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.

Welcome @thisisajoke22, I’m the same, 8 lbs would be lovely. (Remember when we were young and we could lose that in a week?!)

I did bootcamp last night and it was the dreaded fitness test for the start of the new phase. 1000km run, 50 burpee broad jumps, 100 lunges, 30 full release press-up, 500m run, and 100 squat/throws with a 12kg ball. Horrible. I did that in 37 minutes. This morning I literally ache all over and I was dreaming that I was trapped under a rock 🤣

still, it’s all good for the goals. My food was really good yesterday, tracked everything. Today I am in the office again. I have overnight oats made with mango kefir with mango and straws chia. Lunch is salad if I have time to make it, or I might just grab something at work (our canteen is amazing 🤩) and for dinner I saw this recipe to make healthy donor kebab strips and I was going to do that in flatbreads with salad. I am going to try to get out for at least a walk but maybe a run this evening as well, make the most of the cooler weather before it heats up again.

Hi @CarelessWimper I haven't been exercising as much in the heat. It's a bit cooler this week so I'm going to try to fit in a proper workout somewhere.

@thenewaveragebear1983 You're doing loads. Sounds like you're doing really well with food and exercise.

I'm doing bits of things like last night I put some music on and just did some cardio and dancing in my house 😂 I'm aiming to do some arms and abs every other day as I think that will make a difference to how I look in clothes.

I'm down to 9 stone 2.6 this morning and I'm pleased with that but if I follow my usual pattern I'll be up again by Friday!

I weigh myself most mornings and this week I'm down 2lbs which I'm chuffed about. However we've got a party this weekend with pizzas, beer and cocktails so no doubt it'll go back on. Then I'll get it off again in time for my gym drinks out in two weeks time. It seems I lose a few lbs, then have something social, gain those lbs again and repeat!

Well after a couple of good days I weighed in for my July 1st weigh in and I’m up 2lbs ffs 🤦‍♀️
So overall In June I lost 1lb 🤷‍♀️ weighing in for July 1st at 11.3.5. It’s so frustrating 😢

Well done @thisisajoke22 I had a night out yesterday with calorific food and cocktails so I'm guessing I might not have a loss overall this week. I think that's ok as long as the number is going down generally! 🤞🏼

@thenewaveragebear1983 Go easy on yourself - at least that's a loss! Not so bad considering you've been on holiday.

@Chocolatecoffeecup I know, a loss is a loss I guess. I’ve had a really active day today, I did a longer walk with the dog this morning, and also went for a run, and I’m meeting my friend for another walk this evening. My food is also getting better. I ditched the Zoe app, it was too clunky and difficult to use but I have been diligently tracking on my tracker, and really trying to record everything and keep in my allowance. I’ve increased my allowance to 1600 a day but I am not having more on exercise days.
my training is paying off though, I even though I haven’t really lost any weight I have definitely developed some new muscle, I noticed a very distinct line on my quad yesterday where the muscle has developed, and my calves are looking good after all the hill reps

@thenewaveragebear1983 Building muscle is an achievement. I can't remember whether you have scales that tell you your fat / muscle etc make up but it sounds likely you might be gaining muscle so you could be losing fat as well and not knowing? Either way your fitness and strength improving is a really good thing but I know it's frustrating if you want to see some thing on the scale and it's not happening.

I was out with friends yesterday so didn't have a great food day and woke up with a stomach ache. I've tried not to eat as much today. Currently eating frozen grapes in bed while I watch love island!

I weigh on Fridays and am expecting a STS. Hopefully not a gain!

By the way @thenewaveragebear1983 not sure if I told you Jo moved me to a more chatty diet group which is a bit better but I still don't really relate to most of the group 😬

I'm down to 9 stone 1.8 today, not really sure how, but I'm not far off my target of 9 stone. My target feels a bit arbitrary though so I think I'll continue trying to lose a bit of body fat (mainly around my waist!) and trying to tone my abs and arms more.

Plan to do a step workout this morning after school drop off.

I have been fighting a weight gain for the past 2 weeks and I can happily say that it has finally shifted (and then some!).

I was 9st0.2lbs on the 14th June… i went up to 2 pounds, then it crept up a little bit higher, I think because of the heatwave.

8st12.6 today! Absolutely buzzing. Took my latest round of progress pics :)

@thenewaveragebear1983 Congrats on your muscle gain! Hills reps are the literal worst so definitely well-earned.

@Chocolatecoffeecup So close to target! That’s amazing!

I think we can safely say that we did in fact get in better shape for summer. :)

I’ve been trying to eat better recently, more salads less crisps and chocolate but succumbed to cheese and carrs water biscuits plus salsa this evening. But I have been gymming it 3 x a week this week so I don’t feel too bad.

@Chocolatecoffeecup I haven’t but I need to get some, it’s my birthday in a few weeks and I may treat myself.

i had a long week at work, went to bootcamp after I finished at 5, dh cooked bolognese with lentil pasta and now having a glass of rose. I’m over my calories today but not by loads. Next week I am going to focus on protein and veg, it’s going to be too hot for much running anyway so I may use it as an opportunity to cut the carbs a bit.

Well done @Fidgetbottom!

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain I don't think that's too bad at all and I really think it's good to have a bit of all sorts and not restrict too much.

@thenewaveragebear1983 I remember you asking about them now actually. I think you'll benefit from them given all the exercise you do!

I did ok food wise today. I don't properly calorie count but I have been estimating just so I have an idea and because I find recording what I eat makes me more aware and less likely to eat loads of stuff I don't need to eat! I had a quarter of a pizza for lunch with salad, sausage and mash for dinner (no idea how many calories but would guess about 650), plus some fudge.

I did a cardio workout this morning.

I think I should look at them. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned on this thread so apologies for droning on if I have, but we are getting a beautiful garden “office” type room installed to be a home gym, it’s coming next week. I am so excited! So it would actually be a good time to consider a set of scales as I am hoping that the gym will mean an uplift in my training and it would be good to monitor it from the start.

my weekend plans today focus around chores although they could be quite physical, I want to do gardening and house jobs and get everything tidy. Tomorrow I am going to get up early for a run, this week will be hot so it is going to mean fitting in around the hotter parts of the day to get anything done, I hate running in the heat but will happily strength train

@thenewaveragebear1983 A garden gym sounds exciting! Yes I'd get some scales to monitor your progress. I may have linked the ones I have before. They're renpho and only about £24 on amazon.

I don't like exercising when it's hot. I haven't been doing as much cardio since my 10K a couple of weeks ago. I did some yesterday but when I do it tends to be early in the morning when it's cooler out. I keep hearing it's going to be really hot next week but the forecast is early 20's near me which isn't too bad.

I put on 2 stone with anti anxiety meds last year and am still on fluoxetine which causes weight gain plus I switched HRT to tablets and sprays. On the patches I didn’t seem to gain weight so might go back on them. Someone on MN said spray and tablet were better for losing weight than the patches.

Had a very good Tesco bean soup (Weightwatchers say it’s good for weight loss) plus 2 Ryvita with marmite and 1 half Warburtons thin with peanut butter and marmite for breakfast.

My gym is luckily air conditioned but I need to drive or get the bus there. I could walk but was sweaty after doing that in the heat. I follow my cat’s example in the heat which is out first thing and then indoors all day and out early mid evening.

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain I haven't tried the bean soup but that sounds like a good lunch! We're having steak and chips for dinner today but I'm going to make it early as had a late breakfast / brunch and will have some salad / rocket with mine.

I haven't been to an actual gym since Covid. I've got so used to doing exercise at home and morning before eating is the best time for me. I don't like being out in the heat much either, unless I can just lie outside and read a book, but even then not for long.

You just have to do what works and feels right for you. It's important not to overdo it in the heat too. During the last hot week I felt quite ill one day after a busy day rushing around in the heat.

My weight loss has plateaued but it’s hard to tell as I have been doing strength training as well so some might be muscle mass (here’s hoping) but I still have 5kg to go to get to my goal weight. I think I need to change things up a bit, I’m a bit of a creature of habit food and exercise wise.

i saw the nhs walk 30 minutes a day thing. I can’t quite work out how it will be monitored but that’s exactly the sort of challenge i like.

Are there any foods which help to speed up your metabolism? My aim is high protein, high fibre, low carbs. I have been chucking some flaxseed on my yoghurt when I eat it, I tried making chia pudding but I really struggled with the texture.

@ApricotRow You probably are gaining muscle which will be seeming to slow your weight loss but you might be losing more fat than you think? You could try using smart scales or measuring to see if that helps.

i haven't seen the nhs thing but that's the kind of challenge that helps me too. I try to do 10K steps a day and find that having a daily target is better than a weekly or monthly one for me as it makes me do something every day.

I need to do some abs exercises this evening.

How are you all doing?

I had a banana, pain au chocolat and a chocolate for breakfast which is not ideal but I used to have pain au chocs several times a week and haven't had one for a couple of months so think that's ok!

I didn't fancy breakfast but I'm doing a dance for class at 12 (never been before!) so will eat well for the rest of the day - planning salad for lunch and a burrito bowl for dinner.

So I’ve been going to the gym 3 x a week. Trying to eat better and cleaner. Apple for snack today. Am out later on with friends so will try to go for healthier option. At least gin and slimline tonic doesn’t have as many calories as eg wine. Did a nice walk to gym yesterday after work but ended up being slightly late for first class.

Cut down or out any crisps or chocolate. Even dark chocolate and pop chips. Wish I liked those itsu seaweed thins but they’re vile.

Not bad, I have dipped down into a lower stone on the scales which is giving me motivation! I am doing meal replacement shakes so I am now having my main meal at lunchtime during the week which is working better for me. I am actually struggling to eat my snacks some days which I think is because of the heat.

the heat is really affecting my step count too which is annoying. I have been trying to make my wfh days more like office days so a ‘commute’ walk at the beginning and end of the day but it’s just too hot.

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain It sounds like you're doing really well! How was your night out?

Well done @ApricotRow what shakes are you using? I've tried Huel and didn't like the taste but tempted to try a different one!

It's really hard to keep steps up in this heat and probably not a good idea. The last heat wave a couple of weeks ago I somehow did 17k steps but felt very ill in the evening I think as a result of being out in the sun.

I'm up a pound this morning and think I'll be up from last week when I do my weekly weigh tomorrow as lays Friday was lower than I've been on every other day!