*sigh* this may take a while

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Alchemilla said:

I really enjoyed reading over Christmas but hadn't sorted my login so couldn't post.
It is really interesting to read your reflections on your job and the NHS.
Hoping you all stay Covid-free in '22.

Thanks  Yes, fingers crossed!

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Morning!  So far, so good.  We haven't been spending and I've done 2 extra shifts in the last week to help with our Christmas hangover.  Had 3 alcohol free days and did 10K steps every day over the last week.  Shifted 2lb, which is a bit rubbish, but I wasn't religiously calorie counting so not surprising!

mark55man

Each to their own OSHDTH, but both my other half and I have had some success with Michael Mosely's 800 diet - basically a 12 week programme on low carb (but not quite Keto).  Its a new set of meals (mainly very tasty) but you get to enjoy extra veg and cauli rice, while those not participating can have extra carbs / puddings. 

Anyway I will leave it there, as if my many years has taught me anything its don't comment on weight mattered matters to anyone , and certainly don't imply your way is better
  

EssexHebridean

Ey-up OhSh... - glad to hear you had a lovely (if busy!) Christmas, and that's a cracking summary you've posted - it must feel quite something to look back and see how far you've come? I certainly hope so anyway! 

A radical outlandish thought for you - do you think perhaps those odd lbs you've been losing and gaining again for all that time might perhaps just need to stay, and be accepted? Bodies DO change over time, and the weight that was right for you some years ago may well not be now - it could be worth considering as let's face it, we do know that yo-yo'ing isn't the healthiest way to go at things... Perhaps an alternative way forwards would be to focus on adding in more fruits and veggies, and then keeping up with the things you're already looking at - cutting back on booze, moving a bit more when you can etc? Just an alternative viewpoint to think about maybe - I loathe the way diet culture tries to hard at this time of year to make us all feel like we need "fixing" and genuinely don't think it often benefits health in anything like as positive a way as they try to frame it as - often quite the opposite! (Have you seen the "30 Plant based challenge" that a lot of folk are talking about at the moment? I was reading about it yesterday and have decided to give it a go - out of curiosity as much as anything, it sounds like a fun challenge!) 

Brilliant that you are in a position to get the finances straight from Christmas so swiftly too - that in itself is a measure of how much progress you've made, isn't it! well done! 

savingholmes

Good luck with your health, exercise and alcohol free / reduction plans. Such a lot going on this time of year.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

mark55man said:

Each to their own OSHDTH, but both my other half and I have had some success with Michael Mosely's 800 diet - basically a 12 week programme on low carb (but not quite Keto).  Its a new set of meals (mainly very tasty) but you get to enjoy extra veg and cauli rice, while those not participating can have extra carbs / puddings. 

Anyway I will leave it there, as if my many years has taught me anything its don't comment on weight mattered matters to anyone , and certainly don't imply your way is better
  

Thanks Mark, I have actually got that book.  800kcal scares me a bit as I like to eat a lot, so I've chickened out of trying it so far
I think it would automatically make me drop snacking and booze though (as no way to sneak those in within 800), so that would be a good thing!

ohdearhowdidthathappen

EssexHebridean said:

Ey-up OhSh... - glad to hear you had a lovely (if busy!) Christmas, and that's a cracking summary you've posted - it must feel quite something to look back and see how far you've come? I certainly hope so anyway! 

A radical outlandish thought for you - do you think perhaps those odd lbs you've been losing and gaining again for all that time might perhaps just need to stay, and be accepted? Bodies DO change over time, and the weight that was right for you some years ago may well not be now - it could be worth considering as let's face it, we do know that yo-yo'ing isn't the healthiest way to go at things... Perhaps an alternative way forwards would be to focus on adding in more fruits and veggies, and then keeping up with the things you're already looking at - cutting back on booze, moving a bit more when you can etc? Just an alternative viewpoint to think about maybe - I loathe the way diet culture tries to hard at this time of year to make us all feel like we need "fixing" and genuinely don't think it often benefits health in anything like as positive a way as they try to frame it as - often quite the opposite! (Have you seen the "30 Plant based challenge" that a lot of folk are talking about at the moment? I was reading about it yesterday and have decided to give it a go - out of curiosity as much as anything, it sounds like a fun challenge!) 

Brilliant that you are in a position to get the finances straight from Christmas so swiftly too - that in itself is a measure of how much progress you've made, isn't it! well done! 

Thanks EH... I could certainly chose to accept the extra 10lb as my BMI is 23 and considered 'healthy'.  The reason I try not to, is that I know those extra lbs are due to my bad habits of booze and snacking and that it would be healthier for me to cut those back a bit.  Hopefully I'm consistent with my lifestyle changes, the lbs will take care of themselves

I am pleased with our progress over the last few years, we haven't been as efficient as we could have been as we're a bit spendy, but the general direction has been good

ohdearhowdidthathappen

savingholmes said:

Good luck with your health, exercise and alcohol free / reduction plans. Such a lot going on this time of year.

Thanks SH

ohdearhowdidthathappen

So, this week hasn't been quite so good health wise.  Did do my 2 nights off booze, but my work days I only did 5K steps.  Hoping to make up for it with an active weekend.  Lost 1lb mainly due to my snacking!  There's definitely a link to my booze intake and calorie intake.... I easily stuck to 1400kcal on non booze days, but loads more on the other days!  

Finances are ok, sticking to budget so far and been doing the extra shifts as planned.

DH has found out what his team are getting for their bonus next month and it's a nice amount (19%), he's hoping the management % will be the same which would be a good amount (even allowing for the huge amount handed to the taxman) and set us up nicely for the year, savings for holidays, Christmas, house rens etc.  We'll see in a few weeks

enthusiasticsaver

Your savings are looking good and great news about the bonus.