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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Losing a couple of kg support thread

444 replies

GetYourHandOut · 28/04/2024 15:36

I'm blaming the shite weather rather than the biscuits but I'm still in my winter phase and am at the top end of my usual weight range.

I'd like to lose a couple of kg to feel more comfortable and confident as summer (hopefully) approaches.

Does anyone want to join me for a support and accountability thread?

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RamaSita · 23/05/2024 22:29

Another good day here, something has clicked this week. I just hope it's not short lived and that I can keep this up for quite a few more weeks, until I am at least in the healthy BMI range. Will try to manage my expectations for my weekly weigh in too, on Monday. You guys have already reminded me that the impact will show up eventually and sometimes you need a bit of patience.

Thinking about it though, those of you already quite trim and exercising plenty, it must be harder to make changes and harder to lose weight, if your starting point is already healthy and 'in good shape'?

A big win for me today is that I even jogged for a few minutes on my long walk! First jogging of any sort in about 5 years. It's given me a real boost.

Proteinpud · 23/05/2024 23:17

Hope it keeps working for you @RamaSita !

Re your point about whether it's hard for people who are already active and slimmer - I think it's hard in the sense that if you're already a relatively healthy weight, there's no big scale changes, and for many people at the start of a 'diet' that's what motivates them, eg having several lb loss after the first week. I think I've posted in here that for the first three weeks of tracking I've had no changes, and I've had to really tweak my diet to try and aim for a lower calorie limit - the margins for error are a lot smaller!

There are other things that are easier though, eg exercise is more accessible, changing that doesn't feel drastic. I didn't exercise (other than day to day activity) until I was in my thirties and the idea of a gym or class used to terrify me.

I'm really big on the mental health benefits of exercise of any kind, if I was doing it for weight loss I'd lose interest very quickly, because like you say it's a long process for that. But the mood boost is great. Personally I find the motivation of getting stronger, or learning a new skill, really satisfying, and that keeps me going in the long term.

everycowandagain · 24/05/2024 06:52

@RamaSita well done on the jog! I have started couch to 5k with DD and we are enjoying it!

You're totally right about needing patience and consistency. I really think it is about finding daily action goals rather than an outcome goal. I can sit here all day thinking about how much I want to weigh x amount but I won't get there unless I have daily achievable goals related to things I will do ie movement and food intake. Then I focus on getting my head down and nailing those action goals every day for weeks, knowing that the outcome will take care of itself.

You're right that smaller/fitter people don't typically get the initial big gratifying drop in weight plus consistency is so so important because as @Proteinpud says the margins are so much smaller. But also agree that exercise can be more accessible which helps.

Weight loss is not easy! There is a really good book called Everything Fat Loss by Ben Carpenter who is worth a follow on Instagram for sensible fat loss chat.

GetYourHandOut · 24/05/2024 18:32

Evening all.

I've broken the biscuit/snacking habit at work since I started this thread, so I'm really pleased about that. I don't even feel bothered or tempted at the moment.

Well done on the jogging @RamaSita! That's brilliant. Like @Proteinpud I only started exercising consistently in my 30s. Now I bloody love the gym and can lift way more than my own body weight!

I definitely see exercise as a way to keep mentally healthy. It really helps my mood and general wellbeing.

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RamaSita · 24/05/2024 19:59

That's really interesting @Proteinpud.

finding daily action goals rather than an outcome goal

@everycowandagain this struck a chord! It's like outputs vs outcomes. It makes sense to set goals that are much more within my direct control and then I immediately feel like I'm taking positive action towards the outcome I'd like. I've written out a list of action goals and some of them I can already tick off. Made plenty of healthy choices today too, even in the face of minor stress / boredom / visible temptation. Last moment of temptation will be when I sit down after the final jobs of the day are done, in front of the telly.

@GetYourHandOut that is excellent about the work snacks, habits are hard to break! Do you have alternatives or just go without?

GetYourHandOut · 24/05/2024 20:07

@RamaSita thanks!

I just go without and it feels fine. I make sure I have plenty to eat for lunch as I'm definitely hungry for it!

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Proteinpud · 24/05/2024 22:56

I've been the same this week, sat in several meetings where loads of snacks had been brought in, and I wasn't interested. I didn't want to undo my hard work. Definitely only possible because I'd eaten high protein breakfasts which kill my appetite for a few hours!

Went out for a meal tonight and enjoyed myself without going crazy. I decided the social aspect was more important, though was careful not to let a bit of freedom turn into a binge - had three courses, savoured it, and a regular day planned tomorrow. Will be interesting to see if I lose anything this week or whether that will be enough to tip me out of a deficit!

RamaSita · 24/05/2024 23:04

@Proteinpud out of interest would you share what sort of breakfasts you have, that keep you going?

Proteinpud · 24/05/2024 23:18

I usually have a protein yogurt - Lindahls or Arla, fruit flavoured, with strawberries and blueberries. If I'm extra hungry I'll have a small bowl of porridge as well. It's not that the portions are big (Im not a morning person, I can't stomach much first thing) but the protein + fibre stops me feeling hungry.

If I eat toast or cereal for breakfast I feel it makes me more hungry than if I'd gone without breakfast at all!

everycowandagain · 25/05/2024 08:25

Glad it helped @RamaSita!

Re high protein breakfast I usually have overnight oats with a scoop of protein, I don't usually eat it till mid morning because I don't want breakfast for a couple of hours.

I unexpectedly dropped another pound today, I am losing faster than I expected but I have been 100% consistent with my daily goals plus the amount of fatigue/soreness after gym sessions does suggest I am in quite a big deficit.

I am away next weekend and will have a few days aiming for untracked maintenance which will be a good reset/recovery. Then after that I will carry on till my goal date in early July!!

GetYourHandOut · 25/05/2024 09:01

Well done @everycowandagain

It's my weigh in day too.
SW 66.3kg (29.04.24)
CW 64.2kg

I've had a good week. I'm off with the kids for half term now so I need to make sure I don't treat myself too much!

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everycowandagain · 25/05/2024 09:10

That's great @GetYourHandOut are you feeling the difference?

SaggyOldClothDog · 25/05/2024 09:24

Sounds like everyone is doing really well. I'm letting the side down 😂.

Think it's been a combination of hormones (my weight always seems to go up in the second half of my cycle) and a busy/stressful week at work - I tend to eat my feelings!!

There's only been one real day of gluttony (yesterday!) but the others definitely included some completely unnecessary calories.

I'm now off for half term, so while that might include some eating out as I entertain the kids, it will hopefully offset the 3 o'clock munchies (when I'm not really hungry but just want to ease the boredom while I'm sat at a desk).

So far this morning, I've done my work out and followed it up with some Greek yoghurt and kefir with protein powder, berries, nuts and seeds.

It clocks in at around 600kcals and in theory should keep me going until lunch. In practice, I'm still hungry and am tempted by a piece of freshly baked sourdough toast 🤦.

GetYourHandOut · 25/05/2024 09:44

@SaggyOldClothDog hormones can really affect your hunger and water retention. Keep going!

Thanks @everycowandagain, I'm definitely feeling the difference in my clothes.

If I could give myself a bit of wriggle room and get down in the mid 63kgs, that'd be great. But I'm aware it's a bit lower than my weight seems to like to stay!

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Proteinpud · 27/05/2024 08:28

@SaggyOldClothDoghow are you getting on? All we can do is keep trying, and work out how to manage on the bad weeks not just the good ones.

I'm not sure what's going on for me, though am determined to keep tracking and keep working on eating well. I'd been very strict for most of last week, being under my calorie target on most days. Then was out for two meals over the bank holiday with my best guesstimates on nutracheck putting me way over, and oddly enough when I took a weeks average it put me within 10 calories of what I'd averaged the previous two weeks - seems I'm really good at finding maintenance! Despite that I am half a kilo down today and I'll have to see whether that's a fluctuation or whether I did make any difference.

I figure I'm at least avoiding a gradual increase in weight, and my nutrition is better which will be helping me in my sports/exercise. I'm definitely eating less junk (chocolate!) than I used to.

SaggyOldClothDog · 27/05/2024 11:46

@Proteinpud well, I'm still trying! My overall average was up 0.2kg on last week. My rational brain knows this is a nothing amount, but I still find it annoying that it can jump up massively overnight but will only ever creep back down again.

I had a go on a health machine thingy at the gym at the weekend and all my stats seemed pretty good (which I think makes it harder to shift a relatively small amount of weight - your body wonders what the point of the exercise is and it's easy for self-discipline to slip because you don't really need to lose anything).

Having said that, there has been a depressing upward trend in my weight over the last few years and while I think some is muscle (after I started strength training and trying to consciously up the weights I use), I'm not naive enough to believe it all is!!

It's day one of the holidays (the less said about the weekend, but the better 😂) and I started it with taking the kids to breakfast!

This was mainly to get them out of the house (it was so much easier when they would willing go for a walk in the park, but now I have to bribe them with food), but it was still a nice half hour walk with them.

I tried to aim for relatively high protein and low-ish carbs, so hopefully little damage was done.

The rest of today will be me trying to avoid randomly snacking each time I go through the kitchen (even though I tell myself that a little bit of dried fruit is better than a biscuit, it still adds up if you do it a dozen times each day).

GetYourHandOut · 27/05/2024 16:47

@SaggyOldClothDog my DC are also getting past the age of being easily and cheaply entertained 🙄

I'm hoping to maintain this week rather than lose as I've got 2 dinners out and I'll be a bit out of my routine as I'm off for hajf term.

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Proteinpud · 27/05/2024 19:37

@SaggyOldClothDog I hear you about the muscle gain. It's common for women to think they're fat when they're really not, I think I'm the opposite - I spent a long time being very very skinny (naturally petite, veggie, active job and not being able to drive does that). I then found strength training, started to eat to fuel my exercise and tbh think I got a bit complacent as I got older because I'd been so used to eating what I wanted! It took a while to accept that being older, now in a sedentary job and not walking miles made a difference. I definitely have added muscle, but there's a fair bit of extra padding too. I don't carry weight very well, though the benefit of that is it only takes losing a bit of fat for it to be noticeable on a small frame!

I don't have children, I'm impressed at those who manage to watch their weight when they're caring for kids. DH knows he'll get whatever food I'm making or he cooks his own!

Today I've totted up 1750, which considering I did a morning gym session and a later jiu jitsu sparring session, I'm glad I've not been tempted to eat everything in sight. High protein certainly helps with that.

everycowandagain · 29/05/2024 06:26

Hope everyone is doing well. I am now 2.5kg down in 4 weeks which I am really pleased with. Had a massive 1kg weight spike over the weekend after a hard gym session but thankfully that's now reversed!

I am going away tomorrow for a long weekend and plan to spend a few days at intuitive maintenance - my body is tired and sore so a few days off the gym and with a bit of extra food should do me good.

Then I will be back to try to do the same again ie another 2.5kg in 4 weeks up to my goal date!!

Defrump · 29/05/2024 06:47

I am still around 55.6kg and I've decided that this is prob the weight that suits me. I'm 54 and don't want to look gaunt. I have come to terms with the realisation that I'm never going to see 54kg on the scales!
So no more 'dieting' tho still trying to eat as much unprocessed food as poss. Mostly low carb but need to have sweet potatoes for the vitamin A and need fruit too.
I'm hooping, planking and have started yoga too which I'm hoping will help with aches and sleep.

GetYourHandOut · 29/05/2024 09:26

Well done @everycowandagain and @Defrump

My plan to maintain over half term was probably a bit ambitious 😂

My plan B is to deal with the gain once the kids are bank at school and normality has resumed!

I'll still keep up with my exercise as usual but my usual eating has somewhat gone out of the window!

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Eyesopenwideawake · 29/05/2024 09:49

Still at bloody 63.4kg. Fat down to 29% so at least I know the scales are actually working!

SaggyOldClothDog · 29/05/2024 10:06

Think I'll just have to accept being in damage limitation mode this week (half term plus being premenstrual). And I'd been doing so well, so far🤣. There's definitely been fewer snacks but my meals have probably been a bit larger (and there's a few meals out still to come!).

Having said that, I've stumbled across an ingenious method of shifting some weight - weighing myself slightly later in the morning 😂.

I was 71kg when I rolled out of bed this morning, just over an hour later, after this morning's workout (10 min walking warm up, 20 min step aerobics and 30 mins upper body weights) I was down to 70.5kg. Clearly it's just water but it made me feel better it's not all fat.

We've also been having a bit of a clear out (I am a self confessed hoarder) and I came across a dress I wore to my hen do (almost 2 decades and 2 children ago) and it still fit! It made my night actually, as I'm definitely quite a bit heavier than I was then, so hopefully it's proof that it is more muscle than I'd previously thought. (Think I'd be less bothered about the numbers on the scale if I looked like an amazon 🤣).

GetYourHandOut · 31/05/2024 09:18

Morning all.

I did a terrible job of damage limitation this week @SaggyOldClothDog 😬

But I've pulled myself out of the trough and am getting back to normal eating. Yesterday was more balanced, despite having a McDonalds lunch with the kids.

I'm out for dinner again this evening 🙄 but I need to focus on sensible, balanced eating for the rest of the day.......not stuffing my face!

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Defrump · 31/05/2024 09:23

This little community is so supportive, I love it 💗
My weight is 55.3kg this morning
I baked keto bread rolls yesterday which turned out amazing and I really fancy egg mayo rolls for brunch today.
I made brown lentil daal yesterday so that will be lunch and I've got lamb chops for dinner so hopefully that will keep me full.