DIET FAILED AGAIN - maybe this time we're 7th time lucky, all are welcome

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Roll up roll up, it's time for thread 7... everyone is welcome here on our lively supportive chat thread.

@poorpawsand even better, because they are chicken sausages, they are only 76 calories for 2!

@thenewaveragebear1983. I need those sausages in my life. Let me know if they are as good as they sound. I’d be having them with mash, onion gravy and broccoli. I’ve had breakfast but I could just eat that meal.

@poorpawsthey were nice, they are a little more dry than a pork sausage but still tasted meaty. I have some saved for my brunch! 76 cal for 2 is excellent 👌

it’s so beautiful here, I’m sitting in my favourite sunny chair drinking my coffee. Today will be a mix of decorating (more decorating) and chores. Football is cancelled. I’m going to the gym at 1 for circuits.

I feel quite trim today, it’s a nice feeling. I’ve consistently stuck to my calories for pretty much the whole of March and I’ll probably end up on a 4lb loss for the month overall. It feels like it should be more, but I need to stop expecting more and just get on with it being slow! Those half pounds do add up, just very slowly.

today I’ll have a protein shake before the gym and then have my sausages and eggs afterwards. Dinner is as yet undecided.

Have a great Saturday!

Morning all. My usual breakfast (oatcakes with cashew butter) has been taken and I'm now getting ready for an all-day online course.

I foolishly got drawn into another weight-related thread which has somewhat irritated me. (One of those where someone who is clearly not remotely overweight - BMI bang on target - is complaining that they can't lose weight. Well, maybe your body is trying to tell you something! Grrrrr!) Note to self: walk away!

Hope everyone has a good day.

It's really hard to find a good weight loss forum. Some are too strict for me, and quite a lot are centred on injections now. I like this forum because of the real life chat and the freedom to fall, get up and try again without judgement.

My weekend away had been great. 20,000 steps yesterday. Two walks, one around a Loch and one by the coast. Really enjoying just being with my friend for an extended period of time. We don't get to see each other a lot anymore so this feels really special.

We are about to go down for hotel breakfast and then squeeze in one more walk this morning before heading home. DD tells me her and DH have some mothers day treats for me but she hasn't told me what yet!

@ToutesetBonnei think I saw that thread, some do get quite heated.
@Storylandthat sounds like a lovely weekend. I like this forum too, I was once on some fast800 and whole30 forums and they were so evangelical and unrealistic- no one is that strict in real life. I also agree about the weight loss injections- it’s the first comment on a lot of threads now, as if everyone has £150 a month spare and ignoring the fact that a significant number of people aren’t eligible but are still overweight and unhappy.

anyway, happy Mother’s Day all who are celebrating. Reminder to change your clocks! I love the lighter evenings, the autumn change really knocked me last year, but the spring forward really improves my mood and my wellbeing- looking forward to being able to walk the dog after dinner.

i ended up going over on my calories last night as the dc wanted to do their special Mother’s Day meal last night, so we had burgers, gastro chips, and asparagus in Parma ham, and a gu pudding. I had some No-secco 0% which was nice. This does mean that, in theory, I can just get right back on plan today. 🤔 we’ll see.

I am going to take my doggie out shortly, then I would really like to do a decent length run, maybe 12/13 kms. Dh doing 2 lots of boys football and I am, yes, you guessed it- decorating! Again! Nearly done now though, I think I will finish the white ceilings today finally and then I can begin the nice bit which is painting the walls in a lovely fresh sage grey.

Happy Mothering Sunday to all who celebrate.

I gave up alcohol 15 years ago (come from a family of alcoholics) and wish I could do the same with chocolate..... I simply can't have it in the house (unless it's white or dark - only milk has the draw for me) - if it's there I eat it! Any advice please? (I know the obvious thing is not to have it in the house, but that only works if I don't go anywhere; if I go shopping it calls to me from the shelves ....😄)

@ToutesetBonne. Chocolate! Aww I know! I gave up smoking many years ago (2006 I think), I gave up alcohol maybe 10 years ago (I’m not really sure but it’s a long time ago) but I’ve been trying to get a hold on my chocolate addiction for many, many years and I cannot succeed no matter what I do.

I usually buy a lot at the supermarket with the grocery shop, but last week and the previous week I decided I wouldn’t. Instead, I spent a fortune at our local Spa on the dog walks every day. It cost me an absolute fortune for individual bars so I’m back to buying it from the supermarket in bulk this week and yes I’ve eaten tons of it. I don’t have the answer, I’ve been trying for years and I keep repeating the mantra “if chocolate didn’t exist I’d be slim”. I found giving up alcohol very easy, one day I just stopped drinking it, oh how I wish I could do the same with chocolate.

@thenewaveragebear1983 I like the sound of the sausages and very low calorie, a dieters dream.

DPs cat had to have 13 teeth out and some were so loose the vet pulled them out with his fingers. They found two lumps in his mouth, one on a gum and one under his tongue. The vet doesn’t think it’s cancer but they’ve done a biopsy in case. He’s only a little thing and I bet his little mouth is so sore but DP will be running around after him and making sure he’s as comfortable as he can be.

The diet has definitely died this week, I’ve been eating a lot of chocolate and I’ve started on the Easter eggs already. The Daim one was lovely. We’ve also been back to the café a lot this week. We’ve changed our walk a little bit and it means the café is just over halfway and we always seem to be there around lunchtime, it’s hard to walk past.

All in all the diet doesn’t exist, but I do feel very fat and I’m worried as to how many summer skirts I can actually get into. I’ve got 20% off M&S and was going to buy some new jeans since I’ve only got two pairs that fit now. I went onto the website last night and they’ve sold out of the ones I like in my size so the 20% off is useless.

As you know, I love Sundays because I’m home alone and I don’t do much at all apart from a dog walk but this latest dog is so powerful I think I can’t manage without DP. Of course he’s thrilled to bits because it means he can come down here on Sunday too and my peace is shattered.

Have a lovely Mother’s Day, I believe we all celebrate it but if you don’t have a lovely day anyway and enjoy the sunshine everyone.

@ToutesetBonnei am the same. I reckon I could easily forego alcohol permanently. Chocolate, I can go weeks and even months if I’m in the right headspace but if it’s in the house, I feel very out of control and eventually I will eat it, and will then eat it ALL.

i’M doing a lot of growth mindset reading and practice at the moment and one thing that is really helping me is the idea of sitting with discomfort/“dance with your demons” - if you use alcohol as the example, so by not drinking, I am allowing myself to feel discomfort, and then you use the experience to work out WHY? So, why do I feel uncomfortable at a party/family event if I don’t drink? (Uncomfortable in myself, don’t know people, etc etc) and only once you feel this can you address it. Then next time, in theory, I’m better placed to deal with it.

I can do the same thinking with chocolate. One thing I’ve realised over the years is that one of the reasons I crack and eat it is because I know eventually I’m going to crack and eat it, so after resisting for so long I end up just going “well if I eat it now I can stop thinking about eating it” - so what I try to do (sometimes) is either give it away to the dc or try to think about the benefits of NOT eating it, which usually involves me imagining being on holiday surrounded by skinny people and how I will be glad I’ve resisted it. 👙 it doesn’t always work, as you will read from my posts, but I think if I was being totally honest, it would work a lot more if I tried a bit harder.

I can find any/every reason/season to eat chocolate.

Reward - I’ve cleaned the bathroom, good girl, now you can have chocolate or I walked the dogs an extra mile, well done, chocolate! What I should be doing is, wow the bathroom looks great, very pleasant to go in there or the dogs really enjoyed the extra mile, you’re a good owner, they will be fit and healthy, well done.

Association - I’m going to have a coffee, it’s nice with chocolate.

Boredom - I’m home alone, had a nice dinner but I’m a bit fed up, I’ll have chocolate.

Dessert - lovely dinner but I must have something sweet now.

Pick Me Up - I’m feeling a little unwell/down in the dumps, chocolate!

Once Upon A Time - chocolate bars used to be so much bigger, I’ll have three.

Got The Taste - that chocolate was lovely, I’ll have three more.

Bad News - that was awful, I’ll have chocolate.

Celebration Time - it’s Christmas, Easter, a Bank Holiday, chocolate!

Celebration Event - you’re engaged, you’re having a baby, chocolate!

Sad Events - it’s so sad your grandad passed away -chocolate!

Joy - your daughter got in at Uni, how wonderful - chocolate!

These are just a few reasons/excuses, I won’t go on but I could.

My list is endless. I think about it all the time and make a reason to eat some. It’s a drug, I’m an addict, I can’t do without it. I repeat my mantra, “if chocolate didn’t exist I’d be slim”.

I know people say don’t buy it, tried that! They say find something to take your mind off it, tried that! It has a great hold on me.

The thing is, I’m very focused on my dogs being strong and healthy. They have treats, they have many treats and good food but I don't allow them to become fat, why don’t I do this for me.

Have a lovely day everyone, ooh the sun’s out, chocolate!

@thenewaveragebear1983 and @poorpaws Gosh, how right you both are! I believe that the addiction factor is something to do with chocolate having precisely the exact fat and sugar balance that appeals to our human palates. What really annoys me about my addiction to it is that I hear myself doing exactly the same thing that I did with alcohol, for years, before finally deciding that enough was enough.

"I'll only eat it once a week...... I'll only buy some if I'm already going out, rather than making a trip to get it.... I'll just hide the wrappers in the outside bin..... This will be the last time I have chocolate...."

Honestly - it's bl88dy ridiculous! I know all the answers: I did it with alcohol and have never looked back! Why can't I do it with chocolate?

@ToutesetBonne I think it’s much more of a drug than alcohol or cigarettes. As I said, I’ve given both of those up. I think how small the bars are now is a huge contribution to my excess.

I've been trying to give up chocolate for most of my adult life but my addiction is now much worse. I need a magic wand.

@ToutesetBonneyep. I used to be a heavy smoker (not really in that distant a past as well, quit finally in Jan 2018 when I started running) - I definitely recognise the addictive nature of my sugar consumption.

another thing that does help me is actually working out the calories before i eat it, instead of blindly just chomping through it. Especially with homemade things, puddings, etc. eg it’s very easy to say ‘oh a scoop of ice cream is 80 calories’ but when you actually weigh it, your portion is 200! <true story> or yesterday I made mini egg shortbread, each tiny little 1/12 is 138 calories. I also made a millionaire slice and each 12th is 500 calories!!!! But that is actually helping me to resist because I can’t deny it to myself and to me it’s just not worth it. When I started seeing white wine in the way I see full sugar coke, or juice- things I literally never drink and haven’t for at least 10 years, ie just pure liquid sugar, I can resist so much more easily. Maybe I need to do this with chocolate 🤔

Chocolate and alcohol both have a hold on me. I resonate so much with what you are all saying. I've said this before but alcohol became my signal for unwinding time. When jobs and meetings and parenting are done for the day and I'm trying to squeeze in some chill out time before bed, wine seemed to help me let go and relax.

But now of course, I want it every evening and would rather have 2 or 3 glasses than just 1. I only buy 1 bottle a week to stop myself having too much but I know I want more than I'm having.

A mantra that has worked for me in the past is 'No, I don't want wine/Chocolate, I want to be 10st6 (or whatever 1lb lighter is)'

Need to get back into that mindset as I've had no change in weight this week. All my walking over the weekend was balanced out with desserts . . . But I was on holiday so don't mind too much

In case it's useful, @Storyland , the thing that most helped me when coming off the booze was having some good substitute drinks. There are some really good alcohol-free wines (white, rose, red and sparkling) these days. I soon realised that, for me, it was the whole ritual of getting out a nice glass, opening a (in my case) chilled bottle and hearing the 'glug glug glug' that mattered as much as the alcohol. (And, if we're going really deep 'n' meaningful, that the anticipation and the first mouthful were the things that had a hold over me - after that I could have been drinking anything!)

Do ignore if not helpful.

I like the trip brand drinks, they do a really nice elderflower and mint one. I find the alcohol free wines just too sweet and I’d rather have zero cals. If I go to a pub I am happy with lime and soda

I’ve had a really busy day, on the back of a really busy weekend. Still decorating! But at least now I’ve finished all the endless coats of white and have been painting nice sage grey today. I’ve not really eaten much. My food has been just a brocolli and Stilton soup out of the freezer with 2 tiny pieces of sourdough toast. And if course, I ate some of the homemade shortbread with my cup of tea. 😋 dinner tonight is one of my simply cook kits, it’s beef Thai curry tonight and I’m going to just pack mine with loads of veg.

I weighed in this morning and was half a pound down. To be honest, I’m a bit disappointed, I have had a pretty good March and I think I’ve lost 3 pounds only, which feels like not enough considering the low calories and I have run 90km and walked over 100km. It does get quite demoralising but I just don’t lose weight quickly and I have just got to accept that really. 🤔

Day off today so went to Gail's for lunch: big mistake! A very small mushroom and onion quiche cost me 628 calories 😮What on earth do they put in it??!!

@ToutesetBonneit will probably have cream in the egg - it’s amazing how many calories a few tbsp cream could add! Plus pastry probably?

I had a good day today which is unusual for a Tuesday but I did end up eating a lot more yesterday than planned so probably it all balances out. I started my new role today (same company) so I had a very long day of training, meetings where I did not understand a word, and introductions. Very tiresome. Thankfully dh is home early has taken my son to football so I am now sat in the quiet just chilling and I’ve eaten my tea early rather than end up eating rubbish and then having tea as well! I am going to capitalise on this lovely sunny evening and take my dog out as well. Lovely,

1250 cals for me today. Higher carbs than I’d like but my dinner was lots of veg and sweet potato tikka so it’s not too bad.

Oooh, sweet potato tikka sounds good. Homemade?

@ToutesetBonne yes, and it’s a bit of a made up recipe as well. But here is the gist:
I use a big cast iron shallow dish.
on the hob brown frozen onions, frozen garlic, tikka spices - of course you can use fresh if preferred
bung in loads of veg- frozen sweet potato chunks, button mushrooms, bag of spinach, etc
add a tin of coconut milk, spices or chilli to suit your taste, and a tin of tomatoes
strip the skin off a couple of chicken thighs (you could add fish instead? Or other protein to suit?) and nestle them into the curry sauce. Transfer to the oven and bake until the chicken is really tender, pull it off the bones and remove the bones, stir it through.
Very simple and creamy tasting.

i also used to do a really good one with peanut butter, lemongrass, ginger and chilli instead of the tomato/tikka version which has reminded me how delicious that is.

with both of these, a good squeeze of lemon or lime after cooking just finishes it off perfectly. 😋

Brilliant: thank you.

Thank you @toutesetbonne , that is helpful and you are right. The ritual of the bottle opening, pouring a glass is a big part of it. I do like elderflower so maybe I need to find something in that direction. It's a shame I don't like tea because that would be a great substitute.

@thenewaveragebear1983 your recipes sound amazing. Literal mouthwatering occurs when I read them.

Been a middling day for me. Grazed on a lot of snacks but didn't have a proper lunch. Chicken and chorizo casserole for tea tonight. I also want to give the house a good tidy up when I get home which will hopefully use up some calories.

Nothing like a looming wedding and a dress one can’t get near to motivate…

How’s everyone doing? I’m not having the best week, I’m really tired and grumpy and hormonal and I just want to EAT AND EAT AND EAT! I’m going pottery painting with my friend tonight which will be nice but I’m just so tired I just want to have a bath and watch trashy tv and go to bed!

Ended up really really craving the stodgiest of stodge last night. Driving home from pottery I would have stopped for a chippie tea but they all had queues out of the door so instead I came home and did a big tray of oven chips and made cheesy chips with bbq sauce 😋 not exactly diet food….

anyway, I feel a lot better for it today. We’re all a bit snotty and sore throaty today, none actually ill but everyone a bit under the weather. I know I’m fighting something off because yesterday I had the most awful palpitations all day, not has that for a while. I have got another quite busy weekend ahead, more decorating (think I will finish the walls this weekend, which means next weekend we can pull up the old carpet and do the skirting)

I need to pop into town, do a food shop order, and all the usual family jobs. And I want to stick a load on vinted now the sun has come out. So all in all a busy weekend!

food wise- I’m going to hold off eating until I’m properly hungry today, then I have eggs which need eaten so brunch will be dippy eggs. Dinner will be a simply cook kit, Indian lamb burgers and wedges, with salad and veg. Still no alcohol (coming up for 100 days now). I’m supposed to be at the gym but I think I’m too tired and too busy so I might cancel it today and take the dog out for a nice adventure walk instead.