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.

@piscofrisco I am sorry about your dad. I think we all need days where we shouldn’t worry too much and tough days like that are it. I hope you can focus on happier times.

@bigdecisionstomake I am glad yesterday went well. They are very hard days. Congratulations on your loss as well, hopefully it will provide the motivation for the weekend!

@WeMeetInFairIthilien congrats on the skirt! NRVs are often more motivating than the scales. Have you tried bio oil on your stretch marks? It’s not expensive so might be worth trying? I am using on some nasty scars but it’s very early days and the scars are raised and old.

@Picoloangel how do you find Noom? I looked at it but didn’t sign up

@Chocolatecoffeecup
@CarelessWimper

2kg not two stone! I actually realised today that it’s actually just over 3kg.

Noom is OK - not rocket science - but the routine of it is keeping me on track (albeit with some detours on the way 😬). I do think what it encourages is a better relationship with food which has to be good. It’s quite expensive but I did it on a deal.

Haha sorry @Picoloangel 🤣 2kg is still good!

I've ordered a pack of 6 mixed huel ready mades Amazon as not only do I want to try the flavours but there are three different types. You can choose which 6. I've chosen 6 I might want to get a pack of do can see how they taste and compare.

If they taste ok this could be really good for me for breakfast!

Am 1 stone down from when I started. 1.5 to go. It’s a tough slog as you get older isn’t it. I am eating better than I have for years but I’m lucky if I lose 1lb a week.

@Chocolatecoffeecup i hope you get on with Huel shakes. I know they aren’t ideal but compared to a supermarket sandwich or fast food and they can be a good option. I went into our local office for a meeting yesterday with one for my lunch. The black ones are definitely richer than the normal ones.

@ApricotRow It definitely is harder but I think it does help if you find what works for you and it might need to be multiple things both diet and exercise wise. 1lb a week is fantastic and steady progress.

I had another terrible nights sleep. I really miss my own bed. I didn’t get chance for a workout yesterday but had a loss on the scales and I’m 9st 9.6lb 😳 9st something and single figures! This is truly uncharted territory. We might some friends at the pub last night, it’s a nice pub in a nice area and looking around the pub everyone seemed to have bottles wine or Prosecco and big plates of food, DH and I had sparkling water 😂 at the time I was a little very jealous but I’m glad now I stuck to my exciting drink.

Everything does take some much discipline though and this time I’m very much no to anything that might sabotage, like the snacks on offer in the office and a further Friday breakfast run. Honestly I’m such a party pooper.

I hope everyone has an amazing weekend x

@ApricotRow It is really hard. You've done so well to lose a stone.

@CarelessWimper I've ordered a mix pack that has a few of the normal shakes, a couple of the black ones and a "light" one as I think that's 190 cals compared to 400. I'd only be having it maybe twice a week for breakfast in pace of a pain au chocolat or nothing.

Well done on your loss!

Morning all

@CarelessWimper 9st and single figures is an amazing achievement - huge congratulations and well done on having such steely will power last night. It must feel like another milestone ticked off. Just one more day to go then you'll be back in your own bed and sleeping better (and no need to sneak around to weigh in and work out either 😂).

@ApricotRow I have definitely found staying at a healthy weight much harder as I have got older but you have done amazingly well to lose a stone so far. Keep going, slow and steady wins the race.

@Chocolatecoffeecup Interested to know how you get on with the Huel - I've looked at that mixed pack on Amazon before and nearly ordered it. My fear is of bloating and (ahem) windy issues which I've heard some people get as a side affect.

I ended up doing two dog walks yesterday instead of any weights which wasn't ideal so I'm going to make sure I get a session in today. I also ended up eating a whole sharing bag of chocolate buttons 😳I didn't do my Nutracheck diary which is a bit of recipe for disaster with food for me. On a more positive note however I didn't open the wine last night and didn't really miss it either.

I have had a STS on the scales this morning at 10st 5lb which is fair and really want to get into the 4s soon so plan for today is to fill in my food diary and try to keep as active as possible.

Have good days all.

@Chocolatecoffeecup They should arrive today so I'll let you know. I'm most worried about them having an artificially sweet taste but we will see! I hadn't heard about there being a side effect of wind. It might not work for me if that's the case! The dog walks will still have done you some good in terms of fitness and burning some calories. It's so easy to eat the bag of chocolate buttons once they're open! I'm starting to buy smaller packs of things deliberately as it's so hard to control portions otherwise.

I've never tried nuteacheck but I might give it a go as I find keeping a diary helps and maybe I do need a better handle on how many calories I'm actually eating.

Hopefully we have a loss next weigh 🤞🏼

Neither of us had any wind issues from Huel. DH got a bit constipated when he went through a period of having it every morning, but when having it even twice a week he has been fine and I have had any issues.

There is a bit of an artificial taste and I’m definitely not saying they are perfect but I do think they are a better alternative than many options when in a rush and I also don’t work for them before I sound like a sales rep. I think I just like having a widely available high protein vegan option and not be reliant on a falafel wrap with 600 calories, loads of fat and very little protein.

@CarelessWimper Yes I agree with you but they also have to taste ok or I won't drink them! I only plan to have them a couple of times a week which I think is ok.

Morning everyone.

trying to get into the conversation again.

I use warrior whey protein it’s high protein but now in carbs and sugar which is what I look for. Many protein shakes have high sugar which I don’t want. I’m meant to have 2 scoops and water but I find 2 scoops too heavy so only have 1. That is normally my first meal of the day at around 10.30ish with a piece of fruit.

my willpower is still really high - no alcohol all week, no cakes at work or haribo (I can easily have 2 or 3 mini packets). We had a birthday party at school for David Attenboroughs birthday and a child birthday too. Unfortunately I’ve only a pound so far this week which is disappointing but on period so hoping that is contributing to the lack of weight loss. But if someone had said you’ll have lost 8lbs in 2 weeks,2 weeks ago I’d have loved that so trying not to get disheartened but I don’t lose weight quickly if at all.
Also I’m out today for some lunch, a couple of drinks and a dance at day fever! So will definitely be over calorie wise and not good calories but dancing is exercise.

What is everyone else doing to lose weight- I know a lot of you are running, 5ks etc. But are you just eating healthy or calorie counting etc?

Also dp is on it with losing weight but this is actually causing issue - I need my evening meal to be around 500cals as want a small snack later in the evening we have dinner at 5.30. Which is often handful of nuts or yoghurt with fruit! He’s making dinner more 700cals and then getting mardy I only want 1 wrap not 2 or less spag bol- as he thinks we are wasting food. I also like salad and can fill my plate with salad to make it a filling meal or have that as the base but dp doesn’t. So the meals I cook for us aren’t pleasing him! 🤣

I lost 2lbs at my weigh in this morning. Not my official one, but I do like to do a little tester mid week!
not sure whether I have posted this in this thread yet, but I tried a new tactic this month. I am so tired of dieting then in the week before my period just bingeing and regaining everything, so this last week I didn’t calorie count, I just stuck to my three meals but I “allowed” myself as much as I wanted in my meal- extra rice, cheese on top, loads of veg, mayo etc. what this meant was that I have filled up on proper food and I have not then binged once on chocolate or toast or any other nutrient void rubbish. And that seems to have really helped certainly to maintain if not lose overall.

I have never tried huel, originally they were completelg bland flavourless things weren’t they? Doesn’t Dave Gorman do a sketch about them? Anyway I do like a shake but I like to make my own, I have to have them super cold and I add frozen berries, a whole kiwi in its skin, chia and fibre powder to mine- if you haven’t tried fibre powder I highly recommend as it really stops the sugar cravings. But phase it in, it can give you real belly ache if you go too much too soon.

@itispersonal I'm trying to run once a week, do at least one other cardio workout a week plus I'm upping my steps to at least 10k a day and trying to do abs exercises to fix my diastasis recti most days. I do martial arts about once a week but should go twice. Food wise I'm just trying to eat better, more fruit and veg and salad and less sugary snacks. I don't calorie count but so far I've lost zero pounds so maybe I should!

Just eat what you want for dinner and any leftovers can be for lunch the next day. If it's not enough for that then it can't be that much. Personally I'd go for the bigger meal over a snack!

I am trying to eat high protein, low carb.

I have a protein shake for breakfast then at 10 I have a yoghurt bowl I make the night before (Greek yoghurt, splash of milk, tablespoon of chia seeds and berries)

then a healthy lunch and dinner and I allow myself a small treat once a day. I usually save it til after dinner.

I have been trying to up my water intake, but I find this so difficult.

Exercise wise I am trying to do 30 minutes a day and try and mix this up. But usually it’s you tube classes.

@itispersonal I have given up alcohol (for now at least) I’m fasting from 7pm to about 1pm so on two meals a day and very rarely have a snack. I have been trying reasonably clean and no junk food like crisps or sweet things other than fruit. I have also been trying to get between 10 and 15k steps and do strength training. So I have been pretty full on. It has been working though so has been worth it, but I do plan on easing off the restrictions eventually. I have been using the mantra food is fuel so eating what I should eat rather than what I want to eat.

If DH were having spaghetti bolognese, one of us would cook it and then we both serve up what we want as a portion and then freeze anything left over. If it was something like beans on toast I would ask how much toast he wanted first and that is something that is changed as normally we would always have two slices but now it might be one and a half or one and some wilted spinach and egg for him or tofu for me. We do now not eat everything on our plate if it’s something like bread or potato or pasta.

@thenewaveragebear1983 2lbs is amazing! Hopefully your new strategy works. It sounds like you are eating better food that way. And I used to gain water weight before my period. Thankfully the injections stop them as they were horrendous and I wanted to eat everything in sight.

Here are the rules I am using

1. walk after meals (I bought a walking pad off Amazon if I can’t get outside or it’s raining), I target 15,000 steps per day (don’t always reach it and it’s harder when I am working but that’s my goal)
2. Eat veg/salad first and limit carbs. This put a fibrous mesh in the stomach to slow the release of glucose into the blood. I eat very little “white noise” - bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, and if I do eat them I eat them last. Eat more beans and pulses. Increase fibre. Limit alcohol and if I drink it is dry white wine or G&slimline T. Alcohol screws up your fat burning and metabolism.

3. Lift weights - if you don’t have weights use your body weight (squat, lunge, press ups - there are so many free resources online) and if you have access to a gym, walk uphill on a treadmill after doing weights (or walk outside), I have reduced cardio as it raises cortisol which can spike glucose (I still run but once a week rather than several times a week) 4. I no longer buy sweets, chocolate, I didn’t drink fizzy drinks anyway, crisps, biscuits - instead I have a few nuts (Brazil, walnut, almond). But my body has stopped craving snacks. This surprised me ! I have protein powder in the house, Greek yoghurt, seeds and nuts, avocados. I used to love cheese - I have to be very disciplined about when to eat that!!

I take plant sterols and berberine with meals (for cholesterol and glucose management respectively- but I have had blood tests so have the data to monitor and this is what I was targeting rather than weight loss).

My goal was not to lose weight but to improve my blood profile as my genetics are not my friend, so I read up on controlling blood sugar after having some blood tests. Since the end of last year I have lost 7Kg of fat. I am not sure where from, as I wasn’t overweight before, whilst maintaining/increasing my muscle. My body composition has completely changed. I feel so much better and I am the size I was pre kids but with more muscle. I am in my 50s and before this found that perimenopause body change happened whatever I did (cardio, running etc). Small changes, and consistency is what it has taken. For me having blood tests gave me the motivation to make changes and also the data to track improvements. I do not log calories or write down what I eat.

Cross posts @thenewaveragebear1983 I missed that you'd lose 2lb - that's grear

and well done to you on losing 7kg @Bigfatsquirrel

Thank you. I hope that my post shows that you can do a lot of this for free! I have so much respect for everyone trying to make a change to improve their health and hope that my ideas/actions are helpful. Keep going everyone !

@Bigfatsquirrel you have made some amazing and long term changes which is amazing. I agree that there is lots you can do for free and the internet has such a lot of information and videos on so many useful things, which wouldn’t have been around decades ago.

I had a long and emotional day yesterday but stuck to pretty good food and today I’m heading home. I have a food delivery booked for tomorrow which does make life so much easier.

I had a small gain of 0.2lb on to scale which is fine and I still managed 12k steps. Which I am very pleased about. Another bad nights sleep so I really miss my bed.

Morning all

@Bigfatsquirrel there's some really interesting info in your post - thank you. It has also reminded me that as I have very slightly raised cholesterol I should be taking plant sterols with meals too. Which ones do you use?

@Chocolatecoffeecup I find Nutracheck really helpful to reinforce what a healthy portion looks like. I also think as you get older you get a lot less 'wriggle room' with calories so even a relatively small amount of 'extras' can really send you off track. I got it a few years ago on a lifetime deal and pay around £18 per year for it - not sure what the current cost is though but I've always thought it was really good value.

@thenewaveragebear1983 whoop whoop, congratulations on your 2lb loss - you're doing an awesome job 🙂

@itispersonal hope you enjoyed the lunch and dancing. The only thing that works for me losing weight is calorie counting. I do also exercise but treat this only as giving me a few more calories to eat, I don't think it contributes much to weight loss apart from that really. It does however enormously contribute to making me feel better in myself and improving the way my body looks and my clothes fit.

@CarelessWimper sorry to hear you had a long and emotional day yesterday, hope your journey home today is better. I agree that food deliveries are life savers, helping to keep the fridge stocked with healthy options. Things will look better when you're back in you're own bed and sleeping well again.

I had a couple of snackcidents again yesterday - chocolate buttons I'm looking at you for the second time this week! I was however super active with two dog walks, a 30 minute leg session and nearly 3 hours of gardening. I also stayed off the wine again although I was so tempted last night because I was weary I think. The scales have shifted again and I am now in the 4s at 10st 4.6lb which I am really happy with. Just need to try to stay there now.

Have good days all.

Sorry you had a tough day and didn't sleep well @CarelessWimper and well done for doing 12K steps

I hardly did any yesterday so then intentionally tried to get up to 10k steps and annoyingly I stopped at 9.5k as I forgot and went to bed 😂

@bigdecisionstomake Congratulations on your loss!

Morning all.

Reasonable day yesterday. Swam over 1km, so thoroughly enjoyed my ice cream later!

Gor the Great Bristol Run today. Just the 10k, not the half marathon.

Hope you all have positive, serene and enjoyable days today.

Weigh in will likely be Weds for me.

Hi everyone!

hope you don’t mind me joining in so late?

Needing some like minded people to keep me focused and on track. Started my journey last February but wasn’t brave enough to weigh until April and my weight then was 115.9kg (sorry find it easier to detach weighing in kilos) I am now 89.5 but 5 foot 8 and very broad built.

Going through a bit of a health scare at the moment so really finding it difficult to stay focused when my mind is so far from looking good in a bikini at the moment!

Does anyone have any advice for staying focused on the end goal?

Unsure of what my actual weight goal is as I have never been one for weighing myself but kind of just going on how I feel in clothes but I know as I have wide shoulders and hips I will never be lower than size 14.

Sounds like a very good day @WeMeetInFairIthilien!

You are welcome @Newbie2808 I'm sorry you're going through a health scare. Fingers crossed you come out on top soon 🤞🏼

For me motivation can go up and down but it helps I've got things on in the summer (family wedding mainly) to go for but also seeing the change in myself helps me carry on. I'm also relearning not to go for sweet treats all the time and that actually it's not that satisfying to eat a load of chocolate at once most of the time...