I want a different me! Do you?

[DoctorDolittle]

Accountability thread. I piled on a huge amount of weight at start of menopause, was ravenous all the time, and am really struggling to lose it. I thought an accountability thread that also focused on increasing self-care and self-worth would be good.

So - food wise I think I’ll try “no snacks”, that gives some wiggle room with meals to be what I most fancy/will fit in with kids the most.

Self-care: I bought a whole new skincare regime a month ago, just start using it woman!!! Am pampering my decades-long neglected feet each night and have booked in to salon for eyelash tint and curl as now suddenly need to wear glasses and want to feel better about eye area behind them.

Fluids!!!

Any company would be welcome 😊

Today’s plan: hot water with lemon throughout day rather than too many cups of tea, salad with feta and olives and orange juice for lunch, vegetable chilli & brown rice and a glass of milk for dinner.

A gentle walk later, and some time in the garden.

Today has been a good day, stayed on track with my food and made a point of sitting in the garden with a cup of tea a couple of times to properly relax even though it was a busy day. Felt much better for doing so.

Tomorrow food plan is porridge for lunch and gammon and vegetables for dinner. I’ll leave the rhubarb crumble I’m making to the kids and have a protein yoghurt instead.
Exercise for tomorrow - dog walk on the beach and a horse ride.

God, i think im just starting perimenopause - i do not need any more weight so hope im not as snacky!
I love feta so your feta salad sounds fab as does a doggy beach walk.

Good luck

Good luck! Sounds like you are doing well.

@21ZIGGY thank you - I hope you don’t have this symptom, it’s really demoralising.

@Herefishiefishie thanks - fingers crossed I’m finally in the right mind frame to do this.

Did far too much exercise yesterday, unintentionally, but did mean I slept well. Food side of things was fine, though did have a small bowl of rhubarb crumble…I’d eaten very little and it was very nice (new recipe) so I’m okay with that.

Today the plan is to drink more fluids, and up my calories a little. Thinking porridge with fruit at lunchtime and roast sweet potato with ratatouille, and a protein yoghurt, for dinner.
Self-care (and exercise) will definitely be to spend some time with my new pony! She’s a delight, absolutely wonderful girl.

A good day. Three mile beach walk and then another walk up to horse field. Groomed the new pony and enjoyed their company.
Food was tasty and filling. Will drink another pint of water and try for an early night I think.

Tomorrow is very busy day, must concentrate on drinking. Thinking porridge for lunch and tuna & cottage cheese salad for dinner, with a yoghurt.

Sounds like you are well away and doing well.

@Herefishiefishie I’ve been procrastinating really for the last six months going up and down the same 10lbs but feel much better/more focused at the minute, definitely.

Have finally got below 14 stone…okay it’s 13st 13.6 but I’m taking that 😆. Am hoping the next stone off will be a little quicker!

I'm trying to get back to 80 kg. I'm 93 kg at the moment. 58 and quite tall.
I've started just by completely cutting out sugar and that includes fruit. But not sugary veg like tomatoes, carrots,beetroot, peppers.

Also being incredibly hungry just means I abandon all my good intentions, so starting with three meals and no snacks rather than especially cutting back carbs. I only drink water or tea, black coffee anyway.

Have managed for last four days, with only one blip a pizza when we went out to a pizzeria and a slice of birthday cake for son's 24th

But it's doable so far - psychologically I'm not eating "all the time" now and that helps create new habits.

Had for lunch TODAY wilted green cabbage, borlotti beans, tuna, and a small slice of seeded bread, olive oil. Breakfast peanut butter toast, one slice.
Dog walks x 1:so far.

That is to say I DO eat "sugary veg"...the kind that caramelizes when cooked in olive oil(onion, peppers, aubergine, tomato) just not chips or fruit or puddings or biscuits or jam.
I think my cravings have been linked to cheese and sugar/fruit/dried fruit/white bread so cutting that out has stopped me snacking uncontrollably.
I've been getting through am and pm fine as long as I resist even a solitary biscuit or toast or nut.

Im also going to try and weigh myself only on Fridays. Too tempting to keep checking the scales every day otherwise

I went from 89 to 71 kilos last year.
My maintenance regime is daily weighing, breakfast and then two ‘lunch’ size meals each day. I find this then leaves me some calories for snacks or the odd blow out day.
I do two different aqua aerobic classes each week which give me a lovely feel good feeling.
The other thing I’m into is a real rainbow diet where I try and eat as many different fruit and veg as I can each day. I find this doesn’t leave too much room for junk.
I don’t touch sodas now as find them
bad for my sugar cravings and I probably have a takeaway every six months. My system doesn’t like them anymore.

Have finally got below 14 stone…okay it’s 13st 13.6 but I’m taking that 😆

That is fab, well done.

Well done! A win even if it’s just under.

@Nettleskeins that sounds a really positive, achievable way of doing things! I definitely focus on vegetables big time, they are so easy, can eat plenty, and tasty.

@FestivalFun your maintenance sounds really enjoyable food, and pretty simple to organise, I’m glad it’s working for you. I’d like to start swimming again once a week, and include the steam room with that too as think it would leave me relaxed/happy. Must find time!

Today has been overwhelmingly busy and stressful and I have only eaten a bowl of porridge with honey. I know it’s not enough but I have grabbed plenty of drinks…I cannot face anything until I’ve had some sleep, hopefully gotten rid of tension headache and started a fresh new day.

@DoctorDolittle lovely to hear about your pony and the world outdoors.

We went out this afternoon for second walk and rain was so cold and fierce, dog and I retreated back to the sofa. It's not been a very busy day apart from scrubbing bathrooms this morning and rushing up and down stairs. Saw friend and avoided biscuits she offered....

Supper was steamed cabbage, onion and poached apple gravy with chop, and rice with lots of water to drink.

Felt a few cravings after supper luckily no one offered me anything tempting ...if there had been pudding or cheese I would have had difficulties, but I knew I was full from supper so it was just a "taste" craving not a hunger craving.
Enjoyed a Netflix series too, just focusing on other things rather than food which can be too "centre stage" when you are dieting..Husband saying i talk too much about food at the moment.!!!!

@Nettleskeins that gravy sounds yummy - do you have a recipe or is it a wing it one?

I’ve had periods where I talk about food too much - the people on wegovy/saxenda etc talk about it reducing “food noise”, so you’re not constantly thinking about food and I realised that was a good term! Thinking, talking, buying, cooking, eating - food often takes up an enormous amount of headspace and mental energy.

Okay, still tired but looking forward to a day off so here is my plan:

Help neighbour do some packing as she’s moving, then take dog and new pony on the beach - she’s never been on one before so should enjoy it. I’ll also ride one of the horses on the beach. Then some gardening so I can simultaneously feel virtuous and ignore the housework 😆. Porridge, roast sweet potatoes, paprika veg and last of gammon.

Here’s a pic of pony with the other horses, I’m like a proud granny lol

I would like to join. I was very unwell for a couple of months and then had some post viral fatigue. My usual walk of an hour a day plus boredom at being stuck indoors for 2 months. I’m unsure how much I have out on but my jeans are very tight and I feel all sort of flobby.

We then had a holiday and I ate too much cake but it was a holiday ! So now here I am. Yesterday I went to my belly dancing class for the first time in 10 weeks and walked for about 45 minutes. My energy levels are still not quite 100%. I will be walking for an hour today. My real issue is when I’m ill I always crave carbs which is what always puts weight on me.

Hi @ViciousCurrentBun viruses can really take a toll can’t they! It makes sense for our bodies to crave carbs when we aren’t 100% but annoying too. It sounds like you’re being steady and sensible with your recovery. Belly dancing must be amazing, have you been doing it for long?

I did it years ago for a couple of years, I’m retired now so took it up again. Have done lots of different sorts of dance over the years and this was helpful for toning me up. I did a 3 mile walk today, did feel very tired after, carried a full rucksack of shopping for 2 miles of it not quite marine commando leave but a bit of weight.

@ViciousCurrentBun you’re doing well.

I’ve ended up walking 5 miles today and rode probably 10. Didn’t get in to the garden apart from putting washing out which is a shame.
Food was porridge with honey, and beef and vegetable stew for dinner.

Self-care is going to be a nice hot bath after kids go to bed, I’d like to get something luxurious to have in my baths but I’ve no idea what as I usually steal the kids’ matey bubbles 😆

Can I join here too please? 5 years into menopause and trying to lose the weight that I put on in the early part. I've come down from 16 & a half stone to 13 & a half. That's taken 2 years, am definitely finding it harder the last few months. I've started intermittent fasting and find that's helping, It doesn't help that I work in a bakery. I'm also trying to get out walking but that's a bit hit and miss.
@DoctorDolittle I use Badedas in my bath as I love the smell, it does be on special in Boots sometimes & I try stock up. There's a cheaper luxury type one in Aldi too. Definitely try some supermarket ones, they can be just as good as the brand ones. I bring a coffee & a book to my bath too, ☺️

@Misshollys working in a bakery must be incredibly difficult at times!! Really well done on the weight loss already. I’ll have a look at the Alsi one next time I’m in - sadly it’s a 2.5hr drive to my nearest proper town so it’ll be a while.
I do book and a cup of tea in mine lol

I felt tired today after a bad night's sleep (dog waking due to foxes) but did quite a lot of walking back and forth due to various errands (2 miles??) so was forced outside!

Lunch was beetroot, green beans a boiled egg olive oil vinegar and a slice of seeded toast (no butter)

Supper vegetarian chilli with salad, a bit of rice (not much) and some chickpea carrot and feta salad (a pot luck supper for bookclub) - more walking to friend for bookclub!

Determined to see scales drop so did not have any cream or ice-cream or homemade cake this eve or fizz. No cravings as long as I don't touch any of it.....