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Dieting & exercise

I’m a Pear/Apple - Part 5. Still going!!

(852 Posts)
NanKate Tue 22-Oct-24 12:47:23

On 08 May 2018 I started this thread for those who wanted to lose weight and have a healthier lifestyle.

We now have a small band of ‘regulars’ called Pears and Apples. I am so grateful to those who have stayed loyal and contributed a lot of useful information and given support, especially Whiff 👍

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.

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

Our mantra is - EAT LESS FOR LIFE.

NanKate Wed 18-Jun-25 20:32:00

A cup of tea and a toasted tea cake does it for me 👍

MayBee70 Wed 18-Jun-25 17:39:18

Why is it that, when you’re feeling a bit fed up Heinz Tomato Soup is so comforting! I bought some when my back hurt and I’ve got some left.

NanKate Wed 18-Jun-25 16:26:30

🤪 poor you.

MayBee70 Wed 18-Jun-25 15:40:31

As with most things in my life eg having a bad tummy my first thought is usual ‘ at least I’m losing weight!’…

NanKate Wed 18-Jun-25 07:37:49

MayBee70 it sounds as if you are rather overwhelmed with the work in your house. Don’t overdo it in this heat.

Until today I haven’t weighed myself since returning from my DH’s 80th Birthday celebrations. Put on a pound and a half so back on the calorie counting as I still have some way to go to reach my goal.

MayBee70 Tue 17-Jun-25 21:54:37

Well, my back got better. Thankfully. Because this past few days I’ve had to sort out a blocked sewage drain and then realised I had another insect infestation. I was going to give the house a good spring clean when my partner takes the dog away for two weeks next weekend but am now having to deep clean the hall and landing before I move onto other rooms. I really can’t manage this house any more unless I have a massive declutter. But even then I can’t cope with the constant problems I have with the surrounding trees, the leaking garage roof etc.I can’t remember the last time I spent a day not working in the house.

Shirleyw Tue 17-Jun-25 20:47:19

Haha yes your soo right whiff with the covid jabs & weight loss jabs.

Shirleyw Tue 17-Jun-25 20:46:04

I’ve plateaued at the moment, quite happy though…hope you’re feeling better whiff and cocopops….

I have 1700 cals daily, and count the macronutrients. Run 🏃‍♀️‍➡️ (jeffing it) 3 to 4 times weekly. Also Pilates and short fitness videos on you tube.

Hope your all enjoying the sunny weather, it’s looking to get even hotter. ☀️☀️

Whiff Tue 17-Jun-25 12:59:58

Allsorts if it was easy to lose weight we all be a size 12. But here on the Pears we don't take short cuts but put in the hard work and it's not easy. Ths week put on knew I would as had friends for lunch on Saturday always gluten free but twice the amount of cals I would normally eat. Plus not been as careful weighing as I should have been . Those blood pressure tablets have caused me problems. Today my left is very swollen. Should have had blood test yesterday but it got cancelled having it on Monday . Went sit fit yesterday it was circuit training which is fun. No move it or lose it as instructor on holiday. But since yesterday upped my pedalling to 500.
Made 2 victoria sandwiches for craft group tomorrow. So have a treat then

People moaned about have the covid jab and all the scare mongering . And yet they are happy to use weight loss jabs .
I remember in the 70's weight lost pills from the GP turned out to contain amphetamine not wonder I lost weight . Thankfully only took them for a month before I found out.

At least with food you cook from scratch you know what's in it.

NanKate all that advice isn't selfish it's sharing what works for you.. And that's all we do here is share our ups and downs but no one gives up. We are doing it the hard way no shortcuts for us .

CocoPops hope you are feeling better.

NanKate Mon 16-Jun-25 11:20:29

Allsorts this losing weight lark is tricky, it is so easy to give in, give up and then feel thoroughly miserable.

I know we are all different but here is what has helped me.
Yes the book was key to help me recognise portion control.
The first 3 to 4 weeks of eating 1,500 Cals a day did not suppress my hunger pangs.
From then on the pangs drifted away.
I ate between 9.00 am and 6.30 pm.
I stopped all evening snacks, now I don’t even think about them.
In the day when I have a hunger pangs I have 2 gulps of Kefir, it really fills the stomach.
I regularly measure my waist and hips.
I add frozen lemon or lime to any cool drink.
When I go out with DH for coffee and cake I have a quarter of his cake, so I don’t feel left out.
I now have no pain in my arthritic knee.
I do stretching exercises each day I found on YouTube free

I do hope all the above doesn’t sound as if I am self satisfied. I realise it is so easy to slip back into my old ways.

Best of luck to all us Pears and Apples.

Allsorts Sat 14-Jun-25 07:28:48

Well I am heavier than ever, , I lose half a stone and put 8lbs back on so quickly. I am always hungry. I have to face the fact
that I will never get slim and to just keep at the weight I am now, requires me to avoid all sugar and bread. Started walking each day after my last meal, that might help.
Hope Maybee and Whiff are better now.
NanKate I need to do as you keep to 1500 calories, I gave my calorie counting book away as thought I knew it all by heart but going to get another one today as I don’t.

NanKate Sat 14-Jun-25 07:13:54

Hope your health is improving now CocoPops

NanKate Sat 14-Jun-25 07:12:36

So sorry Whiff to hear of your health problems. I do hope you are now feeling better. Please keep is up to date with your progress.

Whiff Mon 09-Jun-25 06:34:14

CocoPops hope you feel better soon.
People are interesting pity some people don't give them time . Found out last week our oldest member of move it or lose it is 96. She can now stand up to do most of the exercises holding on to the back of the chair . Well the stand up ones we still do sit down ones as well. But I told her last week she is an inspiration. She didn't realise how far she has come in 12 weeks . The smile on her face was worth it's weight in gold. People are to quick to criticise but never think to applaud their achievements.

CocoPops Mon 09-Jun-25 04:52:35

What eventful and interesting times some of you have had. The conversation with the retired Dr on the bus Whiff reminded me of some interesting life stories I've heard when flying across the pond. Amazing what people say when they have a captive audience for several hours isn't it!
I haven't been too well and haven't bothered with weigh-ins but feeling better today. Keep up the good work Apples and Pears.

Whiff Sun 08-Jun-25 12:04:37

NanKate you mean does this woman ever shut up 🤣😂😂😂.
A week ago Wednesday had to see my GP about my BP . She put me on another BP tablet and told me not to have salt . Started taking them on the Thursday was dizzy and had palpitations for 3 hours after for 4 days . Then felt ok . Occupational therapist came Tuesday afternoon with rail to see if it would sit my sofa it didn't and was to tall. Thursday my pain levels rising . Then Friday I was in pain in my kidney area and going to loo every 60-90 mins all day and night . Think I filled a lake, knew it wasn't an UTI.

Yesterday felt even worse and my mobility and balance off. I am on BHF forum for heart problems so asked if anyone had problems with the tablet. I felt that bad I cried which isn't me . Texting with my daughter and decided to stop the tablet and phone GP on Monday. Got worse so had to phone 111. By them my speech was affected . So had problems explaining but the young woman I spoke was lovely . I took my BP while talking to her it was up. So waited for call back from a nurse BP even higher this time . So told a Dr would call within a hour . My daughter and grandsons popped round just as the doctor phoned . My daughter knows all my medical history took my BP again it was 196 can't remember what so Dr said I needed to go too the walk in or A&E . Felt awful as my grandsons where playing. But dropped them off and went on our way. Needed to go and asked my daughter as they would want a sample to get me a bowl . My hands shake to much, anyway can any woman pee straight into a little tube 🤔.
I knew it wasn't an UTI which it wasn't the nurse practitioner examination my tummy and all I could think was don't fart 😁. She listen to it . But when she felt my kidney area made me jump . Said I had got a kidney infection which I knew because had them before. But could only prescribe 3 days of antibiotics.

I know to much information but you know my mind can't seem to condense things. Phoning my surgery tomorrow and asking them appointment to speak to GP , need 4 days worth of antibiotics and I want a blood test to check my sodium levels as I think they are lower. I can only have 8-10 drinks a day dread to think how much I peed out.
Texting with my daughter decide I am only sticking to the tablets I am on an won't take any other BP tablet . I already take one plus 3 sorts for my heart ,2 sorts of pain killers and one for my HPX. That's my fun week .

One bright spot was the engineers from mobility services came to measure for my ramp . She said it would be about 10' long and have a landing and handrail. Don't know when I will get it that's why I asked now but on waiting list now .

Last week weight stayed the same as the week before put on quarter of pound this week. Which is a nice surprise after it was cake and cuppa group on Monday and had my full plus brought a loaf which I eat in 3 days but think I peed away all those extra calories.

MayBee hope you are feeling better.

Well that was my fun week pears still went to my exercise classes and still did my exercises at home and my pedals even today . 🤸

MayBee70 Tue 27-May-25 20:28:52

The Voltarol and out of date co codamol have worked wonders! An afternoon sleeping and I woke up feeling much better so I think it was muscular. What a relief; I could hardly move this morning! The co codamol had given me weird dreams.I asked my partner to get me some Heinz chicken soup ( when you’re not feeling well sometimes you just fancy one particular food don’t you). In my dream he’d bought me supermarket own brand and I really craved Heinz. Even worse was the fact that he’d had to buy a pack of four. Imagine my surprise when I went down to the kitchen and it was actually Heinz. The dream had been so real that I couldn’t believe it. I usually make my own soup but I really wanted Heinz tinned!It made me enjoy it even more.

NanKate Tue 27-May-25 19:52:40

Maybee sorry you are unwell. The heat patch sounds good Whiff.

What an eventful holiday you had Whiff I felt I was watching you because you described the events so well.

That 4 ice-cream cornet sounded delicious. 👍🤪

I’m back on my under 1,500 Cals a day diet but so pleased I gave myself a few days off on hols.

Keep going Pears and Apples.

Whiff Tue 27-May-25 17:49:11

MayBee have you got a electric heat pad I got mine from Amazon it has 6 heat settings and 4 time.sertings . It's 12"x24" and it's flexible so you can wrap it round a limb that hurts. Helps my back and limbs everytime .

Whiff Tue 27-May-25 17:45:20

I forgot to finish my post . I had a taxi to the station and everything went well getting on my train . But I had to laugh a stag party got on the train going to Manchester airport. But I have never been with such a middle class group of people . I was laughing inside and texting my daughter. They where saying which was the best ski resorts. Which where the best runs for skis and ski boards. But what made me howl on the inside when one asked did anyone know where there was a hot tub for 18 and one piped up clothed or unclothed and ended up biting my fist. 🤣🤣🤣.

This week I lost 4 lb . So happy about that . Seeing my GP tomorrow because of my BP. Seeing my neurologist in August as I can just phoned to book my own appointments through his secretary. Since January not been my usual self . But it's not stopped me, just have to do some things differently.

MayBee70 Tue 27-May-25 15:16:29

Crikey. What an eventful journey Whiff! We should have learned our lessons about phones after I forgot to put my phone on charge when we met up! Well, having felt so much better after seeing my osteopath I started doing exercises again. Result is have hurt my back. My partner has taken the dog to his house for a couple of days and I’m taking Co codamol and plastering my back in Voltarol. At least I haven’t got much of an appetite and anyway it hurts to walk to the kitchen to get food. So my osteopath appointment on Friday will now be sorting my back out, not my knee!

Shirleyw Tue 27-May-25 15:02:06

That’s not bad at all up 3lbs whiff after being on holiday whiff. Wow, you did have a time of it on the trains….your hotel sounds nice though.
Glad you had a good time. This week seems rainy, been raining here in beds most of the day so far.

I’ve maintained atm, still running early mornings, went to Pilates today.

Have a good week guys.

Whiff Tue 27-May-25 13:00:18

Did start my post yesterday can't remember why I didn't finish it 🤦.

Shirley yes went to Brighton with my husband in our counting years. Hope you enjoyed Norfolk holiday..

MayBee has anyone looked at your legs to see if you have water retention?

Well I did weight myself on the Sunday after I came home and put on 3lbs which is good for me but did do a lot of walking . And made sense able choices with my dinner so could have naughty pud. Had cold breakfast so eat all the carbs I don't normally have but yogurt and cereal to start with. Didn't always have lunch.

Unfortunately my travel plans didn't go as planned . The train from the city was going fine but the train ahead broke down after 15 mins on the train had to get off at the next station as the train went where on had to go back to the city. Guard helped me off and got on to next train . The guard on this train radio ahead for travel assistance for me .Reached my first change lift broken as it was a long platform down a slope and across the tracks to opposite platform . They got me a wheelchair so man pushed me and young woman had my luggage . Had to stop the trains to get me over the tracks and then start them again . Missed my train . So they reorganised my travel assistance.

My aunt and uncle where meeting me at the Llandudno station so I phoned the station to ask the to put out a message I would be late and they go home .

Should have got to Llandudno at 11.02 but got there at 1.30. Because of the change in my plans kicked my HPX into top gear. Taxi office next to station 20 mins for car or the hotel was just up the hill. So I walked my arm dropping off by the time I got there . Got in lift pressed the button and the door to reception opened but lift didn't move . So shouted the lifts not working . Doh had to hold button in . Had a nice surprise they had upgraded my room had a fridge never stayed in hotel with fridge it had one of those pod machines and weird teas. But 2 smalls blocks of green& black chocolate . When to put my stuff in the showroom no plug in the sink. As I opened the door to go to reception saw a man in housekeeping uniform and asked which was normal tea non were so he said hang and came back with a pile of PG and more chocolate.

My HPX was in full flow . Went to the receptionist and it's only when she said you have no sink I realised while the words where correct in my brain I had said there was no sink instead of plug for the sink.

Phoned my aunt and uncle and couldn't get hold of them . So had a nap and then went to ice cream shop and walk to the beach.

When I got back got hold of them it's not just me in my family that have things go wrong . On there way home a farmers trailer turned over with 3 cattle he was pulling inside . So stuck in traffic jam for 2 hours while ambulance,vet ,police marksmen and 3 farmers came with trailers . Luckily cattle fine and walked in each trailer. Farmer was only bruised and his vehicle drivable and the trailer was fine .

My aunt and uncle hadn't got my mobile number and I hadn't got there new numbers.

But saw them the next morning for a while then I went exploring they came to the hotel for dinner with me.

Wednesday went to Colwyn and I love old churches just so happened they had cake and cuppa morning . But hilly so decided to get the first bus anywhere one came for Prestatyn. Lovely journey and had nice time and had lunch . A lady had told me on the bus it was 10 past the hour to get the Llandudno bus . Was 5 to 1 so managed to get across the road and people started to board them a woman fell off the bus no idea how because she landed with her back hard up against the bus on her side and knocked herself out for a few minutes. Told driver to phone for an ambulance. Her sister was with her but didn't seem to care . Woman came round and answered the driver's questions. Would take 2 hours for ambulance. I kept checking her and she was getting cold so covered her with my cardi. Told her not to move .

After 30 mins get sister said her coats in her bag. By then I was ready to throttle her. So got my cardi back . Then someone said to put something under her head I said no but they did so I went and sat on a bench as my balance was going and they lifted her feet. Just hope she hadn't got any neck or spine damage due to her fall and their actions .

Got on the bus and a woman sat by me she was in her 80's a retired doctor who had spent most of her working life in war zones especially in Africa . I mentioned I had gone into the church in Colwyn 🤦 then the question did I go to church . No I am an atheist she asked why. So told her I read the bible both old and new testament and from then on was an atheist. She then said she saw god preform miracles in het work. I did say I respect her right to believe but no one had the right to question my right not to believe . Then the inevitable but he believes in you . Is that why I have had so called religious people tell me I will burn in hell which my reply is yes I will be burn but in a crem . I don't believe in heaven therefore don't believe in hell . But their are evil people in this world. After that she went quite.

Was in desperate need for ice cream so went to this delicious shop and wanted 4 scoops of different ice-cream. The manger got a drinks cup to put them in and out the domed lid on gave me a spoon and plenty of napkins. So sat on the bed savouring the ice cream .

Saw my aunt and uncle for the day and they took me to a nice shopping place and then to their bungalow. They had dinner at the hotel with me . I saw more of them than I had planned but glad I did .

NanKate Tue 27-May-25 08:23:41

Thanks Allsorts.

Allsorts Mon 26-May-25 23:01:49

Good for you NanKate. Glad you had a lovely holiday.