Last Monday I weighed 13 stone 0.8 pounds, and today I weigh 13 stone 3.0 pounds, so I've gained 2.2 pounds this week. I started off the week with a bad cold, and although I am now feeling a lot better, it meant that I didn't do much exercise this week. I also 'comfort ate' on occasions, and chose some chocolate treats which meant my daily calories were definitely above the ideal!
So I know where I've gone wrong, and I do feel disappointed in myself, but I just need to try to get back to a better routine and a more focused approach.
I am aware it's about 3 and a half weeks to go till Christmas Day, and there will be lots of extra treats around like Advent calendars, Christmas Do's, and lots of things like that, and I'm not sure how disciplined I can be.
I'm going to change my goal from trying to get into the 12's before Christmas - and I'm just going to focus on trying not to put on any more weight during this time. i.e. I am hoping to lose some weight, but I'll be more than happy if I 'maintain' it for this month. I have lost 1 stone 2 pounds over the course of this year, and hopefully I'll be able to start 2015 with just 10 pounds or less to lose to get down to my ultimate goal of 12 stone 7 pounds.
I hope to get back to regular exercise this week, as I'm feeling better now, and that should be good. I've got a couple of Christmas Do's later this week, and I have got a chocolate Advent calendar. I am going to try to choose healthy foods wherever and whenever I can, and I just hope I don't have to report any further weight gains over this challenging period of time!
Good luck to everyone with your own personal goals. I hope I don't seem like I've 'given up' - but I need to have some kind of strategy to help me through this challenging time. I don't want to miss out on the festivities this month, but at the same time I don't want to end up half a stone or more heavier. I hope I can see the 12's in the New Year! That can be my New Year's Resolution...!!!
Please join me for this Monday weigh-in - it would be great to know how you're getting on.
Lowcal
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Good Morning- Great focus LC - and well done for not losing sight of what you have achieved . More to say later - but gotta go to work now- I just wanted to touch base with you now
Hi Lowcal, it's a bummer that you've gained but at least you can see where and why it happened. This time of year trips us up in so many ways!!
I love this thread because I don't feel guilty if the plan hasn't quite worked out over the week, all the honest posts make it ok to slip a little - as I do!!
I have miraculously lost 1/2lb this week - not sure how as accidentally fell into a box of Terry's all gold dark earlier in the week I'm a bit stressed as have several graded presentations at uni this week so need to resist the urge to use chocolate and wine to get through it!
It's brilliant that you've lost half a pound this week - really well done. Especially as you survived the dip into the box of Terry's All Gold - that's impressive to have lost under such circumstances.
Good luck with all your Uni presentations this week - hope they go really well.
morning everyone, well I had lost 4.8 but put on .8 this week so 4lb in 3 weeks, I am disappointed in myself but tbh with what I ate on the weekend im surprised it is only .8, so its back to swimming on mond mornings now and back to counting cals properly , well done lowcal for getting back in the right frame of mind it is so difficult when you've been ill , so good luck everyone for this week xx
Welcome and thanks for joining us. Wow, you're doing really well - having lost 4 pounds in 3 weeks is excellent progress. Hope you enjoy your Monday morning swims and good luck with your goal to count the calories.
Thanks for your encouraging words - and here's to another good week ahead.
I wouldn't feel disheartened. This is a lifestyle change and a slight gain isn't an issue in the overall game plan. You know what caused the gain and will deal with it. I have already decided that I am not spoiling Christmas by eating sensibly. On Christmad Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day sensible eating is going out the window and I intend to eat my 6,000 Calsa (which I read somewhere is what the average adult consumes on Xmas day).
I have done ok last week and am down to 16st4lbs, which is another loss of 4lbs and well down from the 17st13lbs that I started off at on 17th October. But I have decided that I am not ruining my life through being a slave to this and Christmas and special occasions I intend to enjoy knowing full well that on ordinary days I will be sensible. It's all about making it sustainable in the longer term.
It's fantastic that you've lose 4 pounds, and your overall weight loss is really good - really well done. You were nearly 18 stone back in October, and now you're getting closer to 16 stone. Really great.
Glad you've decided to enjoy Christmas and wow - that's a lot of calories that the average adult consumes on Xmas day! I think I don't usually track the calories on that day, but maybe I will this year, just to see how many I have.
Many thanks for your encouragement, and I am feeling 'more relaxed' now that I've taken the pressure off myself for this month - but at the same time I am also feeling positive that I hope to maintain a healthy routine and that maybe I'll still lose some weight - so I think that's quite a positive frame of mind to start the week off with.
I'm looking forward to getting back to regular exercise, as I have missed it.
Hi Lowcal shame you put on a couple of pounds but as others say at least you are aware of what went wrong. I think your change of target is very wise - it is so important that we know ourselves, and what we are likely to be able to achieve otherwise we are setting unrealistic goals and might give up when we don't achive them. I lost 1lb this week - which surprised me because I was not very well and didn't exercise so much - but I also didn't feel like eating so much so it balanced out. So I am still on track to get to 12st 3lbs by Christmas. I will then attempt to just maintain over the 2 week festive period before setting off on the next phase towards my target of 11st. I have lost 1st 8lbs in total since starting the NHS programme in June - around 1lb every week. It has felt agonisingly slow sometimes, but at least I have been able to keep going, which is all that matters in the end. Good luck this week everybody - it is getting much tougher out there with tasty treats everywhere and long dark days!
Really well done on losing 1 pound this week - that's really great. Sorry to hear you weren't feeling very well yourself last week, and hope you're feeling better now. Your weight loss has been very consistent and a good amount to lose per week - you get there in the end, and it's more sustainable to lose gradually, and more of a lifestyle that you can continue.
You have a great plan to survive the Christmas period, and that should help you through it, so you can enjoy it and look towards achieving your goals for 2015.
Those long dark days and tasty treats won't beat us!
Have a great week ahead. Thanks also for your encouraging words - much appreciated!
I think setting a goal of maintaining weight is very sensible for this time of year, there's just too much going on to be focussing on calorie counting and trying to fit exercise in. If comfort eating is what it took to get you through your cold then so be it, it's more important to be healthy then be ill and thinking about weightloss/gain. This way it also gives you an achievable new years resolution
I started last Monday at 14st 10lbs and now weigh 14st 8lbs, for all i'm happy with the loss it's been a mixed week. I decided that now i'm feeling fitter that I needed something a bit more challenging than walking, so I have taken up running. I made a stupid mistake and on Wednesday morning I just got up and ran, I did a 5 minute warm up walk then just ran as far as I could, needless to say it wasn't very far and the following day my thighs were in agony. Wednesday night common sense kicked in and I downloaded the C25K podcasts and on Friday and Saturday I did week 1 and felt fine. This morning I intended to do another week 1 run but couldn't drag myself out of bed as my downstairs neighbours had been very noisy through the night and woken me 3 times. Here's hoping they sleep tonight and let me do the same so tomorrow I can get back out.
Wishing every one a good week, or at the least a maintaining week
Firstly, really well done for losing 2 pounds this week - that's so great. Thanks also for your kind words - I am thankful to get that bad cold out of the way, as I'm hoping I won't have one for the remainder of the season. There are so many bad colds out there at the moment!
So sorry to hear your downstairs neighbour was so noisy last night - having your sleep broken several times is like a form of torture! I'm not surprised that you couldn't get out for your run this morning. I really hope you get a better night's sleep tonight.
It's fantastic to hear that you've started running - I think that's going to really help you to further increase your fitness levels, and it sounds like it's going really well so far - especially now you are using a graduated approach - those podcasts sound really good. Enjoy those runs, and good luck with getting some good sleep tonight!
Head up Lowcal,a very sensible post it's about re-grouping and planning I am sure you will meet your goal, my hellish December starts with a lunch out today- I am mrs smug this morning have rounded down10 6 and7/8 to 10st .7 lbs pleased as punch with that, not sure it was due to dry november
Thanks for posting that link to last year's post - it has definitely helped to read that! This year we are not putting any chocolate treats on the Christmas tree! They were far too tempting last year.
Congratulations to you on your weight loss this week - that's really great. Hope you enjoy your lunch today, and that you have a great week ahead.
Nor decline! take your eye off the ball I bet you would have gained weight this year Well done on maintaining around our age people seem to be gaining, not us!
I'm starting today. I weigh 11.7, I am only 5.2 so need to lose 3 stone according to the weight checker on the NHS site; although I would be happy losing 2 stone - and keeping it off. I have lost just over a stone since last Jan. I have tried every diet and I lose weight but then put it back on. Since Sept I am eating more healthily; before it was not eating much in the day and then having loads of chocolate in the evening. I enjoy exercise and usually do some every day although I have not done any for the last few weeks due to work commitments.
I am feeling positive but not sure what I am supposed to be eating. I have not had any breakfast yet for this reason. I usually have cereal, semi-skimmed milk with blueberries added and orange juice so I think I will still have this until I sort out what I can eat. It is the evening that I have a problem with. I never fancy fruit in the evening, even though I enjoy it during the day. I have tried not eating after dinner but end up having chocolate as I have not planned a snack. Any suggestions on healthy snacks?
A very warm welcome to you, and thanks for joining us for today's weigh-in. Firstly, congratulations for losing just over a stone since last January - that is really great. It sounds like you've been eating more healthily since September, and it's great that you are enjoying exercise as well. I know you mentioned that work commitments have stopped you exercising for the last few weeks, so I hope you're able to get back to it soon, so you can start enjoying the benefits again.
Your cereal breakfast sounds really tasty and blueberries are a healthy addition - full of anti-oxidants. I had porridge with soya milk this morning, which was tasty and always fills me up till lunchtime. I put 10g of cereal topper (from the Coop) on top (it's a few chopped up nuts and seeds and cranberries, and is very tasty).
You can find some suggestions for healthy meals in the NHS website pages - there's a 12 week structured plan there if you want to take a look. I use a free app called 'Myfitnesspal' to ensure that I keep track on all the calories I consume - I log all my food and drink intake daily, and it's really good at helping me to keep on track - or to recognise when I've overeaten etc and try to get back on track.
You asked about healthy snacks - maybe you could chop up some crudites - carrot, celery, cucumber and make a low-calorie dip, or a small amount of hummus? Or maybe have a rice cracker, or a plain yoghurt with blueberries stirred in - or a few nuts (maybe 4 almonds and a couple of brazil nuts) - nuts are calorific but they do contain good nutrition and are satisfying. I wouldn't class any type of food as an enemy, but I do like to choose foods that are more natural - i.e. more along the Mediterranean diet - fresh fish, chicken, pulses and grains, lots of fresh vegetables and some fruit. I also love to cook with olive oil, as I think it's a heart healthy oil.
I allow myself a piece of chocolate each evening with a cup of coffee, and I always enjoy that. However, now that it's December and I have my chocolate Advent calendar, I'll be substituting that chocolate for my Advent treat!
If you do happen to look at the link that Prin put up for what happened last year in early December, I had eaten 10 Christmas treats from the Christmas tree on the Saturday, so I was definitely over-indulging. My habits are better this year so far, but I know how tempting this time of year is, so it's a constant 'reigning in' that I need to do personally on myself...!
Best of luck with this week, and hope you have a great week.
There will be ups and downs in the weight loss journey. As you say, maintaining one's weight during holiday season is itself a great achievement. So, that's a good goal to have.
I lost 2lbs last week. Now, I'm in the 4th week of the program and have lost 7lbs in the first 3 weeks. I'm also doing C25K and that's progressing well too. I have another 46lbs to lose.
Many thanks for your encouraging words. I really appreciate it.
Congratulations to you for losing 2 pounds last week - and it's great to hear you've lost 7 pounds in your first 3 weeks - that's really great! You're on your way and making great progress. Hope you're enjoying the C25K - that sounds like really great exercise. Very inspiring.
Really glad you joined us for today's weigh-in, and hope you have a great week ahead.
Hi lowcal, sorry to hear about your gain, but a very sensible goal for the christmas season! I've managed to lose 3 pounds this week taking me to 11 stone 2. This means I am no longer overweight as it is the very top of the ideal weight range for my 5foot6 height! I am very happy with this as you may imagine, though want to lose a bit more to get down to a size 12. I'm hoping to be there or thereabouts by christmas so that I can relax, especially as we are at my in-laws and so will be guesstimating portions alot of the time. I hope everyone has a good week this week!
I am so happy to hear you've lost 3 pounds and that you're no longer in the 'overweight' category of the BMI. Brilliant news! Really pleased for you.
Hopefully you'll be a size 12 by Christmas - hope you'll get a few size 12 presents to enjoy!
Hopefully you can get some idea of portions before you stay with your in-laws, so that you can have some sense of control whilst you're there. It's difficult to say 'no' when people offer you extras though - but hopefully they'll be on board in supporting you with your weight-loss goals.
Wishing you another great week ahead.
Lowcal
Hi sorry to hear you put weight on. I lost last week. Weighed in yesterday as I am at my daughters now for the week. Hoping to keep to diet as best I can. However baby is due soon so it may be a case of whatever for the next 2 weeks.
Hi, I'm just starting today, I'm 57, I've been aware for a couple of months that I'm putting on the weight, too many bowls of cereals, toast, and chocolate bars! I'm quite active, with work and my hobby of running, but it's not enough, I need to start eating healthily, and lose around a stone, I'm now 11 stone, which is a lot more than this time last year. So I'll join you for the December challenge, and see what I can do before my target event of a half marathon in February 2015. I am hoping to beat my previous best time of 2 hours 10 mins.
A very warm welcome to you, and thanks for joining us for today's Monday weigh-in. It's great that you've decided to commit to a focused goal, and with your love of running I'm sure that the healthy eating will help you a lot. Great that you've got the challenge of a half Marathon to work towards in February.
Have you seen the NHS website pages for the 12 week structured plan? It has some good advice.
Wishing you a great first week, and will hope to catch up with you next week for another weigh-in.
Thank you, Lowcal, I've printed off the 12 week Losing Weight plan, and I'm determined that I'm going to be on the half marathon starting line at least half a stone lighter!
So LC - good to calibrate and take the sensible approach.
I am interested in the whole calorie consumption thing over the festive season - I really feel the need persevere with the weight loss plan in December and not go mad on those 'special' days. I would be gutted to simply plonk weight back on for a a bit of carelessness. But I will enjoy myself:-). Anyway - history tells me I am actually not very disciplined.
So I have lost half a pound this week. Overall progress in November is 3.5 pounds - I will remain satisfied with that slow progress. And keep at it as much as I can in december. After a 'busy' weekend back on the wagon this week. So hoping to be to be even closer to 12 stone next week.
Great to see you again after your brief pop in this morning. Hope you've had a good day.
Congratulations on losing half a pound this week - that's really great. You mentioned you've lost 3.5 pounds in November, that's a very respectable weight loss. Really well done. Hopefully you'll be closer to 12 stone next week.
Thank you Olsbean and Lowcal for helping me out. I am having so much trouble with the internet connection, hence I hardly post these days.
It would be great if you could just go with maintenance until after Xmas as it is so difficult.
I actually lost 2 lb this week and now 5lb off 5 stone lost. I can now wear my Desigual belt Prin and one of the blouses, the others are in storage as summer wear!
Still so unsettled here as playing carer to elderly parents but until I can source a decent care home it looks like I'm stuck here with the folks for a while longer. I am longing to take up exercise again but time is against me and this time of the year has other priorities.
So great to see you here - I was worried you weren't going to manage to get back online - also really great that you've lost 2 pounds this week, that's amazing. Wow, you're getting closer to losing a massive 5 stone - that is inspiring! Great that you're enjoying wearing your Desigual belt, and one of your blouses too.
Sounds like you've got a lot on your plate at the moment (excuse the pun, none intended!) - and hope you can source a decent care home soon. Maybe there are some exercises you can do in your household? Or you can get out for a walk sometimes? I hope you have a good week, and really glad you made it here to share your success.
Thank you suzybenj, as we all know it's not easy but no matter what, I am as still determined as much as I was in June when I started out at 18st 4 and a half pounds! Congratulations to you too. X
Hi all. My first time posting though I've been on the forum a couple years and I've been steadily (very) losing weight all year... Calorie counting didn't work very well for me. Using MFP I was consuming 1400. Cals a day and running for 30 minutes every other day - I lost half a stone in 12 weeks. I've got a long way to go and need to see results to keep motivated. Same with SW, one week I'd lose a little, next week I'd gain despite not cheating at all. I had a success over the summer with 5:2, it took my weightloss to 1.5 stone for the year. I wanted a realistic 2 stones this year so thought I'd got 7lb to go but I weighed in for this thread and started my diet again yesterday and I'm 87kg (13 s 10lb) so I've gained 3lb. It's time to get moving again. 10lb in 4 weeks? Anyone think it's achievable when you lose weight very slowly? I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone
Welcome to you, and thanks for joining us for this weigh-in, and contributing your first post in 2 years - it's great to hear you've been steadily losing weight all year - that's a healthy way to lose weight.
You mentioned that you've re-started your diet yesterday, and that you've recently gained 3 pounds - hopefully that will come off again quite quickly, once you're back into healthy eating. You suggested that you'd like to lose 10 pounds in 4 weeks - I think that would be possible, but actually quite challenging, because healthy weight loss is usually not more than 2.2 pound per week, and I think it's relatively rare to achieve that amount (speaking from personal experience - sometimes I only lose half a pound or gain it ).
I guess it depends on how you feel about December and all the seasonal stuff of Christmas and how that is likely to impact on you - I've decided to try to maintain my weight for this period of time, but I am still trying to stick to healthy eating and exercise so I do still hope to be losing weight if I can. But I'm not putting too much pressure on myself, because I don't want to sabotage my goals. I hope that makes sense.
Anyway, I'd like to wish you lots of success with your weight loss goals - and hope you are closer to your goal by the end of 4 weeks, and maybe you will have achieved it. Good luck. We are here every Monday, and there are regular Monday weighers who join in and they're all a very supportive and friendly group. Some people join in occasionally, and new people pop by too - and it's great to see everyone.
Sorry to be so late in joining the party this week - I did weigh in Monday morning but have been so busy that I now find myself at Wednesday and the first time I've been able to even think about logging in and catching up. Sorry to hear about your gain but you've got such a sensible approach to it all that you'll be fine I'm sure. When you're unwell it's definitely more difficult also - I've had the lurgy this week and have definitely indulged in some naughty but nice treats to help make me feel better. I've also had my first Christmas do which left me dreadfully hungover and completely useless for a whole day! Felt so rubbish that have resolved that I'm going to be the designated driver for my remaining Christmas parties as I can't cope with hangovers anymore and I certainly can't afford to lose a whole day feeling like I'm going to die!
Forgot to say at beginning - I had a gain of 1lb which amazingly still keeps me in the 11's (just) at 11 stone 13.5 pounds. Considering my week I can't complain about a gain.
I really would like to stay in the 11's over the festive season and start the new year still in the 11's so am going to try to lose a bit in the next couple of weeks so I've a few pounds to 'play' with over Christmas week. I deliberately did not get myself an Advent Calendar this year but my dog has a special 'doggy treat' one so I can open the windows for her instead!
LC - It doesn't seem like you've given up at all - you've done the sensible thing of being realistic (which we should all try to be really over the silly season) and put strategies in place to try to help you. I wish you continued improved health over this week and best of luck in sticking to your plans and maintaining this week. Hope you have a good one!
Thanks so much for your very encouraging words - I appreciate them very much! Glad you survived your first Christmas Do - and sounds like you've got a good plan for the remaining ones. At least you only put on 1 pound, and at least you remain in the 11's, which is fantastic!!! You've set yourself realistic goals for the festive season, and that is definitely the way to go.
Sorry to hear you've also had the lurgy, and hope you are feeling much better again very soon. There are so many colds and coughs around at the moment.
I am feeling a lot better now, and I've been trying to do some exercise every day - I've not been to the gym, but I have done some walks, which have been bracing! But also enjoyable.
Sorry been out so haven't got around to logging in until now.
Sounds as though you have got things covered for the next few weeks - Good idea to reassess goals to make them manageable, keeping overall control! This time of year is hard going isn't it? I had a 0.5lb loss this last week (a little disappointed, thought it would be more. Could be linked to time of the month, feeling a bit mopey) so now 12st 7lb. So far this week I am not doing very well. A Christmas meal on Monday - hubby had already chosen my menu - as I had not chosen it I thought it was going to be easy to be sensible and not eat everything on the plate but the food was SO SO good everything went out the window. V little exercise so far also. Feel like I am struggling a bit this week, eating the surplus from advent choc treats I bought for my daughter, feel I want to eat eat eat! So, we'll see what happens on Monday.... Hopefully writing this will help.
Great to see you! I think you've done really well to lose 0.5 pound this week - so try not to be too disappointed - it is especially difficult around the time of the month in anycase. Also, you had that Christmas meal this week - and I know how tempting it is to eat on those occasions, and really you should enjoy the occasion. Sounds like the food was delicious.
I can so relate to your tendency to eat the surplus chocs from your daughter's advent calendar - in previous years I've actually opened presents that I'd wrapped for other people, and I've eaten the contents and then replaced the gift at a later stage! I didn't feel good about that! Thankfully I haven't done that so far this year...! (Not yet anyway...).
I'm sure the fact you've written about your struggles this week will help. It will hopefully keep you in mind of your goals. Don't put too much pressure on yourself - I found that reassessing my goals has made me feel 'more relaxed' but I've still managed to focus on my ultimate goals at the same time - I just feel like I'm putting less pressure on myself, and that's helpful.
I'm hoping to make some homemade soups when I get a chance, so that I can have some ready-made for lunches.
Wishing you a good week - there are still a few days before the Monday weigh-in, so let's keep focused and we'll hopefully be ok!
Thank you Lowcal - you're so supportive, I really appreciate your kind words and advice. I liked what you said about whilst you've re-assessed goals you still able to keep your ultimate goal in mind, I suppose that's the most important thing isn't it? You'll get there, you know you will. You've already lost so much, your dedication and determination is admirable.
You know, in the past, I too have been guilty of buying a choccie gift for someone then, er, 'changing my mind' during a weak moment! I am going to make sure I always have a large supply of clementines this year for those times.
I have 3 magnum-type ice creams in the freezer that 'talk to me' (yes, they can talk!!!) every day but so far I have ignored them - keeping focussed, following advice! I'll try and remember to let you know if there are still 3 in the freezer by next Mon weigh-in. Hmmm soup sounds good, and perfect for these chilly times. Got a mountain of veg in so no excuse really, I should make some too. I know I really enjoyed it when I made a huge batch a few weeks ago. Good luck to you and here's to soup-making! Yay!
Just to say I've made the soup - a batch of mushroom soup and a batch of carrot and coriander - I can freeze some of that, so that I have a ready supply for when I need it! I didn't even think I 'liked' mushroom soup, but actually it's tasty, so I'm hoping to have some for lunch today.
Good luck with your week - and with the soup making too.
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I'm a bit stressed as have several graded presentations at uni this week so need to resist the urge to use chocolate and wine to get through it!
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CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN CHALLENGE - Week 1
