Anyone else looking to get in better shape for the summer?

[Chocolatecoffeecup]

I'm in my 40s and have a big family wedding in July I'd like to get in better shape for. I'm trying to cut down on the sugary snacks and exercise more. Anyone else interested in a support and motivation thread.

@CarelessWimper No I haven't noticed that but I think the main reason my waist and stomach is smaller is because I've been doing exercises to fix my ab separation rather than weight loss.

Well done on you're loss!

I'd also be pleased if my clothes were too big but it's also a pain to have to buy new stuff at short notice. Does he have time to go shopping today to get a few things?

I'm down to 9 stone 6 today which I was hopeful for as I barely ate yesterday, not deliberately, but had bananas for breakfast, a nice lunch from tortilla then nothing but some grapes and strawberries after work as I'd been to the orthodontist and my teeth were a bit tender.

Morning everyone!

The thread seems to be quiet but I think a couple of people
are on holiday?!

I'm due to do park run this morning. I haven't slept well so I'm not feels my optimistic but have to run as my 10K is in two weeks!

How are you doing? @Theotterside @OldCat79 @ApricotRow

Happy holidays @thenewaveragebear1983 @CarelessWimper

Morning chocolatecoffeecup, well done you’re doing so well! I am reading the thread fairly often and keeping up with how well everyone is doing it’s keeping me motivated!

Finally weighed myself after a couple of up and down weeks 89.6kg, I can cope with that, still aiming to lose a final stone and I know I need to go to the gym for toning but resisting so far as I can’t say I actually enjoy it and just feel so out of place!

thenewaveragebear1983 Okay sorry I’ll have a look further up at the thread re Huel chat. I’ve only just joined a couple of days ago.
I tried protein works before. Maybe I should just stick with that. The problem is sometimes it gave me a slightly dodgy tummy! I wonder whether some of the artificial sweetness can do that. I know it’s not an ideal way of using weight. I just have such a busy life at the moment. I need something for a really busy work day that I don’t have to think too hard about it. I have done intermittent fasting but its really difficult to stick to with different shifts at work and then family life.
im just back from holiday last night so off to weigh this morning Chocolatecoffeecup !
well done with your loss 👏
it all starts now for me!

Well done @Chocolatecoffeecup on the weight loss!

Good luck with park run today - have lots of fun.

I’ve been on my period this week and wasn’t feeling great, I did over eat on quite a few days! Usually hot weather makes me lose my appetite a bit but not while I’m on.

I’ll probably not weigh myself again until Monday. I have a city break planned early September and I’m refusing to buy any outfits for it until I’ve lost at least half a stone. I’m going to be ambitious though and aim to lose a stone in 12 weeks starting June 1st!

@CarelessWimper that is great that you have a younger metabolic age! When I first got my scales a few years ago it was showing me as being 4 years older than my actual age! But now I’m “just” a year older. Would love to be “younger”

@OldCat79 I found while huel was gross, protein works tasted quite nice overall. However the fillers or sweeteners or whatever didn’t sit well in my stomach overall. So I eventually gave it up after a few tubs of protein powder!

@Newbie2808 if you don’t want to go to the gym you can always do toning at home.
There are so many YouTube exercises you can do with resistance bands and lightweights or even body weight exercises. The gym is a plus but not necessary!

I loved the gym but haven’t been able to go more than a handful of times since 2024 for various health reasons. I’m looking into starting reformer Pilates this summer though and walking more.

Morning, @Chocolatecoffeecup congrats on the loss yesterday and good luck for park run. I hope you can wake up a bit. IFRC you also have Renpho scales, do you have the expensive ones with a handle or the normal ones?

Im a bit annoyed at him because I have been asking him to try a few bits on for a month and then there would be lots of time. The weight hasn’t magically fallen off and we booked this last year. He got a few bits last night but moaned at how expensive everything was.

@Newbie2808 gyms are great for many reasons but are you doing anything at home and getting your steps in? Strength training is so good for women but for weight loss whatever you can do regularly will really help.

@OldCat79 sounds like you found some motivation. I like the Huel for that reason. I have days where I just need to grab something quickly. I don’t know what other options are available but maybe try a few different brands?

It’s my last weigh in until next Monday. Apparently I’m not to take the scales 😢 I will probably find some in the gym but will have to use a new benchmark as I’m going to need to wear clothes rather than pjs and probably shoes. I will be taking Huel powder with me though to make sure I get protein. There is a great gym and being vegan, my breakfast option for protein will probably be beans on toast so I think it’s needed. I might see what a PT costs if they have one and ask about a heavy lifting session for me and DH.

I didn’t get a work out in yesterday as was so rushed finishing off work stuff and everything else, but I managed to get 13k steps and had a drop on the scales to 9st 5.2lb.

Not doing anything at home but yes definitely will look at what I can do at home, I have a week off at the end of June so can finally tackle the spare room and hopefully make a bit of a work out area in it. Trying to get my steps in however I work in an office job so except for a walk on my lunch break my step count is fairly low but increasing is something I am trying to do but not always possible!

My exercise of choice is swimming, which I find I just really enjoy and does relax me so actually enjoying exercise is a complete bonus but just need to find more that I do enjoy

Yes please. Blown up like a balloon wirh HRT need to get at least a stone off by end July.

Had a stressful period. Going to try calorie counting, gym, running. Was doing a lot of exercise but slowed right down last few months snd stopped entirely last few weeks.

@OldCat79oh I didn’t mean you couldn’t ask again ( 🙈) ! I like a standard protein shake and I jazz it up with frozen fruit, soaked chia and fibre powder.

Thanks @Newbie2808 I would recommend exercising at home if you can. I either watch exercise videos on YouTube or Les Mills or I find my exercises and then watch tv while I exercise which makes it more enjoyable!

@OldCat79 I bought a few of the huel ready made shakes to try and basically didn't like the taste so couldn't carry on but they didn't do anything to my stomach or digestion if that helps!

@Theotterside Thanks! I'm at the same stage in my cycle as you and it doesn't help but glad I'm on the other end now. Walking is great exercise. I'd love to try reformer pilates too.

@CarelessWimper Thank you. Yes I I have renpho scales but we've had them for years and I don't know about a handle so it's not those!

These are the ones I've got and apparently I bought them in 2020! It's quite nice to see weight history going back that far too as I'd have no idea otherwise.

https://amzn.eu/d/0aMYPz8C

My husband would be the same! Well done on your loss too. You're doing really well.

@Bufftailed Welcome! I started this thread as I was in a similar place to you and I've started trying to eat a bit better and exercise a bit more. I'm trying to get in better shape for a wedding at the end of July as well as general health!

I did the park run plus ran there and walked back so was about 11K all in all and my fastest time so going in the right direction but still not sure I'm really ready to run 10K in two weeks. I suppose I can walk bits if I really need to! 😬

I’m on my way home from a very boozy week away, although my food has been mostly good and I have exercised every day. I reckon I will still have gained 6lbs though, I know what all the alcohol does to me!

I’m actually really looking forward to restarting my Zoe plan with a vengeance. I’m going to weigh on June 1st then try not to again until 1st July and do some photos and measurements as well. I do tend to do quite well with a full restart, and I need something to kick me up the backside to get me off this diet rollercoaster. I am looking to lose 1 stone before I go away in 10 weeks, totally doable. But more importantly I want to feel better and be able to wear some of my nicer summer outfits and swimwear and feel confident.

Ooh, I like this idea of chia seeds and frozen fruit . I’m online food shopping this week as it helps me plan better.
84.5kg today so it could have been worse after holidays but I would love to get under 80kg before my hols. I am 169 cm so definitely in overweight category t

This is excellent work! Well done. Love running (slowly), need to get back out there

@thenewaveragebear1983 Your week away had gone fast! That sounds like a really good plan and it's nice when you feel motivated to start again.

@Bufftailed I am slow! I'm not really a runner but fit enough to run because of the tour stuff I do. I don't think I'll carry on running after I've got through this 10K tbh!

Morning, I’m at the in laws house before we travel later today. I feel lost without a scale so go on their old non digital one. It said about 9st so I will take that large loss as accurate 😹

I still got my 15k steps in yesterday and dyed my hair when we got here to cover the grey. I also realised I have no make up brushes. Oh well!

@thenewaveragebear1983 your holiday sounds really good and with lots of exercise too! I am sure there will be a large gain this morning which will improve over the next few days. Or you can borrow these scales? I think they are about 6lb under 😂 we use the doctors kitchen app for recipes and I have always thought it would very similar to Zoe.

@Bufftailed welcome on board! Keeping a log/ diary is really helpful to me to keep on track and also not to bored everyone with my diet news and step count.

@Chocolatecoffeecup i think those are the scales we have and I think they are great value and seem really good. DH has been looking at these

https://renpho.uk/products/morphoscan-nova-body-composition-analyzer?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22875507505&gbraid=0AAAAABIjkghXVAe4EYQArQLx9EQnjei40&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-fXQp-3ilAMVBo9QBh0EdxujEAAYAiAAEgJEtPD_BwE

I a m struggling with exactly how much more data we need, given that we are normal people and don’t really need to worry if my left leg has 0.5 % more fat than my right one.

@Newbie2808 if you have some room in front of the tv and you just want a more relaxed workout, there is Get Fit With Rick on YouTube which is a walking workout.I saw a recommendation for Lottie Murphy Pilates and the ones I have tried have been very good and not needed my space.

Yes there was definitely a large gain, I reckon about 7lbs 😱 but I do retain impressive amounts of water in the heat and also when drinking. And I’m hoping that the magical anti inflammatory powers of Zoe will shift that! I am starting today, the time is now!

I did some photos yesterday as well as weight and oh my, I sincerely hope I don’t really look like that! I didn’t take particularly flattering pics but even so. That’s motivation to change and get toned up.

@thenewaveragebear1983 Progress photos are a good idea - I've never did them consistently. Might try that as well when I start my summer weight loss plan tomorrow!

@Theotterside I have done them previously and it is nice to look back on them. The best was when i was already quite slim and i did a 30 day abs challenge, and yes, after 30 days, I had noticeable mini abs. (Did not keep it up though 🤣). There’s also a free app called 360me which takes a whole body photo of you and then you can redo it and overlay the photos to see the weight loss/change in shape- great if you’re starting an exercise regime or want monthly /quarterly shots

Thank you @CarelessWimper i will look those up and see how I get on with those! well done on the 15k step count that’s absolutely amazing!

Nice! I have never in my entire life had abs so I’d just be happy with a flat-ish stomach which is not what I have now 😆

Ah thanks, I’ll go download 360 now -as someone who lives alone and isn’t that adept at taking my own full body shots it sounds perfect!

@CarelessWimper They look good. I'm happy with the level of info we get, albeit all on the app, but I wonder how much more accurate those ones are. I'm sure you'll be pleased to be back home soon with your own scales!

I’m going to do a photo and also have nutra check app which will use for calorie counting. To lose 2lbs a week I have to go to 1400 cals a day which sounds quite brutal. If I exercise can eat more, obviously. What are others doing? I want to try to lose a stone in 7 weeks. Then the second stone after

Has anyone got any suggestions for flattering but not too expensive swimwear? Am going on a hen do which is a spa day. Needs to be a one piece or a tankini with high knickers as I have lots of stretch marks on my stomach from pregnancies that nobody needs to see in the sauna. I don’t have much time it’s in two weeks but have been leaving it til last minute in the hope I can get a smaller size. I hate buying swimwear.