🌼LOSE IT! Active April 2025🌼

[TheRealHousewife]

⭐️OPEN TO ALL⭐️

Following on from ⭐️Move It March 2025⭐️

Spring has sprung at long last! ☀️ Are you ready for Active April?

To reach optimum health and vitality (as well as a slim bod) we need to focus not only on our food intake; but movement, our mental health and sleep quality too!

Who doesn’t want to feel good and energetic as well looking great! Get on board to reset & refresh and become a healthier version of yourself.

These threads are for those who’d like to lose weight 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 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 generally eat twice a day. Im a long time healthy eater and overall I’ve lost over 3 stone. After having been on the wrong side of 12st The last time I weighed I was hovering around 9st 2lbs. I would like to get back into the 8’s 🤞

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

New members … Give it a go; it’s never too late! Come summer you’ll be pleased you did 😊

Beloved long timers it would be great for you to keep going❤️

That is really frustrating @socks1107
A few tips I’ve picked up with calorie tracking. Try and be balanced over the whole week. Don’t starve yourself some days then go a lot over on others. A small deficit every day is more achievable and works better.
Eat high volume, low calorie foods that fill you up. Lots of protein. Plenty of slow release energy carbs. Reduce sugar. Keep an eye on hidden calories in drinks and sauces.
It’s so hard! I’ve basically done the same for the whole of March and am back where I started.

Ok day yesterday. Did have a snack of a small handful of plain mixed nuts but nothing crazy!
Went to the gym last night and then bootcamp this morning.

Perimenopause is sending my cycle haywire (even with Hrt!) and it’s having a real impact on my ability to lose weight.

I’m going to weigh in again tomorrow.

We’re out for a curry on Saturday night for DS’s birthday. Any tips for eating healthier there? I’m normally a butter chicken and naan sort of a girl which won’t cut it if I’m trying to lose weight!

Only two things seem to have worked with me: exercise plus cutting out carbs or exercise plus calorie tracking.

I had a gym session yesterday evening, first one this week. Should have been at least one more time, but life got in the way - root canal treatment Monday, had to see Bereavement Services about a memorial needing the lettering re-done (memorials are only leased at the crems here, bizarre though that sounds) and I have - joy unbounded - my last ever smear test this afternoon.

Weight is currently sticking, but at least I'm still trying to build upper muscles by doing band work at home.

I've been reading up on the best ways of exercising if you're old and past it, and have decided to designate Wednesdays as leg day: 15 minutes on cycle (set to easy, cos of dodgy knees), 5X10 stand to sit with 5kg medicine ball, 10X10 side step with resistance bands, 5X10 sliding down wall as far as my knees will allow with yoga ball (don't know what it's called...big blue ball against wall - my back against wall, legs akimbo, slide down until the knees crunch).

That's not much, I know, but it takes me ages ot manage the stand to sit with my knees. Finish up with 5 minutes on SPARC machine.

With the cycle and the SPARC I'm trying HIIT - so speeding up as fast as I can and then slowing down. I aim to get the cycling up to 100 revs per minute.

On other days, I miss out the cycle and do fast walking on the treadmill instead for my cardio, but still finish up with the SPARC.

It's good to catch up on what everyone are up to.
Feeling grumpy & tired today despite a good sleep. Might just be detoxing. Must drink more water.
Have been out on a walk, but def want to make most of the sunshine and get out again today.
Intrigued @Fellsbells at how you didn't eat enough protein yesterday? You seem to have eaten protein at every meal. I'm new to calorie counting and nutracheck - presume there's something on there to track.

@buzzofthebumblebee that’s what I thought too! On MFP I should be aiming for 127g and I ate 81g. The salmon portion was quite small and breakfast was only 2 eggs which isn’t much protein.

@socks1107 when my weight plateaus, I try to do a longer fast ie. I would usually have breakfast but I'll skip it for a couple of days, and that seems to help me start dropping again. Can you try that? My pattern is very much maintain, maintain, maintain, whoosh!

I thought I'd checked in yesterday but doesn't seem to have posted. Seem to have shifted off the plateau at last.

SW 89KG
yesterday's WOW 76.8KG
GW 72KG

On the protein chat, although I think it's important to eat a lot of protein to keep muscle mass, I do think we need to look at the bigger picture. I'm not sure a long term very low carb, very high protein diet is good for us. I saw a reel yesterday of a dietician highlighting this and the benefits of fibre for long term gut health (ie. avoiding colon cancer!) Some of these protein goals I see just seem mad, I don't see how it can be healthy. I'm trying to eat more beans and healthy grains now alongside eggs, meat and dairy (and veg of course!) and feel like it's much better for my body than just protein, protein, protein.

@LemonDrizzle23 sending you my condolences and the hope that this sunny weather is helping you.

@StealthyBMI we have near identical starting and current weights! Can I ask how tall you are? I’m 5.8.

Photo of today’s lunch, really happy with all the different veggies in there. Went for volume + grilled chicken breast (hidden in pic) for protein. Breakfast was porridge and apple. Did 30ish minutes of gardening for movement.

@TheWayTheLightFallsyes I'm 5'7. I'm quite muscley, always have been, so have very little hope of ever getting beyond the top of my healthy BMI. It would be nice to hit BMI of 25 though! Your lunch looks delicious. Mine was a haphazard amalgamation of cottage cheese, ryvita, poached eggs, and spinach. Unfortunately I've just stood in the kitchen snacking on muesli, yoghurt and peanut butter whilst making the kids' tea, which is my downfall!

I’m just into healthy BMI. You’re right, psychologically it feels like a big deal. You won’t be long!

My first GW is 10st which is the high end of my healthy BMI.

I'm going to weigh tomorrow morning as I didn't WOW.

I weighed tonight at the gym 83.2 kg down from 83.8 last Saturday.

I checked back though and I was 89.4 in September - so I've lost a stone since then. As I've only just started calorie counting in march, I'm taking it as a win!

Now my focus needs to be not snacking throughout the school holidays...

I have messed up last night ended up eating popcorn. Home made. Nibbled on kids food which I shouldn't have.
Yesterday was a day where i just wanted to relax and unwind myself. But messed up with the food.
Need to get myself back on it again. Today il be back on track.

@TealSloth homemade popcorn is a fairly healthy snack afaik - high in fibre etc. As long as it wasn’t drenched in butter or whatever there are worse things to have.

So not the best start but a loss is a loss! Happy Friday everyone!

SW 12st 8.6
CW 12st 8
GW 12st

I've just weighed and I haven't put weight on which I'm shocked about.

SW 10 St 9 1st March
CW 10 St 5 today
1st GW 10st in 6 weeks

Sorry for the delay in replying; only just seen your message @LighterSpring25 . Tinned sardines drained, soft cheese, Greek yoghurt, paprika, salt & pepper. All moshed up, stuff into peppers and into hair fryer about 8 minutes. Sprinkle chopped chives on top.

Good Morning All

@TheWayTheLightFalls Thats my kind of salad! Looks Delicious! 😋

Reasonable day yesterday and I managed a work out which made me feel so much better.

The sunshine and knowing I can’t hide in jumpers and coats anymore is a good motivator to step away from the chocolates.

I make it with abit of oil and salt. Oil enough to make corn pop thankyou for that

Had my gym session this morning. Trying to use HIIT on the treadmill, so only did 10 minutes as my warm up.

5X10 - 20kg on the lat press, 3X10 for triceps and 3X10 for biceps.

Tried the leg extension for the first time in more than 20 yrs - lowest weight (10kg) 3X10. Then leg curls - same. SPARC was out of commission.

Breakfast was small portion of cornflakes with oatmilk, followed by oatmilk latte - about 260 calories in total. Methinks I'll have to start cutting out the lattes.

Hair Fryer 😂 @TheRealHousewife
For a weary old woman @WearyAuldWumman you seem pretty strong! Well done.

I can't remember who posted yesterday or day before - Calories Drunk = 0 which I think is a brilliant way to save a few calories. I do count milk in tea & coffee, but 260 is quite a lot
I didn't weigh today, as want to not get into the habit of daily weighing (and the misery that comes with natural daily fluctuations) but checking in for accountability.

I was over my calories yesterday by 3 x seeded oatcakes. Still, would have benefitted my fibre intake, so not such a bad 150 cals over.
Friday evening - must resist temptations. Good luck all!

You're very kind!

I thought that I was doing well at nearly 65...until I saw how much weight a 79 yr old woman was managing!

Yes, I think that cutting out the lattes will be beneficial. I did switch to chamomile tea for a while. Shall have to do that again.

Haha 🤣 Air fryer*

I had an ok day yesterday, was planning to do the last run of week 1 C25K but wasn’t feeling brilliant so will do it this evening. We are eating out tonight but I will try to make a healthy-ish choice

After my all time low weight of 70.5kg on Weds, I’m back up to 71.8kg today.

I did have a cream cake and a glass of wine last night. But all week I’ve felt my meals have been good and I haven’t snacked.
felt a bit low today so finished the cream cake and had a packet of mini eggs.

Will probably finish the wine tonight too, although that’s about 1/4 glass so not much.
I’ve finished eating for the day now though after a light dinner.

going to do some meal planning this weekend to make sure next week is under control too.