⭐️ LOSE IT! February 2024 ⭐️ Fit & Fabulous Edition ⭐️

[TheRealHousewife]

⭐️ Open to All ⭐️

Following on from the January thread.

February 2024! Start to get Fit & Fabulous by adopting healthy eating habits & moving more. Join-in to reset & refresh and become a healthier version of yourself. These threads are for those who’d like to lose and those who wish to maintain whilst eating a healthy varied diet.

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 generally 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 9st. I had a blip a couple of years ago when my thyroid went wonky but now I’m back on track.

Are you in😊 What food plan will you be following? What do you want to change and why?

Follow along to get Fit & Fabulous in readiness for the long awaited Spring and a bit of sunshine ☀️

Good Morning !

@afaloren Have a great weekend 🥳

@maybein2022 Congratulations on your stone loss! Awesome progress 👏👍👌 (I think I might have congratulated you prior on the previous thread, but just to make sure I have again 😬) Lovely menu!

@wiltingflower Welcome to the new thread. Sorry to read your illness took a lot out of you. Hopefully you’ll soon be back to full health!

@HighlandCowRose At least it was only the small sized lotus biscuits and not some humungous cookie 🍪 It happens, don’t worry. In the scheme of things you’re doing great!

@ThreeRingCircus Well done on getting your 5mile walk in!

@WhatWouldTheDoctorDo I concur with what you say about losing weight of your face. I’ve noticed too on myself! They do say that past a certain age women have to choose their face or their weight 🤷‍♀️ Personally I choose a healthier weight for me … and I don’t look in the mirror as often 😬

@AnnieCambs Thank you. And well done on the black skinny jeans! I love my skinnies 👍

@NothingTraLaLa 2lbs is great progress especially when nearer to goal 👍

@EmmaGrundyForPM Youre welcome 👍

Enjoy your Friday Everyone ❤️

Well. Not a good start to the month (well, while year) over here. 2lb gain today. I know why - circumstances snowballed yesterday and we ended up having takeaway pizza and wine. So I kind of knew it was coming.

But I'm now heavier than I was after Christmas 🤦‍♀️

MUST FIND MY FOCUS.

Going to try and not treat the weekend like a weekend. Got a bottle of low cal elderflower in the fridge so will aim to have just that tonight. Will aim to not snack (definitely not buying the dreaded s&v peanuts that I can't stop eating, or any of my favourite crisps), and cook meals as normal. I know most of that weight is salt and bloat, so if I can shift that next week I can get back on track.

Friday weigh in.

This week - 5 lb off

Since January 01 - 14.5 lb off

I’m in shock to be honest but very pleased! I expect to maintain next week.

@ImALittlePea Dont sweat it darling; it’s done. Reset your intentions and it’ll be ok ❤️👍

@afaloren Oooo that’s a great start to February. Well done! Straight off the starting blocks 👏

I feel for you @ImALittlePea - you know what you've got to do but it's still so hard eh? And takeaway pizza and wine aren't exactly indulgences in the everyday sense. You've lost quite a bit by now though (I seem to recall?) - and so this last bit will be the hardest. Any special occasion coming up warranting major restraint for to give yourself the stern talking to - I must loose 6lbs before x to fit into y ? So the motivation is external ? You are at the stage in your life juggling so much that I can image to fully focus on weight loss is hard. So give yourself some slack too.

As for me, my little birds have just flown, and although my work is busy & stressful I am in control of it (my own business), and for once I have time & headspace to exercise 1st things as no school run, plus buy & cook the foods I want to eat (DH gets no choice given I do the cooking!)

Enough ramblings.

I'm in awe at your loss @afaloren . Keep up your nutrition ; )

Happy friday all

Thanks @TheRealHousewife I'm trying to have that attitude but the reality for me at the moment is my intention is there but the motivation is not. I'll find it soon, I'm sure.

Just remembered I'm out for lunch with my mum today. Going to try and find somewhere that does soup so I don't end up having a sandwich/chips! It's a start eh!

@ImALittlePea my word for the day yesterday was FOCUS! I'm going to pick it again for today as I have so much o get done I need to remember what my priorities are regarding diet and movement as well as work/home/relaxation!

I find that letting go of the 'it's the weekend' mentality is what helped me most to make meaningful changes. UPF and sugar are addictive so because I was going back to them (and booze) every weekend which ended up starting Thursday nights and being half the week, I was never able to make any progress as my cravings never stopped.

Not that I won't allow myself any 'treats' at the weekend but it's more one meal or one snack, or evening nibbles but not a whole day or 3. And actually hat' really helping me is not to think of UPF as treats at all. generally if I eat something I've mostly cut from my diet I end up feeling awful, bloated, constipated, dehydrated and inevitably put on weight and feel awful, so have some more. My nemesis has always been crisps, especially Doritos Cool Original. Once I start I can't stop, but nowadays they do make me feel rubbish.

Good luck (and I feel your pain - managed to put on half a kilo in 2 days though don't know why (except maybe more bread yesterday?). Plus January is a horrible month so don't be too hard on yourself. Hold onto the fact that spring is on the way and the days are getting lighter.

Today:
-boiled egg, rye toast, coffee
-vegetarian scotch broth
-burger and paprika wedges with salad
I try to do not snacks on home days, just tea and water.

Just been for a walk around the block after school run. Will try and restart yoga later (had a day off yesterday after a month of practice).

My February journalling habit is not going well! Did my journal in the morning yesterday but not the evening and then forgot to put it out on the kitchen table for this morning so haven't done it yet! Going to do it now before I start work.

Checking in (belatedly!) on the Feb thread!

Well done @afaloren !

@ImALittlePea good luck with finding your focus. Could easily just have been a bit of salty bloat. Onwards!

Morning all. My bloods came back normal so I can get back to eating my normal soups and whatnot. I've really missed them this week.
We go away on Monday so I'm not focusing too much on losing but just being sensible. Once I'm back it will be full steam ahead.
There are some amazing losses being reported 😃 not mine but I have to remember that I've lost 13kg since I started and at the final stage of maintaining once I kick the last 4 pounds. My new normal is around 8st 12lb so I can't complain really but really want to tone up.
Here's to February and don't forget your 🍾

@PatienceOfEngels Great post! I totally agree with your mind set; especially around UPF/processed foods. They are not treats at all, they are addictive food crack which leads to only wanting more.

@ImALittlePea I like your word ‘focus’! Thinking it brings you back into the moment and mindful of your own thoughts 👍

@LegoTherapy Great news! Enjoy your holiday and at least you won’t be worried. 🥳

Welcome to the thread @MrsPepperpotty 👍

@buzzofthebumblebee I like the sound of your lifestyle/balance 👌

Good morning all,

The threads made me smile this morning - intentions, focus, big walk round the block on school run, being concious of UPF, Fave soups back on menu.

I listened to a couple interesting podcasts this morning - non weight markers, ie am I consistent to atleast one goal, how do feel in my clothing etc etc. It helped me a lot. Sounds like all of who have slipped a bit seem to have awareness. The biggest tool in CHANGE!!!

I have just done my 3/3 weekly waits workout. Honestly could have kept going - quick rehydrate and think I will do a 10 minute add on.

Great day/weekend determined pretty ladies 😊😉

Another great post @AnnieCambs 👍

I am really please to report I managed myself appropriately yesterday and didn't do anything stupid while nobody could see me!!

I had
B: kidneybean burrito
L: cottage cheese with cocoa, raspberries, stevia
D: home made fishermans pie, with butterbean/potato mash for plant diversity
fibre muffin square (which are better warmed up, not impressed by them)

I might have eaten a bit too much of the pie, but I didn't eat anything else, so I feel really great knowing how badly I have done the last times my husband was away for work. I went for a walk at school pick up time in addition to the Joe Wicks workout I did in the morning.

Cleaned for an hour this morning, and will walk at school pick up time if the rain holds off.
Today:
B: kidneybean burrito
L: smoked tofu, cabbage, kimchi
D: veggie mince and cauliflower/potato mash
protein pudding for snack.

Good news on the bloods @LegoTherapy No 🍾 for me, I want to have an alcohol free run before some blood tests. I was supposed to have 2 weeks clear of booze, and it's only going to be 8 days because of when I could get an appointment, but hopefully that'll be enough, particularly as I did make a concerted effort to reduce intake throughout January despite all the birthdays. My last blood tests had a result that are usually indicators of alcoholism (I'm really not, I promise, but the more I insist that to my gp, the more suspicious they seem), an infection, or something else... I'm sure I had a nasty virus, possibly Covid, before the last one, so I'm hoping it was just an infection marker.

Oh guys, all that support and encouragement just feels like a great big hug! Thank you 🥰❤️

Yes, I hit the two stone loss mark last year after about 18 months - I'm now half a stone heavier and really want to get that back off. I still fit comfortably into the new size 10 wardrobe I bought last summer/autumn, so there's that to encourage me - as I certainly don't want to have to bring my 12/14s back down from the loft!

I have got my MILs 60th at the end of March, followed very quickly by my birthday and a weekend away with DH. So that's my focus time wise. If I can just get comfortably back in the 9s by then, I'll be happy. It isn't far to go, I just need to FOCUS 🤩

I'm going to get some sparkling water from the shop today, as I love it and it's a great alternative to snacks when the pangs strike ✨

I think I'm going to start having more salads too this week - I'll cook up some chicken (or a decent veggie alternative if anyone can suggest something easy and low cal?) and add a bit of variety so there's fewer cup-a-soup specials on rotation. I also have to refocus on meal planning and sticking to it.

Life is indeed a constant juggle at the moment, and I think on reflection I haven't really considered the physical time and mental space the interview prep is taking on top of our weekly norms of shift working, two young kids and general life admin. I'm so excited at the prospect of this new job, so I'm throwing everything I have into it - which is probably why I don't have the mental energy come dinner time to stick to our plans. If that's the case - it'll be over by the end of next week so it isn't a forever issue. I am, however, 100% off the alcohol after this weekend so I have a few nights of good sleep and a clear head in the lead up. I have also planned a takeaway to have the evening of the interview, so I know I won't have another one in the meantime as it's a reward for doing the best I can.. eek!

@ImALittlePea have you thought about daal as a low calorie alternative? I'm Pakistani so we have a lot. It's a humble dish but very tasty and nutritious too 😋

Checking in for the February thread. It's my birthday today. I was supposed to be going for Chinese lunch with the kids as it's the school holidays here, but the girls still aren't awake at 2:00 p.m so I've managed to get away with not eating all of those calories. Not really bothered about missing a chinese as I was there on Monday with a friend and felt I had eaten with restraint but still enjoyed my meal. Well, that was until I got home and checked the calories in orange chicken and then I had a bit of shock. This sounds like I'm eating Chinese all the time, but I promise it's only on special occasions.😉Going out tonight with my DH for calamari and meze which will be lovely, so all in all still having nice food without feeling like I'm blowing the diet. Hoping to lose 3kg in February. When school starts again on Monday, I want to start incorporating weights. Ideally about 20 minute long workouts so if anyone has any suggestions of a series on YouTube to follow?

I love daal but no-one else in the family does. I'll have a look at some recipes for some inspo - thanks!

Happy birthday @ChickenChipsandBeans!

@ImALittlePea we have smoked tofu for lunch today, that is really delicious.

Happy Birthday to you @ChickenChipsandBeans Hope you have a lovely day

FOCUS indeed. Loved your post too @PatienceOfEngels . Like you, I can feel my body reacts badly to sugar & alcohol.

Glad you are OK @LegoTherapy . Yes - don't forget how well you've done with your weight loss. It's amazing !! Life happens and it will fluctuate up - and back down - hopefully just a couple of kg. Hope you have a fab holiday away.

In need of comfort (various stuff) so treated myself to a shop bought salad for lunch - beetroot, lentils, hazelnuts, rocket & a cheese of some sort. It hit the spot very nicely. Far more exotic and tastier than I would have made myself.

Belatedly jumping aboard the February bus! Its been a really tough week and I have struggled to focus on myself. But instead of giving up I am holding myself accountable.

I didn't do a end of Jan Weigh in, but I was down 2lb on Monday.

Glad your blood results were good @LegoTherapy have a fab holiday.

@ImALittlePea super! pm if you want a easy but tasty pakistani recipe! Or anyone else is interested I can post to main thread. Raita on the side and it'll be yum!!

I'd love your recipe @AnnieCambs

Today's menu

B - fried egg (used low cal spray) on a protein thin bagel
L - leek & potato soup, apple, couple of slices of ham for added protein
D - chicken & spinach curry with a mini naan bread

Snacks - had a chocolate biscuit this afternoon, will have a couple of non alcoholic beers watching the rugby tonight.

Exercise - stretch class and half a bodycombat class (the room was too hot, I had the wrong leggings on, didn't like the class I had chosen and it was all irritating me). But it was a step in the right direction after being a bit slack this last week!