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

Thanks for the kind welcome. Yes, I still have all the WW books/recipes/record book (under the bed!!) When I think about the small meals I was eating for those years, compared to what I eat now, it's not surprising that I've piled on the weight. I have memories of going on 5 star all-inclusive holidays abroad during that time, and having the willpower to refuse all that delicious food for the healthy option, whereas me and my husband went on a 2 week Mediterranean cruise in July and I ate like it was going out of fashion, three times a day plus in between 🥴. I catch sight of myself in the mirror and I don't recognise myself. It's time for action!!

Hells teeth my 🤬🤬🤬🤬 fingers hit something as lost my post.

Anyway short version. NanKate hope your jaw feels better . CocoPops getting older isn't for sissies. Hope your teeth are ok now and having your cataracts done will help you .Mind you a friend of my mom had hers done and said to her husband who chose that awful carpet and of course she had . So they had new carpet once both eyes done .

Welcome Sun hope you enjoy being a pears..NanKate renamed dieting eating less for life which is what we do. I count cals as well. If you have a bad day don't give up tomorrow is s fresh start.

MayBee did you start taking that Zoe ? Gave my slow cooker away as it was to heavy for me to use.

Put on half a pound this week. Could have been worse as I did have some treats and went out for a lovely lunch on Friday. I have now turned veggie . Haven't eat meat for 6 years ,stopped buying chicken for home as I prefect Quorn sausages,mince and chicken pieces. Only eat fish out but can't be bothered now . Never thought I would go veggie . Gave up meat because I kept choking on it and could only have it stewed . I always eat veggie when go out for lunch .

I go to lunch with 2 GN friends who live in different towns near me . Going to vegan restaurant my daughter has taken me few times and the food is delicious. You wouldn't know the cakes weren't real cream . Wasn't sure if my friends would want to go but glad they want to give it a try.

Sun to be honest we are all sorts of fruits but I am definitely a pear. My boobs disappear when lie down. Love wide legged trousers. Hid my flabby saggy bits.

There was a thread "so tired of not losing weight". I wrote a lengthy post about being a pear, having lipoedema in my legs, trying body brushing, lymphatic drainage, pummelling, wrapping tightly in seaweed soaked bandages, all a waste of time. It really bothered me when I was young (size 10 top, size 16 bottoms), but now I'm older and overweight, I'm more relaxed about it. That said, I'd still like to lose 3 stone, but I never lose it off my legs. The aforementioned thread was deleted, was it something I said? 🤔

Back on track after my tooth extraction. I have been eating less whilst waiting for my mouth to settle down. Need to weigh myself now.

Yes Whiff ‘Eating Less for Life* is the only way for me to lose weight. I still buy a favourite rock bun from local bakery and cut it into pieces and freeze it, then I eat a small piece when I fancy it with my afternoon cuppa.

I hope your mouth is settling down, NanKate, and your scales are kind to you.

This morning I met up with friends for a cuppa, no cake or biscuits, boooo!!

I'm now going to go outside in the garden to collect leaves, anything to get me away from the crisp cupboard.

I'm hoping for a decent weight loss on Saturday, I'll be disheartened if not.

Eat less, move more. Eat less, move more. It isn't easy.

You are right Thesun losing weight isn’t easy. However what worked for me is not total abstinence from favourite foods, just eating much smaller portions, then I don’t feel denied.

When DH and I go out for coffee and cake he is happy for me to cut a small slice from say his coffee cake. I get the delicious taste but not all the calories.

About 4 years ago I bought a lovely jacket in a charity shop which was too small for me. The very slim assistant said ‘Customers often buy clothes too small and say they will slim into them, but they never do’ ! I was so upset by her remark to me, however 4 years down the line I can wear that jacket 👍.

Well done, NanKate, you should wear that jacket with pride. That shop assistant's words hurt you at the time, but subliminally did you a favour. Years ago my WW leader told me "you are not a dog, so don't reward yourself with treats", I thought it seemed a bit harsh at the time, but those words often rang in my ears and stopped me from eating a bar of chocolate after doing a good deed.

You're right about the smaller portions, I got used to eating less when I went to classes, I will have to go back to smaller plates. I used to find writing down everything I ate was helpful too, it's so easy to 'eat subconsciously', it's important to sit down and enjoy every mouthful, chew the food and eat slowly, apparently it sends signals to your brain that tell you you're getting full. Hark at me, I talk the talk, now I must walk the walk!! I'll try. Enjoy your dinner 🙂.

Sun losing 7st hasn't made a slim Jim . I was size 32 now top really 14 but prefer 16 ,bottom 16. After decades of being obese my skin hasn't tightened but I don't care . I see my saggy,bagging skin and my they aren't bat wings more like Indian elephant ears as a win. My daughter talked me into trying trousers when I was 61/62. Found I felt more confident in wide legged ones . I no longer own any skirts as my daughter said why are you still wearing a size 22. I own I dress. Because of my disability pull on trousers are easy for me . I can't wear socks so wear 40 denier tights under my cold weather trousers and 20 denier under my warm weather linen mix trousers. My tops are pull on . I can't do small buttons. So my cotton shirts for the summer stay buttoned up and just pull the over my head.

I love Seasalt tunics and have 14 but brought in the sale and have 3 waterproof winter coats and 3 spring summer waterproofs. Plus a cotton jacket .Seasalt clothes are a true fit for me . I like M&S as they have extra short trousers which perfect for me .

Since losing weight if it goes up I start again the next day. Still want to lose a stone but been trying for years now but one day I will get there. I wear bright colours never thought I would. But love them.

Funny enough losing the weight my feet went from extra wide to wide and in 2019 brought my first part of ankle boots from Hotter. There velcro closures are perfect for me . Didn't realise I would lose weight off my feet 😂.

Glad you joined us fruits .

There was a programme on tv recently that said plate sizes are much bigger than they were in the 70’s so we eat bigger portions. I’m just making some pearl barley soup that I used to eat years ago. I tend not to have as much fresh food as I’d like as I only have a small fridge and don’t have room for a larger one.

Well done Folks. We are a small band of Losers but we don’t give up.

Your wardrobe of clothes sound great Whiff. I like Seasalt too.

The reason I stopped eating pearl barley soup is that I had a virus when I last made it and I associate it with being ill. So blow me, without having eaten any of it I had a bad tummy all morning ( better now, though). But I did have the pearl barley for tea and remembered how tasty it is. It’s so healthy for you so I’m planning to incorporate it in my diet again. So simple to make and freezes well, too.

Hi all. I've been pretty good all week, mainly salads, which isn't at all warming for this time of year. I fancied something tasty for tea tonight and picked up a fresh Alaska pollock in thermidor sauce and had it with tenderstem broccoli, green beans and peas. It was delicious and I couldn't believe it was only 389 calories ... it wasn't, it was for 1/2 the pack, and as I'd eaten it all it was 778 🙄. It seemed too good to be true, and it was 😉.
It's weigh-in tomorrow so I'm getting nervous 😂. Have a good weekend everyone 🙂.

So disappointed with only 1lb loss this week, I made so many sacrifices. Now going for an Indian. I'll get back on it tomorrow 😉. I hope everyone's having a nice weekend.

Well did something and lost my post good job it was only couple of sentences.

MayBee add pearl barley to my stews even if I add beans,or pasta . With all the veg and Quorn it thickens up in the fridge once cold so add extra water to my dinner portion. Same with my veg and red lentils soup that thickens in the fridge .
Are you having your banana bread for breakfast?

TheSun I eat my soup all year round a salad wouldn't fill me . Plus it's quick to eat . Having hot food slows down your eating and gives your stomach chance to decide when it's full . Well that's my theory. 🤷.
You have to watch out for packs they always put how much it is for half . Even baked beans put cals for half a tin .
Don't be disappointed at losing a pound . It takes eating 3,500 cals less than your body needs to lose a 1lb. It's off not on . Just keep going . Losing slower means you get into the habit of eating less.

Pears are a hardy bunch we don't do things by cheating we put the work in.

I brought a packet of crumpets on Wednesday and haven't opened them yet . That's a first 🤣. Somehow I have lost 2 and three quarter pounds this week . So I am going to try very hard this week as it's craft group so baking . But I love to take cake so think I will make do with a tiny bit of each cake to check as I make ordinary and gluten free. Chocolate chip marble Madeira cake or as a friend calls it cow cake because it's white and dark brown .

Friday going to see the Fishermen's friends live . Had my ticket a year . Hope they want audience participation. I am tuneless but love to sing it's easier than trying to speak.

Have a good week pears 🤸

I’ve had to stop making banana bread because I eat too much of it. I’m now back to making tea bread in which I reduce the sugar but add powdered organic beetroot, cherries, figs, flax seed, walnuts etc. I spread Benecol buttery on it. This morning I had chocolate chia pudding with flax seed, stewed apples with cinnamon, Greek yoghurt, banana and maple syrup. I can have some tea bread for pudding this evening. I bought some sweet potatoes the other day as I read that they’re better for you than potatoes. I baked some and made wedges with the other: quite liked them.This new diet doesn’t seem to be triggering my IBS thankfully.I always looked on food as something I could save money on as I’m not a great foodie and would happily live on cheese sandwiches but using lots of pulses etc isn’t expensive. I wish I’d known more about healthy eating when I was young as I looked on dieting as trying not to eat at all, but then none of us did back then did we? I still couldn’t have a box of chocolates in the house though as I’d binge on them. I think I am going to buy the ZOE stuff so that some days I will just have a cheese sandwiches but but will add the ZOE to my breakfast so I’m having my 5+ a day, especially if I’m away from home.

MayBee if you do take Zoe please be careful. As I researched the ingredients and being dried it would concentrate the elements in them . I did post another day about some of the ingredients that can cause diarrhoea which will make your IBS worse. Problem is with the ingredients it doesn't say which part of some of the plants are used. As some parts can be toxic . Plus lot of the ingredients are fungi .
I would stick to the things you use that you know don't hard you .
I just worry it will make your health worse.

I’m not sure that I actually have IBS. I just have a bowel that has a mind of its own and doesn’t sometimes play by the rules! It’s been a lot better since I increased my fibre intake, something I’ve spent years avoiding. I totally trust ZOE and they do warn about having IBS.

Thanks for your support, Whiff, and well done on your loss this week. I love soup, but I must train my brain to be satisfied with eating it without a buttered baguette 🙄. I am gradually reducing my portion sizes and drinking lots of water instead of squash (Vimto is my favourite), and tea with skimmed milk.

I'll be looking after my two picky granddaughters next week and must resist the temptation to eat their leftovers 😂.

I wish I was a picky eater 😉.

I don’t find soup filling, no matter how wholesome it is. Same with salad. I need to actually chew something to feel as if I’ve ate something. I’ve got some protein powder to use up the excess of milk I’ve ended up with but, again, I don’t find them filling.

That's my problem too, MayBee70. In this cold weather, I'm feeling like comfort food, stew & dumplings with bread & butter, for instance, but if I'm to lose the three stone my doctor recommends, I'm going to have to make some serious compromises. If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting ... and that is fatter and fatter 😫.

My advice TheSun is to continue having the bread and butter that you like, but have a half portion size. This way of eating has worked for me.

Good advice, NanKate, that way you're not denying yourself the foods you love. I'll give that a go, I'm really struggling, I don't know why, I've done it before, but I'm in a different mindset now, and 10 years older 🙄.

TheSun I can't resist bread and bread products so don't buy them unless I know they are for guests. Made my 2 cakes for my craft group tomorrow and have resisted having piece until tomorrow.

Had my blood test results today in the NHS app my cholesterol is down from 4.4 last year and now 3.5 . Pleased with that and my bilirubin levels are normal . My sodium levels are up yah but now in normal range . Usually they are lower than they should be but stable .

The bakery we have our cuppa and chat once a month ..I can't buy their delicious bread . Made the mistake of buying a large loaf last year and ate it in 2 days with olive spread and jam or honey . So knew I would put weight on that week . 🤷.

I don't buy food I have no control over but do have them as treats when out but count the calories.

My move it or lose instructor this morning after class read out a 5 year study into people doing regular exercises especially in a group. And not only it benefits your body but our minds. Which I had already figured out when I started exercising in 2018. It's common sense wonder how much they got paid for the study 🤷😂.

I’m fed up of the soups that I’ve been making. I bought some dried soup mix which I cooked today. But no matter how long I soak it for and cook it for it’s still chewy ( especially the dried peas). I’m also fed up of trying to eat so much fruit and vegetables. So I am going to get the ZOE additive to get my five a day and then have a cheese sandwich without thinking I’m not getting enough fibre.