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.

I think M & S has some good ones. I have this one www.marksandspencer.com/santa-monica-tummy-control-bandeau-swimsuit/p/clp23071302

I like the next high waisted bikini bottoms or matalan. I always buy black. Then I buy more expensive tops that go with them (usually on vinted). I also recently bought a lovely black one piece from TU which was great on holiday and not too short in the body length which is my biggest gripe with swimwear.

@Bufftailed I'm not calorie counting but my plan is a big more flexible and I'm thinking more long term although I would like to have lost a few pounds before the wedding in July. I'm just trying to eat less rubbish and exercise more so that I'm slimmer, healthier, more toned. I'm trying to eat more protein too which doesn't necessarily translate to weight loss but I am losing weight slowly and can visibly see slimmer around the waist.

@ApricotRow I got one from Next clearance. If you search the clearance section for shaping swimming costume or something like that you might find some on there reduced.

@ApricotRow

Can't like big ones like this. I put in tummy control swimwear and you can filter by size too.

9 stone 5.6 this morning! I feel like the scales are finally moving!

I ate out yesterday at a party in the afternoon and had quite a few desserts so wasn't sure what to expect but I suppose they were small and I didn't have another meal after that as we got home at around 6.

Sorry this should have said can't link but there are loads @ApricotRow Hope you find something!

That’s brilliant, well done @Chocolatecoffeecup it’s such a great feeling when the scales are moving in the right way! I’m sure if you keep doing whatever you’re doing now you’ll reach your goal very soon.

I ordered an outfit on Etsy for this formal industry event I’ll be attending in September. I had discussed with the seller if I should get a small or medium. Decided on the small which arrived last night and yay - the top fits which was the main thing I wanted but the shorts don’t.

I was always planning to wear the top with a pair of black trousers as it’s a formal event but I’ve decided to set myself a goal to fit into the shorts by September anyway. They get round my thighs, it’s my stomach that prevents me from zipping them up so it will be a massive achievement if I can zip them even most of the way.

So all that to say I’m now including how well those shorts fit into my progress checks :)

Good afternoon and hope everyone is ok.

@Chocolatecoffeecup congrats on the loss

@Theotterside im glad the top fits and hope you get into the bottoms. There is still a long way till September.

I haven’t been on the scales so no idea on that front but I made good use of the gym yesterday and my abs have bad DOMs. I haven’t been on had 3 glasses of Prosecco so far but that’s over two evenings and have been restrained with food.

have also been in my bikini 🥳 so I’m proud of myself for that and gotten dressed up for the evenings

Thanks @Theotterside Well done on getting into the top. Fingers crossed for getting into the shorts by September 🤞🏼

@CarelessWimper Well done to you too

I had a busy day yesterday travelling to visit relatives so didn't eat very well and shouldn't make excuses! I had porridge for breakfast and a nice pub lunch but a few sweet items as well throughout the day. We didn't have a proper dinner so ate chocolate and peanuts on the 3 hour journey home 😬

I'm making up for it today. Had a Berocca and 2 bananas for breakfast, a salad for lunch and one dark choc disc after. I'm planning to make lasagne for lunch as my dc will eat it.

I was planning to fit in a HIIT workout tomorrow but I'm not feeling great. Just a runny nose but accompanied by feeling exhausted! Finished work for the day which helps!

Well done @Chocolatecoffeecup great work

My v busy period has now ended and 7 week health kick starts today, aiming to lose 1 stone, followed by a further 12lbs in Aug/Sep. Got new scales and have lost 1lb so taking that as a win. Calorie counting and doing a long dog walk to kick things off.

Thanks @Bufftailed

Well done in the 1lb loss! You sound motivated which is good

I've had an okay eating day. Probably should have done a proper workout but didn't have time so I made sure I got to 10K steps.

I will try to stay on track tomorrow before I weigh again on Friday 🤞🏼

Hope everyone else is doing well

My weight has really plateaued for last two weeks or so and my diet has been quite consistent with very few treats. Determined to just keep going and try not to think fuck it and give up.

thanks to everyone for the swimming costume ideas. I ordered some from next and M&S so hopefully something will be flattering!

@ApricotRow Hopefully you I'll see a difference on the scales soon 🤞🏼

Do any of you take any supplements and have you found they've helped with your weight loss or appearance? I'm wondering about creatine and apple cider vinegar

@Chocolatecoffeecupi take a few supplements but not really for weight loss. More for energy levels and hair growth, but the whole package does seem to work and perhaps does help weight loss / maintenance. The major one is magnesium, if I don’t take that my legs are twitching all the time and I get terrible palpitations. I’ve heard a lot about creatine from gym goers but I’ll be honest it sound quite complicated and can mess up your kidneys. I did drink a shot of apple cider vinegar every day fir a while, it’s supposed to be very good for your gut health.

I’m so glad it’s Friday, it’s been such a long week. I’m really tired and feel like I’m due on except my last period was only 2 weeks ago, but that doesn’t really mean anything anymore as my cycle is screwed. I’m determined to get out for a run today, my steps have been really low this week , with weather and tiredness to blame. I do feel like I’ve had a good week diet wise but the scales never really agree, I’ve definitely dropped a bit of holiday bloat though. I have thoroughly enjoyed my Zoe diet again this week, I am eating so much more variety and feel so much more satisfied. We went out on Weds and had birthday cake but other than that I have been just quietly in the zone, eating my meals, sleeping well and naturally curbing at around 1600 calories with no desire to binge or overeat, last night I just couldn’t eat another bite of my dinner and ended up leaving almost all of it, I was just full (which rarely if ever happens)

busy weekend ahead but I am not drinking despite a social tomorrow. I can’t afford to keep wasting precious weekends feeling like crap after drinking so I am determined to take a few weekends dry and try to feel a bit better and of course lose a few lbs on the process

@thenewaveragebear1983 Sounds like you've had a good week. Going for a run might make you feel better. I don't know if it's an age that jt but that pre menstrual feeling is not limited to just before my period any more...

I plan to go for a run tomorrow. It's my 10K next weekend so I need to do a decent run tomorrow to satisfy myself I can do it!

I take collagen, biotin, vitamin d, ashwaganda, sometimes lions mane root, sometimes magnesium at night. I just bought some zinc, creatine and apple cider tablets although I'm wondering whether I need them now. I have some colleagues who use creatine and say it's made a difference to their mental function as well as the physical benefits but I'm wondering if I need it now.

I just weighed myself and I'm 9 stone 4.6 today so I'm pleased with that.

Also worried about starting creatine now just before I usher parties and weddings coming up as it can make you gain lbs (in water) and don't want it to make me loke bloated so might hold off for now.

Happy weekend everyone. Do you all have any plans?

This is the first week in a while when I don't have plans to eat out but I also have a quiet week at work even I'll be home most days and not sure whether that will help or hinder my diet!

I need to run this morning as it's my 10K next weekend and I don't usually run in the rain. Someone send help to some kind of motivation please 😂

@Chocolatecoffeecup my two motivators for running when I don’t feel like it are 1) telling myself I don’t need to be motivated , I need to be disciplined - and tell myself that I am a disciplined person. Strangely that one really works. The other is 2) the “money in the bank” philosophy- if you run when it’s rainy and cold (or whatever the horrible weather is) when you don’t feel like it, then it’s like putting money in the bank for a rainy day, think how much easier your actual run will be compared to this horrible run today 🤷‍♀️ 🤣

I did end up having a couple of glasses of wine last night, I was really stressed finishing work (it’s a new job and I find it very stressful, and I spent the evening mithering about something I didn’t know if I’d done right) so in the end I had a glass or two of wine to shut my brain up (which is the worst thing to do I know). It affected my sleep and I woke up this morning still mithering about it 🤣

my plan was to clear the garden today but urgh it’s really grim so I am going to reassess later. I’m out tonight but it won’t be food based and I’m not drinking (definitely). My long run is tomorrow and I plan to just have a quietish day today as I’m really tired.

@thenewaveragebear1983 I like your thinking. It had occurred to me it might be raining next weekend for my 10K and I'll have to do it so it probably is good I went today. I hadn't read your message before I left but what got me out (and my usual trick) is to tell myself I'm going out for a run even if it just ends up being a very short one and I'll come back. I usually find I'll do more. I actually really enjoyed my run. It was the first time in ages where I felt comfortable and happy running. I feel a bit better about my 10K now. It will be a slow one but I'll be happy to have run it all.

Thinking about work is the worst. I don't blame you for having some wine!

Morning everyone, it's Monday and I'm working from home most of this week (which is nice) so I'm doing a food order of some healthy salad items. Next week we have a birthday so will be eating cake so might be slightly less healthy.

Afternoon everyone

@Chocolatecoffeecup I used to do the running trick too. I am glad you are feeling more positive about it and hopefully wfh will help with having more time to be organised

@thenewaveragebear1983 hopefully the work issue is sorted out and forgotten about.

@bigdecisionstomake hope all is ok as haven’t seen you post in a while.

I got back from my holiday last night. It was a cruise with no flights so no weight retention due to that but I only put 0.4lb on. It did help that I didn’t like the food as there was very little for vegans including a very basic salad bar and fruit options and veggies without butter.

I didn’t pick the holiday or I would have chosen differently. We did get lots of steps in and visited the gym most days unless the sea was too rough or the day we did lots of hills and steps and we ached.

We still have another holiday with them in the autumn in the UK with a place with a pool so I still have my motivation plus depending on what is going on in the wider world we may book something just us.

I had a much better day today, I just organised myself and was kind to myself, took breaks and didn’t let myself get super overwhelmed. Really basic self care stuff but it’s amazing how easily we forget those basics isn’t?

I lost 1lb this week, would have liked more but probably didn’t deserve it so I’ll take the pound 🤣 this week I am continuing with Zoe plan but now I have my head round it I am going to keep an eye on my calories and also try to raise my scores a bit (eg by not having the things that cause it to drop down, such as occasional biscuits or bread which I had last week).
Today I had raspberry and chia porridge with peanut butter, and rice cakes with chicken and salad. My dinner will be lamb steak with new potatoes and veg. I went for a run and actually did pretty good pace for a change, I did 5km in 26 minutes which is very fast for me. Don’t know where that boost of energy came from!

I had a few days celebrating something in London and all of last week I ate quite a lot. Not surprisingly I’ve put on one kg according to my scales.

Today I’ve only been snacking on fruit and coffee - didn’t wake up with much of an appetite anyway so wasn’t strongly craving food.

I’ve just had some veg and will soon start cooking dinner - lean mince and brown rice.

I am considering doing one meal a day plus snacking on fruit & veg and seeing how it goes since it’s gone well today.

I am focusing on some creative projects, so I may be quiet for the next few weeks, but I’ll update my progress by end of month.

All the best with June weight loss everyone!