⭐️ LOSE IT! March 2024 ⭐️ Spring Re-Set Edition ⭐️

[TheRealHousewife]

⭐️ Open to All ⭐️

Following on from the February thread.

Spring is right around the corner so it’s time to embrace a fresh new month, fresh new start, fresh new habits. Jump right in to reset & refresh to 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 a 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 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 maintaining around 8st 12lb; although I’d like to see another half stone off 😬

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

Feel free to share your own links, tips & recipes

Lost 3 lb this week
Total down 66.8 lbs

I'm feeling brighter, but I haven't been out really. Still feeling weak and wobbly. Also had an anxiety breakdown last night over our cat having urinated and pooed in my girls lego/dollhouse space, on some of their things.

forgot my menu yesterday too...
B: black bean burrito
L: lentil and chickpea soup, dry wholemeal toast
D: roast vegetables, veggie sausages
grapefruit for snack

Today:
B: black bean burrito
L: fava bean dip, cucumber, onion crackers
D: cauliflower/potato mash, cabbage, homemade piccalilli, veggie sausage

Morning all.

I've been a bit bad recently overdosing on Blanco Nino Smoky Chipotle tortilla chips,Trek, Protein Flapjack and Nature Valley Protein Bar (chocolate and berries). Last nights dinner was WW potato gnocchi with tenderstem broccoli, Philadelphia cheese, garlic, lemon and nutmeg sauce and spinach on side.

This morning:

Breakfast - 20g porridge with skimmed milk
Snack - nature valley protein flapjack
Lunch: Pumpernickel with spread, reduced fat cheese, crudities of cucumber, carrots, cherry tomatoes and radishes and also Slim a Soup Minestrone.

What do people think about the Protein Bars? Needed or not? I don't know if you recall but last year I was eating porridge with water which made hardly an iota of difference to weight loss. I'm sure my body thought I was starving it. Exercise is up and down but I subscribed to an exercise app which I haven't even used yet.

0.2kg up from last Friday, but had a very good loss last week, so wasn't expecting to lose this week. Hopefully another whoosh will happen soon. Exercise good, only one day that it was gray and stormy so I didn't walk, but have made up the steps over the rest of the week.

Sounds like you're having a challenging week @WeirdPookah The cat dirtying the Lego would make me want to cry! Such a faff to get it clean. I hope the weekend goes better.

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain what I've read / heard about protein bars is to watch the sugar and calories in them, as some of them might as well be candy bars for the ingredients they contain.

Heading into another weekend. Really trying to keep track of calories at the weekends as historically this has definitely been a problem for me. Risotto and salad tonight, jacket and tuna tomorrow night and then I think a macaroni and broccoli cheese on Sunday, as I just really fancied it!

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend. The sun has been out today and I got a 7 mile walk in yesterday. I've done some baking today on the thinking that homemade baked goods with fruit in them are better than shop bought cakes and biscuits full of additives and preservatives and things no one can pronounce. I was reading the quitting sugar thread and wondered if I could do it but figured life's too short!
@WeirdPookah hope things have settled down for you

Evening All

Heres hoping you all have had a bit of Sunshine today ☀️It was lovely when it streamed through my window today.

@WeirdPookah Well done on your loss! 👏Sorry to hear about the cat! I hope her behaviour improves (could she be picking up stress vibes?)

Hi everyone, back from my weekend away, all ready to start calorie counting again tomorrow! Definitely had excess calories at the weekend, but we did make some sensible-ish choices and had less booze than we would have normally done.

Need to catch up on the thread but just to answer @Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain question on protein bars. I've never had one as I'm not a fan of that kind of thing. If I have porridge I usually have 30g with around 90-100ml of semi skimmed milk and add banana or berries and pomegranate seeds and flax seeds to it. That normally sees me through until lunch, when I usually have soup plus a portion of protein - some cooked chicken, falafel and humous, half a pitta with tuna - that kind of thing. I try and get at least 60g of protein a day.

Managed to stay within my calorie intake this week by zigzagging it, having higher and lower days. This meant I even managed to fit treats in on Friday to Sunday. I'm really pleased plus am just below my hard earned target weight though no doubt the scales will have crept up tommorow because of salt or water weight!

Planning on focusing on increasing my fibre, decreasing ultraprocessed food intake, continuing to prioritise protein and increase fruit and vegetable intake to make sure there's 30 varieties a week. I've read briefly about the concept of eating 800g of fruit and vegetables or plant based foods daily and am wondering whether to make this a goal. I need to do more research on it first.

Meal plan for the week ahead:
Breakfast - overnight chia seeds and oats made up with skimmed milk, a range of frozen berries, strawberry protein powder. Justs needs heating up in the morning.
Lunch - cous cous with halloumi pieces and a range of vegetables. Again just needs heating up in the microwave.
Dinner - a range of vegetables, cottage cheese and a reasonable portion of whatever the family is having or soup.
Planned snacks - could be anything from babybel light, fruit, vegetables, popcorn, biscuits as long as it fits in my intake and goals.

I've had a total nightmare the last two weeks and put on a few pounds. I'm going away for Easter weekend and I want to lose a bit for that!! I went out today and bought healthy food and I'm on it!! Good luck to everyone and wish me luck please! Xx

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain I like protein bars and have tried the Misfit brand ones as they're vegan. Have also tried another brand but I can't remember the name. They can be quite calorific for the protein content though. It depends on what you're looking for, sometimes it's nice to have the calories if you're working out and need it. I recommend trying a couple out and seeing how you feel. Equally you might prefer drinking a low calorie protein shake like PhD Smart protein powder (around 100 calories for 20g protein if you mix it in water) and then if you wanted to you get to eat a nice bit of chocolate or biscuit or crisps or whatever you fancy up to 150 calories because the bars I've tried are around 250 calories for 20g protein. Sometimes if a bar isn't nice enough I feel short-changed and resent using my calories on it whereas having the protein shake with a treat would have been better, tastier and reduced cravings. I guess overall I recommend the shake and a treat over the bar because you can potentially get more protein and enjoy your food!

I dont really like protein bars, they often have a strange rubbery texture. I've tried a few and the peanut butter/chocolate tend to be better than others.

I do like these peanut butter boost ball, they have desiccated coconut in which gives a slightly crunchy texture. Their white chocolate raspberry ones are good too.

They melt very easily though so don't leave them in the car on a warm day or in your pocket unless you want to scrape them off the packet

https://www.healthysupplies.co.uk/peanut-butter-cup-40g-boostball.html?gadsource=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpuW8n7T8hAMVGJGDBx35rAEqEAQYCCABEgISrvDDBwE#foc=2439&fook=e86bf2024bd3ce629240d1ef2910a957&fo_s=gplauk

Weekly weigh in and stayed the same this week

SW - 1st Jan - 225 lb (16 st 1 lb - BMI 34.2)
WC 8th Jan - 220 lb
WC 15th Jan - 217 lb
WC 22nd Jan - 216 lb
WC 29th Jan - 213 lb
WC 5th Feb - 211 lb
WC 12th Feb - 210 lb
WC 19th Feb - 207 lb
WC 26th Feb - 212 lb
WC 4th Mar - 207 lb
WC 11th Mar - 205 lb
WC 18th Mar - 205 lb (14 St 9 lb - BMI 31.2)
Total Loss - 20 lb (9% bodyweight)

I haven't posted for ages, been having a bit of a difficult time and just haven't had the head space for it. I really should though cause I was finding the thread really helpful before i went awol, kept me accountable and stops me going rogue 🙂

Sw 15st 5lb
Cw 13.13.6lb
This week 2½lb
Total loss 19lb

Im happy with my progress.

So I weighed this weekend on Sunday:

SW: 11 stone
CW: 11 stone
Goal: ideally 10.5 or 10

Yesterday: Breakfast 1 slice sourdough toast with peanut butter and marmite
Snack: artisan chocolate and large orange
Lunch: Steak and guiness pie with mash, gravy and cauliflower cheese
Dinner: Fiorentina pizza
Drinks: San Pelligrino orange, 4 x g&ts, 2 were doubles... no slimline tonics

Today:

Breakfast: porridge with skimmed milk and blueberries, then Pret Sausage and scrambled egg roll
Lunch: Boots bean wrap
Snacks: 1 x baked crisps salt n vinegar, 1 protein Nature's Valley Choc and peanut bar, a few teas with skimmed milk, 1 green tea, far less water than I should have. oh and approx 6 mini eggs of various kinds - blame work as there in person!
Dinner: No idea yet

Exercise: I did do a 35 minute walk plus approx 30 minutes in morning.

@WhatWouldTheDoctorDo and @wiltingflower good points re protein bars. I mean I know, technically I don't need them and there are better options. My friend I met for lunch yesterday is on the keto diet for 3 weeks and has lost 12lb. Not sure I could do that diet but good for her, she loves it and finds it really easy to follow.

My dh is doing keto at the moment, he's losing weight really well.
I've done it in the past and it does work but for me this time I wanted to retrain my eating pattern plus I don't eat meat/fish/dairy any more which makes keto rather difficult

B Toast x1 with houmous
L Quorn, rocket & houmous filled pita
D Pasta with roasted med veg & smoked tofu
S Strawberries, crisps & glass of wine

Hi all, just popping on to update with my plan for the day:

Breakfast was coffee, yoghurt with strawberries and nuts

Lunch will be porridge with flaxseeds and banana

Dinner is peppercorn and sour cream mushrooms on sourdough which I'm really looking forward to

I'm also doing a 3 mile walk as I need to go to the post office which is 1.5 miles away so I'm planning on getting some steps in and walking there and back.

@LegoTherapy well things are going, that's about as far as I'm willing to admit! I did absolutely burst into tears, full on unable to breath sobbing breakdown.

I am pretty proud of myself for not giving into some temptations the last few days. Trying to keep going right up until our week away in the easter holidays.

yesterday
B: yogurt, apple, brazil nuts
L: methi paratha, hard boiled eggs, cucumber
D: vegetable sauce, broccoli, cheese

today
B: kidney bean burrito
L: moth bean dal, poppadom's
D: German style lentil stew, honey rye bread

I had to weigh in early (on Sunday). But despite it only having been a few days, I had lost 1lb! Been feeling much calmer and less out of control food wise the last week and a half.

But now I'm away for a few days. Whilst there will be a lot of walking involved. There will also be lots of food and alcohol. Nonetheless, I feel like I'm approaching it from a better place than before. Hope everyone is having good weeks x

CW: 12st 7lbs
TW: 11st 2-5lbs

Weighed this morning instead of tomorrow.
CW 14.1 .75
Initial GW 12
ideal GW 11.7

a few pounds down this week which makes me feel better as I’ve been trying hard. It feels manageable at the moment so I’m looking forward to seeing some more losses 🤞🏼

Sending  to @WeirdPookah

I had a sneaky weigh in this morning, currently 3lbs up on where I was two weeks ago, but I'm hoping it's mostly water retention after an indulgent weekend.

Today's menu

B - porridge, raspberries, flax seeds
L - home made sweet potato and tomato soup, falafels and humous, satsuma
D - a Moroccan chicken dish with kale and barley

No snacks yet, and planning an exercise class later but not sure what yet.

Strength class done. And I managed 6 whole push ups on my toes! A big achievement for me at least 😃

CW 70.5kg
SW 77kg (beginning October 2023)
GW 68kg

This week -0.2kg. Still +1.8kg from beginning February.

Just had a weekend away. So hard to eat healthily when out and about and not at home! Did manage to refrain from snacking except an apple I took from breakfast each day. Was very active with lots of walking but walked back into a cold so have spent most of the last 2-3 days on the sofa, watching TV, trying to resist the biscuit cupboard.

Have managed to drink a lot of water and back to work today to get me out the house. Avoided gorging myself on junk food though did have some of DH's chocolate covered waffles. Made soup yesterday to stock the freezer for my lunches, and sausage casserole with re pepper, carrots, mushrooms, onions, garlic, tomatoes and cannellini beans.

Have slept pretty badly the last week with sore throat/temperature but now just back to my normal insomnia of waking at 5am and worrying about work!

I need to get back on the thread to motivate me.

Today's intentions:

I will stay away from UPF.
B - boiled egg and rye toast w butter and coffee
S - fruit
L - carrot and lentil soup with sour dough
S- greek yoghurt and honey
D - DH is cooking but probably tomato soup with bread

I will drink enough water.
I will walk or stretch/yoga everyday.

• walk after dinner/washing up.

I will eat in a 12 hour window (no snacking after dinner).
I will do a short breathing exercise every morning and evening.

Well done @WhatWouldTheDoctorDo !

2lb loss this week which makes up for last weeks stall. 21lbs down so hoping to start to see changes in the way I look soon!

SW: 17st 10
CW: 16st 3
Total Loss: 21lbs
GW: 10st 10