The stone starts shifting, today!

[Chubbybetty]

I am 45 and 5ft 2". I have been a size 6/8 for most of my adult life. I put on about a stone in lockdown. Managed to lose it (largely through stress) for my wedding a couple of years ago, and have since piled it back on, mainly through too much cheese and wine and a love of cooking/feeding other people. I eat mostly low carb and Mediterranean style but have become a bit more lax, I don't really snack and do a fair amount of exercise (including strength training) I'm now more a size 10 with a small spare tyre and a large chest. I detest my body like this. On a short, small frame, 1 stone is a lot and really shows. Yesterday I didn't even want to leave the house with my husband to go for a drink in the sun as I thought I looked hideous. Today it all changes. I have started working with an online wellness/fitness coach recently and she said something this morning that made me stop and think - how sad it is that people literally don't want to be in photo's with their families because of their weight. This is me. I hate that I am so hard on myself because of my size and speak to myself in a way I'd never speak to anyone else. I hate that for the last few years every nice thing we've done, has always had the niggling thought that I'd enjoy it more if I were a stone lighter. I know I have lots of 'mind work' to do aorund my relationship with my weight (hence the coach) but on the physical front today is re-set. Binning the alcohol, more strict with the carbs and cheese. I aim to lose 7lbs in the next 4/5 weeks. Posting here for accountability really. Anyone else having a 're-set' today? Good luck!

@tigerbear well done on the weights session! I don't hate lunges quite as much as the cross-trainer, but it's close!

The 4½lb loss is since Monday. It's not uncommon for me to lose up to 7lb in my first two weeks when I make a concerted effort to choose good-quality nutritious food. I'm sure that's all water weight, or "bloat" as I refer to it. Then in weeks 3 & 4 I often don't lose anything as my body starts to adjust, before moving to a steady loss of about 1lb per week.

The sausage hash is a variant of what I call "Hipster Hash". It's different every time I make it because I just use whatever I've got in the fridge or freezer. Sometimes it has bacon as the meat element, sometimes chorizo or nduja. Or sometimes hot-smoked salmon, or even king prawns. I often include (my favourite) tenderstem broccoli and cavolo nero but if I don't have those then any greens, including bagged salad leaves that are looking a bit sad! To pep it up a bit I add harissa paste, chipotle paste, pesto, that type of thing, then top it with an egg or two. Sometimes I dry fry the eggs separately, sometimes I make a space in the pan and crack them in, but I've just (finally) had success poaching, which is a bit quicker.

I’m off to run a 10k race with some friends today! Have just eaten some granola and yogurt, I’ve got a banana in my bag, and I’m feeling ready. Sadly I’m also on my period and all my joints are aching, but not much I can do about that. And if I hadn’t fallen off the wagon over Easter I’d be a couple of kg lighter, but again, not much I can do about that today.

As ever, my success is all about keeping motivated and feeling healthy, if I exercise and eat well for a little bit that encourages me to keep going. I’m pulling myself back out of the bad habits I slid into over Easter! Feeling really positive about it all this morning.

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Good luck @Swearwolf! Having only just completed C25k a couple of times, I'm in awe of anyone who can run 10k! Hopefully once you get going your joints will feel a little better.

Another ¾lb lighter on the scales for me this morning which I'm very happy about. I plan to pop into town this morning, hoping they have the Fast 800 Keto Recipe book in my local branch of The Works - it"s on their website at a fiver, so fingers crossed. Then the gym for another attempt at the cross-trainer!

I've noticed 2 things this week that have surprised me. I haven't had any hot flushes all week. This may be a coincidence, but it fits with my previous observation that I only tend to have hot flushes when my body is under some kind of stress. I know there's a link between cortisol levels and hot flushes so it'll be interesting to see what happens in the longer term.

Secondly (although probably linked to the first) I haven't been waking so much during the night to drink water. Again, I know increased thirst can be linked to high cortisol levels. I think I'm just surprised that I've noticed the changes so soon.

@MarmiteWine I hope you find the book, it's great, I use it loads.

Hi all. Just catching up on posts from the last few days.

Welcome @Swearwolf How was your 10k race?

@tigerbear In answer to your question about how often I do a Caroline Girvan workout - it really varies. Quite often I do 5 sessions per week, but there’s been some weeks where I’ve done 2 or 3. I don’t particularly like her HIIT sessions, so sometimes I’ll find something else to do on those days.

@rereturner Well done for getting to 8st12. I have the same 8st goal that you have.

I was 8st11 yesterday, but back to 8st12 today.

Also, I think(?) that there are a few of us here with similar body shapes? Has anyone found that anything in particular helps with the stomach fat or is it just a case of losing these few pounds? I’m 5ft2, 8st12 today and every extra pound seems to be on my stomach. I’m quite happy with my legs and arms, but genuinely look about 6 months pregnant today.

I guess it’s probably just a case of I need to get down to my target of 8st (ish) and continue with weights workouts, but just wondered who else can relate to this and if you have any tips?

Sadly they didn't have the book in stock @Chubbybetty 😕

It's on Amazon at the same price but I don't have Prime membership so will ask my sister if she'll order it for me.

I did pick up a decent recipe book in a charity shop instead though. How to Lose Weight Well. It's not low-carb as such but lots of the recipes are fairly low or could be adapted.

Today's been a very good day. My pre-gym breakfast was smoked mackerel pate, little gem and tomatoes. I did an "all-round" session on the resistance machines at the gym, after another 3½ minutes on the cross-trainer. And I'm just about to go to collect some free salmon, stir-fry veg, and Mediterranean veg packs via the Olio app for tea tonight and tomorrow 😋 Even better, I'm walking there and back.

@Autumnleaves82it went ok, way too hot! Am not feeling great now. I enjoyed it though!

I think I’m a similar shape to you, I’ve found yoga really helps to stretch my stomach out.

Found you all! I am 5’2” and always used to be around 7 -7.7, then 8 - 8.7 and am currently 9.5. I hate it, particularly as it all seems to be on my stomach and boobs, although I have noticed a spare tyre at the back of previously slim hips 😣.
I am planning to lose a lb a week until I get to 8.7. I am walking more (parking car away from work and walking 25 minutes each way), doing 16:8 and cutting out bread and cheese. I have a trip to Bali in September and have written myself a note on my phone, calculating what I’ll weigh each week at a loss of 1lb a week. It’s quite motivating but I only lost half a pound last week. Going to switch from beer/prosecco to G&T. Don’t drink in the week and don’t eat meat. Don’t eat crisps but was having a square of dark chocolate a day. Think I’ll cut that out once the bar has gone - my cholesterol is high! We can all do this - remember how great it was when all clothes looked good on us? I dress to hide my stomach now, not good.

And yes, people say “But you don’t need to lose weight!” because we’re not obese, but we know we do!

Even if we don’t need to lose weight, maybe we want to! I’m right at the top of a healthy weight, and I feel so much better and look so much better when I’m a stone lighter. There’s probably not much health benefit but I don’t want to be this weight any more.

Morning everyone, I’m ‘back to it’ today after a slightly dubious (although not fisasterpus) weekend. I think it was very much in the vein of maintaining rather than losing, but tbh, I’m ok with that, I’d raather a really slow process of burning the fat off that I don’t have to do again. I’ve already lost this weight twice before low carbing but it just went straight back on within a few months both times. Well done @MarmiteWine on an excellent Sunday! And welcome @Valkyrie3 - looking amazing for Bali is in your grasp!

Half a kilo down this morning - phew! I’m officially back on it.

Morning all!

@Swearwolf well done on doing the run, it obviously paid off, with the loss, yay!

@MarmiteWine wow, I’m SO envious of you losing 4.5lb since last Monday!!
I can only dream of such losses in such a short time period. I’m the exact opposite to you, it takes ages for me to see any change on the scale, loss wise - up to 2-3 weeks, then I see a significant drop after that.

@Autumnleaves82 yes, ALL my weight is on my stomach, also look pregnant atm 😩

So, my weekend of takeaways (and going out for lunch yesterday) has caught up with me - not only have I not lost anything, I’ve put ON a pound!!!

Goals for this week:
Intermittent fasting
Logging EVERYTHING on MFP
Weights session every day
Increase steps
No alcohol during the week

I’d like to join if that’s ok?
54 years old and after being relatively slim all my adult life I’ve put on weight and feel so sluggish. Just back from a lovely holiday and I didn’t feel comfortable with myself. I used to be able to put a dress on and think I looked ok but I was second guessing every evening which one would hide my stomach. Also my newly found fat arms. I’ve bought some weights and started to eat healthily since I got back last Thursday.
I don’t weigh myself due to previous eating disorder many years ago, I go by how I feel and I take photos once a week on a Saturday morning to track progress (or lack of 😆)

looking forward to joining in with the chat and keeping myself accountable.

A bad weekend and back up to 9st 0.75lb this morning. I’m sure I can get it back down in a few days if I’m disciplined though. Lesson learnt (hopefully)

Welcome @Valkyrie3 @DurhamDurham and @AnnAnth (hope I haven't missed any newcomers, everyone is welcome!). A bad weekend for me; food-wise okish, but have drunk lots of alcohol. I could try and blame my husband for being a bad influence, but it's me; I just crumble immediatley if he suggests cocktails, or lovely glass of red, especially when the weather is nice and pub gardens beckon. I have no idea what is wrong with me and why I keep self-sabotaging when I REALLY want to be a stone lighter. I'm not even reporting my weight to you today as I am disgusted, but know that there will be some water retention so hopefully it won't be so horrific in a day or two. And so yet another Monday I feel like I'm 'starting again'. Showed up for my very early weights session this morning and will continue with OMAD. Have loads of veg in so planning some form of turkey or chicken stir-fry for dinner. I'm not a huge stir-fry fan; any good sauce recipes anyone can share please? I have a good healthy sweet and sour recipe form my fitness coach but fancy a change. Keep on keeping on everyone 😊.

Oh and I rashly declared to my husband yesterday that I was going to give Couch to 5k another go. I have done it several times in the past and have a love/hate relationship with running. Last time I tried it a couple of years ago, I hated it again. I will go out today but if I still hate it, I won't beat myself up as my exercise/activity levels are good generally anyway.

And yes, all on my stomach, bum and upper thighs too

@Swearwolf well done on the 10k, brilliant! I think it was you that inspired me yesterday. @MarmiteWine shame you couldn't get the book yesterday but great that you can source from Amazon. Going to browse through it myself shortly for stir fry ideas.

@Chubbybetty well done for not letting the weekend sabotage today. You're right that it'll mainly be water retention so you should notice the difference after a day or too again.

For stir-fry sauce, my current favourite is miso paste, honey and soy sauce with sesame seeds. I had it as a marinade on salmon last night too - delicious!

Let us know how you get on on the C25k front. I was thinking at the weekend that I should restart but the gym was so blissfully empty yesterday I took the opportunity to make the most of the resistance machines. I prefer not to run outdoors at this time of year because of my hay-fever.

Well done @Swearwolf and commiserations to those who've had disappointments. Remember it's just one weekend/weigh-in and doesn't define you.

@tigerbear thank you! My total for the week was 5¼lb, which I'm very pleased with. I'm not expecting more than a pound or 2 this week. Don't forget I have a lot more to lose than most of you. But it's not just the weight, I feel so much better physically already. I've slept better this week and my acid reflux has also improved, which probably helps with the sleep too. And I'm just generally more comfortable around the stomach/abdomen.

Hello to @Valkyrie3 and @DurhamDurham and anyone else I've missed!

For any wine lovers, someone in my coaching group just posted a link to these lower calorie wines: drinkwelluk.com/collections/low-calorie-wines

@MarmiteWine wow, over 5lb must be hugely motivating, even if you don’t think you’ll lose as much from now on.

@Chubbybetty i hear you! Feeling exactly the same today. Alcohol wise, I was planning to be so good over the weekend, but all it takes is DH to say “How about a little Aperol or a G&T?” and I cave immediately! 😩

Commiserations and a hand hold to anyone else who’s feeling a bit down today.
A stone off feels like SUCH a long way off!!

@Autumnleaves82 i ordered some new weights with the aim of going up a notch or two on the CG workouts. When she’s using 17.5kg each side, I’m currently using 6kg, so I thought 10kg would be a good increase. I can barely lug them up the stairs!
😆

I had two mugs of black coffee for breakfast today, that’s my usual.
I had a glass of Kefir for lunch, I forgot my salad, and have just eaten salmon and broccoli fish cakes with beans for dinner.
I usually eat many more vegetables than I have today so I’m not too worried.
Tomorrow I’m having salad for lunch and then veg and lentil soup for dinner.