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 😊

@verlag I have to buy that recipe book! Red onions sound delicious. Weigh in, accept, move forward sounds like a very sensible plan.

@Nettleskeins the new curtains sound so pretty, frustrating about the lining though.

@Misshollys have a lovely time with your Mam.

I am going to buy some linen wide leg trousers, I’m so fed up of jeans at the minute and feel frumpy/meh about my clothes most days. Tomorrow I’m planning a horse ride and I’ll take a picnic lunch, that’ll do me the world of good. Then gardening. Sunday I’ve work and swimming with kids.
Hope everyone has a nice weekend 😊

Good morning all, I hope everyone is doing well.

It's very early morning here indeed. I battle with insomnia most nights. I have been having a stressful couple of weeks preparing to entertain some family members visiting from the UK, and my weight has crept up again. I've gained the 4 lbs I lost. But I weighed in this morning and that's that.

But on the plus side, I've repainted the hallway, and it looks bright and welcoming, and I changed the area rugs in the living room to light and airy ones. I have to paint the kitchen at some point, but the very thought makes me tired :)

I have to accept the fact that the only way I ever lose weight is VLC and OMAD or at the most two meals a day. I have to figure out how to do this in a safe, effective, and sustainable way, at least on most days.

@DoctorDolittle Your plan of a horse ride and picnic sounds lovely! You also reminded me to dig out my wide legged pants. Hopefully, they still fit. :)

I'm going to finish my cup of coffee, and do some weight training. Probably put on a Body Pump track on youtube.

I'm going to try and cut artificial sweeteners out of my diet as I think it's messing up my gut.

Have a great weekend everyone.

@EasternEcho sometimes life happens, accepting it and moving on is far better than giving up and eating more (as I have done so often!) - it sounds as if you’ve been busy and very welcoming for your guests.

I’ve just spent ages looking at bras - I’ve apparently been wearing a very, very wrong size oops. No wonder I’ve had backache. Anyways, I got one from the shop that is very comfy and fits but I’d like to get one that offers as much uplift as is humanly possible. Anyone have any ideas???
I’ve a large family and that and my eating issues coupled with age equals a very matronly chest. Definitely doesn’t help my feeling of frumpiness! (Yes, the feminist in me doesn’t like those terms but I’m being honest with my feelings here)

Just going out to the horses now, made a lovely tub of cheese salad to take with me, and have apples and carrots to share lol.

@DoctorDolittle How was your day and the picnic? :)

I'm sorry I have no knowledge or experience with bra fittings. I have always had a fairly small chest. The weight gain does certainly show in that area and makes my clothes look like tents, but they are still proportional I think. I also get back pain but I think that's from the fat around my stomach. I have a small frame at 5' 3", ,and most of my weight seems to settle around the belly and thigh area.

I get my bras from Marks & Spencer, and every time I visit the UK I stock up. I've found theirs to be the most comfortable I've tried on so far.

I noticed that in your first post that you got a new skincare regime. I'm sorry if I've missed reading it, but would you be willing to elaborate on what the products are? I am using tretinoin from Dermatica but other than that really can't settle on a routine.

I hope everyone else is doing well.

@EasternEcho maybe you are fitter and more muscular after all that painting, muscle weighs more than fat remember!
I think artificial sweeteners play havoc with insulin don't they? I avoid them. I hate the taste of diet drinks too, I can tell if anything has artificial sweetener in it ...Ribena is RUINED!!!
Maybe two meals will be a good compromise, OMAD sounds difficult to maintain.

Back home in London, DH cooked fish with capers and green coriander, spinach and green beans on side. Delicious. Unfortunately I had a packet of Tayto cheese and onion on the plane and a cheese toastie in Dublin after getting off the bus so I'm not sure if my amazingly active week and limited menus will have borne any fruit! It was a mistake to not have "proper meals" last week because I reverted to a slightly dysfunctional pattern of "refuelling". I'm sure it affected my digestion too.

Ireland was absolutely beautiful, the views on my bus journey in the Midlands (hilly bit) could have been a "scenic tour". I love the bus, and always take it to Dublin on my way home.

Read The new novel by One Day author called "You Are Here". About hiking. Reminded me again of all the New Me things there are to do, reading more being one of them (and NOT online) Bought three books by Dublin airport to strike whilst iron hot. Tried to try out some new perfume in duty free (Hermes) and was told off by assistant for spraying it on me instead of one of those sample strips...oh dear.

@DoctorDolittle I'm no help as only B cup and have opted for bra less since lockdown (so four years now) but I've heard people talk about Rigby and Peller...do they even exist still? I'm also not very keen on underwiring...is it bad for breast tissue? But I'm a luddite in this field.
I do remember that most people have too large a band and too small a cup, so choose 40 C when it should be 38D. 10 years ago that did make my bras more comfortable. Also straps can be too short, mine always were, and dug into my shoulders

Yes, I think that is the reason why most people get their size wrong - back size too big and cup size too small. I'm matronly too and always go for underwire.

When I am slimmer I was getting my bra fitted at an independent lingerie shop - empreinte seemed to fit me best and gave a lovely shape. Really made a big difference. I would definitely recommend going to an independent like this - the lady really seemed to know which brand would give me the best shape/uplift. In general though I recommend empreinte @DoctorDolittle . I've got a friend who is always slim but full breasted and she likes primadonna bras.

Now I am most definitely not slim I am buying the fantasie fusion bras from John lewis online. I'm going for comfort though but it feels comfy and well supported. There is too much else wrong with my shape to be spending £££ on Empreinte/primadonna. Another reason to lose weight though...

I weighed in yesterday - up 1 lb, which was fine. I was on the wine last night though so that bit wasn't good and I absolutely need to stop that - that is how I gain weight not lose it! I think I felt trapped yesterday by my foot - resting it rather than being productive. Decided to wear my trainers to work tomorrow, as I've now convinced myself that my work shoes are the issue.

Got a supermarket order coming in an hour - definitely want to get back into ordering it online as part of being more organised. Going to make fish with fennel, tomatoes and chickpeas for dinner (Hugh F-W recipe).

Having a lazy day this morning. Slept well. Cistus out in London. Feels a month ahead. Cherries appearing on tree. Salad nicoise for lunch. My weight is nearly the same as when I left on Tues!! I can't believe it, a bit disappointed. Cheese must be banished from my repertoire if consumed with toast! But I do feel fitter and my waist is reappearing.

Will weigh in properly on Monday after a return to mindful eating over Sunday 😀 I like the feeling of savouring every mouthful. In fact I did do that with the Tayto crisps, I can't say I was mindlessly chomping them but they were probably a mistake 😀

Hi everyone, hope you're all having a lovely weekend, trying to enjoy what I'm told is the last of the lovely weather, rain due I'm told, the amount of tractors I met on my walk this morning, all trying to get the work done before the rain.
@Nettleskeins Tayto crisps on fresh buttered white bread is one of life's simple pleasures 😋
A treat every so often does us all good, you'll be back on track in no time.
@DoctorDolittle I got measured before for bras in a department store we have here called Shaw's, I'm just buying in Dunnes Stores, not too expensive whilst I try lose the weight, when I settle at a weight I'm happy with then I'll probably go back & get measured & get decent ones. Hope you enjoyed the horse riding yesterday, I seen a gorgeous horse on my walk, he was nearly talking to me lol, it's no wonder I can't improve my time, I stop and start so often 🤣
@Verlag Hopefully the trainers will be easier on your foot, it's awful when you're in pain & trying to lose weight by moving more but then being in more pain, I used to do an exercise with a tennis ball, rolling it under my foot, I must root one out again, I remember it did help. I think we also need a glass of wine every now and again, definitely medicinal here lol.
@EasternEcho Put the weight gain behind you & I find a fresh start is very motivating. It sounds lovely what you've done decorating the hall, been trying to work around the house here too, 1 room every few months, maybe try pick a colour for your kitchen & it might give you a burst to start it.
If I've missed anyone I'm sorry, been trying to read through what I missed yesterday, our walk was so beautiful, the morning was such an experience, then I had a lovely time in Dublin with my mam & then had a neighbour in for a catch up last night. Very busy day but good, unfortunately the food wasn't so good, My mam is a feeder & I just can't say no 🤣
But back on track today after that lovely walk, back out to the garden now to do a bit more,
This is a photo from our walk yesterday morning just before sunrise 🌅

@Misshollys are there any paint colours that you would recommend for south facing rooms...mine are very small but lots of sunshine..so far I've painted one Fleetwood "Gossamer" (very pale green/neutral) but Im interested to know any good Colourtrend colours, for the proper revamp stage. We did it in a hurry, the rooms that needed it. The kitchen DH painted another Fleetwood colour The Final Straw (completely love that name) very pale yellowy cream but Im veering towards a different colour when I re do the kitchen units. My SIL swears by Fleetwood Bayberry Blue. The Irish light and probably the Scottish too, is very different from the light in London. Our hall in Ireland is light orange...husband slightly overstepped himself. I want to paint that over too!

@EasternEcho a friend of mine designed a routine of things-with-complicated-names from The Ordinary, some are daily, some twice a week, some weekly….I've got it all written down and still have to refer to it! I’ll add it to here if you want, though you can put your details in on the website and they will design something for you.

Everyone’s weekends sound lovely, I’m glad ☺️
This morning I saw a friend for a catch up at hers, then we’ve spent all afternoon in the village park with another friend…happy children and I enjoyed the rare company of other nice Mums.

Yesterday I had a salt and chilli chicken wrap, apple juice and a small ice cream. Today I am having baked salmon and quinoa with a salad of home grown chard and dame’s rocket.
Tomorrow I think I’ll do chicken with homemade potato salad as I’ve lots of chives and parsley, and a tomato salad.

The hiking group has stuff on every week.

Well I have a dinner tonight out with my family and a lunch with a hobby group in the week and now a postponed curry next Saturday, maybe I will forgo pudding! Another mate has reminded me she owes me dinner out as her Apple Pay wouldn’t function when we last went out so there you go lots of lovely dinners but not good for the waistline.

On a bad note I have pulled a muscle in the hip area so may need to go to my physio to sort it, walking relieves the pain so that’s all ok.

Thank you for the reminder about using a tennis ball @Misshollys - I've just pulled out my 'box of foot balls'...a tennis ball, a golf ball, two spikey balls and a pair of Yamuna foot wakers. I've also got a Pilates foot corrector. Haven't used any of it for a very long time. Then I remembered a folder I made of all the things I have tried and updates - I'm very glad of it now as it has exercises in it, really good articles - everything really! It is time for a new update in the folder and to make some effort. I've just been lazily accepting of it and this is not the me I want! Seriously marred this weekend for a start!

@Verlag that folder sounds like a godsend! We get in to habits of acceptance, sounds as if you’re breaking it though.

It's been hard today adjusting again to a more strict regime of low carb. (My visit abroad scuppered this) I had lunch at 1.30 and it seems an AGE to supper, with no snacks to lighten the mood . Still I know if I stick with it, it will become second nature again...but it is terrible how quickly the appetite swings have come back after resetting them before I went
Hunger feels v real again...however I know it will RESET in a day or two and it's only a hour or two to wait

Still interesting how there's always this barrier to get through at first. It seems too much of a coincidence that two ginger biscuits, a packet of crisps, two slices of soda bread and a toastie, and four squares of mint choc over last week have altered my insulin/cravings response, but there we go! I am warned.

@Nettleskeins My kitchen got painted in February, we used Fleetwood paint, its called Lilac hush, definitely paler on the wall than on the colour chart but I got test pots, I ended up with 3 samples & picked the one that I thought would be too much but it's not. My kitchen is Southeasterly, lots of light too, it's been a pale yellow before & also a light green, this is my favourite of those. I tried to take a photo just now but it's coming out almost white 🫣 this is a photo from when it was painted.

Good evening everyone! Apologies as I haven't read the entire thread but I need accountability!!

I started WW 19 weeks ago and am 1st 6.5lbs down (was 1st 10lbs down but had an eff in Week last week.. oops 😬). I ate really good up until I got home from work and then everything went downhill of an evening!! I'm now 13st 4.5lbs and am desperate to be 12st something!! I also took my first measurements on Friday to see if that shows more than a weight loss!

Back on it tomorrow!

Hello @Chocolateeggsarebetterthannormalchocolate I think we are all hovering round about the same weight and aiming to same downward point, well I am 😀

So two meals today: salad nicoise( minus carbs) for lunch with tuna, egg and tomatoes, green beans and anchovies, oil and vinegar

Supper: lamb chops panfried and served with tablespoon of couscous, and Greek salad.

@Misshollys I love that colour! It goes very well with wooden cupboards and as you say, it isn't washed out by bright light. Lavender is very calming too.

@ViciousCurrentBun that sounds a very painful muscle to pull! Hope it heals quickly.

@Misshollys what a lovely kitchen, great colour and the windows must make it so airy and light.

Hello @Chocolateeggsarebetterthannormalchocolate welcome, we’re a friendly lot and I definitely find the accountability helpful. As @Nettleskeins says, there’s a lot of understanding of the loss amount that you are hoping for.

All sorted for today..

Breakfast/snack (I hate eating until I'm hungry): banana and apple slices

Lunch: WW wrap with Quorn jerk chicken, spinach, pepper, etc.., Happy Snax crisp, 10cal jelly and a mini babybel light 😋

Happy for tea (dinner) inspo, although I am vegetarian!

Have a lovely day everyone 😊

Hello @Chocolateeggsarebetterthannormalchocolate - well done on your weight loss so far!

Hope the re-set happens quickly @Nettleskeins !

First recipe out of new HFW book a success - roasted fennel, tomato, onion, chickpeas with hot smoked paprika and cod. It was much tastier than I expected - definitely a keeper. I've only had fennel in salads before - so nice roasted...

I found a new you tube video to follow for the foot wakers so did that last night - it included calf stretches etc so I'm going to do that once a day to start with. Trainers to work today. Hope this works after resting well this weekend.

Did you see my bra recommendations @DoctorDolittle ? Any further forward?

Too many things to tackle this morning. Not really focussing on delicious healthy food.

Maybe miso soup with veg, boiled egg and wholewheat noodles for lunch.

However weigh in first thing had me at 88.65kg so down a bit from last week's mid 89kg.😀dog walk x 3 yesterday (all quite short)

Just did another walk with dog.

I find BBC good food a very good place to Google ingredients and then recipe ideas based on ingredients, @Chocolateeggsarebetterthannormalchocolate tbh if something is very calorific you can often eat less of it, or reduce starch element.

Although I have to stay I'm stumped currently by my returning to a fridge full of cheese ham French bread and samosas. Some miserable looking leeks and onions are NOT inspiring me. However there's cooked beetroot so I could make a chunky Borscht for supper. However it wouldn't suit the others so I need to go to the shops (the lions den)

@verlag, I did and thank you! I seem to be sitting at a 38 C which is v different from the G cup I was wearing!! Got a sale Triumph that is v comfy but will also look at Fantasie and Bravissimo if I’m in the city.

Can you remind me which HFW you got? Sounds yummy.