☀️LOSE IT!☀️Awesome August 2024☀️

[TheRealHousewife]

Following on from LOSE IT! July 2024

Schools out and Summer has finally arrived and it’s hot hot hot! And with it holidays, get togethers and family and friends having fun! Perhaps a time for being mindful that anything and everything is OK in moderation; whilst ensuring you get your water in (alternating with alcohol is an idea if a sesh is on the agenda) along with eating protein and healthy fats. It’s not a time for punitive regimes (although I never endorse that) or denying yourself. Enjoy the Summer and all its joys (we’ve waited long enough 😬) It’ll be September soon enough when we will start the Autumn Re-set!

If you’re a returner or a new starter feel free to 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 nearly 4 stones. After having been on the wrong side of 12st I am now maintaining around 8st 12lb. I find this weight is sustainable and easy to maintain. If I can do it anyone can 😬

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.

Are you breastfeeding?

This made my appetite ridiculous!!

Excited to join and lose it for August!

I’m hoping to eat around 1000 calories each day, currently consuming closer to 1400 calories most days. If I were a few inches taller than would be fine 😄 but I’m short so I need to be eating around 1250 calories to be in deficit.

Due to some health issues finding exercise a bit difficult at the moment so it’s mainly going to be about diet.

I’m about a stone overweight - reached my peak of being 3 stone overweight back in 2022. My goal is lose 5 pounds by the end of august. It’s a lot considering I’m not exercising but I figure I may as well aim high this month while it’s warmer weather, that way I’ve less to lose in colder months. I’m way less hungry in this heat!

Today I plan to get in 5K steps, drink lots of water and tea. Two meals today : oats and high protein Greek yoghurt and salmon and rice. snack : homemade smoothie.

Okay, day 1 for me. I think I’m going to eat the same things I normally do, but less of them plus more water. I had a big shop last week so I’ll be cooking what’s already there until it’s gone and then I’ll buy more thoughtfully next time I go.

Stepped on scales this morning post holiday and have put on 2kg in July! Feel like I've undone all my work from Oct-Feb - have put more than half the weight I lost over winter back on.

Back into routine - 3 meals a day, 12 hour eating window, no coffee after breakfast, only water to drink, minimal UPF, pre-breakfast walk, no booze, daily yoga and daily journalling.

@Happiestwhen are you still breastfeeding? If so you need the energy! Protein will fill you up better than bread. The more bread I eat, the more I want. I avoid bread for lunch now (unless I have home made soup and then I will have 1-2 slices). I try to eat only bread for breakfast but choose a dense rye based bread with no sugar (1 slice is enough). Make sure you have handy snacks planned to avoid bread - hardboiled eggs ready in the fridge, greek yoghurt with honey.

@Fellsbells you're so right at how we adapt. My issue has always been salty snacks in the evening. When cutting this out I have such bad cravings for a week and wake up starving but after about a week my body adapts.

@MeAgainAndAgain me too! When I go on holiday to the UK I find it so gard to resist all the things I don't get over here or that is more plentiful/cheaper. Have been scoffing hula hoops and Twirls for 2 weeks.

@Allthatwegotisthispalebluedot for a more holistic approach to well-being I can really recommend Dr Ranagan Chatterjee's book The Four Pillar Plan. Rather than trying to change everything at once it made me think about the impact of stress or lack of sleep on my eating habits. He talks about the book on an episode of his podcast if you don't want to buy it.

I also find that when looking after myself I feel better. Have been focusing on consistent skin care habits on holiday, face mask every week, conditioning my hair/serum to protect it.

Really hoping that a few days of proper eating/drinking/moving will give me a post-holiday drop for WoW. Been so hot the last week has been difficult to get steps in.
Have a good weekend everyone!

@PatienceOfEngels hope you had a lovely holiday! We've all been there! You have to be able to go on holiday and enjoy yourself! You'll probably find that the weight will fall off once you go back to your normal eating x

Thank you both. I was breastfeeding until baby was 6 months so I can no longer blame that unfortunately 😅 good tips on food thanks , I must go this morning and fill the trolley.

Also have gone from the mini pill back to combined since finishing breast feeding. I feel that I'm very bloated and hoping it will all settle down. Trying to drink lots of water.

Morning all. I've put on one pound over the holiday but I think that's mainly due to the salty things I've been eating and a sluggish gut for the past week. It will shift quickly now I'm home.

Welcome to the new joiners and good luck with your weight loss😊

Have a great weekend everyone!

Im looking forward to my first WOW next week.

I actually haven't weighed in ages so will be seeing this as my "starting weight" but I'm trying to have a good week in the lead up so that I have a better start point (I find I am more motivated when this is the case)

Had a lovely omelette for lunch - in case anyone is looking for ideas.

New here 👋

In the trenches with a toddler. It's so hard to get time to exercise and definitely reaching for snacks to get though a tiring day.

DD3 still doesn't sleep though the night. I'm also anemic and still breastfeeding.

I feel like a bounced back after having DD but going back to work has seen my exercise levels drop massively vs mat leave.

Currently at my heaviest (need to weigh myself been avoiding it! 🙈)

Plan for next week:
Tues - lunchtime yoga
Thus - swimming (New!) & salad dinner.

I've taken up cycling again but with DD on the back hills are a killer. Last term I did pretty well cycling to and from playgroup Mondays and Fridays so hopefully pick that up in September.

I FEEL you on the toddler life. It's full on! And sometimes exercise and general wellbeing practises seem absolutely impossible.

Food is my go to emotional release when things are intense. I am trying to work on that.

Wednesday is also my first weight in. Let's both just get it done. It's only up from here, right?

Hi, another late entry here! I was on a July thread and hit my target of 9lbs. And then went to a wedding and gained 7lb in 3 days last weekend. I didn't overeat (not by much anyway) but it was salt-heavy on a hot weekend. So my August intention is to lose those pounds again plus 4llb, mainly by 5:2 and calorie awareness by meal planning. Today's focus is on staying away from crisps and bacon and necking water.

@Happiestwhen I did a shop when we got back and spent a tonne on fruit and veg after cheese, cheese, more cheese with a side of crisps! Have realised we're out of pasta and have to stock up on some meat for the freezer so need to go back.

Thanks @rainbow616 - I've already lost 0.6kg in 24 hours so almost halfway to losing the holiday gain, but still another -1.3kg to get to my beginning of July weight and -4.1kg to get to where I was at the beginning of February.

@NotMeekNotObedient it's the hardest thing to do when dealign with babies, toddlers, sleep deprivation so go easy on yourself. I was ravenous when bf and being tired is always one of my triggers for junk food. I would say that once I made the switch to minimal UPF/sugar, no caffeine after midday, and switched out bread for more vegetable based meals at lunchtime, I felt so much more energetic and less likely to have a mid-afternoon slump.

Yesterday was okay food wise but not perfect (we had a sugary dessert and had a handful of DH's snack in front of TV). Today - no "treats" (I hate calling junk food treats as after the initial hit they make me feel worse about myself physically and emotionally) and absolutely no eating after dinner.

Yesterday:
-boiled egg and rye toast, coffee
-apple and strawberries
-chicken salad (tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, roasted pepper, olives, handful pasta, pesto vinaigrette)
-pasta salad (eggs, mayo, olives, onions, gherkins, cucumber, tomatoes, pepper, parmesan).
-waffle with cherries in syrup and squirty cream
-handful pesto grissini
-lots of water

-got my steps in and 25 mins yoga done. Also spent an hour working hard in the garden.

Just had my egg/toast/coffee. Not sure what's for lunch and dinner. Maybe white fish with potatoes and veg for dinner. Might make some falafel for lunch and have with wraps/salad.

Already been for a short walk, may do another later or just potter round the garden. +yoga.

Goal to stop scrolling today and make time to sit and read/rest.

Bit of a weird start of the month for me, as DH and DS have been away for a few days. I'm not used to the peace and quiet!. I am therefore painting bits of the kitchen and as a result, mostly living off ready made food and ice cream. My insides have not been thrilled by my life choices...

A friend is kindly feeding me tonight and then everyone is back tomorrow and normal life will resume.

Hi everyone, I'm new!
My BMI just hit 30.1 and I want to get it back to ideal range.
Any kind of diet ends up making me binge so I am not going to do that, I'm just trying to eat better and less, and move more.
I would love to join you on here for accountability!
Starting weight 3/8/24 - 12st 2lbs.
What I ate yesterday:

Breakfast - 3/4s of a Smoothie - one banana, handful of blackberries, 2 handfuls of raspberries, 2 generous tablespoons of fat free yoghurt, small handful of pumpkin seeds, 4 almonds.

Lunch - 1 small slice of seeded sourdough toast, buttered, 2 slices of smoked salmon, 2 x eggs, handful of rocket, 4 asparagus spears, squeeze of lemon.

Snack - 1/2 a Krispy Kreme glazed ring donut.

Dinner - Homemade chicken parm - a large chicken breast, breaded with Parmesan breadcrumbs and baked. Homemade tomato, spinach and vodka sauce with rigatoni. Small portion of the pasta.

1 x gin and lemon tonic.

@StellaCruella your meals sound delicious! And now I want to go to the supermarket and buy smoked salmon and asparagus 😂

@PatienceOfEngels thank you! I'm a teacher on summer hols so able to take the time to cook - will be a challenge to keep it up in September!

Morning all and welcome to the new posters.

Things are still weird here and now we are back from holiday my mind is focused on the funeral. It's ds's dad who passed away and there's some very conflicting emotions running wild so food choices have been poor. Breakfast prior to holiday was ok but then I'd skip meals and eat chocolate instead. I'm eating better now but just not got much energy for anything. We got back and ordered a load of healthy stuff and I'm still eating mainly UPF free. Dinner today will be halloumi, beetroot, red pepper hummus and lamb's lettuce. Lunch Greek yogurt with raspberries, strawberries and honey. Breakfast was store bought bread toast. I haven't got round to baking my own bread yet and it's a small amount of ultra processed food out of the day.

@LegoTherapy that sounds like a very difficult situation for you all. Take care of yourself.

Yesterday was a good day, no sugar and lowish carbs. I have noticed I’m feeling a bit weak and in need of the electrolyte tablets I used during low carb boot camp. It’s a balance between keeping a decent calorie deficit and eating enough.

Oh @LegoTherapy that sounds really tough. Go easy on yourself.

@StellaCruella me too! Though I'm not in the UK and only have 2 weeks left of summer holidays. I often find it easier when back at work as DH and I have set cooking days, the freezer is stocked with batch cooking, we get free fruit at school. My problem is my days off when the kids are out as I can start bingeing rubbish.

Food today:
-boiled egg, rye toast, coffee
-cherries, coffee
-chickpea and chicken curry with a slice of wholemeal
-twirl bar!
-white fish with potato and onion bake, carrots and broccoli
-2 litres water and cup of herbal tea.

-just done 30 minutes yoga outside, steps almost in.

Enjoying the last sun in my garden before it dips behind the trees.

Food today

B- porridge with blueberries, protein powder & peanut butter

S- 3 Brazil nuts and 10 almonds

L - restaurant- fish and salad, 1 piece bread, few olives and ice cream for dessert

S- 1.5 sugar free digestives

D- half melon cubed with oats and pecans

Pretty happy with today considering it's a weekend which can usually be very OTT.

Hello to all the August starters! 👋

@LegoTherapy that must be an incredibly difficult thing to be dealing with. Sending you my best wishes.

New week, new start for me. I've been eating poorly for the last few weeks. Combined with not being very active because of my calf. Dreading weigh in on Wednesday! But will do it for accountability. DH and DS back today, so will be back in some kind of routine at least.

B: Eggs on toast
L: Not sure yet
D: Chicken, flatbreads, corn on the cob

Thank you. I'm struggling with his death being so unexpected and the fact he had no relationship with ds and that was his choice. Lots of unanswered questions for us both. Ds is only 9 so really hard for him and for me to guide him through this. I should hear today when the funeral is. It's a 3-4 hour journey to get there and we will need to stay in a hotel I think and I'm debating whether or not to make the most of it or just go to the funeral and come back asap.

I've been enjoying Crosta and mollica wraps for dinner with halloumi, red pepper hummus, beetroot, cucumber, and lamb's lettuce. Crosta and mollica aren't ultra processed and have been on offer at Waitrose. I want to try making my own. I'm going to bake bread today. It's been a while.

My chocolate consumption has drastically reduced since being on holiday. It was too hot to even buy chocolate and my cravings for it disappeared. Long may it continue!

Keep plodding on everyone. One meal or snack at a time so it's not overwhelming. Remember that falling off the wagon doesn't mean everything is lost. Hop back on and file it under whoops and just carry on. You can do this.

Would love to join please, had been doing well until we went on holiday at the end of June, but stuggled since. Up about 5lbs so need to sort myself out before it gets worse.

SW: 207lbs