Milann's life keeps getting in the way.......

milann

I had a lovely unexpected trip out yesterday after work - I’m loving my early Friday finish 😀. There had been thunderstorms forecast but it was a beautiful afternoon and we decided to take a chance (umbrella and coats in tow) and go out for a drive as it was cool in the air conditioned car 🚘  We drove about an hour away and walked along the River Mersey on the opposite side to Liverpool - amazing views of the city - I love it there - a really wide path for bikes and people to walk so distancing was no problem. We walked through a park on the same stretch and there were some amazing models made from junk found in the river. There are some very imagination folk about. The bonus was we found a lovely ice cream shop and then a pub doing takeaway drinks. A cheeky cider was much appreciated - although the lack of loos wasn’t.....Luckily I had just the 1 drink and made it home with no embarrassing moments 😲☺️😂 There was a lovely sea breeze and it was great to go somewhere different. We had a takeaway when we were back home. So £15 spent on ice cream and burgers....but cheaper than the meal out we’d have had in normal circumstances.
My SlimmingWorld countdown finished this week and I had intended continuing and paying weekly £3.50 a week. Then I thought that’s £14 a month and I’ve been a member since 2012 and I’m back where I started - I have been at target for a couple of years and not had to pay during that time.....I daren’t even begin to calculate what I’ve spent in that time😱......since I’m not interested in the virtual groups - I’m paying far a website I rarely visit. So I’m going to go it alone. Somehow I think I thought paying my money to SW would magically make the pounds drop off. So I’ve made paper graphs, am taking photos of my food each day and will see if I can find a diary app to record and post my piccys to.....does anyone know if such an app exists. I took my Blood Pressure which is high again....the website told me to contact my GP, which I have no intention of doing as I’m not going on medication. Every time my weight goes up my BP follows. I know what I need to do and have done some calculations- if I loose 2lb a week I’ll be where I want to be just before my birthday in September- if I do 1/2lb a week it’ll take em to April next year. I’ve marked these finding on my graph paper and as long as the overall trend is down I’ll be ok. I’m looking at it all with a new mindset. I know I’ve written many posts like this before but this WILL  be the last fresh start. 

I had a letter from an old works pension and can cash it in July a small payout and what’ll work out around a tenner a week. So I need to do some research where to put it until I finish work. I’m not going to let it be frittered away. As such a small amazing could easily go into nothingness.

Sun_Addict

Have a look on the App Store for a food tracking app. There was one I used to use which was free, can picture it but can’t remember what it was called? Years ago a WW leader said it’s all about small changes and she was right. That’s what sticks not the fast fixes. I’m better if I can physically go and weigh in it’s the only thing that works for me.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Good luck with your weight loss Milann. I'm sure you can do it if you're determined. Doing a few food swops could help, swopping to low fat, etc. If you compare calories you can often find tasty options that are lower calorie than alternatives.

I'm glad you had a good walk by the river and you can't beat a sea breeze on your face .

beanielou

I am making no comment on the SW comments. I am exactly the same & just cannot stop eating rubbish. 

I think I said I had my picture taken as part of a lockdown project and all I am going to say is that I looked fat frumpy & far from fifty. Dire. No one to blame but myself. 

milann

I've just been looking at apps and couldn't make my mind up which to go for as they'd had various reviews. I've decided to keep it simple and do a weekly  photo album in my google photos with my in the title - I know what I'm doing with that and back it up with a paper journal as I still like paper and a pen and a pretty notepad - I find it much more satisfying and I'm known to get stressed with  technical gagdets.
I already use low fat milk, cheese and yoghurt and low fat spreads and oils. I don't take sugar in my drinks and I'll have an occasional drink. My meals are generally ok - an occasional take-away but most of my food is home made batch cooked. It's snacking on rubbish and mindless nibbling that's my downfall. I can't even blame eating out at the moment. I know I'm not exercising as much as I used to - I'm not walking half as much as my joints give me a lot of agro plus there's no swimming atm. I  have to admit I'm a tad wary of doing exercise videos as when I tried Zumba Gold and Tai Chi a while ago I ended up with a stress fracture in my femur head. I've missed my swimming and even missed my gym sessions - where I can do low impact exercise cycling.....I'm not up to cycling on the streets these days - I like the low seat bikes rather than those with a saddle.

beanielou

Chair yoga. 

HairyHandofDartmoor

Would a static exercise bike be low impact enough for you? Beanie's suggestion of chair yoga is a good one.

Can you snack on healthier food like grapes? If I want something sweet I find grapes and kiwi can be a good substitute for chocolate.

Sun_Addict

I've just remembered the name of the app - My Fitness Pal. I've used it in the past but not recently. I've been successful with WW and apart from a couple of blips have managed to stay within goal range for 18 years. I'm missing going to the real life meetings though and can't get on with the virtual ones. I've got the WW app and use it a lot, I pay £6.95 a month for it as I'm a Gold member. Whichever method you use you need to be in the right headspace or it doesn't work and most of all you mustn't deprive yourself of what you enjoy or you won't stick to it. If it's mindless snacking that's your downfall can you build in some small healthy snacking into your day, I always allow a quarter of my daily points allowance for snacks, I'd rather eat smaller meals and snack as my blood sugar levels can get very low if I don't eat little and often. You might have to be ruthless and not have bad snacks in the house so you're not tempted. I enjoy a biscuit with my morning coffee so buy the WW ones wrapped in packs of two, it's psychological I know but I wouldn't dream of breaking into a second packet - if I had a proper packet of biscuits I might be tempted to take a third one.

milann

Thanks for the ideas....I posted my 1st lot of photos onto my google photo app in a new album yesterday and really enjoyed filling in a lovely sequinned notebook I have as a journal - jotting down goals, and making it very visual with little silly hand drawn pictures...I think this’ll work for me. I used to just do the journal before I broke my arm and couldn’t hold a pen and it worked for me then.....so the photos and journal together might keep me motivated. I know I need to get my BP down though - I got quite a shock when I checked it yesterday and it was as high as it was years ago when I was at this weight. I’ll check My fitness pal out - I know a couple of people who have mentioned it.

I already snack on lots of fruit and have individually wrapped biscuits etc. I’ve just been eating one after another with other stuff thrown in for good measure 😳 but my headspace has moved and clicked in again - so fingers crossed. I want to loose at least a stone and a half then I’ll re evaluate - I’ll still be a stone heavier than I was in my younger days with that. It doesn’t sound a lot but I’m only 5 ft tall and fine boned so am carrying a lot more that I used to.
I’ll investigate chair yoga on line Beanie - I don’t know of anywhere that does it near me. It’s funny how you don’t miss things until you can’t do them.....I’m really missing swimming and exercise bike at the gym....it’s a lovely low one with a chair style seat rather than a saddle. I missed them each time I was recovering from various things and couldn’t go.....but sometimes when I could go I didn’t take full advantage......how contrary is that 🤔☺️

I’m quite excited as it’s looking as if we might be going to see dd and the gks in a few weeks time. Just waiting to have proposed dates finalised. I can’t wait 🤞😀

Sun_Addict

I’m like you small 5’1” and very small boned, I have to be at the low end of the ideal weight charts. I’m sure Joe Wicks does a chair based workout on You Tube, might be worth a look.

Great news on the visit to see DD and the GKs 🎉