Follow the Yellow Brick Road 2023

LadyWithAPlan

All v interesting and this kind of consistent approach really works 

I started my electric training and walking 2 or 3 x 5 miles to the gym plus daily beans and over 6 months I am definitely leaner 

debtfreeoneday

I like that approach of not taking away. 

SandyShores

I definitely want to be leaner LWAP, I'm planning to be there in 6 months too.  I'm building up slowly with the exercise, walking 1.5 miles twice a day minimum, at the gym twice a week and I've also got my hand weights and a new skipping rope.  

Me too debtfreeoneday, I can't do short periods of deprivation any longer - they just don't work for me these days.  I really wanted a proper latte coffee when I woke up but I've got a hot water with lemon instead.  I'll pop out for my walk and then come back for a nice latte with my breakfast.  Its not that I can't ever have it, just have to wait a bit.  Same with last night, I was watching TV and started wondering what snack to have, then realised it was after 8 pm.

MSE-wise my regular additional costs have been soy milk, fruit, veg and chocolate mainly.  The sourdough loaf was expensive (£2.75) but I sliced it up in the freezer and am taking out 2 slices a day.  I'm not going to continue with the pomegranates - the juice was £4.80 which feels far too much for something I don't really enjoy.  I watched a utube video to dissect the fruit I bought, it wasn't too difficult to get it all out, but I think I'd rather have an apple.  I'll keep on with the kiwi as a occasional treat - I've found some of the golden ones in Tesco £2.50 for 4, slightly more than I'd like to pay but they are delicious. 

Continuing with the Daily Goals

• 500 calorie deficit every daily x 21 weeks
• Use calorie counting app every day
• Eat only between 8 and 8
• Drink 3 glasses of cold water daily and one before morning coffee
• Oats for breakfast
• Lunch to incorporate beans/pulses or tuna/cottage cheese etc
• Apple/kiwi fruit daily and dark choc to avoid snacking on unhealthier things
• More veg
• Follow exercise plan
• Achieve goals quietly

SandyShores

Its only been about a week, but it feels like my goals are becoming habits.  I've also achieved well over an average of 10,000 daily steps daily and over 30 miles.  I weighed myself yesterday and it seemed like the scales had hardly budged.  But got on the scales this morning and well over 1lb lost, so that was a boost.  I know that body weight fluctuates according to hydration etc., but it was encouraging to see a bit of a result. 

SandyShores

Reflecting on my debt free journey today.  Almost 11 years ago I had my final lightbulb moment, it took 6 years to pay off our debts and get back on the property ladder and almost 5 years later I'm proud of where we are.  

savingholmes

SandyShores said:

Reflecting on my debt free journey today.  Almost 11 years ago I had my final lightbulb moment, it took 6 years to pay off our debts and get back on the property ladder and almost 5 years later I'm proud of where we are.  

Lovely to read. Huge congrats.

Well done on the steps too.

SandyShores

Thanks savingholmes.  It seemed much longer than six years, and would've been if it wasn't for some PPI successes mopping up the last of the debt and then a timely letter from a frozen pension fund providing a house deposit.  Thankful for the absolute perfect timing of it all before C19.

A little over 6k steps today as I've spent most of the day in the warm and dry.  Continuing well with the calorie counting app and the 5-a-day portions are off the scale daily.  That's definitely a change for the better, alongside the 8-8 eating window.  Love the sour dough bread, but not sure about the soy milk so I'll give it a miss this week.  Week one is in the bag, now to keep it going for another 23.

I sorted and tidied a few things away today, it makes such a difference.  Did some work and uploaded a few things / made an almost instant sale on V1nted and another one on the bay of flea - so £10 should be coming my way soon.  I definitely need to get rid of more stuff - the cupboards and drawers are bursting at the seams and I'm also ending the month with a £500 credit card balance. Whoops!  Will try harder next month.

debtfreeoneday

Always good to reflect on how far you’ve come. Well done. 

SandyShores

Thanks debtfreeoneday it really is.  Its easy to get bogged down with small moans, when I'm actually so grateful to be where we are now.  

Had to use my lunch break to post my parcels, and pop to the Chemist next door.  Busy day at work too and didn't have time for my second walk, so only 5000 steps today.  But to fair it would have difficult to find a reasonable gap in the weather.

savingholmes

5000 steps is good. 

You'll clear the CC...