Weight loss and healthy eating for a debt free life

debtfreewannabe321

@kajikita I've used a blue light discount to get some g0ust0 meals ordered so haven't meal planned for next week as such but kinda have 🤔😅. This week was all about getting creative with leftover Christmas foods. 

I went shopping for a small top up today, made the mistake of going to Mr W as it was the nearest to the gym and spent a small fortune on salad, vegan yoghurt and brown rice 🙈. Should have diverted to Mr T really. We parked near an Aston Martin and a Ferrari (not even kidding) at that point I should have thought - it's too expensive here 🤣.

I have just come back from the gym @RedLipstick and I'm lucky that at the one we chose to join it's full of normal people like me 😅 so if I am not feeling great (I'm recovering from a chesty cold at the mo) I literally walk on the treadmill at a pace that raises my heart rate but isn't particularly high impact and I bet a lot of calories weren't burned either 🙈 however my goal is to get back into moving full stop really. When I had the foot pain I was getting to the point where I was too scared to even walk on it some days. So walking on the treadmill is enough for me, and when this chesty cough goes I will probably resort back to my 20 minutes on the elliptical trainer instead. 
I don't lift weights but I will sometimes use the weight machines. And I swim at the gym too and I was going to aqua aerobics once a week but I'll have to re-think that one as when I start my new job I won't get a day off during the week any more. I also use the sauna and steam room. This morning I did 15 minutes in the steam room then cold shower and straight into the sauna, where I'd leave every 7-8 minutes (struggled to get to 10 minutes today) and cold shower and back in again until I'd done my 20 minutes. Very refreshing (read that as !!!!!! cold 😅🥶❄️).

I'm fasting, I think I'm on day 3 or 4 🤔 feeling particularly hungry this morning. I'll break fast with a green salad and some quinoa and hummus... I have lots of supplements to take now too as I've officially given up with the Dr's as they were so unhelpful. I have the cinema later so I may be naughty and get a small popcorn. But generally if I stick to fasting I've had good success on weight loss anyway even with some naughty treats. 

redofromstart

Hello everyone, and thank you for kick starting this again.

I lost a lot of weight last year, but I didn't do enough exercise so now I am trying to tone.  I also had some blood tests which identified a problem, and having done my research I do need to take the tablets as I have already done all of the lifestyle changes.  I don't want to think how bad the scores would have been a year ago though!  My blood pressure has at least gone back to normal ranges as a result of my efforts.

I do go to SW (fat club) but mostly because it is a giggle with nice people, it gets me out of the house and it is free as I am target. The new revamp launched this week and actually looks like a better fit for me which might help me to shift a last half stone if I actually stick to it.  I want to measure myself again, haven't done that for a long time but the numbers on the tape measure mean more than the scales.  That said I only gained a pound over Decembers excesses - it does help that I don't drink any more.  I don't generally eat a lot of processed stuff, and am trying to focus on protein/beans/vegetables going forwards. 

Things I have been doing that have helped me to tone that are fairly simple to incorporate into daily routine -  Bad knees make squats a lunges a no but I have been doing assisted squats every time I make a cup of tea, so squatting holding onto the edge of the sink while the kettle boils, and then a few rounds of heel lifts/toe lifts.  I also have some twisting leg lifts I do when my bath is running at night.  The combination is helping slim my legs and waist I think.  I have started to do some arm work with some very light dumbbells too.

I have to confess I have never been to a gym or exercise classes.  Slightly intimidated by the idea (what do I wear, what do I do, I don't like new places), and it would be rather time consuming due to my location.  I do own an exercise bike (used fairly regularly), a treadmill (not used, covered in sawdust in the workshop), and a Bowflex M3 which is an Elliptical/Stepper blend which I am not currently fit enough to do even on the most basic setting.  My aim is to be able to do the full 14 minutes session on that without giving up and cursing my previous life choices.

beanielou

I am creeping in. I’m not starting fully til February as my mum is having a big operation a week today & then coming to live with me for a couple of weeks. I will loose my wee lodgers income for January so money will be tight and stress levels high I think. 

Cheering you all on. 

debtfreewannabe321

@redofromstart years ago, in a former life (at least it feels that way) I used to do yoga really regularly. I'm super flexible. Turns out that's due to hyper join mobility 🤪 so I gave that up as things kept popping out where they shouldn't (shoulders and knees mostly lol) but my gym clothes are basically my yoga clothes from circa 2003 😅 I haven't bought anything new. My trainers are what I wear to work. And whilst I cover some nice leggings that others wear I think no way until I am sure I'll stick at the gym regularly. 
However, I had to throw one pair of old leggings away yesterday because as I was walking on the treadmill I was - walk, walk, hoick leggings up, walk walk and hoick again for the whole 26 minutes 🤣 so I gave in and chucked them. I have one pair left.... perhaps I'll look in the Jan sales for another one to add to them. Ps I also regularly curse previous life choices. 🙈
@beanielou good luck with mum's op, we'll be here when you're ready 💖.

debtfreewannabe321

Evening all, how's everyone doing? I've had an okay day with the diet. Fasted until 12 and stopped eating after a snack around half 7. Some naughty bits in today's diet though as we've so much leftover from Christmas and things have short dates on. So aside from healthy-ish meals (salad sandwich, lasagne) I also had some carrot cake and crisps. Not too bad though, it could have been worse. Had healthy snacks too of fruit, seeds, nuts and a vegan yoghurt. 

Trying to drink lots of water too so had around four bottles of water so far. 
Went for a walk for some exercise as the gym was shut today. 

Really hoping all this 'trying' to be good translates to a loss on the scales next week. 🤞🏻

KajiKita

Didn’t get any yoga stretching done today, but did do chair squats and free weights. Only 7.8K steps but but that’s not so bad on a day when I felt tired after a lateish night yesterday. 😊

Sticking with the GG hacks - I haven’t been falling asleep on the sofa so maybe it’s helping … 🤷‍♀️😊 I shall persist for at least two weeks. 

KK

redofromstart

I've done my basics but have offset that with still on 'using up' stuff.

I was gifted some resistance bands today so I can restart my physio. I want to be able to risk shoes with heels in time for a couple of summer events. I fit in some lovely dresses again but they don't work with flat shoes or boots and the ankle of doom.

i will measure and weigh in the morning. 

RedLipstick

Not much here, almost all day staring on screen trying to make my dissertation move even a tiny bit per day, deadline is coming and I still have a lot of coding and writing to do. Plus, I'm back to work on Monday. Today I've finally agreed with myself that I have picked a horrible topic - personally I've found it very interesting as it's relevant to my work and interests, but I truly thought it will be challenging - 5, maybe 6 out of 10, it really grew arms and legs and it's more like a solid 8 or even 9.  :'(

Anyway, loved the assisted squads idea, so that's me with circa 4k steps today during a wee walk outside, and few squads in while waiting on the kettle to boil for coffee in the morning and 3-4 cups of tea during the day so not a bad result. Hope I will be able to move tomorrow! 🤞🏻

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello all, 

I've joined the thread as I have put on at least 2 stones in the last two years and last year was particularily bad year. I've had a rocky start to 2026 Fast 800 as I was ill yesterday but today have been a bit more on it. Trying to keep my fasting periods to 8:16 but may need to adapt as necessary the time window to eat as I do like my food. I tried this last year but too many things were going on then but life is calmer now so giving it another go. Current mini goal is to reach the end of the first of 12 weeks having committed properly to it. 

Am also part way through C25K with my eldest as part of his Duke of Edinburgh physical bit. Today was meant to be 25 min straight run but it really wasn't my day so it was run, pause, run, pause but still made the total run time just with a lot of jeffing in between. Still not feeling quite right so thats my excuse! 

I do like colourful trackers as a motivator so I must admit to purchasing a pdf file which had a day for each month to colour in. My goal is to be active everyday for a minimum of 30 mins whether it is running, walking or some other activity such as the gym. Yesterday was an evening walk with OH and today was the run. Tomorrow is hopefully a beach walk with OH. 

debtfreewannabe321

Evening all, @Queen_of_the_Hive I'm also trying fasting again. The last time I tried it didn't really do much for me aside from make me hungry. The time before that though, I lose nearly two stone. So I'm giving it another go and if it fails for me again I'll think about joining somewhere like SW. 
I've been fasting all week so far and my eating window has been 12-8pm. So 16:8 too like you. At one point I got the fasting up to 20:4 for a good detox. That feels really unachievable right now and I'm struggling with 16:8 🤣🤔. Today's been okay though I have been keeping my food diary and noting how I feel after eating. Salt is a big trigger for me for tummy ache and generally feeling unwell. I had sausage and mash and I felt awful afterwards so I actually stopped eating at 7 today. Then spent the last hour and half drinking copious amounts of water trying to flush it out of me 🙄 what I wouldn't give for my 30 year old metabolism right now....!