Sh*t creek - is now in my rear view mirror...!

savingwannabe

Lovely i just read it! Onwards and upwards my friend. 

Irenadler

MovingForwards said:

I really enjoy helping, spotting gaps and suggesting fillers. That way knowledge is passed on, adapted and then that person goes on to help someone else.

I'm sure most of us are in denial about things, it's how we deal with other stuff and get up each morning.

A seed sown, fed and watered grows into something strong and beautiful as it receives positive interaction, the more positive interaction it receives, the bigger and stronger it gets. Then it can cope with wind, sun, hail, snow and anything coming it's way as the roots are firmly planted.
Absolutely no different to a human, only as adults we learn and make changes.

That's a lovely way to phrase it Babs, thank you!

Irenadler

MovingForwards said:

PS great new title!

Ta! I haven't gone back to read the first post until today, and realised how out of date it was (so edited), it really struck home where I have come from. Desperate with only £12 a week for food, stubbornly not applying for any other benefits, convinced I didn't need the extra help because I was clinging on to the job by my fingernails, but the DWP finally decided to do that step for me and assess me.... reality check. And now, I can pay the bills, and I can (just about) budget, and I can save!

longway2go

Irenadler said:

longway2go said:

Ren, I think you hsve some fab goals but do think you are being 2 hard on yourself about last year. If you have got a grip on your budget that is a skill that will last you a lifetime and a fantastic foundation to move forward with. 
I will be joining you with the weightloss and have a few... Ideas I use to help increase money in so just shout if I can help in anyway. 

Thank you LW2G   

As to budget, I was amazed I was doing it, although its slipped over Xmas, as has the diet!

I still haven't got on the scales yet, although, it is out of the cupboard and silently looking at me from its corner......

I'm with you on not getting the scales out. I will when my little person is better though hut until then I am eating what's needed to get through the day.
Love your thread name 😊

Irenadler

@longway2go: thank you!

I was going to change the title to something more genteel and ladylike, but, that's not really me! Ha! My family would fall about laughing....

I did drag out the scales, oh dear (in lieu of unladylike language!) & I am not going on a diet because every single one I have tried end up with me going off the rails. I am thinking about small habit changes instead, and I haven't even got my paws on that book about change 'Power of habit' yet. I AM going to do:

1. Not buying junk food/processed food/ready meals/sweet stuff in 2021. This also helps me stick to budget.
2. Because my will power lasts as long as a nanosecond if any of the above is in this place.
3. Logging my activity levels daily, e.g. how long the dog walk is, how long I cycle on the exercise bike, household chores....
4. Weighing myself daily - I thought I would try this aka Dr M Greger 'How not to diet' book from library - a ginormus thing which I have taken notes from (go me!)
5. Eating healthy as per HNTD. Some things I think might work for me from that:

a) Top 12/daily dozen for health - cruciferous veggies x 1 cup (broccoli, kale, cauliflower, cabbage, sprouts!)
                                                      berries x 1 cup
                                                      legumes x 2 cups (beans, peas, and more beans)
                                                      fruits x 3 cups (includes tomatoes!)
                                                      greens x 2 cups (lettuce, herbs, wilder cousins of lettuce, rocket, etc.)
                                                      other veggies x 1/2 cup especially mushrooms which can be 2 cups
                                                      flaxseeds - 1 or 2 dessertspoons
                                                      nuts/seeds 1/4 cup
                                                      herbs/spices esp. e.g. 1/4 teaspoon tumeric
                                                      whole grains x 3 e.g. wholemeal pasta 1/2 cup, brown rice, quinoa, cous cous, etc.
                                                       Fluids - water best x 5 glasses
and the most important - EXERCISE! 90 minutes moderate or 40 minutes vigorous. Every. Single. Day.

These are only rough guides from my notes and don't mean you have to eat all of it every day! Kind of maximum amounts. But getting moving is one of his key things.
Example of his: peanut butter (no added sugar sorry folks) + banana on brown bread = '4 cups'

There is way too much info in his book and no, I am not sponsoring him! Ha! I think he has a web-site which is nutrition facts or something, I will look up and add to my favourites so I can find it....

The other thing I am hoping for, is the whole food plant based cook from scratch healthier way of eating apparently lets you find your natural weight (i.e. what it would be without the junk). I am also going to keep an eye on my BMI - he says normal is 20-25 range, but, it would be better if we were all 20-22 range, Argh! Lets just say I am nowhere near that....

longway2go

Bmi of 20-22
I think my leg might be 🤣

doingitanyway

Love the new title too

Just in case it helps you I thought I might share my efforts at losing weight and getting fitter in 2020. I must get the book you mention as I think that is my natural way of tackling things that I struggle to get on top of.

So, I set a target of losing 20 kilos in a year. Did I do it? No, but I lost 9.5 kilos without dieting in a year. I am more than happy with that as I tend to underestimate the time a goal will take. Sometimes my weight stayed the same for ages weeks, then shifted with a new behaviour. 

The following are a few examples of new behaviours I introduced that shifted my weight when it had plateaued for a while:

Daily walks

A focus on nice vegetables

Shifted all eating to between 10am and 6pm

Fixed my bike and started cycling

Switched from crisps to toasted nuts (most of the time)

Only eating chocolate over 70% chocolate

Buying a soup maker and upping my veg intake (a new shift in the last week and 1 kilo off)

Diets do not work for me either. Eating this way I never felt deprived or rebellious or unhappy! On an MSE note I did not pay another organisation to assist either. I appreciate my way may not be your way but it worked for me so I thought I would share it.

I am sure you will find the best way for you as you are clearly knowledgeable about food. I wish you well with it

savingwannabe

OMG I'm so bad in comparison to you all. So far i am on a porridge diet. I blew it last night but am back on the wagon again today. I do need to eat more fruit and veg though. Ren this diet/eating plan of yours looks fab.

MovingForwards

It all looks good Ren but please do not weigh yourself every day, it's honestly not a good way to monitor what's going on.

Irenadler

longway2go said:

Bmi of 20-22
I think my leg might be 🤣

That made me giggle LW2G! Yes, I raise you - 2 leg's and a half bum cheek....