Moderate March

I know; I just started cleaning the kitchen today [which is disgusting]. Then, earlier today I tripped up in the living room and was lucky not to do some real damage; caught my face on a chair and twisted my knee; sat with ice on my face for a while and took some ibupfofen; lathered voltarol everywhere!. I'm still not eating really badly but haven't stopped eating bread [which I need to do]. Don't think the weight is creeping up too badly, though....

Just re-read your post Grandmama and that’s quite impressive. Keep it up.

Tegan come on girl, get motivated. Your SO is away with the dog. Get back on the wagon, tomorrow.

Good on you Grandmama and Tegan you’re for the naughty step.

I did what I said I’d do. Two ‘perfect’ (for me) days.

Yesterday I planned
late breakfast (11.00am) : 1 1/2 slices of buttered toast, poached egg yolk and 1 piece of bacon. Fresh ground coffee and cream
Lunch: Cheese salad (no tomatoes I’m cutting them out as part of elimination diet) and 2 homemade lemon biscuits with a cup of tea.
Dinner : mushroom omelette with sweet potato chips.
Glass of red wine

Stuck it out OK. Exercised Sunday and walked the dog. Saturday’s exercise was pretty full on house cleaning.

It was only two days but I was ‘stuck’ weight wise and this morning I was back on the downward trend.

Well done! I've really lost my way; can you send me some resolve via hyperspace....

Today, Sunday 18 March, 3 lbs lost since Sunday 11 March . After a half hearted Frugal Feb and a half hearted start to Moderate Mar I threw myself into it last Sunday. Have taken the bus only once this week - I was half way home from town with heavy shopping and a bus arrived just as I was passing the stop so I hopped on. Drastic cut back on food, a bit hungry but nothing unbearable. Really pleased, just had to post a message.

I had eggy bread today; still trying to avoid bread as much as possible, but there isn't much in the house to eat that's easy to cook. I can feel the weight going on my middle and tummy when I eat bread, though. And I'm stepping onto the step machine every time I go in the bedroom!

I’m counting the Spring Clean as exercise! Been on my hands and knees scrubbing the carpet on the stairs. That worked up a sweat. I should have thought on and planned my shower for afterwards!

I’ve had cheese on toast (2 slices of crustless wholemeal) for breakfast. That’s my carbs and calcium for the day.

Homemade chicken and vegetable soup for lunch and steak and salad for supper with one small glass of red wine.

I've wanted to do that for ages; in fact, when I was married I used to do that when my ex went away on business. Trouble is, I have a whole house to sort out [the neverending spring clean]. I'll try to work on the house this weekend and free up a couple of days next week. However, I'm certainly going to eat properly from now on.

Tegan are you up for a challenge?

I’m thinking of ‘*the perfect two days*’

Where we (and anyone else who might want to) plan and stick to a perfect meal and exercise plan for two days, starting today if possible.

If that works we could extend it .... but let’s go with two days for a start.

S.O. and dog have gone; now have 7 days to get fit and healthy...[although did eat a Snickers that he left on the table tonight...

I'm not sure that we'll be doing it again, Meg, as each year we find it more and more tiring [and I don't even do the driving]. If it wasn't for the dog we could stay overnight, which would make it much easier. I may try to get to the gym tonight, as I'm feeling really slobby.

Did you enjoy your Day at the Races Tegan? I live within a 5-mile walk of a racecourse but only ever went once.

I totally understand that it’s other people who make us fat! If I lived alone I’d be a size 10 and live off cucumber ? sandwiches. Seriously....I’m not joking,

For someone who doesn’t like exercise newnanny that sounds pretty good to me. There’s a school of thought that says exercise doesn’t help you lose weight, but that’s tosh. Exercise burns calories, builds muscle and gets us out and about away from the biscuit tin. Well done!

Looks like you’ve got a good idea of what helps you lose weight already Grandmama , and another one ditching the couch. I know what you mean about being at the upper end but that’s where I’ve stuck for a bit now ? just hoping the warmer weather will help boost my motivation.

Tegan your post is on the next page so I can’t read it. Will reply in new post.

I'm having a bit of a blip at the moment as we went to Cheltenham yesterday and I ate our usual' day out' food; ham rolls, crisps, snickers, cake etc. Tried to cut back a bit today but not very successfully. However, the S.O. is off to Northumberland at the weekend with the dog and I'm having a week of gym/diet/house cleaning so should get back on track.

Have just found Moderate March thread. Lost 2lbs in Feb but could have lost more. Mod March not off to a good start but 2 and a half weeks to Easter so a serious thrust now to loose another 2 or even more pounds. Usually walk instead of taking the bus but being very strict now - no buses for the next couple of weeks. TBH I am within the weight range for my height but at the top end of it and feel more comfortable when my weight is a little lower.

I don't like exercise but yesterday walked 3.8k to fetch a child from school instead of collecting in car. I did feel virtuous. Weight is going down but slowly and I have not even had a glass of wine for two months.

I often make a veggie moussaka replacing the minced lamb with lentils.

Thanks Old Meg

I've just been given a shepherds pie recipe for veg and lentils, must try that.

I had put on an extra 1.5 stone quite recently, so until I lose that (and more) I won't feel I'm getting anywhere! Longing to feel my clothes looser and one day, able to run up stairs again easily without puffing.

I used to cook a very tasty Lentil Shepherds Pue seacliffe and a great Lentil Curry. Recipes long since lost but you might find them online.

Well done on that amazing weight loss. I’m stuck at the moment but that happens.

I have been doing slimming world for 4 weeks now and have lost 8.5 pounds. Not that great a loss, but I haven't been hungry.

I haven't been doing exactly what SW say, as I like to eat "good fats" and I want to avoid too many artificial sweeteners, and Muller yoghurts.

I made a lentil and chickpea burger, and was amazed how filling it was. I took 2 thin cold ones for lunch at work with a salad. Delicious. I really want to use pulses and lentils much more. I'm veggie and quorn doesn't agree with me, so these are a good protein. If anyone has a good pulses recipe, I'd love to see it please.

Weigh day tomorrow night, I don't feel thinner, but fingers crossed!

It could explain ...

Just been reading an article in a science magazine about genetic responses to carbs.

Put simply, in lay person terms, not everybody responds to carbs in the same way. There are several different copies of genes involved. Depending on how many of these you have you can either process carbs very effectively or very poorly/inefficiently.

Those with fewer copies of these genes are therefore more prone to diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

Hope that wasn’t too boring. But I could explain why some people find losing weight more difficult than others and are drawn to eating certain foods.

Have had DGD over for a sleepover which didn't involve much sleep and when I'm tired I eat so I daren't get on the scales today. 3 year olds are exhausting! I find Slimfast doesn't fill me at all; in fact liquid food in general doesn't. I have to chew stuff. Just remembered I ate a large bowl of nuts and raisins mid afternoon; still, at least it's good for me.

I am still muddling on but getting a bit tired of the Slim Fast, especially when we had the snow. I have pulled out my soup maker and have been making veg soup: 1 chopped onion, 1/2 a leak, 3 carrots, chunks of swede, a large cabbage leaf, small potato, stock cube and S and P. Top up with water. Makes enough for 4 and quite delicious. I have also made lentil and tomato soup. 1 chopped onion, 200g of lentils cooked. Add to soup maker with a tin of chopped tomatoes, S and P and top up with water. Both soups are tasty and filling and I have managed to resist having a bread roll with them. I am feeling very virtuous. I am also eating grapes, strawberries and apples and 1 Slim Fast. One day I had an omelette with wafer thin ham and another day a small piece of steak and mushy peas. I am banishing the carbs and fats. Lost another 2.3k since last post beginning of March. Been for walk today. I am still motivated and testing myself to a Fitbit when down to 110k. Am almost there.

Well done Tegan2 - that's good to hear! Hard work but so worth it for those kinds of rewards!