Would any other slow losers like a half a pound a week solidarity thread?

[thenewaveragebear1983]

I am such a sloooooooow loser and peri menopause has pretty much killed it off. If I am left to my own devices I naturally eat exactly my maintenance calories, and to undercut by 500 a day feels like such a hardship. I exercise regularly, get my steps, cook from scratch and it’s not enough any more.

please don’t suggest weight loss meds. I’m not eligible and I couldn’t afford them anyway.

my strategy is 1500 cals a day, good quality food with as little UPF and sugar as possible, increase veg intake, get an extra walk in after dinner, and reduce my alcohol intake. It’s all very simple stuff really. A half pound a week will add up to 21lbs by the time I go on holiday next summer 👙

anyone else feel the same?

It's so hard when your body is desperately craving all the food, and all the crap.

Boring usual day here, just over 1500kcal - exercise wise managed a 40 min weights workout & delighted to deadlift 55kg and overhead press 30kg, strongest I've been for ages. Thinking of investing in more home gym equipment as I'm at the max of what I can do safely without a smith machine or bumper plates. And I don't want to go to a gym.

15k steps & a very slow 10k on Zwift. Legs felt truly dead by the time I got on the bike.

Might give up weighing myself for a while, it's depressing when it goes up!

I think my workout leggings are looser but could just be in my mind.

Anyone have tips on glute building? I've seen some progress in my arms, shoulders, core, quads, calves and hamstrings but arse is flat as a pancake. Despite many weighted glute bridges and single leg work.

Mine is definitely not flat but every rowing stroke is essentially a deadlift. Hip thrusts seem to be all the rage at the moment.
Remember that, as women it takes significant time for us to build muscle, and if in a caloric deficit, even harder to do so. Lift and keep lifting

@TakeTheDog I am not an expert at all but I like a resistance band for glutes and do a sort of progression of moves with the band on. I think there are actually 3 different gluteus muscles and you need to work them all to get the 🍑 look 🤣
the bit I would like to work/ tone/ slim down is the side of my hips (we’d have called them saddlebags previously which is horrible but accurate), I reckon I carry half a stone of pure fat there and I’d look so much slimmer overall if they were magically gone.

Thursday, how did this happen? Although the days feel long the weeks thunder past. And payday tomorrow although I did a no spend September so other than 3 things on vinted I have hardly spent anything, definitely going to do that in October too.

today I am going to go for a run at lunchtime although my legs are tired as I did a workout yesterday. Walk doggo maybe twice. Food will be my usual of protein yogurt and chia and fruit, lunch of soup Ryvita and cheese, my protein snack and evening meal of pork steak with mash and veg 😋

I’m actually really pleased with myself this week, it’s a very long time since I have had a true week on plan (ok it’s only 3 days so far but…..) and actually am confident that I have actually tracked everything and stayed within calories. That’s a big step for me.,

I don’t really count calories as I haven’t got the motivation for it! I’m currently losing about a quarter of a pound a week, or a pound per month. Although I’ve lost hardly anything in the last month. I’m headed towards the top end of healthy BMI currently.

@OpheliaNightingale I have to count calories because my appetite is huge, I would naturally eat way more than I need even for maintenance never mind a loss. I am always a bit envious of the intuitive eaters because I know I couldn’t do it and get a loss, I would gain. A lot.

I've got some bands, I'll dig them out.

Weighed this morning and I'm back down those pesky 2 lbs, so the same now as last week!

I did measure my waist and it's definitely half inch smaller - huge win. Tried on some previously too-tight trousers and they fit better. Not there yet though.

Breakfast - eggs on sourdough
Lunch - homemade miso lentils with roasted veg, an apple
Dinner - homemade chicken & veg curry with sweet potato
Snack - greek yoghurt & kefir with cacao & blueberries

1430kcal

Exercise - 5k jog, 1 hr walk, lots of gardening & 15km Zwift.

Knackered.

Same.

I could easily out-eat my husband who is 2.5 stone heavier.

My 'full' switch does not kick in! I noticed even as a kid that I could eat more than others.

I don't have a 'that's too sweet' button either - you know when you have a sweet, rich pudding and you say 'oh I couldn't eat much of that!'

Well I can. All of it.

Me too @TakeTheDog, I actually think I don’t taste sugar like other people do , I have no ‘too sweet’ and no off switch. I also really quite like the feeling of being stuffed with food. Oh to be a little sparrow sized portion eater who finds even fruit too sweet

I carried out an inadvertent experiment today, as I did not eat my 2pm high protein snack and Wowzers I have been an uncontrollable sugar fiend this afternoon! So while that’s anecdotal only, I definitely think there is something in it and I am definitely going back to it tomorrow.

I have been trying to make sure I get some protein if I feel snacky too @thenewaveragebear1983
Definitely something it it

I have done another 10k row, faffed around at home and then been to coach at the club, which is cycling up and down the bank not looking in front of me which is always potentially disastrous but one of my squad had such a brilliant ahha everything is starting to work sessions and another who has a lot going on elsewhere in life was able to be present and enjoy the session, so a really enjoyable evening in that respect.
I put wine in fridge before I went to coach but really didn't fancy it when getting home so that's a win. I know even a small alcoholic drink messes my sleep up and generally makes all the metrics on my Garmin go haywire so it's probably not worth it very much.
Tomorrow is work at clients' garden, fit in another weights session then start trying to reduce the long list of plants into a manageable list to design from for the next job. I will try to make sure I include some protein at breakfast and salad in lunch. That's as far as I am really able to commit

I made some scotch eggs in prep for my protein snack tomorrow, plus slow cooker chicken soup which has made my kitchen smell amazing. We are eating at Nando’s tomorrow as it’s Ds’s party so we are going bowling then food with some of his friends

I know even a small alcoholic drink messes my sleep up and generally makes all the metrics on my Garmin go haywire so it's probably not worth it very much. Same here - It’s so depressing that even a glass can cause so much damage the next day.

Sounds like everyone is doing really well and so organised and prepared food wise each day. Well done on the weight loss @TakeTheDog, so motivating to see those numbers come down.

I’ve had a difficult week, mainly due to having such disturbed nights - I’m not sure what’s going on with me at the moment sleep wise? I’ve always felt quite lucky that I’ve slept well, but not this week and it’s absolutely wrecking my healthy eating.

I would be better to increase the volume of my meals when I’m like this, instead of then going mad on the sweet stuff, but it never seems to work out that way, as its the high calories sugar and fat that I crave, but I’m trying not to dwell on it and just start anew each day - I’m just glad I don’t weigh myself daily!

Well, I’d been going really well, then we had a super busy evening last night and ended up with fish and chips. I didn’t even want it!

however, on the flip side, I didn’t eat loads of it, and I’d had a salad for lunch. I’ve been pretty sensible all week, have run three times (and last night at running club I went with the faster group for the first time in ages!) and I don’t even want to snack or drink alcohol at the moment - this is great for me and I need to lean into it. No weight loss yet but hoping to see something next week if I can carry on.

So, in other words, you're fitting changed habits into every day life with the ability to flex and move on.
I'd say that's doing super well!

That’s a good way to frame it!

I agree @Swearwolf, you’re doing well!

I didn’t have a brilliant day, I ate all my proper meals and my protein snack but I also had a big cookie and we’re at Nando’s tonight.

I have a dilemma and it’s playing on my mind. in short, I started a new job after being made redundant just under 6 months ago and there is a different role in my team come up (same level) that is just so much more ‘me’ as in it’s my perfect on paper skill set. I’ve found my current new role really challenging and I am really really tempted to apply for this new one, but I just keep overthinking it that it’s too soon and if I don’t get the new one will my existing team just think I’m totally flaky / a flight risk?? The only way to stop the constant overthinking has been to occupy my brain with food 🤣

Better than with alcohol @thenewaveragebear1983!

That’s a tough one… I see your reasons for not applying but how will you feel if you don’t, will you forever regret it? I can see I’m not much help here 😄, but hope you enjoy your meal and just start again tomorrow!

I’ve had a better day, in part because I ate so much yesterday, but here’s hoping to sleeping well tonight and out for a run early.

Apply. What's the worst that happens: you don't get it and just say 'suited my skills but somebody else suited it even better '

Happiness at work is such an important part of life

In other news, DH is dropping weight by..... Just eating less chocolate. This enrages me as I train more, need to lose more but am still struggling with it

@thenewaveragebear1983could you ask to have a chat with the hiring manager and kind of feel it out?

@Swearwolf I did have a chat to her, and the guy who used to do the job, really hoping I would come away thinking no it’s not for me… but actually it helped me confirm that I think deep down I do want to apply. I am just wracked with angst that it lets my team down which is crazy really. I am going to speak to my line manager next week and then apply, the deadline is 5th October so I can apply next week.

in diet news, Nando’s was nice but it’s not diet friendly but i didn’t drink and didn’t have dessert. Tomorrow I will be fresh and not hungover and ready to get back on track

Go for it!

@thenewaveragebear1983 you should do it!

Go for the jon @thenewaveragebear1983 in twenty years you won’t remember your colleagues but you may remember how happy you were in your new job.

Im struggling. Friday nights are my evil nights. It’s like I don’t know how to relax without food and I live for my Friday treat. Then I think fuck it, I’ve eaten one curly wurly, what’s 3 more plus a chunk of cheese. Not feeling great this morning.

How do I get out of this Mon-Friday mindset of being so healthy and then spending the seeming failing and beating myself up. I do think there might be something to be said for a protein snack in the afternoon.

yes, I am going to do it. Life is too short. It will be difficult because in the high likelihood that I am unsuccessful I will need to stay in my current role, which i do actually enjoy so it’s win/win for me, except that I don’t want them to think I am flaky. I will polish up my cv this weekend.

@WhitegreeNcandleon the protein snack, I am genuinely surprised at how much difference it makes. The one day I didn’t have it, I went wild in the afternoon. I plan it into my calories and prep it in advance (so just some cooked chicken, or a protein yoghurt on the day I went to the office). Maybe try it for the week? Honestly I found it a game changer.

this weekend- I’m going to workout today and go for a walk, need to pop into town to get some bits for dh’s birthday next week. (2 in our house back to back next week). Both sets of parents visiting, his today mine tomorrow. Need to make a birthday cake although ds is going to make his. Tomorrow I would like a run although I am still prioritising strength over running so I will see how I feel. I have a few jobs I want to get done and it’s set to be such a lovely weekend I want to make the best of that as well.