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Dieting & exercise

I’m a pear ? the sequel!

(1001 Posts)
NanKate Wed 01-Jan-20 08:17:35

On 08 May 2018 I started this thread for those who wanted to lose weight and have a healthier lifestyle. Many people have joined up and many pounds lost and a few gained.

However the 2 Gransnetters who have stayed the course are Fourormore and Shirleyw who have helped to keep me on the straight and narrow, most of the time ?, and kept up our spirits. Plus a few others who make an occasional entrance and departure and that is fine too - All Welcome.

Do join us the rules are simple.

Choose your own style of diet plan.
Check in regularly with a report of the highs and lows of the diet.
Have an occasional binge but get back on the wagon ASAP.
Pass on any useful diet tips.

So for example I started calorie counting with the NHS Diet Plan. I now eat what I like but make portion control my mantra. I am sure both Four and Shirley will tell you their strategies.

You have nothing to lose, other than weight, on this thread.

So Onward and Downward ? in 2020 and beyond folks. Come and join us.

Whiff Mon 12-Oct-20 09:39:12

Spice101 nice to see you here. Brilliant loss. I was very happy when I found this thread. As I have been dieting for 3 years now and lost over 7st still a stone to go but if it takes me a year so be it. View it as a marathon not a sprint. Was 32 not a size 16. I know how lossing the weight has helped with my limbs and have gained in confidence. I have found support and friendship on here as on the other thread we are on.

Shirleyw brilliant weight loss. You can still have a romantic dinner and naughty dessert with your husband just low calorie. Then a lovely cuddle on the sofa afterwards.

Txquiltz welcome . I have health problems luckily I can walk but with a stick. Because of balance problems I do mostly exercises on a chair. I use 2 500g dumbbells to strengthen my arms and also use a resistance band it's the lowest strength one had both off Amazon. Found that has helped also. One of the exercises I do I put the band under my feet to anchor it and do bicep curls . There are sites which show you how to use them. Before moving I went to an exercise group and the leader adapted exercises not just for me but others who had various problems. For the leg exercises I hold on to the back of a chair or I would fall over. You can still do leg exercises by putting the band under your foot and using the band to lift your leg. When I move I joined a sit fit group which I loved. Again we did some exercises holding on to the back of a chair but mostly sitting down.

Everyone has to find a diet that works for then. For me it's weighting and counting calories everything I eat and drink. My brother does WW.

Beechnut it's a blip we have all had those. But you haven't given up that's the main thing. On wards and downwards . I know it should be onwards and upwards but we are all trying to lose weight so it's downwards.

NanKate I am glad you started this thread I love hearing about everyone. And the best thing no one is nasty. I have read some threads on other forums and some people are horrible to eachother. What's the point life is to short for nastiness .

Shirleyw Mon 12-Oct-20 17:46:14

Yes, I too am glad nankate started 'I'm a pear'...think I joined it near the beginning...I used to do slimming world hut I'd lose 2 or 3 lbs then put on again, I think I ws eating too many free foods, you xant est as much as you pole and still lose weight lole they say....not me anyway lol...I do what whiff does and write down every thing and count calories, upto 1400 a day for me, dont always go up to that.

?? whiff....romantic dinner

NanKate Mon 12-Oct-20 20:56:00

Thanks Whiff and Shirley we are a great bunch of losers here and we take our weight seriously.

You are an original Shirley from my memory.

Keep going girls. ?

Shirleyw Tue 13-Oct-20 02:46:26

We are and we do Nankate

Just read my post....I think the letters changed in some of my words ????.

m13ckm Tue 13-Oct-20 10:55:48

Hi I’m new to Gransnet and really pleased I’ve found this forum page. Since retiring I’ve found trying to stick to any ‘diet’ is hard as my old working routine has got out of the window we’ve also moved to Devon which is nice but surprisingly I can do less walking due to high farming traffic on the roads. I’ve decided to try this week to get motivated and set a plan each night for the next day - fingers crossed ?

Whiff Tue 13-Oct-20 14:20:52

m13ckm NanKate must be over the moon another new member of the pear club. You will find plenty of support here I know I have and it's not just support dieting and exercising. As it took me decades to realise I always say it's a marathon and not a sprint. And be kind to yourself.

Everyone has their own way to loss weight you have to find what suits you. For me it's counting calories and weighting and measuring everything. Also I don't buy what foods I can't leave allow. I love baking but what I product goes to my daughter and family.

All the best of whatever way you decide to diet.

pigsmayfly. Thu 15-Oct-20 10:49:35

Cherrytree suggested I join you all as I am despairing about loosing weight. I’m going to make a start and hopefully pick up some tips

NanKate Thu 15-Oct-20 16:06:02

I’m so pleased you have joined us Pigs. If you read my introduction to the thread you will see what I did. Others follow Michael Moseley. Slimming World is very popular.

When you have selected how you intend to Lose weight then just start. Often people work hard for a week or so and then give up. My strong advice is to start again after the blip, check in here for support.

We are the best group of Losers I know. ?

NanKate Thu 15-Oct-20 16:10:51

Welcome to you too M13. There is always someone here to help and advise. And we are FREE. ?

Tip - I buy 7Up Free lemonade, mix half and half with water and it fills me up nicely. I also have sugar free sweets to hand when I want the taste of sugar.

pigsmayfly. Thu 15-Oct-20 18:50:59

Thanks for the welcome Nan Kate. I will be posting when I have decided ?

Whiff Fri 16-Oct-20 06:42:08

Pigsmayfly I have often said it's a marathon and not a sprint to loss weight. Took me decades to realise that. Wish I could have told my younger self that. I wouldn't have waited until I was 59 before doing something about it. At 62 I am a size 16 from a 32. Took me 3 years and still have a stone to go. I count calories weighing and measuring everything I eat and drink. My advice to you would be don't set yourself self a time limit and don't say you want to lose X amount each week. Everyone has to find a diet to suit them. But you will find support and friendship here. I wish you well on your journey. And can't wait to read your posts.

craftyone Fri 16-Oct-20 07:22:28

hello, can I pop in? I see that some of my good friends are on here and I think it is time for me to face facts and start using the word `diet` in my life

I think I have managed to stop mouth hunger, when I want something to nibble but am not hungry. My way is to eat only between wake up and 4.30 and my stand- by for `that` moment is having a jug of no sugar jelly in the fridge and a pack of mints in a drawer

Two things have helped my mindset, I watched `my 600 lb life` on channel 38, this was a few weeks ago and it struck me,how easy it would be to put such a massive amount of weight on and how very difficult it was for them afterwards. Steve Allen on lbc helped, I always wake up to him in the morning, he is diabetic and is having to lose weight. Just a word from him, here and there has helped

So I have lost 3kg and think I should lose 18 more. I do exercise, the easy way, I have a short attention span for solo exercise, so I go out and cycle, up and down hills around here. I am going further, maybe 20 miles now and I base my choice of bike on distance and exploration of a new area. The endorphins afterwards sets me up for the rest of the day and I certainly don`t feel a need to nibble, until after lunch, which is now around 1pm

Once upon a time I was my ideal weight at 4` 11. No second chances now

Whiff Fri 16-Oct-20 07:48:05

Hello Craftyone you have followed Spice101 on to here. I have been here for a while now. NanKate started a great thing with this thread. Well done losing 3kg. My mantra is it's a marathon not a sprint. Also be kind to yourself. If I have a bad day I don't beat myself up about it anymore spent decades doing that. It's a blip. You will find friendship and support here. I haven't found anyone who was nasty anyway NanKate would soon sort them out.

Everyone has their own way to diet you just have to find what suits you. May be trail and error but you will get there. With your gardening and bike riding to you have got the exercise part covered. Look forward to hearing how you get on.

NanKate Fri 16-Oct-20 10:38:32

Hi folks.

I tell people I am on a healthy Eating Plan for Life because from experience I have lost weight on a diet and then put it back on when I stopped the diet.

Things are easier now I eat less because my stomach has shrunk so I don’t get so hungry.

I loved it Whiff when you said I would ‘sort out’ any problem contributors. You sussed me out I am an ex-teacher. ? Fortunately to my knowledge we have only had one negative person on here and she didn’t last long.

readsalot Fri 16-Oct-20 12:01:46

I have just found this group and am so pleased! Day of 9 of Keto diet for me because a dear friend lost almost 4 st for her son's wedding and kept it off. The no fruit is hard but I am following it about 90% of the time. Don't feel hungry so that's a huge plus for me. I don't think I'll lose all 5 st to get back to my wedding day weight, but hoping for 2 st by Cristmas.

MayBee70 Fri 16-Oct-20 12:11:21

I’ve just ordered some HUEL food, drinks and meals. I thought it would be an easy way to restrict my calories a couple of times a week. My Facebook page was inundated with several of these meal replacements so I thought I’d try one. I get fed up of planning meals and preparing them. If they turn out to be horrible I’ll still have to eat them as they’re not cheap! It also means I’ve got veggie meals without having to shop for the ingredients and it’s a balanced diet. Some of them are vegan too. I’m neither veggie nor vegan but am trying to reduce the amount of meat I eat.

NanKate Fri 16-Oct-20 15:48:44

Welcome to all the Newbies. ?

Whiff Sat 17-Oct-20 06:42:41

NanKate you must be even happier with the new members. Yes it was the only one trouble making but loved how you dealt with her.

MayBee70 I'm a meat eater as well. But use Quorn sausages, mince and chicken pieces instead of meat ones. They are all lower in calories and taste nice. Just as versatile as the real thing. I tried pork sausages a few months ago and didn't enjoy them. I can make 2 chicken thighs with skin off but on the bone make 6 dinners. I use pearl barley and lots of veg. Once cooked I flake the chicken and stir back on before portioning up . That way you get chicken in eat spoon full. I make a large pork steak last as long. When I make a lasagne use 300g Quorn mince. Lots of veg. Cook in a large pan so there is extra stock. Using slotted spoon and put mince mix on bottom of large dish 2 sheets of lasagne then more mince 2 more sheets of pasta top off with more mince. Make cheese sauce using 30g flour 30g low fat olive spread and skimmed milk. Put it in pan cold bring to boil using whisk no lumps them add 50g cheddar. Top lasagne. Once cooked portion it into 6 using the rest of the stock divide between portions so they are ready to reheat and don't dry out.

Since dieting for 3 years I eat more veg and fruit than ever. Sugar free jellies are great 145g made up 9 cals . Always have Easiyo yogurt sugar free Greek style and fruit I have stewed using little sugar and granulated sweetener . Found sweetener tablets leave funny after taste and blended to puree to flavour my yogurt . After using an Easiyo maker for 3 years now could never go back to brought ready made yogurts. They aren't as thick and I use whatever fruit I fancy. Either fresh or usually frozen mixed berries.

Hope my tips help or you think I have gone mad!

Had a phone call yesterday my cardiologist appointment on Friday has been cancelled but expected it as we have been classed as the top tier. It was only for test results which already know it's not what they thought was wrong. But it's something I was born with . I'm 62 now and still here. Not expecting an appointment until next year. Medical staff are going to be swamped again soon.

Got my garden winter ready yesterday. Got a skip coming on Monday. As I have been sorting out my garage this week. Once the rubbish has gone can finally get that as I want it.

Have a good weekend everyone. Weight in tomorrow.

Dorsetcupcake61 Sun 18-Oct-20 08:55:00

Good morning all ?. Oops a pound and three quarters on. No excuses whatsoever but a good example of how it is possible to coast along feeling satisfied with not gaining and then it catches up with you!
So back to being strict and firm with myself!
Good luck everyone, have a brilliant week?

Sarahmob Sun 18-Oct-20 09:59:41

Good morning all, nothing to report this week as I’ve maintained. I’m not at all surprised as I’ve had two restaurant meals this week and my sister and brother in law came for dinner last night and the diet went to pot. My challenge today is getting back on the wagon and ignoring the half of the lemon lush cheesecake I made for dessert still in the fridge!

It’s great to ‘see’ new faces joining the marathon, I’ve certainly found this thread helpful and encouraging and having been a gransnet lurker for a while, I can confirm that it’s one of the friendlier threads. People seem to genuinely care about the experiences of other posters.

Have a good week everyone ?

fourormore Sun 18-Oct-20 10:40:59

Morning everyone!
I am feeling so guilty this morning as I really fell by the wayside this week. I know stress played a part having our GD and her boyfriend miles away and in isolation after positive Covid tests - then the central heating is playing silly bees!
I succumbed to temptation angry on several occasions and fully expected to (deservedly!!!) be punished this morning!
How on earth have I stayed exactly the same as last week?

I'm so sorry fellow strugglers as it is so unfair of those who have really tried and had minimal losses. Thankfully neither GD or her BF went on to develop Covid and have been given the all clear to return to work so that is a huge worry off our shoulders. Meanwhile my BIL continues to keep us on edge but he can't help that. Hopefully he will continue to do so as he is too precious to lose.

Personally I will be content to stay in this same range while the pandemic continues as I know I'm not doing nearly the exercise I usually get and we are all more prone to that fed-up feeling and that's when we slip!
Welcome all the lovely newbies flowersflowersflowers we are such a lovely gang on this thread - you will receive nothing but support and encouragement whatever sort of week you've had, so onwards and downwards everyone as we start another week of fun and frivolity hmmhmmhmm

Whiff Sun 18-Oct-20 10:51:46

Well folks another week of the same weight. I know it's an achievement to stay the same for 5 weeks shows I can maintain a weight. Must be stricter with myself and not go over my limit. Got the garden winter ready this week. Tomorrow got a skip coming so will be throwing all the rubbish out of the garage in and then finish sorting out the garage as I want it.

Dorsetcupcake61 it's a blip. Any news about your work situation? Has it been resolved?

Sarahmob you have more will power than me having lemon cheesecake in the fridge. I couldn't trust myself it would be gone during the day a nibble here and nibble there.

On with the good fight all. Stay safe everyone and be kind to yourselves.

MayBee70 Sun 18-Oct-20 12:12:31

Well, my HUEL stuff arrived the other day and yesterday I just had a shake and a tai curry instant meal. Wouldn’t be for everyone but I can eat pretty much anything. I had a shake for breakfast and am going to have a normal meal tonight. It means that on restricted calorie days I don’t have to think about the calorific content of everything I eat which is why I’ve never done a 5/2 diet. It’s having to think about meals that makes me eat more. I can have my two meals a day and spend the rest of the day not thinking about food. I don’t work for HUEL by the way. It was just the first one that popped up on my Facebook page. It also means I can have veggie days and, if I miss out milk in drinks can have the odd vegan day too. And it stops me eating bread, which is my downfall.

MayBee70 Sun 18-Oct-20 12:15:41

Whiff: yes, I’ve been experimenting with lentils recently and adding them to stews etc. Find that if I soak them overnight they aren’t so gassy! Also find that mushrooms are a good meat substitute in many recipes and buy them tinned or dried so I always have some in the store cupboard. Sometimes cook and freeze them, too.

Westcoaster Sun 18-Oct-20 12:26:18

Hi, I joined slimming world a couple of weeks ago. Rather do WW but they are only doing virtual still and I felt I needed the shame of the scales to keep on the straight and narrow!
Actually lost quite a bit of weight a while back but the last stone or so is determined to stay and of course, the boredom of lockdown added more lbs.
I will never be a stick insect, so a stone off will suit me fine and might mean my top half will become less round. grin

So far it's going ok although I did have a gain on week 2 which I blame on the lentil soup overindulgence ... nothing else to blame it on.
My nibbly saviours are the sugar-free jelly, Cadbury Freddo bars, and Ringo crisps! smile

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