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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.

Whiff Sun 19-Apr-26 16:23:36

NanKate glad you had a good time listening to the jazz. It's one of types of music I hate. Love classical ,opera ,music from the 70's my teenage years but also love Nordic and viking music. Plus fisherman's friends who I saw in February. 4 concerts down 5 to go if I don't book more.

Went to Mendelssohn concert on Thursday which was wonderful. A friend was in another box and she kindly gave me a lift home .
Because I am disabled part of the Phil access scheme when I buy my ticket I get one free for a companion. But no one wanted to come this time . I always give the unwanted ticket back at least 4 weeks before I go so they real sell it or gift it . I am a bronze member of the Phil which goes towards musical education for children . Think next event I am going to is. Late 26/27 programme event so beable to get tickets early before they go on general sale. Going to see the Harmony Orchestra which is the youth orchestra all the seats are free a friend is going with me and we are in a box.

Sun that's sounds like a nice break and well done resisting all the goodies. When I go away I do have lots of carbs that I don't normally eat for breakfast at Premier inn . And always have to have ice cream at least twice .

MayBee that must have made you feel on top of the world getting in those jeans . Your eating plain is working well for you .

I somehow lost 3.5 lbs this week . But going out for lunch on Friday with my local GN friends . But I don't have any dinner so I can have a naughty pud. Haven't choked on any food since going veggie . But still dropping plenty down me 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

At craft group on Wednesday one of our members was teaching us mosaic . She supplied everything we needed.. I wasn't happy with my effort so used a thin screwdriver and used the otherside of the coaster to redo it .
Happier with my second try.

Have a good week everyone.

Jonah Tue 21-Apr-26 13:41:25

Anyone bought slimming patches? Any reviews?

Jonah Tue 21-Apr-26 13:43:26

Has anyone tried the slimming patches? Any reviews?

Whiff Tue 21-Apr-26 20:38:11

No I haven't and never would. There are no short cuts when losing weight .Its hard work it but is satisfying when you do it .

Plus you don't know what's in them or the harm they can do to your skin and leech into your body .

TheSunRisesInTheEast Tue 21-Apr-26 21:43:04

I lost half a pound this week, it's slower than I would like, but I'm not being too strict!

MayBee70 Wed 22-Apr-26 18:16:03

I have two sets of scales, one weighing less than the other so I ignore that one. However I used the machine at the doctors today and my weight was the one on my other scales. I’m at my lowest weight for nearly twenty years. I’m sure it’s because of my cholesterol lowering diet because I’m certainly not starving myself. The downside is that I have some lovely clothes, tunics etc that are now too big for me and I’ve got to reappraise my wardrobe. Going to go back to the gym in a couple of weeks although still worried about catching covid as I’m still being careful. My daughter caught it for the first time recently; she has been exposed to it several times without catching it. She had, however, stopped taking VitD3 for a while because she’d ran out of them. Having had two cold viruses in as many months I don’t want to catch covid too. Not being able to walk far I’m desperate to get some exercise and really want to start back at the gym.

TheSunRisesInTheEast Wed 22-Apr-26 19:17:21

That was a nice surprise for you MayBee. Time for you to treat yourself to some new, smaller clothes, that's when you notice the weight loss. The charity shop will be grateful for your bigger clothes.

Getting back in the gym will help your weight loss and give you those happy hormones. My daughter-in-law goes to the gym and she can see on her phone how busy the gym is before she decides to go. It would be handy if you could do this, then you won't have to be too close to other gym users.

MayBee70 Wed 22-Apr-26 19:33:43

If I go mid morning it’s usually quiet. When I used to go years ago I preferred to go in the evening as I like having a sauna and I liked the crowd of people that went then. They were a lot younger though so I guess there’s more of a risk of catching covid.

TheSunRisesInTheEast Wed 22-Apr-26 19:47:33

Yes, and wearing a mask would be difficult while exercising. I found them bad enough in normal circumstances and I don't have any breathing difficulties, I can't imagine wearing a mask while huffing and puffing in the gym!! 😷🥵

Shirleyw Thu 23-Apr-26 04:19:05

Morning all…I’m afraid I’ve gone ‘to pot’. Not been on the scales for about 3 weeks, I’ve not gone stupid like I used to with food but it’s not been good. We’ve been away which dosent help with the nutrition. Dosent help with my back, I was laying on bed forcing my new jeans to do up 😂….my back twinged so now I got lower back pain 🙄….my nice comfy leggings (with a long tunic) is much more comfy . Won’t be running for a week or two which makes me fed up.

Half a pound is good sunrise.

Weather is warming up, been a long time coming hasn’t it. ?

Hope your all well….

NanKate Thu 23-Apr-26 08:16:55

You’re back here ShirleyW so that’s a good start. Gone are the days when we let the weight pile on and tried to ignore it. Eating less for life is the only answer imo.

I put on weight recently when I had my grandsons staying but when they left I got back on the wagon knowing us Pears will support each other.

Onward and downward 👎

TheSunRisesInTheEast Thu 23-Apr-26 11:52:20

Thanks, Shirleyw, we just have to keep at it 🙂.

MayBee70 Thu 23-Apr-26 12:22:56

Leggings were my downfall. When I used to wear jeans I knew if my weight was creeping up but the leggings just grew with me so my weight has really yo yo’d over the past few years. Even so I have to label my leggings too into ok, tight, very tight etc and, if I need to take some away with me check them again.

Shirleyw Thu 23-Apr-26 20:27:16

Yep nankate it’s definitely eating less for life and to keep as active as we can.

TheSunRisesInTheEast Thu 23-Apr-26 20:53:53

Having stretched my stomach with overeating, I struggle with eating smaller portions and still feeling hungry, that's when I feel like snacking, and fruit doesn't fill a hole like crisps, biscuits, chocolate. I try to drink a full glass of water or a cup of tea when I feel peckish in between meals, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. We just have to keep trying if we're to be successful, I don't like being overweight and will be angry with myself if I don't give it my all.

CocoPops Thu 23-Apr-26 22:23:11

Exactly * Sun* drinks don't always work! However if we don't like the extra pounds we have to try harder!! As Whiff says it ain't easy!
My news is that I have finally found something that keeps my IBS under contol. Thank Goodness. My food choices have been very limited but now I can gradually add more. Also , I can go out feeling confident without the fear of accidents. The remedy is one teaspoon of Psyllium Husk powder mixed into orange juice just once a day at breakfast. Eureka! It is quite filling too so that helps deter snacking.
Onward and Downward Pears.

TheSunRisesInTheEast Thu 23-Apr-26 23:21:02

That sounds promising, CocoPops, it's great that you are benefitting from that. It's very difficult to break long standing habits eg. snacking, but it's that that has caused the four stone weight gain. I have to keep reminding myself that I want to lose the weight, three stone would do, I don't want to end up looking gaunt and wrinkly, a bit of fat helps to plump out the wrinkles 😉. We can do this 🙂.

NanKate Sun 03-May-26 09:51:26

I agree TheSun I used to eat far too many fat making foods after my evening meal. Anyway step by tiny step I reduce this snacking habit and now only have one piece of delicious dark chocolate in the evening. I don’t chomp it down I suck it slowly and enjoy the taste. I really do feel my weight loss is connected to me eating between 8.45 in the morning and finishing with my piece of choc at about 7.00pm.

TheSunRisesInTheEast Sun 03-May-26 23:08:51

That shows good willpower, NanKate 🙂.

I lost a pound last week, but I've overeaten this weekend so I'll have to ease up for the next couple of days before weigh-in on Tuesday evening.

Enjoy the bank holiday 😀.

Shirleyw Tue 05-May-26 04:30:48

Morning all….back from a week in Norfolk so now back on the wagon, back to basics till the next holiday in July. Shall weigh out all my food again and record. Just a gram or 2 over can make a difference to the scales can’t it?
Weather has been great, let’s hope it continues, have a good week 🏃🏻‍♀️‍➡️💪☀️

Allsorts Tue 05-May-26 06:01:40

Maybe, well done, it myst feel great getting in your jeans, there should be a health notice with leggings, wearing them I ignored the weight creeping on as most of us do, what is your recipe for chia chocolate pudding please.
Whiff, you have done brilliantly with your weight, like you I don't think there's short cuts, much as I want to lose it.
No weight loss for me this week but nothing has gone on which is encouraging. Inout ut on ten times faster than lose it.

TheSunRisesInTheEast Wed 06-May-26 20:02:31

I put on half a pound this week, feeling despondent about it all. So much delicious food and treats. Denying myself is miserable 😩. My overeating is definitely my reward system. I've been really busy, despite my aches and pains, gardening at home and MIL's, painting fences, washing fascias, cleaning garden furniture, it would have shifted some weight, but I ate cake, then biscuits, then I may have eaten some chocolate 😳. Tomorrow's another day 😐.

Whiff Thu 07-May-26 06:39:41

Just realised hadn't posted. Lost pound and quarter no idea how I managed that . But since the increase in my Clonazepam my arms are back under my control and my speech is back. Noticed only couple of days ago my walking is straighter unless I am tired. So must be moving faster. And can do all the exercises how they should be done .

Shirley lovely to have you back that's the great thing about this thread it's always here and everyone is welcomed . Losing weight isn't for sissies it's hard work . And you like the rest of us are doing it the hard way no short cuts for us and prepared to take months or years to achieve what we want .

CocoPops glad you have found something to control your IBS. Hopefully by gradually introducing foods back you can enjoy a more varied diet. But you are doing it the sensible way bit at a time .

I have found since turning veggie I am limited more eating out . Some places have veggie options but they contain chilli including curries . But I would never eat a curry out . What annoys me they have meat lasagne but no veggie lasagne. And yet veg are cheaper than meat. I can't eat chips or anything crunchy as it gives me blood blisters in my mouth.

I meet 2 from GN each month and have lunch we try different restaurant's. Going to a Greek restaurant last Friday in the month. I went there with the Wombles plenty of choice for everyone . Food was delicious and service excellent. Always the same request can you cut up my food in the kitchen . Spoon and fork to eat with and plenty of napkins. And drink in a cup or mug no glass. 😁.

Going veggie isn't an ethical choice but a choking issue . Haven't eaten meat for 6 years, poultry and fish a year . But I do like Quorn sausages,mince and chicken pieces.

Sun don't feel despondent about the half a pound . You know you can get it off. I can stick rigidly to my cal allowance and put on and other times over eat and lose. They is no rythme or reason why this happens. Our bodies do what they want 😂. I am happy if I only lose quarter of a pound . But even weighing yourself the same time everyday your weight changes.

Sun can't remember how you are losing weight? But I have to weight and count cals only way I can do it. If you don't count cals could you just try it for one day eating what you would do normally . I know it can take longer and writing it down and calculating the cals can seem boring but for me it's second nature been doing it since 2017. The book NanKate recommended is brilliant as it shows how much fat , protein,carbs and fibre in an item . And it can be shocking how many cals in ready made items even the smallest piece .

Allsorts you keep going and don't give up . It's easy to give up but pears don't .

MayBee hope you go to the gym and enjoy it . For me my idea of hell. My daughter goes to a gym twice a week one day using equipment and other combat training. She also does some weekends with members of classes she went to before both boys started school.

My 7 exercises plus my pedalling at home daily and my 2 exercise classes keep me going . Did I say I had joined a contemporary choir. So now pedalling I sing the songs we are learning . Last night we included 4 part harmony. To remember how my bit went as an Alto I found I was moving my head from side to side to kept in tune how we sang our bit .

Our choir leader gave us a song we will be learning in June 😱 never heard of it we had a go at the first verse it's very weird . But apparently popular on Britain's got talent but as I don't watch that sort of TV never heard it before.

Well hope I haven't missed anyone out or got my facts wrong 🤦🤦. Getting up now as I want to vote before breakfast ,need to make my next 6 dinners and cleaner coming just after 11.

Take care all and keep going . 🤸

NanKate Thu 07-May-26 07:21:02

I’m with you Whiff the only way for me to lose or maintain weight is by counting calories. I agree it can be tedious doing this but as time goes on you become quicker at doing it, mainly because if you repeat a meal, such as your breakfast you know exactly how many calories is in that meal.

Also my mantra ‘Eating Less for Life’ is the only way forward for me.

I occasionally eat more than I should, such as on Tuesday at my WI we had a 60s event plus an excellent Tea of 4 small sandwiches, two slices of cake being lemon sponge and coffee cake, scone cream and jam plus plenty of tea. I ate half at the event and half for my supper, delicious !

Shirleyw Fri 08-May-26 04:35:50

Thanks whiff & well done on your loss. I’d love to be able to sing , bet your enjoying the choir.
Lost a lb…happy with that….i find weekends are the hardest to be good, definitely mindset, I think when Friday comes I relax more yet I’m retired it shouldn’t make a difference, I suppose it’s all the years of working most of us looked forward to the weekends and it’s stuck in my mind still 😂
Weather is warming up, have a good weekend all.