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 weighed in this morning and I’ve gained a pound 🤷‍♀️ which does feel incredibly unfair. I think I may be due on but it’s hard to tell because my last cycle was about 5.5 weeks, previous to that it was 3 weeks so as garmin calculates on averages the actual date is a bit of a mystery! But I’m retaining water and feeling very very tearful so maybe it’s soon which will help.

I’m having a really busy and chaotic week, loads on and everything moved around to accommodate bank holiday and other things so gym classes and usual commitments are going to be tricky this week.

I’m going to stick with my food plan, I am actually doing ok on that this week although I did drink too much at the weekend and I’m going to have a few dry weeks before holiday.

Today I’m having a protein shake with berries and chia,
lunch is leftover peri peri rice with salad,
dinner is salmon and veg
try for a run at lunchtime, and 10-15 mins dumbells for my arms/core

I honestly wouldn’t stress over a pound or two weight gain - women’s weight fluctuates for all kind of reasons that are not to do with body fat.

I was looking at myself in the mirror now and I can’t lie I’m so chuffed at the weight I’ve lost 😂

During the pandemic my waist was over 40 inches at one point! It was 38.5 when I measured it after losing my first stone in 2022, but I’m sure it was more than that before I’d lost that stone.

It’s now 29.5 and it’s such a difference. I actually have a shape again! Because my hips are quite narrow and my chest is large I look shapeless when my waist is big.

When I’m down to my goal weight it’s probably going to be around around 26 inches. Roll on hourglass :)

Morning!

I'd like to join in too, please.

I was on these threads exactly 3 years ago.
I started on Coronation Day (May 2023) at 111kg (175cm), and did my first Couch 2 5k.

Since then, I've worked to half marathons, and have dropped to 85.5kg. I've maintained at this for about the last year. BMI of 27. Weights class once a week, run 2 or 3 times a week.

Now, we have a wonderful summer holiday planned in Spain, with the beach, pools and a water park. So, thinking very much about swimwear.

I'd love to get down to 78kg, as that would put me in the healthy BMI for the first time in about 23 years.

2 crumpets with peanut butter for breakfast, off to weights class now.

@bigdecisionstomake Sorry I missed your post somehow and then today I posted a reply and it didn't send. I hope the funeral went as well as it can today.

With alcohol, sugar or anything that's part of our routine, it is really hard to make changes IME. Marshmallows are mostly air though surely 😁

@thenewaveragebear1983 Stick with it and hopefully you'll see a loss later in the week 🤞🏼 My NSIAG is rubbish by the way. 2 people in it and one of them never posts. Not sure why she's in it!

Well done @Theotterside

Welcome @WeMeetInFairIthilien

I had a banana and chocolate croissant for breakfast. I need to stop and I'm thinking of having something like slim fast for breakfast. Has anyone on here tried it? I just want something I can have on the go.

I had a salad for lunch followed by one of those thin Cadbury chocolate bars and for dinner I had bean chilli packed with veg on a jacket potato with some cheese. I had two spoons of ice cream after as it was quite spicy and I thought I might get a stomach ache from the chilli! Not too bad, the chocolate croissant and mini chocolate bar were not great but I feel like I'm getting better 😂

@bigdecisionstomake I hope the funeral goes as well as it can possibly go and it brings closure to you and the family. A loss is a loss even if it’s water weight! I would try for a brake from the alcohol, particularly if you are in a hurry to see results.

@piscofrisco extra dog walking is always a good idea. I think people went mad on weighted vests for this reason which are probably a better way of carrying a lot of extra weight. How do you find reformer Pilates? It looks interesting.

@Chocolatecoffeecup it sounds like you are running on empty, I hope you sleep better tonight. I have Huel but never had Slimfast.

@Theotterside that’s amazing progress I hope you are proud of yourself.

Thanks so much! @CarelessWimper and @Chocolatecoffeecup it’s been quite slow but sustainable progress. I’ve fallen off quite a few times and dealt with injuries and illness so I’m proud that I’ve kept going one way or the other!

OP, I haven’t tried slim fast in particular, but I’ve tried meal replacements like exante and the 1:1 Cambridge diet. I really didn’t get on with them! Not sure why, perhaps my stomach/body isn’t a fan of super processed stuff and I found the taste not great either.

For breakfast on the go I’d rather have stuff like fruit and a small portion of nuts or a smoothie or fage Greek yoghurt. Maybe even some kind of oat bar as long as it’s not too sugary like many of them are.

Slow and steady is the way to do it.

I haven't heard of those but interesting you didn't get along with them. I'm not sure if I would either. I do love a smoothie but thinking of things I can throw in my bag and take to work. Fruit and nuts are a good idea as I often have a banana. Nuts with it could work. I'd go for some kind of oat or cereal bar if not full of sugar.

I’ve been eating the freezer stock again today, I’m due on and usually I end up craving carbs and bingeing but today I decided I was going to eat carby comfort food instead and have big meals. So I had a portion of leftover peri peri rice for lunch and for dinner I had a potato and lentil curry from the freezer. I haven’t calorie counted but I know I have eaten fewer calories than previous months where I have ended up in the biscuit tin eating my way through the hormones

@Chocolatecoffeecup I don’t have slimfast but I do enjoy a protein shake, I soak chia seeds in water, add frozen berries, protein powder and a fibre powder , whizz it up. It’s really filling with the fibre in it.

@thenewaveragebear1983 I might start making smoothies and protein shakes on the days I'm at home but I struggle on the days I go into the office as I don't want to have to prepare anything but then I end up buying a chocolate croissant...

Sounds like you're going well!

I'm definitely eating less sugary crap even though I haven't cut it out fully

I absolutely love reformer @CarelessWimper. It’s a decent workout for strengthening-I can see a bit of improvement after 10 sessions, but it’s excellent for making you feel stretched and limber. Highly recommend!

I’ve always found replaced shakes to be terrible for my stomach but I’m thinking of giving Huel breakfast a go. Has anyone tried it?

Morning all

Early one from me as funeral is today. Thanks for all your kind wishes. Although he had been my DFIL for 15 years and one of my clients for 17 years, today is really all about getting DP and his mum and brother through the day in one piece.

You would have been proud of me last night though - no alcohol (although my two friends still had the bottle we usually have and managed it between them). I chose a salmon and new potatoes main with a fennel salad and didn't have dessert so am feeling virtuous today. The reward has come on the scales which have dropped another half a pound to 10st 5.3lbs.

Just got to try to be mindul today and not eat all the buffet and drink all the free bar. I'm going to do my best but not sweat it too much with the promise to myself that if I lapse I'm back on it tomorrow.

@thenewaveragebear1983 sorry about the gain but kudos to you for getting back on it in style and avoiding the biscuit tin.

@Theotterside Amazing loss so far - congratulations - and I agree, slow and steady wins the race.

@Chocolatecoffeecup Meal prepping and planning really help me with making good choices. Sorry if I sound annoyingly virtuous and I know this is tricky with small children and especially when you're not sleeping well. You're doing really well cutting sugar down though and as you say dealing with the cravings is not easy.

@piscofrisco I agree, I think the weekend alcohol is likely to really sabotage me but I am going to find it incredibly difficult to give it up, even only temporarily. I did manage a month a couple of years ago with encouragement from @CarelessWimper so I know I can do it but life seems so much 'more' at the moment. I am going to try though and hope for the best 😄

Have good days all.

@Chocolatecoffeecup @piscofrisco have a look at the Huel black range, they come in a variety of flavours and the pre made shakes are 400 cals for 35g protein and 26 vitamins and minerals. I use them from time to time and they are so convenient if you need to rush out or compared to a premade sandwich or pastry. Or even as an occasional dinner if travelling or rushing about and it’s that or fast food. It’s cheaper if you buy a case or you can buy your own powder and make them. If either of you do want to order it through the website I have a code that you can use to get £20 off your first order (I also get it too) but that’s not why I’m recommending it. I like the high protein aspect.

I would really like to try Pilates especially the reformer classes, it’s just at least 30 minutes away and private classes which were about £50 ph and I’m not sure if it’s worth it?

I did another sneaky workout yesterday I did upper body with my weights and the inner thigh 5 minutes away Pilates one I found. I’m feeling that a little this morning. Also I feel I should point out I don’t sneak around this much normally. This is the first time I have ever taken scales and weights away with me. Although I’m debating whether to take the scales on holiday 🤦‍♀️ there is a good gym there so I won’t need weights 😂

I am genuinely surprised at my weigh in today, another loss of 1lb down to 9st 10.2lb! I’m shocked. The two meals seems to be working but I only managed 9.5k steps yesterday which is a tad low for me.

@bigdecisionstomake very well done on last night, you were very virtuous But I think today you get a free pass to do what helps you to get through the day and support your family. 💐 big virtual hug from me.

All the best to you today @bigdecisionstomakex
£50 is a lot for Pilates @CarelessWimper-Mine is about £20. I love it but not for £50!
I will have a think about the Huel. I do quite well in the week as I make salad at home to take to work and usually have yoghurt for breakfast hjt I’ve been skipping it lately as pushed for time so it’s really a protein breakfast I need. I should boil a few eggs the night before really but I never get round to it!

Sorry @bigdecisionstomake I thought I was a day behind. I hope all goes as well as it can today 💐Sounds like you had a good day yesterday, food and drink wise, just don't put too much pressure on yourself today is my advice. It's one a day and not a usual one so it won't hurt to enjoy the buffet or have a few drinks if it helps you through the day.

Meal prepping definitely helps me too and I haven't done much of that this week. Lash night I made a bean chilli with potato which I felt was fairly good considering we needed to go shopping and I was so tempted to have a cheese toastie or something out of the freezer...

@piscofrisco @CarelessWimper I'm going to look at Huel. Not sure why but I feel quite self conscious about going into the office with a slim fast shake 😂

Loads of people I know are doing reformer Pilates. If I could do it at home, which I can't really, I'd give it a go but it's a pain fitting everything in.

My regime at the minute is one weekly run, at least one other cardio workout like body combat or step and then I'm doing a 10k a day step challenge but I'm in competition with some friends which is helping. I'm also still trying to do abs exercises 6 days a week.

@thenewaveragebear1983 I'm not sure if I already told you this yesterday but I joined the NSIAG diet group and there are only two people on it other than Jo and Paul. One of them has still never spoken so it's a bit rubbish. I much prefer the community we've created on here!

@CarelessWimper Congrats on the loss, it's always nice to see. Yeah, I'm happy to share! 57kg/9st roughly would be great and as a short arse I look a lot better at that weight. If I could get under that I'd not complain but trying to be realistic about what's achievable and also maintainable.

@bigdecisionstomake thanks! I'm pleased to see the scales shifting.

@Chocolatecoffeecup 9st is a good goal for me too, hopefully by some point this summer! I also used to eat too many pain au chocolat and have had to work hard at walking away from the pastries lately. In a coffee shop near work today they put some fresh out of the oven slap bang on the counter in front of me and somehow I resisted!

@WeMeetInFairIthilien I'm also trying to get the waist and weight down with a holiday coming up in June, when is yours? We're off to Crete in just over a month with the toddler in tow. I've been boldly venturing back into trying bikinis the last few weeks.

Morning and TFI Friday!

@Chocolatecoffeecup I know what you mean about Slimfast, it shouts I’m on a diet. Where as Huel says I’m lazy and cba to sort out lunch. A lot of men in our IT team use it so they don’t have to think about food.

@thislittlebird 9st seems like a good target. I was originally aiming for 9st 7 but it has been revised to 9st now. Being on the short side, weight does need to be lower. A holiday to Crete sounds lovely and very motivating!

I had a terrible nights sleep, so will have to be very vigilant today. There was a small gain of 0.2lb on the scale. I didn’t manage a work out and only 7.5k steps so need to do better as my holiday is coming up quickly. I will be home on Sunday and it will be easier then.

Huel is definitely more respectable. Great marketing. I expect it’s got largely the same things really.
I had a not great day on eating and exercise yesterday. It would have been my Dads birthday -the first one since he died and a few other things going on so I ended up messing up a not bad day of food, by picking at the kids leftovers and having a bag of minstrels. Never one to not eat my feelings. It’s my biggest downfall.
Back to it today.
Have a good day all

Good morning!
Have had two good days, managed to avoid snacking in the evenings. On the days I run or have a weights class, I find it all too easy to snack after dinner.

Was at work yesterday, and same today, so busy days. I have a protein bagel and roasted Greek cauliflower for lunch. Probably something with lentils and feta for dinner.

Wore a skirt in a 16 with a non-elastic waist yesterday, which felt like an achievement. I was a 22/24 at my biggest.

I hope everyone has a good Friday.

@thislittlebird we are off to Spain for 2 weeks, at the end of July. We will be away for our 15th wedding anniversary, so I'd love to look nicer for a photo then. Sadly, I still have a lot of loose skin and stretchmarks on my tummy, so my bikini days are behind me, but both my DC are waterbabies, so we will spend most of our time in swimming costumes. I'd love to have less of an overhang.

Where is Crete are you going to? We had a brilliant holiday in Rethymno, when DD was 11 months old. She learnt to crawl there!

Me! I’ve been doing Noom since Jan and have lost 2
kg but I am hovering here and need to lose more. I’d like to lose another 5kg.

Morning all

@CarelessWimper I love all your stealth weighing and working out - that shows proper dedication. Must be a relief to know you'll be able to go full steam from Sunday though.

@piscofrisco sorry about your dad's birthday yesterday. They say there is a year of firsts that bring it all back (Christmas, birthday, anniversarys etc...) after you lose someone close but it must be hard. Well done for being straight back on it today.

@WeMeetInFairIthilien Non scale victories are the best so it must have been really rewarding to comfortably fit into the size 16 skirt. Makes it feel like it's all been worth it.

Funeral went well yesterday, I feel like we gave him a really good send off. To be honest I didn't really fancy eating, even though the food looked delicious and I was busy trying to make sure I chatted to all the different groups to thank them for coming so I ended up not eating very much and actually did around 12k steps so it turned out to be a better diet day than expected.

I also didn't drink any alcohol (although was tempted I will admit) so again was proud of myself. Tonight will be the big tell though as Friday night is my 'open the bottle of red' night.

The scales have dropped again this morning to 10st 5lb exactly so hopefully that will be my motivation to keep strong tonight. I suspect that will be the last of the water weight too so this is where the hard work starts.

Have good days all.

Morning all! I weighed myself this morning and I've lost no weight in 2 weeks of exercising more and eating less crap. I feel cheated 😂

@thislittlebird Yes the pain au chocolate has become my go-to but I'm looking at huel now as at least it's high protein! I also have one day a week where I'm teaching from 9-3:30 with two 15 minute breaks so I won't really have time for lunch.

@CarelessWimper I'm ready to give Huel a go I think. Is it the black one you've had and did you say you had a discount code? I might order some today! Maybe I should get a single one to try before I commit to a crate!

@piscofrisco Be gentle on yourself. That must have been a tough day.

Well done @WeMeetInFairIthilien

2 stone is amazing @Picoloangel

@bigdecisionstomake I'm glad yesterday went well. Well done on the loss!