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 and happy weekend 😃

Happy to hear you STS as you planned @Gemzee good to have a week or two maintaining before trying to get a couple more pounds off.

Thanks @Susienoz although see update below...

That cough sounds awful @Backinthedress take care of yourself. Huge admiration for you sticking to calories despite still being ill though and how fabulous to have now put some daylight between you and the 70kg mark - awesome work!

Thanks @IchGlaubMeinSchweinPfeift and congratulations for sticking within calories particularly on a Domino's day😄Enjoy your weekend.

Well done on all the exercise this week @LBB2020 I've not really done any until this morning as the pup needed twice daily walks plus lots of playing in the garden so no time for anything else.

Annoyingly my weight has bounced up to 10st 6.4lb this morning. Can't really explain why as I was within maintenance calories yesterday although not actually in a deficit. This puts me just over the weight I was going into last weekend which is a bit frustrating.

I've done a good workout this morning 30 minutes cardio, 15 minutes arms and 15 minutes walking, plus I'm hoping to get some time in the garden if the weather stays bright. My brother is coming over from Ireland with my niece next weekend so there will be a weekend of food and drink to contend with so I really need to be on my game this week in preparation for that.

Have a good weekend everyone.

@bigdecisionstomake I understand the frustration! I am not moving the dial either so have decided to do what I did to lose weight after I had my 2nd child. That was inspired by Dr Furman's book Eat to Live. What I like about his book is it gives copious scientific evidence of why certain foods are linked to specific diseases (cancer, heart disease etc.). He focuses on nutrition to be as healthy as possible. He has a 6 week plan that usually produces a 20lb loss. This isn't necessary and you can just follow his guide to healthy eating. He basically recommends a vegan diet or as close to it as possible.

I have never had food issues but I have grown to understand that restrictive eating and removing food groups can be very dangerous for some people as it can trigger disordered eating so I am not suggesting this is a good idea for everyone. He emphasizes that you need to eat a TON of veggies (huge salads daily particularly) so you don't get hungry. I tend to get a bit lazy due to not thinking about food very much so I have to be a lot more intentional eating this way. But the 6 week plan definitely worked for me last time, so I am giving it a whirl again. I like to read his book as it is very motivating due to its basis in science and medicine. He originally wasn't focused on weight-loss per se, but heart health but what helps your heart nutritionly also causes you to drop excess weight. I don't tend to use his recipes (due to laziness) but follow his principles and find food that fits the guidelines.

https://hellonutritarian.com/nutritarian-eat-to-live-plan/

www.amazon.com/Eat-Live-Amazing-Nutrient-Rich-Sustained/dp/031612091X

I don't think I'll be experiencing much withdrawal as I already have cut back on sugar, dairy, meat and oil. I just need to be adding a lot more nutrient dense whole foods and then I feel fine.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BPJFrW8jp5U

I've hit my first major goal after starting dieting last July. I am out of the BMI obese category 🙌

Here's to being overweight. I've lost 12kg since July last year. I'm hoping Spring Summer will bring an easier weightloss. 🙏

Only 15 more kg to go to be in the healthy BMI category. 🥳

@Yocal that's fantastic!!!

That's 1stone 12 lb or 26.5 lb!!!! 😮

Morning all

Thanks for that info @Charliewasfired I'll check it out. In all honesty I think my problem comes down to lack of consistency though - I have several good days then go off plan a bit and undo all the good work. I just need to work on being a bit more consistent. I do think though that due to a few things that have happened recently I've got a bit of a 'life's too short' thing going on at the moment so whenever there is an event or celebration I just want to enjoy it and all my good intentions go to pot. As long as there's an overall downward trend I'm not too concerned....for now anyway!

Whoop whoop @Yocal You are awesome!!! Huge congratulations to you, you are a superstar. 12kg is an immense loss 🙂You're right, weightloss is always easier in spring with the warmer weather and longer days so here's to your next target of a healthy BMI - keep going, you're smashing it.

I've had a small loss this morning to take me to 10st 5.8lb which gives me a loss of 3.6lbs in 5 weeks. Not earth shattering but definitely a step in the right direction. Fingers crossed I can hang on in the 5s this week - I'm going to try to have a good Monday-Friday to put me a good position for a weekend of celebration with family.

Have good days all.

@bigdecisionstomake yes we should definitely enjoy and embrace living! My ultimate goal is to be my pre-cancer size to take me out of the danger zone in terms of health as I age.

But there's nothing like a brush with serious illness to help you appreciate every day and want to have fun and enjoy your friends and family - just grabbing any excuse or opportunity for a knees-up!

Hi all. Is it gorgeous and sunny with you all today? I'm loving it, and the longer days. Nearly 5pm and still daylight! yay!
The lovely weather tempted me out for another run today even though I did a 5k yesterday. I managed 6k today. I am so proud of myself it almost makes me cry when I mention it. This time last year I was at the beginning of being signed off sick for over 3 months due to long covid/vitamin deficiencies. I honestly never thought I'd be able to get back here, especially when I'm still struggling with this fucking cough.

So I had a binge day on Sat with ice cream and chinese takeaway, but I have been in deficit every other day so fuck it. Will try and weigh myself tomorrow.

Was a little annoyed recently to realise that to get firmly into the 'healthy' range as opposed to 'overweight' I actually need to be aiming for 62kg, not 65kg. I added this to MFP and now I'm only allowed 1300 calories a day, plus exercise calories. Hope I can stick it!

In the meantime trying to focus on fitness gains rather than weight loss. PLus will try to measure my waist and see if I've lost off there. DP says my legs look slimmer and I've definitely noticed my bum is more toned, but I think my waist is still the same and I hate that.

Yes @Backinthedress and @bigdecisionstomake these lighter nights are going to make outdoor exercise more appealing from now on.

I've started with an app called Second Nature, which isn't about counting calories, but having three well balanced meals per day. It is designed to make your meals a healthy habit. A fist of carbs, a flat palm of protein, and two hand full of veg, plus a thumb of fat. It's quite easy to get your head around and it does fuel you from one meal to the next. I'm actually doing better with the app than being left to my own devices. Plus, shoe horning all those extra plants in is helping with mood etc ( but that might be the lighter nights/mornings. ) just thoight i'd mention it in case anyone is in a rut. It is NHS approved so not some faddy plan promising fantastical results. It's more about a lifestyle and identity change to a healthier you long term.

Started my new job yesterday - it was quite boring. It was a lot of paperwork filling and getting to know others who have also started. I am used to being 100 miles an hour so it was difficult to be doing not much. I got up before work and walked 3.5 miles knowing I was going to be sitting on my bottom all day. Ate healthily throughout the day and then came home, quick change and then went to my PT session.
i’ve woken up early again today so going to do another walk before work. I have been rewarded with another pound weight loss. It is coming off slowly and I know I’m doing it the right way by exercising but I know if I was just dieting there would be a bigger loss on the scale. I can’t grumble - just over 9lbs in six weeks is a good result.
My next target is to get to 159lbs. I want this by the end of the month however I have a naughty weekend with family coming up 🥹

Weight loss in 2024 so far -9lbs (now 161lbs)

@LBB2020 that's interesting about adjusting calories based on cycle
I was reading recently about adjusting the types of food too as well as what kind of workouts (so less intensity post ovulation etc). I never even thought to match up food and exercise with my cycle. It's something I'm going to look into properly too.

Congrats on the loss @Yocal that's bloody brilliant 🥳 and @bigdecisionstomake for your loss over the 5 weeks too.

@Susienoz I admire your getting up so early to get walking in! I love walking in the mornings but find it so hard getting out of bed 🙈

@Backinthedress awesome you've been out running again and enjoying it! It must feel fantastic to be back out doing something you love.

I feel like all I've been doing is updating with various illnesses 😂 we moved from tummy bugs to colds / ear infections over the weekend. Mil was visiting and I did indeed eat a bit too many peppermint creams with her, but I did my best to stay within my calories most days. I think I overate on a couple, and my steps were not as great last week due to my tummy bug. This week, I'm fine again, but baby has a cold and is very unhappy at night not being able to breathe through his nose and my toddler came home from nursery yesterday crying, so a trip to the doctor resulted in an ear infection. So Disney jammie days at home for us. Will get out for a walk every evening though when DH has finished work to try get some steps in.
I tend to just eat whatever I need to with sick children, the goal is just to stay within the calorie limit. Not expecting much on the scales tomorrow, but feeling positive about continuing on regardless! In total, I've shifted 9lbs since I started, just under 5 since beginning of January and mil had noticed a small change when I was telling her but she said she didnt want to be rude and mention it , bless her. That's given me a heap of motivation to continue.
I also bought bigger jeans last year as I couldn't fit into my pre pregnancy ones and they are starting to slip down, so another motivation to keep going regardless of the scales.

I've booked myself an outdoor climbing experience which is valid until winter 2025. It's an extra motivation for me as right now, I'd find it too difficult at this weight, and I love climbing so it's nice seeing that on the fridge.

Will update tomorrow with my weigh in! Have a great Tuesday everyone

Evening all

I'm sat here with a glass of wine after a really stressful work day pretending to myself that this is me 'embracing life' @Charliewasfired 😂I need no encouragement unfortunately! In my defence DP and I have the house to ourselves tonight and I had forgotten that we had agreed to celebrate Valentine's Day tonight instead of tomorrow so we have a lovely 5 course meal prepared by a local chef waiting in the fridge to be reheated for tonight's dinner. I am not even thinking about the calories and intend to just thoroughly enjoy it instead. My week of being good in preparation for the weekend is not going well....

Huge congratulations on the 6k @Backinthedress you are a warrior. Great decision to focus on the fitness gains and inch loss rather than the weight. You are getting stronger each day. I lose it last from my waist so unfortunately I don't think that is that uncommon. Keep going, you're doing brilliantly.

I've heard about Second Nature @Yocal but never tried it. I do lurk on a thread on here about eating 30 plants a week but I've never actually posted. I absolutely believe it does wonders for your microbiome to eat lots of different plants and I do usually hit 30 a week. It also helps to fill you up on days when you don't have a lot of calories to play with.

9lbs in 6 weeks is an immense loss @Susienoz what a great achievement 😃Sorry to hear the new job was a bit boring but I'm sure that will change once you're into the swing of things. You've done really well to keep losing whilst going through such a big life change as a new job - well done you. We are both having naughty weekends with family this week - fingers crossed we can balance enjoying it with damage limitation 😬

I used to love a movie jammie day when my boys were little @IchGlaubMeinSchweinPfeift reading your post has just brought back such fond memories 🙂. Hope everyone is well again soon. I also have some larger jeans which DP said to me at the weekend I need to think about stopping wearing as they don't stay up properly now - it's really motivating isn't it. Your climbing experience sounds great - another good motivation. Keep going, you are smashing it.

I had a really disturbed night as DCat brought a mouse in at 4am and I ended up chasing it around the house dementedly and then couldn't get back to sleep until much later. I slept in as a result so didn't have time to exercise as I needed to be in the office early and then have had a really stressful day with some problems arising from a project that completed last year which may be ongoing for months now. I am an organiser by nature so hate being on the back foot and having to firefight. This led to a glass of wine when I got home and then we have a big meal this evening so although I was good all day I suspect the day is going to be a write off by the end.

My weight STS at 10st 5.8lb this morning but I have no confidence it will still be there tomorrow unfortunately 😭

Hope you all have a lovely evening.

Still haven't weighed myself, but I'm on my own in the house tonight and I'm never in my own so I went nuts with some Christmas choices and went 600 calories over. Fuckit.
And I measured my waist at 33inches which made me want to weep.
Oh well.

Well done @Yocal thats an amazing loss!
And we’ll done to everyone else on your losses and exercise!
@IchGlaubMeinSchweinPfeift I have a PT session once a week and she actually tailors the session to my cycle (the week before/leading up to my period is what she calls a “deload” session so we use lighter weights etc). I definitely need to look more into the diet/calories etc as it was very interesting

@bigdecisionstomake thanks! I hope you enjoyed the wine at least 😊I always feel like it's a waste of calories if I don't enjoy it😂🙈 that 5 course meal sounds lovely too.

Both boys have had a good night's sleep, and are still sleeping as I'm writing this, so I'm hoping they'll be feeling a bit better today 🤞🏼 another jammie day ahead. I agree, even when I was little, sick Disney jammie days are actually good memories 😅 hopefully it'll leave my boys with those fond memories too.

Sounds like your cat is trying to keep you on your toes 😅

Wednesday weigh-in for me
15st 4.2lbs

-0.2lbs down 😅 not much but I'll take it considering the lack of steps, and the overeating on a couple days. It's phases like this why I put my yearly goal at 2 stone despite being very overweight. So I wouldn't have such high expectations and beat myself up. Slow and steady. Slow and steady. I keep repeating to myself to whaft off any bad feelings.

Goals for this week: make my weekly step goal and stay within the calories every day. Back to basics!

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Anyone giving up anything for lent? I'm not religious but I do like the premise... I think I'm going to try not overeating snacks in the afternoon because I still have a tendency to over -eat and spoil my dinner ! ( like a kid!)

I'm giving up caffeine after noon. My current regime says sleep effects weightloss so recommends not drinking caffeine after noon so you get the best sleep, so that's my latest habit change. I've just read the caffeine content of Yorkshire Tea 😬. Let's see if it works.

Best of luck to us ! 46 days til Easter eggs!

Don't - my birthday and four immediate family members have their birthday within the 4 weeks encompassing mother's day and Easter... I'm going to have to resist so. much. damn. cake.

I had another STS this week which I'm happy with. I do need to lose a couple more pounds before summer so will get my bum in gear soon. (It's the weekends that are my downfall)

I'm giving up chocolate and bread for lent. On day 3 and still feeling strong. Put on half a pound this week. I have worked my arse off with healthy eating, no alcohol, 12k run in total in the gym. I do have my period and am hoping that is what is affecting the weight loss this week. I need to have at least half of a stone gone by Easter. 37 days to go ....

I am in a total grump. Back to 70.2kg despite sticking to my calorie intake and exercising regularly. Grrrrr.i thought is seen the back of the 70s

Morning all

Just a quick one from me this morning. I had the most horrendous week at work last week so ended up working stupid hours and drinking more wine than I should have.

There were some high points in the week, notably our early valentine's meal on Tuesday which was absolutely delicious and a complete bargain - I can't actually believe the chef made any money on it, I think he must have been using it as a bit of a loss leader to get his name out there as he's fairly new in business. Then I've had a really lovely weekend with the family who were over from Ireland for a few days. I ate and drank over calories but also was more active than usual to balance it out.

Apart from that I've done nothing but work, trying to resolve the issue that came up last Tuesday. It meant exercise was limited as I needed to be at my desk early and had several very late finishes.

The work issue isn't completely sorted and will no doubt rumble on for a while but the immediate pressure is now dealt with so I'm going to get back on it properly this week. I would dearly like to be in the 9s (or at least close) by the time we go away at the end of April so could do with a few weeks back in the game properly now if that is going to be achievable.

My weight this morning is 10st 7lb but I'm hoping there will be a bit of water in there that should shift by midweek. I've done a 45 minute walking workout this morning and may try for a walk outside this afternoon if I can. Next job is to plan my calories for the day.

Well done to all of you with losses and STSs and commiserations to those who have gained. Let's keep going together and try to make some good progress to finish out February on a high!

Seems to be a bit of a rough patch for a few of us here. Hopefully we can all start the week afresh and crack on through the slump 🤞🏼
My steps have too decreased from 7000 average per day to 4,800. Which probably explains the extremely slow movement on the scales. I also had too much sweet stuff last week and also made some spontaneous wrong choices about food. I felt a bit down this morning about it all but instead of letting it get a hold of me, I'm forcing myself to shake it off. I put on a soup in the slow cooker (sweet potato, soup veg mix, and butter beans) and I'm going to do the walk to son's nursery for pick up this afternoon instead of jumping on the bus. Hopefully those two small decisions will kick start my week in a positive way!

Spring is around the corner 😍

Nice to catch up on your updates.

I'm having really good results with following the Second Nature guideline. I've lost a kilo since last update on here a week ago 💪

I recommend it if you need a gear change. It's fairly simple. Here are the basics....

Three healthy meals per day. Half your plate veg, a 1/4 complex carbs and 1/4 protein. Cut out caffeine at noon. Cut out processed food completely. Cut down on alcohol. Drink lots of water.

The benefits are going beyond just weightloss. I actually feel better. I think it's because of all the veg.