🌼LOSE IT!🌼 Summer Ready May 2025🌼

[TheRealHousewife]

⭐️OPEN TO ALL⭐️

Following on from ⭐️ Active April 2025⭐️

Are you up for getting Summer Ready? There’s still time to make a change, to make a difference and feel confident in your body in time for the summer sun ☀️

To reach optimum health and vitality we need to focus not only on our food intake; but movement, 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 just around 45lbs. 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❤️

PS - Grok 3 created my picture … not the best but perhaps I’m instructing him wrong. I still thanked him 😅

Keep going @PatienceOfEngels
I felt quite down over the weekend too despite my 2lbs loss as I’m still heavier than I was a few weeks back!
Since having DS2 (who is now 4) I have bounced around between 10st5lbs and 11st7lbs, before having him a was under 10st. It makes me quite sad at times, I feel really uncomfortable in my body and like I don’t recognise myself anymore. I’ll keep going though and these threads help keep me motivated 😊

Welcome @GreenFressia you sound incredibly organised! Love the idea of the crisp replacement - I do miss them.

3kg a month every month is such a great loss @TheaBrandt1!

@PatienceOfEngels 3kg in 3 weeks, part of that is almost certainly water weight. I also always struggle in the holidays being out of routine. This half term coming, it’s DHs birthday and we have a family bbq and a lunch out. We’re also going to a wedding. Plus a couple of days out will mean sandwiches / very carb-y packed lunches. I know I will have gained by the end of it and it’s annoying! Just have to get back into routine ASAP.

Glorious weather here currently. Have been out for a walk and had some breakfast. Now need to get a bit of sunscreen on and do some weeding. Joy.

Thanks @LBB2020 and @LemonDrizzle23

This last year has been such a struggle.

On the plus side for this weekend, I was very relaxed, ate home-cooked food (including cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting - but it was Mother's Day here!), I managed to really reduce my phone use for the last 2 days, spent lots of time outside over the last week, and I went for a 20km hike on Thursday.

Small victories!

I won a giant bar of Galaxy at a church raffle the other day...Explained that I was on a diet and passed it to someone else.

I tried creatine with cornflakes for the first time today. It was a bit...mmyeuch.

Apparently it's recommended for old bods trying to build muscle.

That's the best way @WearyAuldWumman , once it's home it's the danger zone for me with things like chocolate.

World's tiniest violin needed here - I am finding maintenance really difficult. I'm not dieting but I am watching what I eat, but it's less clear what allowed and what's not, and why not eat a bit of this or that if I am not on a diet... I find it all quite tricky and I see that I am gaining 0.1ish a day and feeling grumpy. So today I am back to counting calories more explicitly, while I try and find a long-term approach that works. I wonder if something like a fast day every other day would suit me, not sure.

Today has been no breakfast, early lunch of a chicken salad, and blueberries, dinner similar or a ready meal, and a small KitKat. And heaps of coffee and apples.

So far I've been dieting for three hours this morning, why am I not slim yet? 😂 Tbf I have a dodgy tummy so may have lost half a stone without knowing...

@TheWayTheLightFalls maintenance has always been my downfall. I was literally perfect weight after losing in 2022 and messed it up.

Learnings I'm taking are - take the end phase of the diet very slowly. Temptation is to push to hit that final figure on the scale. That led me to bounce back on my calorie intake.

I also agree with some fasting days, maybe 3 in a month (not when I'm due on 😂) .

I agree with @GreenFressia - maintenance is always the problem @TheWayTheLightFalls .

In my 40s, I got down from 15st 4 to 10st 12. I put it all back on again when my school got word that an inspectorate team was on its way...My HT caught me at the chocolate machine in the staffroom. I'd been chocolate free for three years at that point. Idiot that I am!

I'm waiting for the delivery of a collagen supplement in the hope that it might help skin elasticity, but at my advanced age I'm guessing that it's a forlorn hope.

Nevertheless, I'm taking the view that weight loss and saggy skin (Bleurgh!) will be worth it for my legs. Apart from the knee problem, the vascular chap confirmed that weight loss will help the leg which is missing valves.

I'm still trying to figure out how its possible to be missing valves in ONE leg. Were my ancestors haggis hunters, running around a hillside with one leg up higher than the other?

In all seriousness, the vascular bod told me that I've inherited it from my granny. She had her veins stripped, as did my mum. The vascular chap is adamant that it's genetic and the valves simply fail to form in utero.

I also inherited my dad's flat feet. Is there any justice in this world? shakes fist and slips orthotics into gym shoes

My downfalls (gets the violin) were pizza, chocolate and duo dessert packs. The problem with pizza is that it creates an illusion that I can have dessert after as pizza in itself doesn't spike blood sugar and the dessert therefore doesn't spike it . Its an entirely satisfying combination 😂.

So I'm going to (if I have it) make my own pizza on a homemade tortilla wrap. As a whole pizza which is what I was having is ridiculous.

The only thing I think I need is something healthy that can satisfy the cheesecake craving.

I was planning on giving up chocolate this year but I don't think I can. I've got it down to just having cacao powder (which doesnt have any sugar) mixed into porridge oats . I also froze some Almonds dipped in dark chocolate.

So I suppose my strategy has gone from abstinence to healthyish alternative.

Happy to have found you all again (eventually!).

Still at goal weight (hovering around 9st 2lb) & maintaining BUT need to make healthier choices generally. I want to look after myself more.

I had a blood test & I’m low on iron & very low in vitamin D so I’m on supplements. I’ve also recently decided to go back to being vegetarian so I’m goggling like crazy looking for healthy alternatives (last time I relied too heavily on bread). I’m also a pretty rubbish cook which doesn’t help.

If anyone has any super easy & super yummy vegetarian recipes please do share!

@GreenFressia have you tried Kallo chocolate rice cakes? They are delicious & a much healthier alternative

This is a fave vegetarian recipe - basically cook it all for 15-20 mins (From Fast 800 book).

Spicey Bean Chilli
2 tbsp olive oil 1 medium onion, peeled and thinly sliced 1–1½ tsp hot smoked paprika (to taste) 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander 1 × 400g can chopped tomatoes 1 × 400g can black beans or red kidney beans, drained 1 × 400g can mixed beans, drained 300ml vegetable stock (made with 1 stock cube) 1 tbsp tomato purée 1 tsp dried oregano or mixed dried herbs 75g mature Cheddar, grated 100g full-fat live Greek yoghurt

Why have I only just found this part of mumsnet.com?? I am currently 10lbs into a total goal on 28 lbs !

@Coffeislife that's great progress!

Day 1 and closing the kitchen on 1580 cals - lower than my budgeted 1950 cals but I've only had a short walk today. Plus I am out for lunch tomorrow and not sure what that will entail.

I'd forgotten how tracking is actually quite a pleasant mindful daily activity 😂 Instead of scrolling Instagram I'm updating my tracker and getting a sense of achievement. Except that I am using the free tracker and every now and then a Temu advert pops up.

Hi everyone, I got a bit off track with my counting over the last week, BUT, my knee was a much better so I’ve been able to do a strength class today.

Hoping WOW doesn’t bring a reverse of recent small losses, but we’ll see. I need to work on more mindful choices when faced with calorific social occasions. I was pretty good on the food front at an event on Saturday, but less mindful about reducing alcohol calories…

I’m leaning into the fact that my diet tends to go to pot at the weekend by cycling my calories across the week. I’ve put my calories down to 1200 for Monday to Friday so I can have up to 1600 on Saturday and Sunday. I’m hoping this will make the weekends not feel as much like a failure. I’ll report back at the end of the week!

Well I've stayed roughly the same at 81.1 kg for the last 18 days or so. BUT, this is a lifestyle change, not a crash diet. I had Easter, I've been out, I've had a few days where I cba- but I'm going back to it this time.

I also had a health check today. My urine samples are good (paint chart match up 🤣) my blood pressure is spot on and my cholesterol is 4.5.

I went to Tesco (after a gym class) and treated myself to a size 12-14 pyjamas and they fit.

I'm not saying this so anyone feels bad- I love hearing about all your journeys 💕- but to celebrate that we're committing to something and even if we've failed before we don't have to this time!

It’s a good idea @QueenMabby When I’m more stringent on calorie counting, I use ‘easier days’ on nutracheck to allocate more on days that are a bit more social.

I had one litre of tea today, 500 ml diet drink, mug of coffee. If I exchange the diet drink and the latte for tea, that’s approx two litres daily, which is what’s recommended.

Late last night in a moment of weakness I added some biscuits to the tesco delivery. I ate them out of habit this morning, and felt daft after. Had to do some unexpected shopping and of course bought a supermarket sandwich which was rather sludgy in texture. Need to plan better for the unexpected.

Had something to eat when my alarm went off at 6pm, and didn’t want anything after that. Feel satisfied and alert now.

Evening all! Good start to the week, I’ve decided to really monitor my macro nutrients for a month, I’ve shifted my plateau but want to really ensure I get down to my first goal by 10th July!

Okay, so after eating super healthy but skipping excersice one day, I am up +200g (which isn't a big deal BUT leads me to a question)

which workout program do you all use? Note, I am the very definition of a sportless person.. I can tolerate and even like walking / low key workouts (which I have been doing), and occasionally a bike ride but my knee goes insane every time I try something more intense. And as much as I'd like, I definitely can't fit a 2-hour walk into my busy every day routine.

Any workout recs?

I'm about to build mine back up. For me it's 1 hour brisk walking a day (=10k steps) in two 25 min blocks before and after work.

Then it'll be weights 3 times a week.
Ideally just my own programme but may start with a body conditioning class as I'm so out of practise.

Then cardio which I hate but have to do....I tend to pick what I enjoy so will either be swimming or a spin class, 1-2 sessions a week.

I subscribe to Apple fitness it’s great unending supply of 10/20/30 min exercise sessions with youngsters in LA. I pair that with weights and I also cycle and play social netball and try to walk / cycle when doing errands.

What’s surprising is how little you actually need to eat when older. Have 8kg to lose now (just lost 6kg) and am determined. Logging all food. If you don’t have to eat don’t.

I have a Les mills subscription at home @LightGirl I’m not a huge fan of exercise at all, but I’m trying to focus on strength for long term health. I try and longer outdoor walks at the weekend when I can.

Well, the weekend away has seen a 1.5kg gain. Presumably due to carbs and salt and constipation. I’m going to WOF this week instead of WOW to give me time to settle down after a weekend of food I don’t normally eat. I did do lots of walking though clocking up 25 miles over the 3 days which isn’t bad considering 3 hours of Saturday and 4 hours of yesterday was spent on a train or bus. I didn’t go mad either food and actually skipped lunch yesterday and Saturday and dinner on Sunday just due to logistics and timings of things. I just made up for it in ice cream and frappuccinos 😁
I think I’m almost caught up on the thread. Hello to the newcomers! Keep going everyone and don’t worry about the odd day where you go off track. Life is for living. My ex died at age 51 last year and although he’s a good example of needing to look after our health (his death was obesity and smoking related) I also consider his premature death a reminder that life is too short to miss out on things and reinforces what I’ve always said on here about there needing to be balance. A healthy-ish diet and lifestyle is not going to be ruined by one party, a weekend away or a fortnight of an all inclusive holiday. It’s what we do day to day that matters most.

in other news, when is it going to rain?! I don’t think we’ve had rain in over a month and I’m not far from the rainy capital of the UK with no rain forecast for the next 10 days.