⭐️LOSE IT!⭐️Optimistic October & 12 Week Countdown to Christmas⭐️

[TheRealHousewife]

Following on from ⭐️LOSE IT!⭐️ Slimmimg September 2025⭐️

⭐️OPEN TO ALL⭐️

Where did September go? There is a definite chill in the air some mornings now 🥶 I always feel when October is here it’s the start of the 12 week countdown to Christmas!

It’s never too late to make a change, to make a difference and feel confident in your body. 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 around 45lbs.

I’m mainly maintaining but I would like to get back into the 8’s 🤞(I briefly dipped into the 8’s last month but the scale showing 9st 1lb this morning)

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! You'll be pleased you did 😊

Thanks @WhatWouldTheDoctorDo I'd completely forgotten pinch of nom existed! I remember using them back in my slimming world days, not keen on the artificial sweetener but it's easy enough to work around! I thought I'd pared back a lot but obviously not 😬 I find I'm using about 2/300 cals each on carbs and protein alone and then adding in my veg and flavouring bits is taking me up high. I think I need to knock carbs down a bit and replace with veg. All too easy to just go by the standard portion size but e.g. my rice portion last night was huge and I couldn't even finish it.

Wow @biscuitcat that sounds absolutely delicious, thank you. Think I have everything in as well if I have with rice!

@Marshmellowbunny do you have an M&S near you, or could Ocado deliver? I buy the packs of 8 from them! I’ve made bao before as well, but that was before kids when it was much easier doing nonsense like that 😂 it wasn’t too tricky though to be fair, and I believe you can freeze them for a stash of homemade ones!

Thinking about portion control is eye opening @Vapeaddict. we now have a lot less pasta, rice etc. than we used to, but now find it plenty. Nutracheck is quite good for that, if you choose eg. Basmati rice it will give you options for portion size which are a good indicator. We tend to have 50g (dried) of rice or pasta. Lots of PoN books now, so good range of easy meals without artificial sweetener. We use the hairy bikers books a lot too (the diet/healthy ones).

Your boycott post made me laugh @FridayNighFeeling I have been boycotting Nestle since my university days 30 years ago, it has clearly had an impact. I don’t even know if the issues I had with them are still valid 😂

I remembered to do WOW this morning, still at 9st 11 since last week but I’m happy with that!

CW: 9st 11
GW: 9st

so fingers crossed I can keep on track and be hitting that goal weight for Christmas! 🤘🤘 pleased that I’ve got back into my daily yoga practice properly again too, and feeling much better for it, I became very lax with doing it over the summer but it really is pretty essential for my general mental health tbh, I didn’t realise quite how much! Won’t be stopping again 😊👍🏻💜

@HappyLittleTreeFriend it’s essential for me too,, I now say I need it as much as I do sleep and food, and prioritise accordingly.

Today has been really busy, lots of travel, driving, trains, big city with young country children…I haven’t had enough food but have concentrated on not being dehydrated at least. Quark, almonds and frozen berries for breakfast, a porridge pot out in a mediocre cafe for lunch, half a Huel carton and a couple of ryvita with a scraping of tuna and a banana for dinner. Tomorrow I’m already planning good food and plenty of veg!

@HappyLittleTreeFriend & @Poisonwood thank you for the reminder! I'm going to do some yoga today. I have gotten extremely lax about it and, as one of you mentioned, it affects my mental health. So I need to try and get back into it. It might help with the sadness eh?

Weighed again and I'm another .02 lbs down. I need to just keep going in this direction!!

Hope you're all doing well 👍🏻

It has been lovely reading along with you and seeing everyone’s progress and little glimpses into your lives. I’m not a regular poster but check for updates every few days.

Weighed yesterday and forgot to post
SW 13 7st
CW 13 3st

I was IF but that has slipped slightly so I’m often breaking fast about 10.30 and then hungry again about 3 so I’m going to really try and not eat until 12 this week.

Have also noticed my rings feel a bit looser which must mean something is happening somewhere!

Hey @jecstar glad that you've posted! My efforts really improved once I started posting even though I did lurk before 😈

@biscuitcat I might have to pop into M&S and have a look. There is one nearby so 🤞🏻
I've made them before but they were very stodgy ( - is that the right word hmmm) and yellow. I think I would need to invest in some bleached flour or whatever it is. I love when you buy them and they're all light and fluffy.

Got on the scales again (bathroom floor) and it says 17lbs total now.... will see if that stick, but pleased to be well into my 2nd of 3 stones that need to go!

Well I have woken up with a stinking cold 😭 I just need to keep going til Saturday afternoon and then I can crash. But I don’t think I’ll be doing my walk this morning!

Out for dinner tonight and will be making delicious choices! No booze but looking forward to garlic prawns. steak with chips and roasted veg, and creme brûlée.

Morning my fellow calorie dodgers.
Feel good today. Just back from a run so that will have given me a few more calories in the bank. I weighed this morning and no surprise I’m a pound up from last week. Still finding the sweet spot between maintenance and gaining. I’ve noticed the less I weigh the more a few lbs makes a difference which is good and bad. 4lbs less than I am now and I look gaunt. 4lbs more than I am now and I feel too big. There’s less room to manoeuvre.

I’ve lost another 1lb of holiday weight today! Hooray. After the nutritionist confirmed I was at a stall before I went away I’m nervous, but have lowered the calories and will see where I am in another month.
the challenge this month is lots of social events, so even 2lb will be ok and then into November for a good month!

Been to the gym and worked really hard as usual. I feel so much better since I’ve started going and I’ve shrunk, sadly I saw myself in the big mirror and I see how big I still am. It shouldn’t surprise me as I am still an obese weight.

@PatienceOfEngels hope your dinner was lovely.

Busy day here, and went worked foodwise but I’m fine with overall calories I’m sure. Must eat more tomorrow…, quark berries and almonds for breakfast, homemade tomato soup with ryvita and cheese spread, salad vegetables, a punnet of raspberries, and I’ve also had a Magnum and a Blue Riband.

2lbs down this morning from yesterday 🤷‍♀️. So I’m taking it that I lost 1lb over the last week. Every chance I will put that back on next week while on holiday. But will see. I shall set a Christmas goal when I return!

Have a great holiday @WhatWouldTheDoctorDo are you going somewhere warm?! It's been so chilly in the morning recently, starting to think I'll have to swap out my yoghurt and berries for something a bit more warming..

@Fellsbells I know just what you mean, I can't tell if the weight genuinely does show or if it's my perception? A bit of both maybe.

Had some cooking disasters the last few days- soggy rice, bland sauce, repetitive veg. Feeling a bit stuck in a rut, all my meals seem to start with onion, peppers and mushrooms or have broccoli and cauliflower on the side. Bored!

At the weekends we usually take the time to cook something a bit more exciting/inevitably decadent, plus we're out shopping so I need to think ahead a bit. Weekends are harder to stay on track as routine goes out of the window!

Very envious of your holiday @WhatWouldTheDoctorDo! I’m really in the mood for lying on a sun lounger with a good book…

A nice NSV this morning, I was on the sofa (watching a bit of CBeebies, as is my typical morning!) and looked down, and just thought gosh I do actually look smaller. I’ve still probably got a good 3st to lose, but so lovely to see some progress. The new jeans I bought do up comfortably enough now, though definitely a bit tight - but if all goes to plan at some point before the end of the year I’ll comfortably be in a 14, and my goodness it’s an embarrassingly long time since that was the case.

Hi all. Hope you're all doing OK. I didn't weigh myself on Sunday because it was my mum's birthday and I had cake and wine!

Weighed myself this morning and I'm down another 2 lbs. Delighted!

SW 12 st 13
CW 12 st 2.8
TW 10 st 13

Mea culpa - had a lemon chicken with boiler rice last night, plus a banana fritter.

I'm telling myself that the extra two pounds this morning is only food and water....

Just back from my gym class. Had an early lunch at the gym. No breakfast this morning (apart from coffee) - forget to buy cornflakes yesterday. Doh!

That’s a nice NSV @biscuitcat

Today I had yoghurt, almonds, berries for breakfast, followed by a huge bowl of mussels and a small portion of baguette for lunch, a magnum for snack whilst walking on a cold and beautifully deserted beach; dinner has been steak and vegetables.

It was delicious thank you @Poisonwood !

Today:
-boiled egg, rye toast with butter, coffee with milk x2
-fruit and veg plate at break
-spicy red lentil soup, bread with humous
-crispy chicken with sate, rice, broccoli

On half term! Looking forward to good food, autumn walks, having a proper tidy up at home, and at the end of the week a good trip to see family and stock up in UK supermarkets and bookshops (priorities!).

Evening everyone. Happy weekend!
I’m within my calories for today and yesterday. I went on a 7km walk today. NSV, I bought a new pair of running leggings a size down as my usual ones are too baggy. Weight today is back where I want it. All in all, a good day.

@Vapeaddict @biscuitcat thank you, yes off to the canaries for some sunshine. Last October was so dark and miserable I decided I wanted a little heat this year. Work has been crazy busy just now and I’m overseeing some tough stuff, so I am very much looking forward to villa, pool, books, wine. It’s much needed and I won’t regret a single calorie!