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 That's not much of a gain at all. Did you have a good time? I've never done a cruise but I'm curious about them!

Sounds like a good food day for you @thenewaveragebear1983 and a very good run time!

good luck @Theotterside

I had my usual berocca and supplements for breakfast, made a club sandwich for lunch with leftover chicken and made egg fried rice using the chicken again for lunch. I've also had probably a full cookie altogether after lunch and now, which isn't too bad, but I've put in an Ocado order for tomorrow so I can make salads for lunches this week. Planning a burrito bowl for dinner tomorrow.

Morning,

@thenewaveragebear1983 glad you had a better work day today. It is very easy to forget to move, take a few minutes or eat away from your desk at work. I’m very guilty of that. The raspberry chia seed porridge sounds lovely and the run time really good.

@Theotterside i hope the projects go well and I’m glad you had a good time in London. There are so many tasty treats there for every taste.

@Chocolatecoffeecup the secret to a great cruise, is making sure you are on the right ship doing the right itinerary. This wasn’t the right ship. I love adult only areas and the pool one was cold and dark and there were no other adult areas. I do love cruising so normally pick carefully but we went along with others (all adults) so this wasn’t the right one for us.

I finished yesterday on 17.5k steps. After work I mowed one of the lawns as the grass was so long so I didn’t get chance for a workout. My food shop is also coming this afternoon so that will make things easier.

I weighed in at 9st 4.4lb so lost 1.2lb which is probably the drop in carbs, honestly I don’t normally loose weight on holiday, but much as the lack of food options disappointed me at the time, it is nice not to come back to a large gain. My body fat is apparently 26.4% and the scales have the highest point for fitness at 25% so it’s good to be getting closer to that.

The weight loss and exercise did make a massive difference to my confidence levels on holiday. I wore a bikini, lovely evening wear that I felt so good in and shorts. Normally I would try and hide in trousers or even jeans on a hot day and it was freeing to wander around towns in shorts and feel the sun on my legs without feeling hotter than I need to.

@CarelessWimper I see what you mean. If I look into a cruise in the near future I may ask you about it! 17k steps is great. 25% fat is good. Mine is more than that even though we're a similar weight. It's great you felt good on holiday. I'm feeling better about myself in clothes too.

My niece who is tiny messaged me last night about a size 8 maxi dress and asking if I want it and I was flattered that she thinks of me as being that small. I can sometimes get into a size 8 but I'm not sure about this one 😂

I did about 10k yesterday which is still my daily goal. I weighed myself this morning and I'm up to 9 stone 5.2 from 9 stone 4.8 which is fine.

I've done a body combat workout on the tv this morning. First one in a while and I love how exercise makes me feel. I get quite low sometimes (hormonally I think) and I feel great after my workout.

Now waiting for my food order of healthy food!

Morning and happy hump day.

@Chocolatecoffeecup I am aiming to get under 25% fat not quite there yet. It seems a better target that weight at the moment. You should try the dress on! You could always keep it as a target dress if it’s realistic and what you want?

I love how exercise normally makes me feel but I did a core workout and followed by a beginners class of boxercise. It’s the first one I have done and I have terrible co ordination so it was very hard for me to concentrate and do what I was told to 😂 I will repeat it a few times and hope it gets easier.

I also managed to get 16k steps in and ended up accidentally fasting till 3.30 as I was so busy. My sleep and body battery scores are still really bad. I keep saying I need to sort them out but don’t.

She's coming to our house next week so I said to bring it with her and I'll try it. If it doesn't fit I'll give it away or she can give it to charity.

I do body combat and martial arts and the thing I like about not knowing what I'm doing is I'm not thinking about anything else however it is not great when you just want to get on with things. It will come.

16k steps is great!

I had salad for lunch and a chilli burrito bowl with salad for dinner so feel like I ate well yesterday. I'm having pizza for lunch but has a banana for breakfast and will have salad for dinner.

@Chocolatecoffeecup I am really pleased you are trying the dress! That gave me a big smile.

I had overnight oats for brunch and vegan chicken wraps with salad for dinner and did biceps and triceps with 16k steps yesterday.

I weighed in at 9st 2.4lb and a body fat of 25.8% so happy with that, but another shockingly bad nights sleep.

Hope everyone has a good day x

I’ve missed all the dress chat, just catching up now. @Chocolatecoffeecupa target dress can be quite motivating I find.

I had a dreadful food day yesterday. Just endless sugary treats at a corporate induction day, pastries, nice lunch, afternoon cakes and loads of freebies. My mouth was almost feeling burned by all the sugar and this is no exaggeration, I think I must have consumed 4000 calories. Completely unnecessary. My hormones are in chaos and that doesn’t help, (I need a HRT review, by cycle does not match my patches so I get either really long cycling or really short while the two fight it out) - I feel due on but who knows?!

anyway. My promise to myself was that I would do my Zoe nutrition for 12 weeks, and that means dusting off and starting again after days like yesterday. Back to the plan. Lots of whole foods and lots of veg and plant food. Water. Exercise.

today’s plan:
walk dog
I am going to try to fast a bit until I’m actually hungry as I find that helps me reset my appetite a bit after a bingey day.
big salad for lunch with tuna and hard boiled eggs
dinner- bolognese with mushrooms, served with veg not pasta
I need to run at lunchtime as I have barely moved this week

I went almost 2000 kcals over my daily target yesterday. I just lost control completely. I am trying to write it off rather than spending the next few days restricting more to balance it out but it is hard not to enter that mindset (it rarely does me any good).

I did hit my lowest weight today though, even with yesterday’s binge so hope7if I can get a hold of myself today then there was no real damage done!

Scales is now saying my weight is 9st 2.7! That brings my loss to 18.6 lbs since I started on the 18th March. Also my body fat is allegedly down by 6% to 25.9% (I know there are some accuracy issues with smart scales but I am going to take it anyways!).
I notice we have very similar stats @CarelessWimper! How much further are you planning to go? I am 5ft 2 and I have my goal set for 8st 4. Though I might realistically have to go a teeny bit further. (I got there once before and still had a bit of unwanted flab but it was a brutal diet and I think I lost a lot of muscle so who knows this time round).

Well done everyone as always!

@CarelessWimper I have size 8 dresses that fit me but this one looked small 😂 If also has a higher neck than I'd usually wear which I'm not sure will work with my big boobs but it is pretty.

You're making great progress with the weight loss.

I've been eating fairly well. I had salad for lunch and dinner on Tuesday. Yesterday I had pizza express(!) for lunch but only had 3/4 of it and then had a burrito / salad bowl for dinner. I've had loads of salad and different greens.

I'm 9 stone 5.6 today. I'd have like to be 9 stone 5 but that's fine. Slow and steady wins the race and all that...

I must be doing less exercise this month as I did loads of steps last month (over 400K) and I'm nowhere near that this month.

@thenewaveragebear1983 I wouldn't call it a target dress. It's just a dress my niece doesn't want and offered to me as it's brand new. I was most happy that she thought it might fit me as it means I must look fairly slim 😂

Sorry you didn't have a great day yesterday. It's so awkward when you're in a situation like that but it's one day and probably won't make a big difference in the scheme of things. I think eating lots of fruit and veg today will make you feel much better. I also like to fast until I feel like eating but that's usually 12 o'clock

I'm going shopping with my friend later but she wants to go at 11 which is the worst time for me as I like to eat nothing but a banana for breakfast than have a healthy lunch around 12 but we won't be back for 12. She obviously doesn't want to go earlier as I suggested it and she was making excuses that didn't make senses. Said I could get a sandwich from Greggs for lunch and I'm like no 😂 Only because I've bought loads of nutritious food in this week and if I'm eating out it has to be worth the calories!

Actually I might have a something like boiled eggs for brunch and then have an early dinner. DH won't be eating so I could eat at 4 pm if I wanted to.

@thenewaveragebear1983 and @Fidgetbottom yesterday is already history so the best thing you can both do now is what will serve you best in the future.

@thenewaveragebear1983 your plan for today sounds very sensible and my dog would stress the importance of extra dog walks for everyone’s benefit.

@Fidgetbottom im 5ft 3 so very similar to you. You have lost loads so congratulations! My original target was 9st 7lb. When I started getting closer to it I realised it wasn’t enough and tbh I was a bit fed up. I revised to 9st but as I’m edging closer, I’m still not happy. I think for me it’s going to be about body fat % and building muscles now. I want to have than lean, toned and a little bit muscled look but I’m in uncharted territory with that and a goal weight as I’m probably about 9lb under my lightest previous weight now. So I have no idea!

@Chocolatecoffeecup thats a shame about the dress, a beautiful free dress is always welcome! I have lost some weight from my boobs but was hoping for more. I hope you enjoyed your shopping trip. I am very selective about excess calories too. They need to be worth it!

Hello, wow just caught up you are all doing amazing and staying on track!

Thats me now officially back on track 2 events which were drinking/eating type things have passed and health scare is over with the exception of some treatment needed but not as bad as it was in my head.

Increasing my step count whenever I can and keeping major busy with everything breaking around me so feels like I am always on the go. Weigh in day tomorrow, expecting an increase due to the 2 previously mentioned events but it’s fine I am back on track now 😀

@CarelessWimper I haven't tried the dress yet. Perhaps my post was unclear. I just meant it looked small in the picture. I'll stop talking about it now as it's not actually a big deal 😂

@Fidgetbottom my post must have crossed with yours this morning. I think you're right to just right it off. You'll always have days where eat or do slightly more or less. You've done really well. It's interesting a few of us are very similar weights.

I was out shopping earlier at 11 am so had a cheese salad sandwich first otherwise I'd have been tempted to have something unhealthy while out. I got back and had half a pizza and loads of salad followed by a slice of fresh cream cake I bought from the a cake shop while out. Not ideal but if I don't eat anything else today that's not too bad.

Happy Friday everyone!

9 stone 4 today! Happy with that

@Newbie2808 glad that you are back on track and good luck with the weigh in. I am very pleased that the health scare wasn’t as bad as you thought.

@Chocolatecoffeecup I think the dress excitement build up ( for me anyway)is getting super excited about fitting in a size 8. Especially if it was a fitted 8. It’s like opening champagne territory for many women. Congrats on your weigh in and happy Friday.

I am so ready for the weekend. No workout yesterday and only 12.5k steps due to the rain and a busy day. I also have to stay away overnight for work the week after next and I hate that as it disrupts my routine, I sleep even worse than I do at home and I will be spending so long travelling and in meetings that my steps will be dire and no gym access and buffets, meals out as a group and a it’s on the company have 3 courses a side and alcohol - so I’m a real buzz kill.

Last time I dressed up for work, my trousers were huge so I’m going to have to try on outfits to see what fits and I think my dresses will be too big too. It’s nice in a way to have this issue. most of the time I don’t need to dress up so work clothes just stay forgotten about.

I really do need to spend some time going through my wardrobe

Happy Friday! it’s been a long week at work this week. Have lost a kg over last couple of weeks so I’m pleased. I now need to start thinking about what I am going to wear to the wedding and the party. I’m going to go through my wardrobe and try a few things on before buying new as I don’t go to many weddings these days so my fancy stuff does not get much wear.

however my new scales have made me think about other things. My bone mass seems to be quite low so that’s something I need to work on. My BMI is still 27 but that will come down as I still have 5kg to get to my happy weight.

@CarelessWimper I get that. I went to a seamstress yesterday to get some clothes altered for the wedding next month (they were already too big, not just because I've lost a few lbs) and I felt v slim in my dresses which was nice.

It's my DC birthday next weekend and we're having a party so I want to look nice for that too

Well done @ApricotRow

Good morning and happy weekend to you all. This week didn’t seem to end.

@ApricotRow congrats on the loss and I hope you find something really lovely for the wedding. The scales give so much information and like you, I started thinking about other things too.

@Chocolatecoffeecup i hope your DC has a great birthday and you look fabulous in your shrunken clothes.

I only managed 13k steps yesterday but another day of rain. We put the log burner on last night to warm up the house. Crazy for June!

I had another loss and weighed in at 9st 1.8.lb so I’m very happy with that and I’m hoping to go clothes shopping this weekend to get a few bits including underwear. Even my pants are getting to be too big. I was walking my dog last night and constantly pulling them and my joggers up. Probably not a fashion statement that I want to make.

Happy Saturday! I had a real up and down week, my food has been excellent and dreadful, sometimes even in the same day! I did manage to get out a couple of times for a run, and went to bootcamp after work yesterday. I didn’t drink last night which always makes a big difference to my weekend so that’s a bonus.

today we are doing loads of heavy garden work, shifting some slabs. I did my shop yesterday so I have loads of really nice food in. I’ve been really enjoying overnight oats with chia and rhubarb for breakfasts and I have one portion of rhubarb left, lunch will be salad with some sort of protein, and dinner is undecided, I have some salmon and pesto which I love but dh and the dc don’t so I may have that.

You're doing great @CarelessWimper with your weight loss and your steps. I did something like 400K steps last month but this month I'm just about doing 10K other than my runs.

Thank you. I'm planning to wear a maxi dress I've worn before that I look slim in lol and my niece will being the dress she told me about. If that looks nice on I might change into that as I haven't actually bought anything new for the party but I have bought some new jewellery I can wear. I feel pleased with my progress in getting in better shape and I then have over a month to get in better shape for the wedding.

I'm doing a 10K tomorrow so I'll do a good amount of steps but I'm feeling nervous about the run. I'm thinking about what to eat, how much exercise to do today,even what to drink and worrying about needing the loo before the race tomorrow and not being able to go. I'm a bit weird about public toilets but not sure how I'll get away without needing to pee before the race as I'm leaving home around 7:30, the race starts at 9, and I think it will take me a fair amount over 1 hour to do it. I'm not a fast runner and I haven't been training for v long but should be ok 🤞🏼

I need to go in for a bra fitting too before the wedding as I think that makes a big difference to how you look in clothes.

I haven’t checked in in a while as it’s been very busy with birthdays and other things and I’ve struggled to be as disciplined for a few weeks. Anyway, I’m off on holiday to Crete tomorrow so here’s my progress since March

SW: 63.9kg
CW: 58.7kg
GW: 57kg

I’m 5’1 and finally feeling a bit better in clothes. I would have liked to have shifted a couple more pounds before holiday but it’s only June so I can get back to it when home (fingers crossed 🤞) and I’m going to be brave and try to don the bikinis again. I’ve bought a couple of new ones, chucked the old ones out a while back and have a really nice, supportive joules swimsuit for when I’m feeling less brave. I’m pleased because I wasn’t sure I’d get back into them at one stage.

good luck with your 10k @Chocolatecoffeecup

Thanks @thislittlebird You're most of the way there and it's so nice to feel better in your clothes 👏🏼 I work in pounds but have a similar amount to get to my goal weight (4lb which I think is 1.8kg). Have a lovely holiday!

Thanks, hoping it’ll be less soggy than it has been at home! I switch between stones and kg for some reason and probably get the conversion a bit wrong at times but another 4lbs sounds about right. I’m considering aiming for 8 1/2 stone as a future goal but will see how I get on when I’m back first. My aim is to get the weight down so that when it does go up over the winter I’m not tight back up at 10st straight away.

@Chocolatecoffeecup i would be worrying about everything to do with the race especially about needing the loo! I am sure you will do brilliantly tomorrow and enjoy it- especially looking back at it 😂 it sounds like you are making great progress to me and another month gives you more time.

@thenewaveragebear1983 I hope you aren’t aching too much now and tomorrow. We need to do more heavy gardening and rock moving but the weather has been dire. Did you get everything done?

@thislittlebird glad to see you back. Have an amazing holiday in Crete and wear the bikinis! If the weather is worse than here you deserve a refund. We put the log burner on for a bit tonight.

I prefer M&S for my undies but the nearest clothes one is about 90 minutes away and I don’t have the patience for that, so I went to Next which had a handful of options. I got one and it’s a band and a cup size smaller than I have been wearing. I was between that band size and the next one down annoyingly.

I also tried a pair of their 10 jeans on and they fitted but I got a pair on Vinted. I also got a multi pack of very boring pants so am going to throw away anything too big. I’m starting to sell my old clothes to pay for their replacements where possible.