a starter and a main instead of no doubt the higher calorie pudding.

I did have a late night and a couple of snacks but nothing to warrant going from 10st 10.1 lb tI 10st 11.8 lb 🤦‍♀️

Im hoping salt, hormones, hot weather or perhaps my scales have blue screened and to make things even worse my Fitbit went flat so I have lost steps 😭 very frustrating 😤

The only other thing that was different is that I got one of those exfoliating gloves and had a good go at that.

Im really trying to feel better on the inside and outside again, so went out in a long dress. I got two new dresses in Tesco and a new work top BNWT from Wallis in a charity shop, and a new floaty top and a swimwear cover up thing from T K Maxx.

I found buying new clothes, keeping an eye on my appearance and posting on here really helps me stay on track.

Im nearly out of oats and forgot to get my women’s health though 🤦‍♀️

Good morning,

I hope that everyone had a good weekend.

I managed my 15k steps yesterday and did a bit of yoga too.

I tried to get Women’s Health but I couldn’t find a copy.

Thankfully I had a drop to 10st 10.6lb but still a long way from 10st 7 which I would love to be by the end of July.

Oh well I will keep on swimming 🐠

Morning all

Thanks for the pep talk @Dashel I think I needed it and yes, I think we must blame Crowd Strike for the scales going haywire 😂 It sounds like you had a good weekend and that the new clothes were just the tonic. I use those exfoliating gloves prior to putting on self tan. Having a tan really gives me extra confidence so it is something I do weekly in the summer despite it being a bit of a faff.

Well done on the drop on the scales, it sounds like you handled all the weekend socialising really well!

Whatever the cause my scales are still haywire as I've had another gain to 10st 5.3lbs this morning. Again I ate at maintenance yesterday so wasn't expecting a loss but also didn't expect a gain either. I'm beginning to think it might be hormonal as I've had some aches and pains in my lower abdomen that I haven't had for years and I'm really bloated. We'll have to see how the next few days go but like you @Dashel I'm just going to keep swimming 🐠

In better news my back is feeling the benefit of two exercise rest days so I am back on it this morning with a 20 minute walk with Ingrid Kick and Day 16 of HR4.0 which was back and biceps.

Have good days all.

Morning,

Glad you are feeling better @bigdecisionstomake rest days are so important. I hope you see a drop today on those pesky scales!

Yesterday Was overall a good day. I may have had a sugary snack but managed my 15k steps (even if the last 250 were wandering around my bedroom) I did an upper body weight workout and YWA for bone health.

This morning I had a small loss on the scales to 10st 10.2lb so happy with that.

I have already been out for a brief before work walk and will try and get in some more weights and yoga and my steps of course.

At least it isn’t Monday!

Good morning

Ha ha, yes, at least it isn't Monday!

Good news on another small loss @Dashel you're chipping away at it slowly but surely. Keep up the good work with the steps and exercise - you're smashing it 💪

I was within calories including the 500 deficit yesterday, plus I was quite active so thankfully that paid off and some of the weekend gain has dropped off this morning to take me to 10st 4.6lb. Still a bit sad I'm not back in the 3s but at least it's better than being in the 5s and I'm definitely still a bit bloated. I want to be firmly in the 3s by the end of this week though so I'm going to have to try to break the habit of sabotaging myself at the weekend. And drink lots of water today 💦

Have good days all.

Good morning

@bigdecisionstomake glad you have seen a drop on those scales. Hopefully there will be another drop today!

I had a busy day yesterday 17k steps, leg day and yoga. On the plus side I have noticed my downward dogs are getting better on the negatives- my arms and legs are aching and I’m tired and I had an increase on the scales to 10st 10.5lb but I’m pretty sure it will be DOMs related.

I really let the exercise go so getting back into it was always going to be hard. It is motivating to see the improvements though. I’m using 5kg dumbbells for arms currently and I seem to recall I found 3kgs tough. So not back to where I was originally

Good afternoon

@Dashel gosh, you are a machine, getting all that exercise in yesterday. You are really focused - that's amazing. Great that you're seeing some improvements too, I find that really motivating and have noticed similar over the last 4 weeks doing Heather Robertson 5 times a week.

I've had a small drop on the scales today to 10st 4.4lb which is great but I've had an awful day workwise today, physically and mentally demanding, and have eaten too much chocolate so fear I have sabotaged my progress today. I did get in my workout this morning though (very early) so that's a positive I suppose.

DS is cooking tonight so I'm looking forward to dinner now 😋

Morning all

A quick and early one from me as I have another massive work day today.

I have finally squeaked back into the 3s and weighed in at 10st 3.9lb. The annoying thing is I haven't time for exercise this morning so lack of that plus the fact that when I don't exercise I find it really hard to keep my food on track means I'm unlikely to stay here unfortunately.

Ho hum, needs must and all that. I'm not sure why I find it so hard to ignore my brain telling me to eat chocolate and crips when I haven't exercised. Wish I knew what to do about that 😂

Have good days all.

Morning

Congratulations on your loss @bigdecisionstomake and I hope you stay there! Maybe try to think of today as a rest day if that would help motivate you with food?

I have not been feeling like a machine just achy tired and hungry. I had another gain this morning to 10st 10.10lb 😢 probably DOMs but it’s a tad depressing. I took a rest day myself yesterday and did 10.5k steps and some yoga.

Will try and do arms, steps and yoga today and watch my food. It will definitely be a 🐠 day

Morning all

That was great advice @Dashel thank you. I re-framed yesterday as a rest day and managed to squeeze in a 30 minute walk at the end of the day (needed to get away from my desk anyway) and it meant (apart from a small malteser snackcident) I was pretty good food wise and came in with a small deficit although not the 500 I usually aim for.

I expected no movement on the scale today but have actually had a small drop to 10st 3.6lb so moving slowly in the right direction.

Another busy day today but I have managed to squeeze my workout in this morning, legs with Heather Robertson and 20 minutes walking with Olivia Lawson so hopefully that will set me up to make good food choices today too.

The weekend is nearly here - hurrah 😀

@bigdecisionstomake glad I was able to help, I end up feeling guilty if I don’t don’t do what I planned to do or felt I should have exercised but didn’t. I think that is completely unhelpful and better to think of it in terms of rest rather than failure. I think a lot of this journey is in our heads.

Congrats on the drop, that is always good and for getting your work outs in today!

I managed 15k steps and a back and chest day yesterday, I attempted a chilled yoga but my mind was everywhere else.

I had a drop to 10st 10.0lb which was a shock as I had a carb heavy meal with lots of salt. I re weighed and it was the same so confused.com plus I still have DOMs?

I had to nip out for an errand this morning so no time for steps or early workouts so today is going to be hard to get my exercise done but will try to squeeze in something.

TFI Friday though!

Morning all

Had a crazy busy day yesterday so had no time for exercise and my eating was off plan as we were at a social event yesterday afternoon with a beige buffet provided. I was quite careful with my selection however and did think I had probably come in around maintenance when I did a quick guestimate in my head but the scales say otherwise this morning with a gain to 10st 4.7lb.

Obviously I didn't overeat by 3500 calories so it won't all be fat gain but a bit demotivating still.

I've another busy one today and will have to work for the bulk of the day but am hoping to get an hour at least in the garden later to go a little way towards making up for no exercise.

I think at this point life is going to be upside down with work now for the next 10 days or so, so I'm just going to do the best I can and try not go too mad. Hopefully I'll have a solid 6 weeks once the main mad work period is over to pull things back before I go on holiday.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend 🙂

Morning all

Another busy one for me so a quick and early post this morning. Despite no exercise and far too much chocolate I have had a drop to 10st 4.1lb this morning. Perhaps the salt from the beige buffet washing away. I did spend an energetic hour yesterday wrestling with my very overgrown forsythia bush to try to prune it into a tidier shape so that might have helped.

Today is a 'just going to do the best I can' day I think.

Have good days all 🙂

Hi everyone,

Sorry been shit again! Lots going on that’s had me and DH in a downward pants mood.

There has been way too much negativity and that’s been followed by too much wine and comfort food.

I have been on the scales over the last few days and this morning was 10st 11.5lb.

I have suggested to DH that we book a lovely holiday in September next year to get us through the darker times and motivate us both to loose a bit, he is moaning about his belly too.

I cooked lots over the weekend and got to 20k steps yesterday. We are also decluttering the house so hopefully that will keep us busy and help us feel better.

I hope everyone is doing ok.

Hi all

Apologies for my long absence from the thread too - work has been awful, but we are just starting to come out of the other side now thankfully 😌

Sorry you've had so much going on @Dashel sometimes wine and comfort food are the order of the day though - particularly if there's bad news to deal with. Hope all is ok now though - or at least you have a plan in place?

After a period of over indulgence it's definitely good to re-frame and focus on the positive if you can and try to put the negative behind you and make changes to the things that are in your control like food. Booking a holiday sounds like a fab idea too 😎

I got back on it properly yesterday and was quite surprised that I had only had a small gain over the last couple of weeks to take me to 10st 4.5lb. I have tried to be as good as possible but the sheer volume of work sometimes meant I didn't make the best food choices and wine was drunk pretty much every night 😳A lot of the work was more physical than my usual desk based day so I think that probably helped with damage limitation.

I re-started exercising yesterday too and that combined with cleaner eating resulted in another drop to 10st 4lb exactly this morning.

We fly to Crete in just under 6 weeks so I really need to focus if I want to be under 10 stone by then!