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

Still feeling a bit under the weather and walking only for exercise. I'm going to try to get back to the Heather Robertson program on Monday if I can.

In the meantime I ate well yesterday although I only managed a 400 cal deficit rather than the 500 I aim for. I didn't drink wine and slept well so overall counted it as a good day. The scales have rewarded me with a yo yo gain back up to 10st 1.8lb 😡Not sure if that is Thursday's over indulgence catching up with me or if it was due to last night's evening meal being a fairly salty stir fry.

Taking the positives, I've stayed in the 1s and am hoping I've just about seen off this cold and the shoulder injury. Holding on to that to keep me eating well today.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Thanks for the support @Dashel and @bigdecisionstomake

I realised I wrote the wrong stone brackets down🤦🏼‍♀️ but I'll update and correct on Wednesday at weigh in.

@Dashel sorry to hear you went a bit off track, hopefully that pound will be water weight from the extra carbs.

@bigdecisionstomake sorry to hear about your going off track too. I know how it is with eating one or two things and it turning into the bag... Then a pizza. Then ... Then. I think it affects us mentally more than physically though so as long as we're straight back on it the next day, realistically one night of overeating shouldn't set us back too much. Hoping you have a better day today! Funnily enough I said similar to DH this morning...my motivation is still there but the execution is lacking!

Today I've tried to stay strictly on track. Porridge for breakfast, salad for lunch, malteasers which were weighed out and recorded, 30 minutes of Zumba done too. Later it's spag bol for dinner and a walk with the kids and husband.

I've gone long term with my goals😅 I've picked up Italian again and have joined an evening class. And DH and I have decided to do Sicily for a big wedding anniversary in 2 years. So I have worked out if I lose half a pound a week over the next 2 years, I'll be down to my goal weight exactly (which is still a stone overweight but it's what I'm aiming for right now!) plus I want to get my Italian up from basics to conversational. It's made me very motivated!
I have some shorter term goals in mind too though (end of 2024, camping holiday in May 2025, end of 2025 etc). So it doesn't seem so far away.

Hope the weekend is kind to everyone.

Afternoon all

Thanks for your kind words @IchGlaubMeinSchweinPfeift and glad I'm not the only one who falls foul of the snowball effect with food when falling off the wagon.

Your long term goals sound great. Sicily is one of my favourite holiday destinations, I've been several times and would love to learn more Italian. What an amazing goal to aim for, for your anniversary.

Yesterday I managed to stay on track pretty much all day, although again I didn't quite manage to come in with a 500 cal deficit. Wine was needed after DS1 (who is away at a festival) rang to say he was at A&E with a fractured ankle. It didn't quite need the emergency parental intervention I initially thought it might though so all was good - or as good as it could be under the circumstances.

The scales showed a small drop to 10st 1.6lbs today. I'm a bit fed up with the yo-yoing around in the 1s now so I think I'm just going to be relaxed until after the bank holiday afternoon tea tomorrow then really make a concerted effort from Tuesday onwards to get into the 0s.

I feel a lot better now and have given my shoulder a complete rest so hopefully I should be able to re-start the Heather Robertson program tomorrow too.

Happy bank holiday all 🙂

Happy bank holiday everyone - last one until Christmas now 😬

I had a really active day yesterday but ate far too much chocolate. I'm kicking myself a bit as without the over indulgence it might have been a really good day for making some progress.

As it is, the scales haven't been too unkind with a small drop to 10st 1.4lb but I think overall it was a 'could have done better' day.

Today I have an afternoon tea, booked ages ago, which has come at completely the wrong time but I think it is what it is and I'm going to go and enjoy it without going completely mad.

Four weeks today until we fly to Greece and I really want to be below 10 stone by then, even if it's just by half a pound. Target for the end of this week is to be in the 0s if possible but that might depend on what happens this afternoon.

I've restarted the Heather Robertson programme HR 4.0 this morning. I'm now on week 6 and although it was the dreaded leg day I actually managed pretty much all of it with 6kg weights so I'm happy that I haven't gone too far backwards while I've been on a break. May not be able to go up and down the stairs tomorrow though....

Enjoy the day everyone 🙂

@bigdecisionstomake We're looking at Cefalu with day trips to Palermo, it's been very motivating researching and having something long term to focus on!
Hoping your DS is managing with his fractured ankle and that your shoulder is doing OK after starting your programme again?
I think getting under that 10 stone mark is definitely feasible in 4 weeks, even with an afternoon tea (I hope you enjoyed it! I live in the EU and I really miss an afternoon tea!)

I have no idea what's going on with me. I saw a pound increase this morning. I've been doing 8,000 steps, had a zumba session, and have stuck to the calories. Considering how overweight I am, I always see the scale move down when I stick to plan, so to see a pound extra is bizarre.
I'm guessing it's to do with the breastfeeding / period cycle. I had my first period last month (since April 2022) and I know it takes a few months of crazy after giving birth/breastfeeding (I know this from ds1) before it all settles so maybe it has to do with that...I'll keep going anyway and hope for a drop at some point.

Current weight 15st 4.6lbs
Plan for the upcoming week - two 30 minute zumba sessions, 7,000 steps a day and stick to the calories (I really want my winter clothes to fit me comfortably...so I'm focusing on this too for motivation)

Hi everyone
I dropped off the thread 🫣 at the start of the summer holidays, it's just such a busy time!
@Gemzee your body recomposition approach is inspiring- really well done. I think it's difficult to ignore the scales when you're so used to measuring weight loss with them but with what you're doing, measuring/clothes fitting is the more sensible way!
@bigdecisionstomake hope your shoulder has fully recovered and great job on the loss. Under 10s is definitely doable, hope the afternoon tea was good!
@Scottishskifun I agree that your commitment is incredible, and 3st is certainly something to be proud of. I have a condition that causes chronic fatigue too and the wading through treacle feeling makes exercise so hard. After my PT sessions I hoped I'd keep it up; alas, I haven't..
@IchGlaubMeinSchweinPfeift love your short and long term goals! I'm in awe of anyone that can learn a language- or a musical instrument.

Despite being pretty off track with food (I've caught up on the thread eating bloody Celebrations) when I weighed after holidays I had a not-too-catastrophic 2lb gain. I'm not sure it was accurate. I have another wedding in October so after this weekend, kids back at school & normality resuming, I'm back on it!

Morning all,

Sorry for being AWOL, what with guests, bank holidays and life lemons there has been a lot of comfort food and wine.

DH seems to have picked up an infection on top of other things so he is moping around. It was two friends of DH that visited and tbh their visit was too long and with everything going on here was bad timing.

Back on the scales this morning and 10st 11.9lb and I had yesterday as a bit of a detox day. Oh well. I did manage to do a bicep and tricep workout yesterday and a relaxation yoga video with DH

@IchGlaubMeinSchweinPfeift they are wise words and wow as to learning Italian. Sorry about the gain but a pound could easily be hormones, poop, salt or carbs or a combination and that’s without the breast feeding so hope you aren’t worrying about it. I would love to do Zumba but the nearest class is about 45 minutes away and I’m not realistically going to do that.

@bigdecisionstomake I hope you enjoyed your afternoon tea without guilt and you aren’t feeling too sore today. I am really glad you are feeling up to exercising again.

@NahThen a 2lb gain for the summer holidays doesn’t sound too bad although reading a diet thread whilst eating chocolate 😂

@NahThen sorry to hear your in similar position with fatigue it sucks and is difficult to explain more then I feel tired constantly! 2lb is brilliant and shows you have been subconsciously not slipping everything back.

I've not been great health wise last few weeks with my fatigue baseline reducing so back trying to balance that. Unfortunately that leads me reaching for sugar to get through the working day rather then actually have a rest. Weigh in was STS and now at start of cycle so won't weigh again til 2 days after.
It's turning colder here though which means homemade soups again and I know this works for me and I can have as many bowls as I like as they are usually under 200 calories (veg, stock, no oil and low carb)

@bigdecisionstomake I find holidays to be a good motivator as when on holiday I enjoy myself and have what I wish!

Afternoon all

Sorry for my absence - DS1s fractured ankle ended up causing a number of complications including me having to drive him back home on Tuesday - which ended up taking nearly 9 hours for the round trip as the traffic was awful.

@IchGlaubMeinSchweinPfeift I'm very jealous of your trip, it sounds great. If you can factor in a day out at Taormina I would really recommend it, it's a lovely town with an ancient amphitheatre ruin with stunning views of Mount Etna. Sorry about your gain but sometimes things like that happen unexpectedly. It sounds like you have a firm plan and I'm sure it will drop off as soon as it arrived - you've got this.

@NahThen I love the fact that you caught up with the thread eating Celebrations 😂I know exactly what you mean about life being 'on hold' while the kids are off for the summer but with a wedding to focus on you should be back on track in no time once they're back at school. A gain of only 2lbs for 6 weeks of school holiday is an achievement in my book - well done!

Gosh, it sounds like life has been hard work for the last few days @Dashel sorry to hear about DHs infection - another thing you could do without. Just keep swimming, we're all rooting for you.

Sorry you're struggling with fatigue again @Scottishskifun but credit to you for keeping going. The soup sounds like a great idea. We're forecast warmer weather here for a few days but today is distinctly chilly.

I enjoyed the afternoon tea, probably a bit too much and to compound things ended up picking up a takeaway with my DSs on the way home. I slept really badly on Monday night and that coupled with the long car journey on Tuesday meant far too much comfort food was consumed while driving to keep me awake.

Like you @Dashel I had a bit of a detox day yesterday but even with that I am still back up to 10st 1.8lb this morning sigh

I'm on it today though so hopefully I can start to claw some ground back again.

Have good days all.

I know @Dashel I half laughed at the irony myself- diet programmes on TV always make me hungry when I see all the "junk" too, I think I'm wired wrong! Anyway there's only mars bars and a couple of milky ways left now so I probably won't bother with any more 😂

I don't think I've gone too badly back to old habits- except the chocolate- and it's been a very active holidays for us so I guess that's mitigated some damage on the weight front, but I too am struggling with fatigue more than usual @Scottishskifun it's really hard to explain it to people that haven't truly experienced it. I'm not open about my diagnosis because I don't like the stigma attached to it, many people think it's regular tiredness at best, laziness at worst.

Will be joining you with the soups, I can't wait to make enough space in the freezer to restock it with some! There was a great thread on food and recipes a few weeks ago about favourite soups, it inspired me to switch things up a bit.

Sorry to hear about DS @bigdecisionstomake that sounds awful all round!!

@NahThen oh yes I know exactly what you mean I have long covid and POTS (postural tachycardia syndrome) I've had some people tell me it's all made up! I am very open about it however with friends and colleagues and its helped they have seen me unable to walk more than 50 m at my worst. One of the reasons I'm open about it though is because my life literally flipped on its head.

I do have a soup maker which helps absolutely love it! One of my favourites is beetroot and horseradish on a miserable day as its really warming and comforting (and also very good for me!)

Morning all

I'm really admire both of you @NahThen and @Scottishskifun for battling on with the weightloss whilst dealing with physical limitations.

All the talk of soups is making me long for a bowl of something warm and comforting. Beetroot and horseradish are two of my favourite things @Scottishskifun so if you were happy to share the recipe that would be great.

A second day of clean eating has resulted in a small drop to 10st 1.4lb but it is so frustrating that I've seen that number so many times over the last few weeks. I would really love to see a number in the 0s very soon but know ultimately it's up to me to keep consistent.

Yesterday was upper body with Heather Robertson and annoyingly I've woken up this morning with my shoulder feeling painful again. I really thought I'd given it enough time to heal before getting back on the weights again. Just walking therefore again today but will see how it is tomorrow.

Have good days all.

@bigdecisionstomake I use this one but leave out the cream and either use veg stock or beef stock if you like it more borscht like. You can get vacuum packs of cooked beetroot which makes it way quicker to make as well.

https://www.littlesugarsnaps.com/beetroot-horseradish-soup/

Morning all

Thanks for the recipe @Scottishskifun brilliant that you can use the pre-cooked beetroots, I always have these in my fridge. Beetroot is really good for you apparently, according to the 'Just One Thing' podcast. I'm definitely going to give this a go. Serving it with goats cheese toasts sounds delicious too 😋

I really knuckled down yesterday as I was determined to get out of the 1s finally. I ate well and within calories and instead of having the pasta and pesto I was intending for tea (DS was out so looking for something quick and easy) I had a fishcake and some steamed green veg instead. Also, shock and horror, I didn't have my usual Friday night glass of wine.

The scales have rewarded me with a drop this morning to 10st 0.2lbs which I am over the moon about. Dinner tonight will not be such a low calorie affair and I'm fully intending to have a glass of wine so who knows if that will stick but I'm so relieved to be out of the 1s for now. The most rewarding thing was that my stomach is looking noticeably flatter. Not sure if that's actually to do with my weight or if it was a result of the cleaner eating but either way it's a win 🙂

I still have significant DOMs from the upper body workout on Thursday so I was brave and did the Day 28 HIIT workout on HR 4.0 although with all the low impact modifications she offered. I'm also hoping for some time in the garden later so hopefully the activity will mitigate the not quite so healthy dinner and wine tonight.

Happy weekend everyone.

Fab news @bigdecisionstomake well done!
I have started tracking my food again which works well for me with my fitness pal managed 1400 calories yesterday which is still 200 above what I know I need to be to lose weight but its a start

Evening all

Thanks @Scottishskifun so pleased to be in the 0s! Against all the odds, I have hung onto that weight yesterday and this morning. I don't usually like a STS but on this occasion I am very happy.

I'm tantalisingly close to the 9s but suspect I will plateau for a bit now. I always seem to go in fits and starts.

Back on the weights workouts from this morning although my shoulder is still a bit painful for certain moves so I'm going to take it a bit easy with the upper body stuff. Luckily today was mostly lower body and tomorrow is core and mobility so hopefully that will give it a bit of a rest.

Hope everyone else is doing ok 🙂

Morning all

Was slightly over calories yesterday but still came in with around a 350 cal deficit. This morning the scales have come in at 10st 0.0lbs so I am on the cliff edge of the 9s now.

Work has gone mad again and I'm conscious that I only have three weeks left before we go away so need to get things straight before we leave and therefore ended up working until 10.30pm yesterday. I don't know if that contributed (not enough wind down time maybe?) but I had an awful nights sleep and then got up a bit late and panicked about needing to crack on with work so didn't exercise first thing.

After I got the most urgent things done however I decided that I have to make sure I get the balance right so clocked off for 30 minutes and squeezed in an Olivia Lawson walking workout. I know I would have kicked myself tomorrow if I ended up with a gain because I prioritised work 😫Trying to get the balance right is really difficult sometimes though....

Have good days all.

Brilliant @bigdecisionstomake hope it sticks for you, so so close to seeing a 9! Taking half an hour out for exercise is great commitment too, you'll feel better for it I'm sure. I still double take at the scales to see a 9- I've been in double figures for basically as long as I can remember.

Kids are finally back at school and I feel like I've been run over 😅 holidays are all catching up with me and back to work today feels like a drag. I've had my usual fruit & skyr with a tbsp of muesli and it feels good to be back on the wagon. I'll weigh in tomorrow.

There's a very autumnal feel about today here- I've been gathering up some healthy slow cooker meals (as work is about to get very busy here too, the whole of September is packed with work & social stuff!) that will hopefully keep me on track. I'd like to lose my holiday gain and focus on cleaner eating- already cut right back on booze! If I can get a handle on my fatigue I'll try and increase my steps but at the moment the school run twice a day is as much as I can manage.

That's brilliant news @bigdecisionstomake well done! Keep going and it's definitely achievable (switch wine for a g&t slimline!)

I finished my cycle today so 2 days and weigh in to see where I am! I know from experience I keep a bit of bloat/water retention til 2 days post my period and know it wont do me any good to see that motivation wise.

@NahThen take it easy you will know as well as I do trying to push through the fatigue causes the opposite to happen!
I'm still not great conditions wise doing my best to listen to my body and rest.

Tracking and clean eating is making me feel like I'm doing something even though I've not been able to get out and about last few days (bad dizzy spells on the go).

Shop arrived today though (I would be screwed without online home delivery!) So my fridge is packed full of veg and I made a rainbow salad with Vietnamese pork mince lettuce cups for dinner which was delicious and no effort thanks to gadgets!

@bigdecisionstomake really hoping your next post has a 9 in it. You work so hard and definitely deserve it. It is so hard to get the balance right! It is easy to feel guilty taking the time to exercise and cook.

@NahThen autumn is definitely here 😢 I love my slow cooker too and find it really useful

@Scottishskifun sorry to hear you are feeling dizzy, I hope it passes soon. Sounds like you and everyone else is on it!

I weighed in this morning at 10st 10.6lb.

I really want to be under 10st 7lb by the end of the month, I am pretty sure that there will be more life lemons this month so I think I need to increase my anti stress activities to try and help with this and hopefully that will stop the comfort eating and drinking.

Afternoon all

Drumroll please..........9st 13.6lbs this morning, whoop whoop!

I know it may not last and I may bounce around in between the 9s and 10s for a while but as it is a year since I last had a number starting with a 9 I think a small celebration is needed! I have just ordered a size 10 playsuit for my holiday which I'm far too old to reasonably wear but I don't care 😂

@NahThen I laughed out loud when I read you felt like you'd been run over by the end of the summer holidays - I remember that feeling really well and also the relief in getting a routine back and some healthier habits in place. It's a perfect time for a re-set 🙂

@Scottishskifun I like the occasional G&T but I have to admit I really prefer full fat tonic rather than slimline - and nothing could regularly replace my red wine, I just love it, especially with food. Hope your weigh in yields good results tomorrow and your salad and pork mince lettuce cups sound delicious. Small steps, you've got this 😄

Thanks @Dashel I think I really found my focus for the first time this year once our summer work rush was over and the holiday was only 6 weeks away. I really do seem to need a target that's not too far away to focus on. Sorry to hear you're expecting to be making more lemonade this month but increasing your anti-stress activities sounds like the perfect plan. I have a friend who works as a psychotherapist and she is a strong proponent of meditation - she recommends the Headspace app and says it really helps your mind to settle if you have a lot of stresses or anxieties going on 🤗

My goal for the rest of this week is to try to remain in the 9s. That will leave me another couple of weeks to put a little distance between me and the 10s if I can but for now just staying where I am will be a win.

Have good days all.

@bigdecisionstomake whoop whoop that's fantastic well done to you and keeping chipping away at it.
I also don't think anyone is too old for a playsuit they are so comfy!

Tracking is helping me focus managed a 1200 calories day yesterday and so far today (trying to resist the wine as I have a evening out on Saturday!)

@bigdecisionstomake yay so pleased for you, it’s well deserved and I hope you stay in the 9s now. It’s really great that you ordered a play suit and I’m sure you will look great in it!

I will get the Headspace app downloaded and give it a go.

I managed my 15k steps, leg day and a guided meditation yesterday. That got me super stressed but was doing it with DH so didn’t want to disturb him by getting up and doing something else. I know I seriously need to address my stress as I clench my teeth and have so much tension everywhere and my physio has told me it makes my back issues much worse.

I just find it near impossible to relax, even on holiday it takes me ages and then I stress easily.

On the plus side I have had a loss on the scales and weighed in at 10st 9.6lb so nearly lost a pound overnight. Hopefully I can keep in my lot of 9s and leave the double digits behind for now.

Hi everyone.

could you maybe point out what I’m not doing well ?

we started eating healthier exactly 4 weeks ago.

goal : improve our health, lose a few pounds.

( I really did want to be more healthier as the biggest goal , but their is no denying that me and oh need to lose 3 stone each . )

in this time I have only lost 2.5 pounds. I’m really deflated, especially as I feel im trying and spending extra money.

yesterday I ate :

one banana and apple chopped up with fat free strawberries yogurt for breakfast with a cup of tea

coffee at work

ham salad in a brown pitta for lunch
pear , go ahead biscuit, cup of tea .

two party rings from the staff room table

bacon (no fat and grilled ), eggs , mushrooms, two tomato’s and beans for tea .
cup of tea

did 9000 steps

I am trying hard to hit my five portions a day. I think I just managed yesterday.