🍁LOSE IT!🍁 Start-Over September 2024🍁

[TheRealHousewife]

Following on from LOSE IT! Awesome August

Drum roll please! Now it’s the time for an 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 idling around 9st 4lbs after having been hovering around 8st 12lb for several months. TIME FOR ACTION and get back on it! 😬

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.

SW: 13.9
CW: 13.6
GW: 11

Did not expect this loss on WOW as hoovered sharing bags of Pop Chips, M&S mini poppadoms and whole bag toffee eclairs. @LemonDrizzle23 i hear you re sharing packs. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that they’re my downfall. I think my steps plus swimming helped a bit. Walked 5km yesterday and just under an hour swimming.

Yesterday: didn’t have apricots. Snacks: Reese’s Stix and Capri Sun Orange Juice, I wouldn’t normally do the drink at least but needed it for swimming. 🫣

Dinner was tofu veggie stir fry with rice.

Breakfast: Vogel soya and linseed toast with crunchy peanut butter and marmite.

Drinks: a few cups of tea with skimmed milk.

Did hoovering of stairs and bathroom/toilet and 2 bedrooms that needed it plus mopping floors without carpet so hopefully that’s burned something.

Tomorrow is DB’s birthday. My DM is recovering from a fractured knee so I said I’d go to her house and cook a Thai Green Chicken Curry tomorrow evening.

@OneDayIWillLearn - yes slow and steady wins the race. That was the only thing I liked about WW! You’re accountable and celebrate small wins.

As expected after a week away, I have gained 2lb. Will try harder over the next week. X

Goal for September was continue with free weights and lose 2kg.

Still not missed a weights session so I'm pleased with that but a few days of over indulgence over a week ago has scuppered my weight loss. Gained 0.6kg last week and despite being pretty strict have only lost 0.3kg this week which I am very disappointed with. Total loss in September so far 0.5kg so 2kg loss by the end of this month isn't looking realistic.

SW: 73.5kg (11st 8lbs) (beginning of August)
CW: 69.0kg (10st 12lbs)
GW: 67.5kg (10st 9lbs) End of September
GW: 57kg (9st)

1/2 lb down for me this week. But I feel a bit bloated so not sure if that’s affecting anything.

today’s menu:

B boiled egg with toast
L homemade lentil soup, quavers, apple, portions of chicken for protein
S snack sized bar of dairy milk
D bolognese and pasta.

Havent done any exercise yet, we ate earlier than planned, I will need to summon motivation to do a strength class once I’ve digested dinner. It would have helped if I hadn’t had pasta!!

Today went to plan although couldn't make it out for another walk before DH went out so steps are not quite there.

Plan for tomorrow:
-breakfast - Greek yoghurt with banana and honey and a slice of rye toast with butter and marmite
-yoga at work
-fruit/veg plate
-soup and bread/spread
-2x satsumas
-dinner will be a surprise as DH is cooking
-evening walk

Am away this weekend and just booked restaurant at the theatre so know I'll be having a nice meal (last time I went to that city the restaurant we chose was awful!). Sure will have a McDonald's or something one day for lunch and takeaway salad or sandwich the other, plus breakfast at the hotel. Feel better knowing I have a plan for the weekend. Will take some snacks for the DC to have and maybe some of the million satsumas we still have! Also going to make sure I have my yoga on my phone and will get lots of steps in.

10st 12 at yesterday's WOW, so a maintain from last week. I succumbed to the biscuits in work yesterday though, and I've been rubbish at getting my steps in. Tried to go for a walk at lunchtime yesterday but got too busy. I have been doing weights and pilates though.

Made a sweet potato soup on Sunday which I've had for a couple of lunches with salad on the other days. Dinners this week have been prawn pasta, sausage casserole and potato pie. Just need to cut out the sugary snacks (but they're so taaaaasty...)

Keep going everyone!

Good Morning All

We came back from holiday a few days early as my back was agony and we couldn’t cope with the flies in the kitchen any longer 🤢. Although I soon discovered flies are quite the appetite suppressant. That said the break was lovely and I’ve enjoyed visiting the beaches. Nothing like sea air 🌊. I’ve actually lost a couple of lbs which I’m pleased about but not surprised! We were only eating once or twice a day. The 18century cottage was lovely on first view. However the kitchen had the original floor tiles which were uneven and broken (I don’t think they were allowed to change) and I’m convinced the flies were originating from the cracks and crevices. It just didn’t feel sanitary. One day I opened a cupboard to take something out and it was full of flies; Just writing it out I feel nauseous 🤢 There wasn’t a problem in the rest of the cottage, just the kitchen so food prep was to a minimum.

I’m intending to catch up with you all this weekend ❤️

I'm on my periods which were 15 days late and the amount of stuff that has come out of my body , sorry tmi I'm expecting to be a few pounds down by the end of it . Still 13.11

Yesterday:-

Lunch: 2 mini pork pies, 3 rye ryvita with low fat cheese on 1 and marmite and pro activ margarine on the other 2, plus cucumber batons and cherry tomatoes.

Dinner:- vegan minced beef pie with mashed potato and baked beans.

Snacks:- mini poppadoms and Reese’s Pieces.

Did do a low impact aerobics on You-Tube for 30 mins.

Today:-

breakfast porridge, blueberries and flaxseed plus milk

lunch:- 2 mini pork pies plus Charlotte potato salad M&S with cucumber, cherry tomatoes and radishes.

Snack:- 2 apricots.

@TheRealHousewife sorry your holiday had to be cut short, those flies sound disgusting and would put me off eating too.

I need to catch up on the thread and do something about my waist or lack thereof. I've bought a pair of jeans that are a 27 waist and I can do them up, just, but there's some unfortunate bulging. They shall be my motivation. Anyone got any tips to whittle a middle?

Oh @TheRealHousewife that is the thing of nightmares 🤢 flies appearing from the floors and cupboards. Yikes!

Plenty of walking in the last couple of days, and I've filled in nutracheck for the next week. Interesting (and by interesting I mean depressing!) looking at a week view and seeing how going over calories by even 150-200 a day, adds up over a week...

I did my weigh in yesterday but didn’t get a chance to update here. I lost 1lb which I am very happy about.

SW 10st 1lb
CW 9st 8 3/4 lb
GW 9st 7lb

I changed my settings on My Fitness Pal a week ago so I can have more calories. I had put in that I get no exercise at all because when my kids are on holidays I don’t have time. Now that they are back at school I have been doing plenty of walks and some You Tube workouts so I changed it to moderate exercise and my calories went from 1350 to 1540. I got great results sticking to 1350 for the first month but as the newness of the diet wore off I was finding it too hard.

@SkyeBlue28 My Fitness Pal puts me at 1200 calories which is too low for me so I add an extra 200 calories :)

@Skyglimmer oh 1200 is very low. I would rather lose weight more slowly and not be miserable because I’m hungry. Also I want to have a small treat every day such as a biscuit or two or a little bar. I like calorie counting because I feel like I can eat what I like as long as it’s within the calories.

Fitnesspal told me 1200 kcal but I couldnt stick to it. My BMR on a random website said 1750 so I am doing 1700 and now am walking everyday for at least 30 mins and am losing. Last year i couldnt stick to 1200 and stalled early on so at the moment more kcals are working for me (for now). trying for 1lb per week but the last 2 days have been on a work trip and i ate my own body weight in all you can eat chinese restaurant and drak half a bottle of wine.

Back on it today.....family celebration on Sunday so only have a couple of days before then to focus. I keep reminding myself one day of not counting is not the end of the world and the next meal is a new start

@LegoTherapy I find that unfortunately my waist is always the last place to show a difference. However, I have been doing lots of yoga (about 20 minutes a day) and regular walking (managed 10k a day over the summer holidays but not getting that in every day now back at work and the weather's turned) and this combined with really reducing treats/UPF has made a real difference on my stomach (though it has taken 3 months for me to really see and feel it).

@SkyeBlue28 and @Skyglimmer this is why I dislike calorie counting long term. If it comes up so low I know I won't stick to it - I cannot be hungry! I just try to have sensible 3xmeals as whole food as possible but I have a handle on my portion size now for things like rice/pasta/potatoes. I find most daily treats so addictive I have to cut out as things tend to snowball here. I do find if I've had a long period of eating badly then I often need a calorie counting check for a week to shock me back into better habits!

Beach looks amazing @TheRealHousewife ! We are heading to a seaside town tomorrow so hoping to walk along the front at least in between sightseeing/theatre/eating out. Shame about the flies - sounds horrific.

Going well here. My stomach definitely feels flatter and have just done my yoga for the day (3 more days and I will have completed my 3rd 30 day programme since the beginning of July).

Plan for today:
-walk and yoga done
-breakfast - boiled egg, rye toast and butter, coffee x2
-lunch - pumpkin pancakes with greek yoghurt and honey
-dinner - kale with mashed potato and smoked sausage with mustard (Dutch speciality!)
-snacks - satsumas...almost finished them!

Have a good weekend everyone.

I had a bad period and now a cold so I'm trying to take it slowly .

Better end to the week than the start.

I looked at the good habits I had in August and I had let them slide.

B- greek yoghurt, blueberries, flax and chia.
L- soup and quiche. Scone with jam.
D- halloumi, veg tagine & salad. Low cal jelly pudding.

8k steps (last two days have been 14k+)

Had Thai green chicken curry Thursday night dinner, plus birthday cake and apple strudel and ice cream.

Friday
breakfast:- porridge with blueberries flaxseed and skimmed milk
lunch:- quarter quiche Lorraine, 2 x tablespoons of M&S Charlotte potato salad, plus small salad (cherry tomatoes, cucumber and lettuce leaves).
Dinner:- bean casserole with avocado, cheese and Greek yogurt
Snack: 1 x Lindt hazelnut bar, bag Reese’s Pieces, big bag mini poppadums

Did 30 min low impact aerobics and 20 minute walk outside.

I lost 0.6kg this week which takes me to a total of 3kg for September. I was aiming for 1.4kg so I have smashed that goal. Now I just need to keep working hard.

SW - 62.7
CW - 59.7
GW - 52

Finally back in the 50s 🎉

Good work @Skyglimmer !

I am feeling back in control. Using nutracheck. DH and DS went away this weekend and I did not fill the house with crisps and chocolates to "enjoy in the peace and quiet".

I've done some walking and some stretching and generally feeling quite good about things for now. Although I can't quite believe October is rolling round in a few days!

Thursday and Friday were better for me. I managed a weights class and 11k steps on Thursday, and 7k steps yesterday. Trying to drag DD out for a walk this afternoon but she's not having it - the fact it's really quite chilly doesn't help!

My stomach is where I'm carrying more fat than I'd like; I do lots of abs work in the various pilates and weights classes I do (I can still feel my muscles aching from Thursday's!) so I hope I see some results soon!

@PatienceOfEngels my pumpkin puree arrived 😃can't find wholemeal flour anywhere though, is it the same as bread flour? Might just use white and work out the calories.

Ye gods I had an angelic week until this time yesterday when some fun family members came around for the evening….and I ate and drank far too much but had a a great time.

Today was meant to be back on the straight and narrow but I was (am!) so hungover I’ve been eating everything in sight. Took the children to a party this afternoon which had an amazing spread too, and beer and wine, so I went for hair of the dog and multiple cheese scones and a slice of birthday cake. Only thing I’ve done well today is get a decent amount of steps in.

I remember reading an interview with Wolf the Gladiator about 20 years ago where he said he had one day a week where he ate everything in sight on purpose to keep his metabolism strong but was careful the rest of the time. Been thinking of that today and wondering if I use that as some kind of justification 😂

Can anyone recommend a good (ideally free or cheap) food tracking/ calorie counting app? And also if you calorie count, any tips for how to do it without allowing it to feel oppressive?

I’ve always done weight watchers (going back 20 years) and the few times I’ve tried calorie counting instead I’ve never lasted more than 3 or 4 days because it starts to drive me insane, having to track every single cherry tomato etc. I really like the zero points food aspect of WW and the way there’s a weekly point ‘slush fund’ which I can use at the weekends, and for whatever reason I’ve always been able to stick to it and lose when I do it.

BUT these days I am literally only using the app for tracking, I don’t go to meetings/ workshops/ use the social bit/ use recipes or anything else and I’m paying nearly £20 a month which feels hard to justify.

I feel it shouldn’t be beyond the wit of man to come up with my own alternative to WW so I can stick the £20 in my savings and spend it on Vinted instead!! Any advice or words of wisdom welcome.