Refocus!

[Poisonwood]

Mid forties, huge issues with food all my life. Piled on loads of weight when I turned 40. I’ve been up and down the same two stones the last couple of years, and am at present at the very top end…feel so frumpy and definitely lost confidence. Am avoiding mirrors!
Overall I’d love to lose 4 stone, but as the title says I want to completely refocus so am going to concentrate on a pound off at a time.
I have to accept that I have appalling self control around any form of snacking, and I think that if I concentrate on a lot less of that and choose/eat my meals mindfully I should see an improvement.
I know I need to go right now and weigh myself, I’ve been avoiding that too!!

Anyone else want some support and accountability?

13st 13lbs. (195lbs) 5lbs lost.

I’ve been up and down from 215lbs to 200lbs for so long, it doesn’t seem real that I’m below 200lbs!
Kids are off school for a fortnight now, and it’s awful weather - will have to try not to comfort eat. Had been planning to take them out today for a walk but no chance.
Chicken and stuffed peppers for dinner.

An hour yoga early this morning, then vegetable stew for lunch and some beetroot, rosemary and carrot kitchari for dinner.

Tomorrow’s plan:

Stewed spiced apple amaranth porridge
Salmon & vegetables

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. Mine was a bit of a blur!

I was planning to do my first weigh-in this morning but only remembered after I'd had my breakfast, coffee and water. I thought I'd be kinder to myself and wait till tomorrow and weigh on an empty stomach!!

My target for today was for the jeans to fit more comfortably. They definitely are although still very slightly snug. Other small wins are that I am definitely feeling the benefits of cutting right down on sugar and carbs and eating loads of veg. I feel less bloated, less headache-y and more energy.

I more or less stayed on track over the weekend while also enjoying a couple of glasses of wine. Aiming for another good week. A challenge will be my children and their school baking projects...my son is making scones this week and my daughter is making g chocolate chip cookies! I know they would love me to try their baking but I also know how difficult I find it to stop once I start!

Congratulations on your weight loss @Poisonwood! You must be delighted with that and hopefully it will spur you to keep going in the right direction l!

4kg down here 2 weeks in. Had an evening off for fish and chips and a glass of wine on Saturday but back on it yesterday. Hoping for a strong week ahead and getting some exercise in!

Well done all we can do this!

@CoffeeChocolateWine isn’t it surprising how quickly you feel better eating better! Children’s baking has quite often been a downfall for me, easier if you know about it well in advance maybe.

@chalkyc2 great loss! And being able to get straight back to focusing, that’s good willpower and so important long term.

I had a generally quiet day yesterday, but somehow every time I tried to eat everything became hectic and I rushed. It definitely wasn’t mindful eating, and made me a bit grumpy as it’s TOTM and I’d quite like to instead be having chocolate and wine! Ach well, it’s all just fuel at the end of the day I suppose.

Today plan is more stewed apple amaranth porridge (I spiced it with turmeric, allspice and garam masala), it apparently reheats well. Can’t say I particularly like the texture but it’s nutrient rich. Then a paprika lentil/veg stew that I can just eat as and when I fancy.

First weigh-in this morning...and I had a pleasant surprise!

I didn't weigh myself at the start as I was worried it may be counterproductive...it could either spur me into action or send me into a 'fuck-it's self-sabotage cycle. But if was to guess, I think I would have been 11st 10 lb at best; maybe 12st at worst.

Anyway, after 8 days or being on it and in the zone, I was hoping for about 11st 7lb...I was 11st 3lb! Really, really happy with that and hopefully it will encourage me to stay on it.

My target weight is 10st 7lb; my ideal weight is about 10st 2lb so it feels achievable even if I'm not expecting the rate of loss to stay this quick.

Must not celebrate by over-indulging!!

@CoffeeChocolateWine that's brilliant!!

TOTM tiredness. Day spent decluttering, yoga, playing with kids, drinking lots. More thirsty than hungry. DP bought me a large dairy milk for TOTM but I’m giving it to teens.

Amaranth porridge, jacket potato with vegetable chilli. Lots of fluids.

Thank you @Poisonwood. Hope you're feeling a little better today. I think I may have a virus of some kind brewing...I feel a bit below par today.

So I sampled one of my son's scones yesterday, with some jam and cream of course, and it was delicious! But you're right, it is better to know about it in advance, so I could plan my other meals around the fact that I knew I would be indulging later and also do an extra 15mins in the gym! I enjoyed my scone with no guilt!

Today, I had homemade granola for breakfast, chicken and bacon salad for lunch, and have steak later as it's DH's birthday. Haven't had enough water today so will catch up a bit now.

Amaranth porridge, Heinz tomato soup and a milky Options.
Ribeye steak and salad tomorrow.
Weigh in on Saturday but not expecting any loss short-term as TOTM and bloated with it. I know I’ve been sensible though, so it will come off.

Things have been going ok for me this week, but I have had a few-more-than-ideal treats. It hasn't been down to slip-ups though...just certain situations where I haven't wanted to be a killjoy. Not quite sure how to deal with that really.

For instance, for my DH's birthday we bought a small cake. I don't even really like shop-bought cake but felt that I needed to have a piece because it's what you do on birthdays.

I also popped round to see a friend for coffee and she had bought some lovely biscuits for us to have. I felt rude declining so I had one even though I didn't want one.

And this was in addition to the scones my son baked which I felt I had to try (and ok, enjoyed every morsel of, I admit!)

Now it's Friday and my DH is filling the fridge with wine and beer. I look forward to my glass of wine on a Friday as I don't drink during the week, but I feel annoyed that's it will end up being another not-so-great day food-wise because I'm having a treat, when it's the fourth consecutive day of having a treat.

We're also eating out on Sunday which I want to look forward to but also want to keep in line with my goals. I also worry that when I get back into eating sugar and carbs I start to crave them more. I just want to hold on to the mindset I've had for the past couple of weeks and not go off track.

@CoffeeChocolateWine I know exactly what you mean. Being positive - these “treats” are part of your blessings of life, having family celebrations, having friends, etc, but they can quickly take a lot of your calories. It’s a balancing act isn’t it. I suppose having them, but mindfully, will help good long term habits of sensible enjoyment.

I really enjoyed my steak, DP was wanting me to have some chips as well but I stuck with salad, a couple of onion rings, and peppercorn sauce.
My winter coat isn’t as tight as it was, so that’s good!

13st 10lbs (192lbs) 3lbs lost this week, 12 lbs total loss

Very pleased with that. Having Chinese tonight so a good incentive not to go overboard!

Lovely mango and lime chicken with salad for dinner tonight. Lots of yoga. Nurse very happy with my weight loss and improving health. 💪

Yesterday I had chicken salad then mince and vegetables, today a Tuna jacket potato, salad, an empire biscuit. 2 hours of yoga today.

First time checking in for a little while but I'm still here and keeping on keeping on! I'm being a bit more strict with myself this week to make up for some treats and birthday cake last week. I weighed in this morning and was down another pound at 11st 2lb so happy with that. It will be such a big win to go under 11st so keeping my eyes on that!

Well done @Poisonwood on your progress. It sounds like you're really focused and determined and it's paying off!

@CoffeeChocolateWine it sounds like you’re doing really well!!

Raw veg and fruit for lunch, salmon with quinoa salad for dinner.

3 hours of yoga done today as was bored on rainy day off. Feel so much lighter in myself than I was doing. Had plenty of water.
Tomorrow food is savoury bean casserole with salad for lunch and maybe some wholemeal pasta with homemade nasturtium pesto for dinner.

13st 7lbs (189lbs) 3lbs lost this week, 15lbs lost in total.

Am really happy with the way things are going. 15lbs lost in 28 days! What’s most important though is how much better I feel - my sleep has hugely improved, mood stabilised a lot, body feels energised rather than a sack of potatoes!
Accepting loss will slow down probably greatly this next month, I’d like to lose 8lbs by January to start 2025 in the 12 stones.

Today’s plan is a couple of hours of yoga, and a hearty Beef Stew and vegetables.

Going well this week I think, OMAD and yoga, some Pilates. Measured for a new bra as wanted a high impact sports bra, I was a 40 band at heaviest now a 36…and on my last but one belt hole. Back in to size 12 jeans too, which is great.

13st 4lbs (186lbs) 3lbs lost this week, 18 lbs lost in total.

Very pleased with losing another 3lbs! I’ve enjoyed all my food, enjoyed doing a couple of hours of yoga each day, sleep is vastly improved and my fitness is definitely improving…I’m finding it so much easier to climb the stairs, and I hadn’t even realised I’d become slow and avoiding doing that!

Well done @Poisonwood, you're doing incredibly well!

I haven't had such a great week as I've been unwell with a horrid virus. This has basically meant comfort food and no gym! Over the worst now and hoping to get back on it. I sometimes find this bit really hard...getting back into the right mindset. Aiming to get back to gym today or tomorrow.