Keeping my weightless accountable

[Excellentboiledpotato]

I have been reading weight loss threads and have missed the boat to join at the start with others losing weight, so am starting another one in an attempt to keep myself accountable in losing weight.

I am 5ft7 and perimenopausal. On HRT and have been eating my way steadily to obesity. According to last check in with GP i was obese and I want not to be.

I started last weekend and have lost a little bit of weight, just need to keep going and not lose the run of myself

SW 90kg
CW 87.5kg
GW ? 80kg for now

I walk the dog 3x a day, row for 20 minutes 3x a week and have just started a weekly team sport. I want to fit in a run or an exercise class at some point each week but will leave that until my knees feel better.

Currently aiming for around 1600-1700 calories a day. If I go too low I lose the plot and attack the biscuits.

Here i go.

Missed what you said @Chooseasport - deleted so can only assume it was either not helpful or rude. Cheers.

Hi. How much exercise were you doing previously?

Walking the dog 3x a day plus the 3x a week rowing has been going on for a couple of years. Occasional running, I go through phases but currently in an off phase.

I know I should be doing some firm of weight training but I can't fit that in right now.

I am cutting out sugar - my snacking was out of control. Sorting out my diet is a priority.

SW 90kg
CW 86.8kg
GW ? 80kg for now

I walked quite a bit yesterday, stayed around 1650 calories. I did have some chocolate and it was most disappointing. At least now I know I do not like the M&S bubbly chocolate santa.

I have an HRT review and need to update the GP with weight and blood pressure, which has always made me immediately eat 5 biscuits and raises my blood pressure. What a measured response. This time i will not do that.

DH has just announced he wants to do the morning dog walk (at 6.30am for some reason, the dog will be shocked) which somewhat scuppers the 3x walks a day but it would free me up to do an early exercise class and possibly a run or longer rowing sessions.

Aim: commit to exercise class.

SW 90kg
CW 86.5kg
GW ? 80kg for now

I was out at my team sport yesterday, walked dog x3. I ate late and realised I was at 1400 calories for the day and hungry so had a pain au chocolate (Aldi, not glamorous) to take me to 1600 calories.

I've read various things suggesting eating below BMR is not good and instead should be eating below TDEE. And that due to the joy of perimenopause hormonal mayhem, aim for around 200-300 calorie deficit rather than bigger deficit of 500+.

A swift calculation shows my BMR to br 1547 and TDEE 1857 (sedentary) and 2164 (light exercise).

I am losing weight, it isn't a horror show (so far). I can do this approach on a sustained basis. The issues I have are with sugar and badly judging how much a portion of crisps or peanut butter is.

Anyway. Onwards.

SW 90kg
CW 86kg
GW ? 80kg for now

I think this is the lightest I have been in about 4 years. Hooray for me.

Need to remember that I don't actually need to eat biscuits when making a cup of coffee and also when sitting down to drink that cup of coffee. And that I don't need to have a bar of chocolate on me at all times "just for me" because I wasn't eating then out of hunger, it was habit and a bit of greed.

Will read this in later months to remind myself of that when it is christmas time...

Jeans feeling less snug now. Even more hooray me. I am wearing size 14 jeans and trousers (most of my weight gathers on my upper half although fat and bloating on stomach increasing some of it is mad hormones)

You sound like you’re taking a really reasonable and thoughtful approach. It’s a marathon vs a sprint. Good on you! 🎉

Oh, cheers @AbzMoz ! I'm just trying to be realistic rather than my usual overly-enthusiastic

SW 90kg
CW 87kg
GW ? 80kg for now

I had a takeaway last night, so that accounts for the gain (it happens every week. I am not giving up the takeaway)

Realisation: I started hovering around the kitchen cupboards trying to think about snacks and realised the only difference between week days and weekends is that I don't work at weekends (I mean, state the obvious, Potato). So why am I suddenly thinking I need to fill a bit of time with snacking? I just need to eat the same pattern of no snacking, I don't miss snacking Mon-Fri so it isn't hard to just not snack at the weekend.

Today I am cleaning, DH is ferrying kids around their matches. Will walk dog x3 again.

No snacking! Maybe I can do one of those hobbies i always complain i have no time for instead of hunting down biscuits...

Ive just got below 100kg today! I don’t have a target weight per se, but I’d like to be a 12/14, and have more energy.

I am a sucker for takeaway too but often find that if I do Indian or Chinese I’d like to have more veg than they serve so make a bit at home to mix into the sauce and have two meals and a bit more balance. Have been gardening today (lawn, hacking at the stupid bush I hate anyway and brambles so quite tough going) and will probably take myself off for a longish walk later (I usually do 2-3 miles a day, and 8-12 miles twice a week).

I also eat when I’m bored - I find having chopped up crudités (carrot, celery, radish) good to go in the fridge helpful. Have also found that having posh biscuits or chocolates means I’ll only have 1 rather than scoffing an entire Cadbury.

Good work @AbzMoz !
Also awesome gardening- i haven't the patience to properly garden and just hack at things twice a year and hope for the best.

I've tried having ready to eat healthy snacks in the fridge or cupboards but over time I sneak in extras or sub for unhealthier options. The best thing I can do is break the habit entirely. That's my lack of control though.

Good luck for the week, sounds like you've got a good plan too 👍

SW 90kg
CW 87kg
GW ? 80kg for now

Still on 87kg, have realised that running out of milled flaxseed (normally goes on morning yoghurt) has resulted in some... stoppages which has become... burdensome. Must buy more asap.

Did a 20 minute row and 1x dog walk done so far.

SW 90kg
CW 86.8kg
GW ? 80kg for now

Bought milled flaxseed, have started eating it again from this morning.

I have reached the point I normally say "oh, I've lost a couple of kilos, well done me. I won't count calories anymore and sure, one biscuit or three with my coffee won't hurt". And so the couple of kilos goes back on.

But not this time.

Have sent off a message asking questions about the exercise class. One step done!

Could I join @Excellentboiledpotato would love the bit of motivation

@Ella31 of course!

Happy to share motivation 😀

So you’ve lost 3.2kg in about 10 days??? That’s pretty extraordinary!

@Edenmum2 yes. But please understand, I i was hoofing in a HUGE amount of food before. Sugar in particular. I don't expect to continue at this rate. I always become complacent at this point and assume I am a super human weight loss machine who can lose weight whilst restarting in the biscuits and big portions. Delusion, thy name is Potato.

Even so, why the surprise? Do you not believe me? Not that it matters to be honest.

No I’m saying so in admiration! I’ve been going about 2 weeks and have lost maybe 1.5kg

Ah, ok! Apologies, I've had a (now deleted) mean response so feeling a little overly defensive.

All I can say is I was really hoofing into the food. I enjoy carbs and sugar but they are not my friends. So cutting them right down has automatically reduced my calorie intake by an amount of calories a medium sized dog would need each day to survive.

I am an emotional eater too. So not having the option to shove a third of a loaf of bread (cranberry and nut from tesco my favourite choice) is meaning I have to sit through the emotions and let that trigger pass. (Reminder to future Potato: let it go, this too shall pass, ease off on the breads)

1.5kg in 2 weeks is good going too! I know everyone loses weight differently. I think i lose the first bit easily then take it too easy and gain again...

Well you must be doing something right! I’m sure you’re seeing the difference in your body too which is always what keeps my momentum up

Can I join? I started yesterday at 203lbs. I’m down 3lbs today just from eating less volume I think! Really struggling today. My first goal is 191lbs as that will take me from ‘obese’ to ‘overweight’.

Hello @fairsintown and welcome. 3lbs down is brilliant, well done.

I have tried to set a realistic first goal, best approach I can find is to take it bit by bit. I am no expert, just hopeful that I will stick with it.

SW 90kg
CW 86kg
GW ? 80kg for now

Back down to 86kg, and second 20 minute row of the week done. I woke up a bit late, was tired and considered just not doing it. But then told myself it is only 20 minutes. I feel better afterwards. So I did it. Hooray me.

My tight jeans are feeling a bit less snug.

I am going out for brunch on friday and have a day out with my oldest friends on saturday so fully expecting my weight to increase after that. But as someone has said, marathon not Sprint.

Also did my annual HRT review yesterday. Desperately hoping they don't take my HRT away due to being obese (although technically now just inside the overweight category) but am now 5kg lighter than when GP last weighed me (whilst STILL WEARING MY JEANS ffs) so hopefully ok.

Biggest thing to work on now is sleep. All ready to go to bed last night until I got caught up watching a WW2 film on BBC. I had no interest, no idea what was going on but got trapped in it. Fell asleep around 1am. Need more sleep.

How are you getting on today @Ella31 and @fairsintown ?