🥳🎄LOSE IT! Christmas Countdown December 2024🎄🥳

[TheRealHousewife]

Hello and welcome!

Following on from 🎄LOSE IT! November 2024🎄

We are now entering the final few weeks of Countdown to Christmas 🎄🎄🎄 Do you want to look and feel absolutely fabulous in time for the festivities?

In adopting a few lifestyle changes and food choices you can 👌

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 as well as 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 follow a lower carb Mediterranean diet. I intermittent fast and eat twice a day. Im a long time healthy eater and overall I’ve lost 4 stones. After having been on the wrong side of 12st I am currently idling around 8st 10lbs.

Are you in?😊 What food plan will you be following? What do you want to change and why?

Thanks for the shiny new thread. Here for a maintain mainly. My aim is to not go over 56kg by new year. That gives me just over a kilo to play with.

Can I join here please?
I would really, really love to lose a few lbs before Xmas.
I have a few social weekends coming up but I know I can still have a downwards trajectory regarding my weight.
I feel like I look like a have no shape! I need to get some shape back and exercise more.
This is what works for me and this is my aim -
18.6 fasting
No upfs
A daily activity. This is usually a long walk or exercise at home.
Time to relax and go to bed by 11.

Hello! Thank you for the final thread of 2024 @TheRealHousewife

Signing on for the last four weeks of the year. Can't believe it's December tomorrow.....

@LemonDrizzle23 You’re very welcome … and Gosh! The last thread of 2024! Thank you for reminding me! As thick as I can be at times that small detail had gone right over my head 😅. This year has absolutely flown by!

Welcome to the threads @InterstellarDrifter It’s never a bad idea to make some ‘wiggle room’ in time for the festivities 🥳 You never know, you might get to enjoy this healthy eating malarkey and all the benefits it brings and join us in 2025 👍

Welcome @LegoTherapy , lovely to have you on board again. Very sensible approach you have there 👌

Thank you @TheRealHousewife

I’m starting the Christmas season with a good attitude and enthusiasm.

Joining for December too please!!

My aim is 1500 odd calories/day and exercising daily! I think the calories will be harder this month but this thread will keep me accountable and without that I know my weight would continue to move in the wrong direction.

current weight: 10 st 3.8 lbs (weigh daily)
goal weight: 9 st 7 lbs

not expecting to lose much this month overall so if I maintain 10.3 so be it, if I lose some I will be 🥳 and either way I feel I am definitely in the headspace to finally get to my goal weight in 2025 ✨ so just want to keep the good mentality up through December.

@Fellsbells You're very welcome ☺️ Great attitude btw!

Great to have you on board again @Goodafternoonmillie! 1500 is a good number to work with.

I still get shocked at how many calories are in nibbles, titbits and little drinks. They add up so quickly. Festive treats should be calorie free 😬

I am hoping to maintain my current weight this month with all the things happening in December. My diary is looking full haha.

@Skyglimmer under such social obligations a maintain would do! 👍 One year I did lose a couple of lbs over the festive period so who knows 😬🤞

Checking in!

SW 77kg (Oct 22)
CW 72.9kg
GW 68kg

The last few months have been tricky, especially November.

Aims for December:
-get outside (for a walk) everyday
-finish YWA calendar that I started in November (half way through at the moment)
-no evening eating (if we have no snacks in the house I hit cheese and unsalted nuts...completely out of habit and not because I'm hungry)
-stay strong with UPF snacks (crisps are my downfall...once I start I can't stop)
-drink more water
-journal

I try to eat as much homemade/whole foods as possible. I limit bread (feel much better if I avoid for lunch so only rye type bread for breakfast). I don't drink alcohol (coming up to 2 years now), only drink coffee with breakfast. I feel much better if I get enough gentle movement in.

Really struggled with motivation and energy the last month.
We are visiting family over Christmas (and I always go a bit crazy when we get there) but hope I can make some positive changes in the next 3 weeks.

Happy 1st December & Good Morning! 🎄 … and try again. Silly numpty posted on wrong thread 😅

@PatienceOfEngels You’re very welcome and I sincerely hope you have a better month and start to feel better! ❤️

Menu
Meal 1 - Brunch of sausage, bacon, mushrooms, egg, tomato.
Meal 2 - Crispy chilli beef & tender stem purple broccoli with sesame seed.
Tea, black coffee and water.
Come on ladies … get on it and make some wiggle room for the festivities 🥳

Sharing Action for Happiness Calendar

Joining again! This will be my 5th month on the thread.

I started at 13 stone 6lbs in June this year and I’m currently about a stone down from that. November was a difficult month but last week I had a pretty good week on the food and activity front and I’m starting December at about the same weight I went into November (around 12 stone 6lbs). My target HAD been to end the year seeing an 11 on the scales but I am revising that to maintaining this month.

my approach is:
calorie counting 1600 a day average across the week
average 10K steps a day
focus on mindset and sustainable habits rather than weight loss

in December: I am going to try a challenge called Marcothon which involves running at least 25 mins a day, every day in December. I did it last year and it was a real challenge but I felt it massively benefitted my physical and mental health and was just what I needed at that time of year. So I’m going to try again. I haven’t been running regularly since the summer though so not sure how it will go but I’m going to start at least!

Fabulous post @OneDayIWillLearn! You’ve shown great commitment 👏. How time flies! 😮 Good luck with your Marcothen; impressive 👌

@TheRealHousewife thanks!

Does anyone have any good mantras that they use to help with behaviour around food?

I’ve been working on a few for December (actually inspired in the first place but something someone said to me on a post in the November thread recently). I’ll put mine here but would love to hear any other ideas as I do find them helpful:

• Take the chances: make good decisions whenever they appear and have an on-track day/ meal/ decision even if the rest of the week/ day/ meal are going to pot

• No such thing as a write-off day/ week. It’s always worth making next decision a better one.

• Good not perfect: when you’re eating out or at a party, just make the best available choice OR at least choose something you will really enjoy eating

• Delay don’t deny: There’ll always be another chance to enjoy the delicious thing even if you don’t have it now.

@OneDayIWillLearn Theres the Kate moss one … a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips.

What about some behaviour strategies such as:-

• Waiting 10-20 minutes before (hopefully not) succumbing;
• Identifying if your hungry, bored or filling an emotional hole;
• Distraction such as a bit of exercise or an hands on activity;
• Brushing teeth;
• Cleaning & closing the kitchen;
• Ensuring you’re eating enough good protein, fats & fibre to help keep blood sugars balanced and combat the munchies.
• Drink plenty of water and keep hydrated.

@OneDayIWillLearn my mantra is I deserve to feel good.

It's really helped me think about how a choice will make me feel and has helped me quit alcohol (I feel rotten the next day when I wake up and I'm not at my best), coffee after midday (it interfere's with my sleep), too much bread round lunch or sweet treats in the morning (I'm falling asleep mid afternoon).

I'm still working on evening snacking, but know that if I eat in the evening I don't sleep as well and wake up with a dry mouth (and am more likely to snore).

If I skip exercise/walk/movement I notice it in my body and my mind.

My weight was up on my daily weigh in today: 10 st 5.4lbs. To be expected after christmas meal out last night. Brussel sprouts made me bloat like I was 6 months pregnant!!

Todays calories have come in at 1583, not tooooo bad.
I had to have a mince pie on 1st Dec 😋
I did complete a 45 min Heather Robertson strength workout too 👍🏻

all of those mantras and tips are so useful!
and I love the daily kindness calendar @TheRealHousewife

Happy Advent y'all! I'm surprised with a 54.75kg this morning 😃
Breakfast is Nutella on toast. Sod it 😁 I won't eat lunch because we'll be out. Dinner is to be decided.
Here's to a happy and healthy month for us all🎄

Right, am weighing in first thing tomorrow… I need to stop binge eating!
hopefully posting to virtual friends will keep me motivated!

Thanks for the welcome @TheRealHousewife

I'm able to focus on some healthier changes now so here we go.
Plan for today is to fast until 1pm.
Exercise is 15 mins on my stepper and a 30 minute walk.

I need to read a book for my book club so that should keep me busy in my free time.

Good Morning All

@PatienceOfEngels Totally agree with your mantra! And you’re following through by doing what you know will benefit your mind and body 👌

@GoodafternoonmillieWell done on your exercise! Im going to look up your strength trainer 👍

Hi @LegoTherapy This was of eating is so flexible. We don’t do deprivation and I hope you enjoyed your Nutella (who wouldn’t 😬) 😋

Welcome to the thread @Cjholly1974 . There are some great women on these threads and I’m sure you’ll find them inspiring and motivating in equal measure.

You’re very welcome @InterstellarDrifter 👍

Menu
Meal 1 - Vegetable soup and gluten free cob. Pecans.
Meal 2 - Crispy chilli beef & tender stem purple broccoli with sesame seed. (didn’t have yesterday as we were still full from brunch).
Tea, black coffee and water, water, water 😬

Visual reminder shared👍

Love that visual. I want to print it and stick it on my fridge!

Checking in.
Today:
-boiled egg, rye toast and butter, coffee
-fruit and veg plate
-spiced carrot soup with a slice of bread
-greek yoghurt and honey
-a surprise dinner as DH is cooking.

Have managed a few nights of no evening snacking which always makes me feel better.
Got yoga in yesterday and will try and do a 5 minute one today. No walk tonight as have evening hobby club.

Thanks @TheRealHousewife and I hope you're fighting fit again?

Feeling positive going into festive period - not WoW but I weighed myself yesterday and I've maintained, which isn't bad considering I indulged a bit and was eating stuff like mashed potato last week owing to poorly tooth.

Bit better this week and the sprained ankle has even got a lot better! Yay. So can start up my walks again. Often find myself tipping over calorie target by up to 200, but I'm determined to stick to it this week.

B: Leftover keema biryani (random but needed using)
L: Butternut squash/cauli soup. Cut up apple (if I can tolerate the crunch, remains to be seen)
D: Roast beef, lentils, gochujang roast potatoes
S: Nuts, Options hot choc

Weighed in this morning…. Slow and steady steps needed but am determined