I’m a Pear ? the sequel part 3 - Wow!

soroptimum
Wine is so calorific isn’t it ?‍♀️?!
I try to work it into my daily allowance on a Saturday, but invariably go way over.
What a lovely incentive you have! Good luck - I admire anyone doing the Fast 800 or the 5:2.
I am basically a ? and am even finding sticking to 1300 calories hard work!

Yes, wine does have a lot of calories in it, i have 25ml Bacardi and Diet Coke ,, about 52 Odd calories so at weeekends I have a few of those with ice ….I do drink wine but not as much now ….god, I sound like a right drinker ?
I have the fast 800 and 500 books purely for the recipes , I could not do 800 calories, hats off to you for doing it.

chelseababy well done getting to your target. Maintaining I would imagine is harder than losing. But I know I had 7 weeks where I stayed the same weight not what I wanted but looked on it as an achievement. It's a good idea you wanting to maintain before you lose the extra 7 lbs you want. As NanKate says it's eating less for life. Which is a very good mantra.

Flaxseed well done losing the 2lb. If I added up the amount of weight I have taken off and put on over the decades its probably a football teams worth. Both sides. But the main thing is no matter if you keep putting on the same weight you put on you haven't given up. It's easy to give up but hard to keep going year after year as in my case. But we are still here still keeping at it.

Soroptimum well done losing the weight. How long do you intend to keep to 800 cals. I hope you aren't planning on keeping it up all the time. Yes it shows a good lose but your body wouldn't let you carry on for weeks on end as it will think it's being starved and will hold on to your fat reserves. Not me making it up but science. Also eating that few cals you need to make sure you are getting enough nutrients for your body to function. Hopefully you will go to a better daily cal count. But went you do you may find you put on before you lose again. Remember it's a marathon not a sprint. I have been plugging away for getting close to 5 years. If it takes me another year to lose the last stone and bit so be it. I feel healthier and fitter at 63 than I did at 40.

As I always say remember to measure yourself as if you start to exercise as well as eating less some weeks you might not lose weight but lose inches. As muscle weighs more than fat. Madness I know but it happened to me.

Welcome newbies to the fruit barrow.

Flaxseed and Shirley I don't drink so don't have a problem not having it. Not my choice but the amount of tablets I take can't drink with them. But still crave a nice glass of rich red wine ?. But imagine even the smell would get me tiddly as it's been 34 years now.

Stayed the same this week but still keeping exercise going and feeling OK. Gradually reducing my portion sizes too so it comes as less of a shock to the system!

Well done all those keeping to their plans!

Madgran take it as achievement that you stayed the same. Glad you are getting used to smaller portions. But you can bulk up having extra veg. I find sugar free jelly crystals make a low cal snack if you crave something sweet. I use 2 packets and make a pint at a time. Keeps well in the fridge.

Forgot to say saw the urologist this morning thinks I had an infection that was hard to get rid of. But arranging an ultrasound just to be sure my kidneys are ok.

Two things that might make you smile. He asked me if I was from South Africa. Been mistaken for a Brummie but from different part of the west Midlands.

Had to have an internal . Wasn't until I went to the loo found I put my knickers on inside out. So clean knickers and tights.?????

Oh whiff

I went to the loo at work the other day. Got back amongst colleagues and someone commented ‘what’s that tail?’
I had some loo roll hanging from the back of my trousers
(Thankfully it was clean and dry)
I felt all flustered and embarrassed!

Madgran well done for maintaining.

Had a bad day today as there were mini M&S chocolate cornflake bites at work ?‍♀️. Why is M&S food so irresistible? ??‍♀️

Soroptimum and Chelseababy you are both more than welcome to join us.

I have definitely cut down on alcohol but prefer not to cut it out as I like a treat at the weekend. My concern about very low calorie diets are you initially lose weight but it is hard to maintain. whiff’s wise words of it’s a marathon and not a sprint are worth thinking about. My Eating Less for Life mantra has worked for me.

My advice is whatever journey you use to weight loss keep posting on our thread and as a group we will support the ups and downs of you trying to reach a healthy weight.

Best of luck Pears and Apples. ?

Caught up with you all. Many congratulations to everyone for their perseverance.

My celebration meal marathon ended yesterday with our wedding anniversary, it’s all added just 1lb. You may think me odd but I’m delighted with that. Believed it would be far more. Back to a more usual eating pattern now. Portion sizes are much reduced, the lid stays on the biscuit tin, carbs are general much reduced as too many and I’m sluggish. Trying to walk every day when pain allows. We’ve friends coming to stay next week which I hope won’t be too much of a trip wire as I’m in charge of catering and will be able to avoid many of the planned treats.

Good luck everyone. I’m finding your experiences invaluable, thank you for sharing.

Thank you for your welcome.
I know it’s a marathon not a sprint - I seem to have been on ‘diets’ for the past 40 years! But I’ve read Michael Mosley’s books and see the scientific evidence around time restricted eating, very low calorie intake etc. so willing to give it a go.
Obviously, cutting out alcohol for me has lead to a dramatic drop in calories anyway ?

Soroptimum we are all following different paths to the same end, weight loss. Well done for investigating what will suit you best. Good Luck.

Hi all hope everyone is doing ok. I was away with GC for a half term break last week so things fell apart diet wise. A 2lb gain when I weighed yesterday but considering all I ate and the extra wine in the evenings it’s not too bad. We did do quite a bit of walking which probably helped.
Back in the saddle this week, just had a lovely ripe avocado mixed with tinned tuna, a little chopped cucumber and a small squeeze of Mayo & lemon juice for lunch (very filling) I’m trying to keep the carbs down whilst still tracking the calories. Have a good week everyone.

I overestimated our egg needs for pancake day, apparently eggs are quite good for weight loss?

I'll be having them for lunch for quite a while as I ordered 24 and needed 2! Lol

I am researching lots of different vegetable side recipes at the moment. Making meals more interesting is the idea. I had no idea there were so many different ways of cooking a courgette!!

However I find that American recipe websites very often seem to include cream stirred through so I am adapting those using Quark as an alternative. Quite a success so far!

I like all this experimenting going on. ?

cornernan and SachaMac both had blips. But the main thing is you are both getting back on track and keeping going. But you both had a good time. Sometimes we have to have treats otherwise we would over indulgence. But saying right I having this it puts in the frame of mind to have a biscuits or glass of wine. But know you set yourself a limit. Perfect example me old me would have eaten a whole packet of biscuits in a day. This me says ok you can have 2 today and that's it. I set myself tasks before I can have the biscuits. Once completed they are my reward. Didn't get on the floor yesterday at exercise class. So did extra lunges ,marches and toe and heel taps. Then I have my tea , 2 biscuits and a lovely chat.

We are all different and have different ways of doing things and losing weight is no exception. But the fact we keep going no matter the set backs is a testament to our determination to succeed. ?

Well said Whiff I agree 100%?

I’ve only gone and lost another 2lb!
I was so shocked when I weighed in this morning, as I found myself in the pub last night after a very busy week.
I have decreased my Nutracheck app calorie limit to 1300 and even managed a 1000 calorie day - although that’s only because I missed lunch due to being out and about and certainly don’t intend doing that few calories often!
So hopefully that 2lb that I kept losing and regaining has gone for good.
whiff I bet you enjoy those biscuits far more that way.
I’ve binged biscuits before and always regretted it.
I was going to buy some fig rolls today, but ended up with garibaldi as they are lower in calories and mean I can have two
I had my last PT session this morning so feel better equipped for exercises to do when I go solo next week.
violetsky eggs are high in protein so quite filling. I think they might have played a part in my loss this week, as I have had them poached on brown toast a few times and felt satisfied after.
madgran I find vegetables so boring so would be interested to hear what your have learnt from your research.
Sachamac 2lbs gain isn’t bad for your week with the GC.
I was awful at picking at DGS treats when they lived with me for a while
Hope everyone has a good weekend.
I am going to try and stick to plan as much as possible although we are out for a curry tomorrow. Luckily, I love their chicken Shashlik which is better than a creamy korma!

What an inspiring lot we are nowadays - wow - great losses but even when there are blips we are all fighting together!
Well done everyone!
We went away for a DBB short break so that the decorator could crack on with the front room. It would be impossible for him and us if we'd been at home and when we got back it was done!!! Next week calories will be burned unpacking all the china etc for the cabinets. Our son is coming over today to help move the heavy furniture back so we can get cracking tomorrow replacing everything.
DBB is brilliant but I did eat far more breakfast and evening meal than I would ever have here at home but it was our treat so I enjoyed it.
The weigh-in this morning was dreaded but I had only put on 1.4lb so I am more than happy with that. We did go out and about while we were away so I think that helped but I am delighted with that gain.
Onwars and downwards everyone

Flaxseed brilliant 2lb off. Glad you feel confident to do your exercises yourself next week. Having the PT was a good idea and what you needed. I like the fact our instructor explained why we did certain exercises and what they worked. That was in the beginner class. But in the maintenance class she just works us. ?.

Four it's a blip. Glad you and Mr F enjoyed your break and coming home to a lovely decorated room. Is that all the decorating done now? At least you will have help with the heavy lifting.

Well my week was going so well. As I weight myself everyday but only count Sundays weigh in. Wednesday I had lost another quarter of a pound. Thought great might but up to half a pound by Sunday.

Thursday morning woke to legs like tree trunks and a face like a hamster with both pouches stuffed. The dreaded water retention is back?. So put 3.5lb on this week. I wouldn't mind if I had been eating lots of goodies but have stuck to cal allowance all week . Because my ankles are swollen can't get my ankle wellies on and wanted to tidy the garden this weekend. I know my weigh will be down next week. Just having a moan. At least it's not as much as last time I had water retention. Ah well such is life.

Have a good week everyone. ?

Hi everyone, hope you’re all ok, sorry to hear you’re struggling with water retention Whiff, hope it improves quickly and you can get your wellies on and into the garden.
I’m pleased to say that I have now lost the 2lb I gained on my half term hols with the GC. Ive just been out for a walk with the dog and already feel a bit less sluggish. I’m off to a craft group later and there are always plates of lovely biscuits on the table so I will resist. I’m doing a chicken breast in a BBQ sauce with roast sweet potato chips and green beans for tea, simple but tasty and around 470 calories so fits in well. I might even have enough calories left for a small glass of wine ? Have a good week everyone.

SachaMac well done with the loss. I weight 3lb less than I did yesterday. Luckily my swelling has gone down a lot.

You dinner sounds nice. Got my usual stew for dinner which I enjoy . Hope you can have your glass of wine

So good to catch up with all your cheery posts .
Just a 1/2lb loss for me. Battle on ladies.

Only lost 7 lbs since 10 January, and not an ounce for 3 weeks. Waist 4” smaller, hips 1”, bust the same. It’s disheartening not to see any difference on the scales though as I need to lose another 12 lbs according to the chart. This is where I usually give up, but I won’t.
Well done everyone else for continuing despite the odd blip, we’re only human after all.