30lbs to lose... Started AGAIN yesterday (Darn Lockdown Snacking)

@MommaGemz You still needed Tylenol and lamented we are still stuck in a Pandemic but you managed to stick to a good eating plan! Bravo!
I was having a day too where I’m ready for this to be over! I feel like it could’ve been over a while back if everyone would just be consistent wearing masks and social distancing. It’s frustrating.

As to your question about a day coming up in August that will be challenging, that will be Friday, my husband's birthday. The kids are coming into town. We’ll be having cake and special meals. I’m going to try to just keep the damage to one day and get back on track the next. Easier said than done for me!!

@kcd394 I’m so impressed you can get in your steps walking the floors of your apartment! That’s commitment!

@NadiaMayl How was the back pain today? It’s hard to get motivated to do anything when your back hurts! Maybe some yoga stretches will loosen it up enough to take the edge off.

Happy Weekend, everyone!

This heat! I'm going to start cooking at night when it's cooler, I think. I can barely move in the day, it's so warm.

I might make some mini crustless veggie quiches or something like that - something I can keep in the fridge and graze on, that is perhaps a bit more balanced than my existing grazing options.

@clutterqueen Getting back on the wagon after a day off is always tough, but you can do it. We'll be here if you need any support as you do!

@kcd394 I put on weight when living with my ex because he did most of our cooking and always made equal portions. He could never understand that being female and shorter, if we ate the same, it would be too much for me... I think as long as long as you're aware of your sliding doors moment, you can make sure you continue to make good choices.

@MommaGemz I have a couple of potential good news/bad news days coming up in August. Good news = celebrate with food. Bad news = comfort eat.

What I've done is pre-planned a couple of 'decadent' meals, i.e. treat dinners that look like they should have more calories than they actually do. I have them in reserve for when I need them.

Ok third times a charm... i tried posting last night, mustve hit done and not post reply... tried again a minute ago and did hit done instead of post reply... lol

This weekend is proving to be an unexpected struggle as my boyfriends mom is cooking for us and she made cornbread and brownies to have at dinner. She also made roasted green beans which i had extra of and some potaoes and onions and some chicken. I just had a small piece of cornbread and just one bite of the boyfriends brownie. At lunch she made sandwiches and I had some chips and salsa but limited myself to one serving of the chips.

I wasnt very helpful with the counters and sink and the old ones were off before i got there Friday so no before and after shots from me. They're still working on it today. Lots of talking and deciding how to mark it and cut it... then mat noticed the one piece of the counter is an inch too long (after they've planned out where the sink goes etc lol). So pause while they trim the whole thing down an inch and remark... finally by dinnertime they had the hole for the sink cut out and adjusted so that the sink fits. Now they have to attach the two pieces of counter and mount the sink (no room to get in there and do it from underneath) then put the whole thing on top and secure it... haven't been up there yet to see how far they got this morning.

Anyway by dinner last night i realized I'd been incredibly lazy. Only had 1250 steps. So mat and I went outside for a very long walk through some woods and the neighborhood etc. We were gone an hour and 40 minutes and went over 8k steps so I ended up going 10k steps yesterday despite not moving most the day. Still got to bed before 10:30.

Its my weigh in day but I don't have my scale here so I used mats. His weighs me a bit heavier I think... anyway last week I think I was either 193 or 192.7 ish. Today his says 191.6. Small progress but still progress. Feeling a little sluggish as it's that TOM for me and I'm feeling bloated. Excited to see what my own scale says but won't be on it til Tuesday morning.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! I'm just so glad I'm not working. Worked the last two Saturday's and the two 6 day work weeks back to back were a little mentally taxing.

@MommaGemz @clutterqueen Sorry you've both had a few rough days.

I've been keeping all excursions very essential. The only shops I've set food inside have been a pharmacy and a post office and I was panicky leaving my home on both occasions. I'm lucky in that I don't need a dental check up yet, but like everyone, my time will come... I can totally understand why it was such an unpleasant experience for you, @clutterqueen. It sounds like it was fairly routine and you therefore hopefully don't have to go back for a good while though?

It does sound worrying, @MommaGemz. Kids pick up bugs with such regularity, I think there are going to be a lot of 'just in case' Covid tests done on children this year, especially if schools go back here in the fall as planned. The trouble with Covid-19 is most of the symptoms are common symptoms of something else. I guess all you can really do is remind yourself of that each time one of your children runs a temperature. Of course it needs a watchful eye, but it's going to be much more likely it's not The Worst Case Scenario.

Great work both of you on not responding with bad food choices. It takes a lot of effort to not reach for that familiar crutch and instead to deal with the emotions triggering that response.

I have really struggled with the weather over the last few days. Today I will admit I had a shower and two cold baths. Running my wrists under cold water wasn't enough, and a bath is the fastest way to regulate your body temperature.

Breakfast and lunch were very good (I had 5 different types of fruit and veg, and the meals were as planned/pre-logged) but I gave up at dinner and just ate whatever was edible out of the fridge without any prep. Still within calories and macros weren't that bad, but I just couldn't face putting the oven on.

We've been promised storms this week which I am dubious about, but if we get one, I will be so, so excited.

As much as I hate this weather, on one tiny tiny level deep down, the fact that there is something I am struggling with more than eating a reasonable amount of food feels like a back-handed tiny win. Right now, the biggest enemy is the heat, rather than my lack of control around food.

@MommaGemz scary!! Glad his temp didn’t go up any more. Probably just one of those strange summer viruses. But given current conditions, it’s extra stressful.
My back has been hurting for nearly two years and have seen several physiotherapists. I’m ready for an orthopedic doctor so I have to make an appointment to my GP to ask for referral. And then see.... it’s just frustrating because I can’t work out as much as I’d like to. And I don’t sleep well from the pain. Plus it’s no fun to live with chronic pain. 🤷🏻‍♀️
Other than that, summer finally arrived in NL! I’m enjoying the heatwave! The weigh-ins are also going well. We took my oldest son for ice cream last night and I managed to say NNOOOO! 😝😊
Have a good day all.

@MommaGemz, I can’t imagine having small kids now and wondering whether every fever or sore throat is Covid! Not to mention just not being able to do so many everyday things with your kids that we all took for granted! I just wish everyone could buy into wearing masks and wearing them properly( no noses hanging out) and we could put this virus in the rear view mirror! Yes, if I had it to do all over, I’d definitely postpone the dentist appt. Luckily, it was just a check up and I had no cavities or need for anything but a regular cleaning. I didn’t make the next appt. I told them I’d wait and see what’s happening in six months. It’s so hard putting your life on hold. I haven’t gotten together with a single friend in months. Mostly because they aren’t very careful and eat in restaurants etc. I am getting together with a friend who is as anxious about it as I am. We are going to get together and sit at the lake 12 feet apart and just talk and relax.
And I want to also say thank you @MommaGemz because you are helping us ALL stay accountable and giving us all encouragement! That’s so important now when many of us ( ME!!!) feel so isolated otherwise!!

@NadiaMayl Have you considered trying yoga? When I had herniated discs in my back years ago( I had 3 but only felt the one in my cervical spine) yoga was the ONLay thing that brought me relief. Before that when my neck went into painful spasms that hurt so bad I couldn’t stand it, the only relief was when I took enough flexeril( prescription anti inflammatory) to make me go to sleep. Otherwise I couldn’t sleep. Well, you can’t take that every day and keep your job( I was teaching then). I didn’t want to take OxyContin or anything like that( even though one dr wrote me a prescription even after I told her I’d never take it) because it was chronic pain and I was afraid of addiction. I tried 2 different physical therapists and got no relief. Finally, I tried some yoga classes. It took a few weeks of classes but eventually I noticed I was considerably better and then eventually all better. Some things I couldn’t do in the classes because my shoulders were way too tight due to the c4 herniation.
There are many online yoga classes now and some are specifically for back pain. Especially gentle yoga or restorative yoga. Word of caution though. When you stretch with an injury, it’s okay to feel a LITTLE discomfort. You don’t want to stretch to the point of pain. Back off when you feel pain.
What made me try yoga? Going to an orthopedist and in less than 5 minutes after looking at my MRI wanted to do surgery. If I wasn’t willing to do surgery, I was wasting his time was what I got from him. I left crying. Good luck! I’m cheering for you! Keep us posted! Also, congrats on passing up the ice cream! Not easy to do! It’s one of my favorite things!

@thelastnightingale I’m so sorry this heat is causing you some misery! How hot is it there? Is it humid as well? I think my thyroid has dipped a little again because I’m not feeling the heat this summer. It can be 93 degrees and I’m perfectly content to sit outside in it for 2 hours. Of course, I’m sitting in the shade because I don’t need any more wrinkles!!

@kcd394 congrats on the treadmill! I’ve had one( a NordicTrack) for over 14 years( it’s in storage right now. We only have room for my spin bike in the apt. And the fitness center here has treadmills. If only I could be safe going there again)
Some people say they get bored with a treadmill. I never have. I love inventing new workouts and challenges for myself. Pyramiding up and down with either speed or incline. Mixing it up with a minute of high intensity speed a few times. You’re going to love it! It’s the best way to become a super fast walker or to improve running speed in my opinion. Just don’t overdo it in the beginning. The rule of thumb for training is to only add 10% a week. If you can easily do 2 miles, then Only add .2 miles the next week. That way you can stay injury free! (Provided you adequately stretch esp the calves to prevent plantar fasciitis). I’m excited for you!!

@MommaGemz Glad you figured out your body needs protein at breakfast! If I only eat carbs at breakfast, I feel awful.

My day:
Exercise:✅🏃‍♀️
Tracked calories: ✅
Under Calories: ✅
I usually eat back a decent amount of my exercise calories. I’d rather lose more slowly than have my body get used to bigger deficit. BUT I wear a HRM several times to get a more accurate idea of how many calories I’m actually burning. I find that treadmills, spin bikes, ellipticals all greatly overestimate the number of calories I burn compared to what my HRM says, even when it tracks my heart rate as well and I input my weight.
Sleep well everyone!

Guess who woke up today with a BMI of 29.9? A whole week earlier than planned!

I appreciate my weight might be artificially low on account of being dehydrated, but even if I'm slightly heavier, whatever I lose in the next week should cover that, so I've met my first big goal.

SW: 207.2
CW: 174.4
GW: 145.3

That's another 29.1lb to go, so a little over two stone, but I feel in a good place to make it happen. My eating habits and portion control are so much better and I have beaten the 'settling point' which was around 183lb.

Weather was awful last night. I abandoned all attempts at sleeping and instead took a long, cold bath and went for a lie down next to the fan. Well fans, actually. I figured if I couldn't sleep, getting some rest was the next best thing.

We were promised thunderstorms at 4am, but they never happened. Sad about that.

@MommaGemz @clutterqueen Temperature is in the 30s (celsius) and the best I can hope for in the next fortnight is high 20s. For the record, I'm happiest in a range of -5 to 5. I'm not built for summer weather...

Got some meal prep done (the advantage of not being able to sleep due to the heat) so have a head start on the day, food-wise. I've discovered I adore fresh pineapple. It's a pain to cut up, but it's worth it. Definitely going to try and buy some more in my next grocery order.

@kcd394 I usually have a chocolate protein bar at breakfast time, sometimes eggs if I plan in advance. Cheese is also an option - it's not very British, but it's perfectly acceptable in mainland Europe.

I've never made curry before - having to use so many different spices puts me off. I just worry it would be a lot of work for something that might not taste very nice (due to my sheer lack of experience in cooking curry). I do still have daal on my list of things to try to make though, as it seems very adaptable!

@clutterqueen Snap - I wear a sports watch all day to estimate my burn. In the past, when I went to the gym, the machines never gave a helpful indication, probably because they were set up for a 'standard' gym user! I know many people reckon sports watches like Fitbits and Garmins aren't accurate, but the numbers seem to work for me.

@MommaGemz I've only had that kind of dizziness when my body has been starving or if I've pushed myself too far physically. Not a doctor, but my guess is you didn't fuel enough beforehand, and you probably had a harder session than you thought, what with the temperature being what it is. More protein can never hurt when you're working out as regularly as you are, especially as it's a macro you don't find easy to hit anyway.