Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Postmenopause => Topic started by: holidaylover on March 15, 2022, 01:03:22 PM
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I don't know what is happening to my body, it no longer feels like my own. I just can't seem to lose weight, in fact I'm eating no more but the weight seems to be piling on. So.... I'm blaming hormones! I don't want to go to a diet club as such, as I find them too restrictive, (and expensive), but just wondered if anyone has any tips, ideas, and success stories they could share to spur me on. What works for you? What does everyone eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner? I really need to get into my swimwear for my summer hols. I also know I need to up the exercise but my post menopause laziness is stopping me!
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How do you know if your weight is rising, if that's not a silly question. Years ago my apron dropped so I look fatter, however, my clothing hasn't altered.
I begin the day with black T with 2 sugars; as well as a good quality muesli
Mid-morning - a biscuit with more tea, or a banana or grapes
Lunch - usually a pizza for quickness; sometimes a good quality cheese with biscuits and grapes
Mid-afternoon is my hardest time. I have found recently that shop bought biscuits cause intense bloating ! as does a cuppa >:( so I've had to trial different liquids as I need to remain hydrated.
Grapes ;-)
DH cooks an evening meal - sometimes it's pancakes for quickness, or he reheats curry or mince mixture. Or he will chop good quality chicken into slices to stir fry with a lot of veg. either fresh or tinned. He uses a lot of tinned tomatoes.
Make a list of what you really like to eat? I have found in recent years that if I wait after my main meal, I often don't want a pudding. Allowing my meal to begin transit fills me up sufficiently.
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How do you know if your weight is rising, if that's not a silly question.
I look in the mirror!!!! Then look right away again. Clothes tight, that's another sign. Think I might try giving up carbs for a while. I know what you mean about the bloating too. Sometimes there's no rhyme nor reason to it, it could be anything I eat, like you a cup of tea. I now start the morning with a mug of hot water, how exiting eh? I think I want a quick fix that puts me on the right track. I'm extremely easily swayed and led down the wine and nibbles path.
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Hey holidaylover,
I'm like you - can't understand where I've disappeared to. Who is this significantly plumper (and older looking woman) in my mirror?!
Anyway, tried one week of slimming world and gained half a pound....I've done sw in the past pre hitting the menopause and lost well so this was frightening and disheartening.
I've now done 2 weeks on the 5:2 diet as put forward by Dr M Moseley many years back. I'm making sure I am sensible on my normal days and not eating loads of daft stuff to make up for the 2 days when you eat restricted calories! (warning.....be prepared and look up recipes to make...don't just wing it).
I've lost 4 1/2 lbs and 2 " off my waist. It's a start.
I'm not saying it will be for everyone and it might not keep working for me but I'm encouraged to keep at it as nothing else (cutting out choc, bread, in fact anything that made the day good!) hasn't worked.
I'm going back to the gym today after a 6 month break so I'll see if that helps in combination with the diet. Previously I had made cut backs calories wise and was going to the gym 3 x a week and nothing was happening! Not a damned thing.
I reckon I need to lose a further 2 stones so it's going to be a long haul. I'm also thinking of signing up for some H.I.I.T classes once I've been back at the gym a while as this is supposed to be fab for us ladies of a certain age who need to shift the weight.
Wishing you good luck!
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If you find the answer do let me know. The only way I can stay slim is to be on what feels like a permanent diet. Until recently I've been able to eat anything I liked and not gain weight. I just do the obvious things - cook from scratch where possible, cut down on sugary, fatty and processed foods, eat more fruit and veg. I also think the amount you move can make a big difference.
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Pepski, well done on the weight loss. My daughter does slimming world and has done extremely well, which she incorporates with a very strict excercise regime. I've been reading about Dr Mosely a lot recently. I'm not a gym bunny at all, might be if I was thinner!!! I'm looking to loose about 2 stones as well. I get so cross with myself that I've allowed the weight on in the first place. sheila99, I also cook most things from scratch, and I know I must get moving more. This week I decided I would cut out all carbs (keto diet), so I'll see how that goes, fine so far, two days in!!!! I might struggle at the weekend without a wine so may allow myself that as a treat.
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How are you doing holidaylover? Keto intrigues me...how are you finding it?
I'm a bit stuck and didn't lose this week, just stayed the same. I probably scraped it as my normal days were harder to control - we had a friend for tea one day and I made pudding. Seeing as I only need to be in the same room as sugar or chocolate to gain weight these days I am gobsmacked I didn't put back the 4 1/2 lbs by osmosis.
I also taught another friend to bake homemade bourbon biscuits = waste of time in my honest opinion but he loves them! so I gave in and ate 3...only then did I work out they were over 300 cals each!! Bu99er it. Also didn't make it to the gym as no sooner did I get changed than MIL fell off a chair and banged her head - ended up being a real week of pushing my buttons what with lots of things with work going wrong too.....couldn't make it up.
Anyway, back on it today. A month til we go away and I haven't dared try my shorts on yet!!! There will be no baking this week.......!
- hope you are doing ok.
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Hi Pepski, It's been one week now and I have managed without any carbs. The weekend, however, was made more bearable by a good few glasses of rose wine, which is certainly not allowed on a keto diet, but heyho! I usually bake at weekends too, pancakes/scones for breakfasts and biscuits to have along with our coffee. I have had family in and out all weekend and I have been cooking for them, (creamy mash, garlic bread, pizzas, sausage rolls and lots of crisps and nibbles) so I am quite pleased with myself, as none of it touched my lips! Eating lots of veg, salads, eggs, salmon, avocados, chicken and I am actually enjoying it. I am also making myself drink lots more water than I usually do. I never weigh myself but just go on how my clothes fit, and I certainly feel a lot less bloated. When I feel the need for a snack I have been having a handful of almonds (and now and again some sultanas, which are not keto friendly either!). I'm trying to not get too serious about following the diet to the T, as that's when I end up quitting, but I think if there is a goal to aim for (upcoming holiday) that does help. We are not away until July, but the thought of me in a swimsuit at the moment is enough to put me off food altogether!!
Hope your MIL's head is ok.
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You are so good holidaylover! I was salivating just reading the things that hadn't passed your lips!
Well done.
MIL's head is fine...her temper isn't! She is increasingly frustrated by ageing ( turns 89 this year) & if truth be told her memory is really slipping.I know the signs as my Mum had vascular dementia in her later years. Very very sad.
I didn't lose weight on the scales again this week but my waist is now down 3 "! I have been v stuck in my chair with end of year accounts & I know that as my calories are so much lower ( haven't been silly at all apart from 2 hot cross buns which I counted for heavens sakes!!) so hope next wk when I'm active again I will get results. My body plays tricks these days - damn it.
I kind of wish I had til July like you to get the weight dropping more fluidly as the thought of me being fat & frumpy in shorts is making me think of Lofty in It Ain't half hot Mum but at the same time I am really glad we are having a break soon. It's been a long 2 years without a change of scene as we love exploring new places etc.
I'm sticking with 5:2 as I feel better and doing under 1600 cals on my normal days. I'll look at lowering the 1600 this wknd I think but resigned to a slow plod. Gym today ( dare I mention it going on what happened last time?!) as accounts all done. Wish me luck!
Have a lovely Easter x
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Pepski,
I can totally sympathise with the 'increasingly frustrated with ageing' thing. I have one of these in my family too! On the 5:2 diet, what kind of things do you eat on the 5 days? I find it really difficult calorie counting for some reason. Is this still restricted to certain foods or can you shovel in any old thing?! I'm actually finding the carb free harder this week, as I feel I am now craving the foods I'm not allowed. And now, having read your post have a desire for a hot cross bun! However, I am determined to get rid of the blubber, so I'll stick with it. Yes, a change of scene is what we all need I think. Just a sense of normality. Hope all went well with the gym (if you got there!). And enjoy your chocolate egg free Easter.
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Hey holidaylover,
Just saw your reply and question.......do you think it's the "I can't have..." thing that is part of the problem? because I'm sure it is with me -I just don't like being told what to do.....!
On my normal days I'm eating from a wide range of foods I would normally eat so fish - canned tuna, salmon portions either grilled or oven baked or almost dry fried on griddle pan (bit of 1 cal oil spray), same with chicken, a bit of red meat now and again , lots of veggies inc butternut squash , sprouts, sweet potatoes, cauli, broccoli, onions, celery, peppers etc, fruit inc berries, apples and bananas, oats, bread now and again (I don't eat much bread these days unless it's our homemade bread!) pasta, potatoes (made syn free chips the other night - ask your daughter as she does Slimming World doesn't she?) pulses like red kidney beans, butter beans, chick peas, rice, BUT I'm calorie counting for the first time in my life!
So am aware that I can't eat masses of anything as it racks up the calories even if it's slices of innocent looking Galia melon....
I like cooking and love new recipe trials - so curries, casseroles, soups - making all sorts really. Keep looking for new low fat recipes online and wading through my heaps of cookery books.
My male friend (who has done 5:2 for years) now eats whatever he wants (but he lost the weight he wanted to way back and so does his 2 days a week strict to allow him to eat whatever he wants on the other days...but he says he has curbed from eating a full pack of Jaffa cakes on normal days "because I can" to realising he doesn't want to....)
I've put the NHS Weight Loss Plan app on my phone and once you get a few faves stored in there it's quick to put your meals in. It has a search facility so you can find the calorific value of foods and you can look at the packets of products too obviously plus use Google. it keeps me on track. I set myself 1600 cal a day for normal days but I may go lower now. Although I've had a v sedentary 2 weeks so I think that is part of the prob. Not giving up yet!
eg breakfast I might have porridge with blueberries on top
Search oats and 50g is ample.....as that's 192 cals
Blueberries I weigh out 55g - 26 cals (might not put them all on my brekkie but they sit waiting for me to finish them off in a pot in the fridge
Skimmed milk quarter pint - 47 cals and a bit of water so brekkie is 265 cals
(or make up with 40g oats and just water if on a 5:2 day 500 cal day - have 30g blueberries on and that's 175 total - I add cinnamon or bit of sweetener)
Yesterday I fancied cornflakes...had a banana mid morn, had 2 slices smoked bacon for lunch with a poached egg and half a large can of baked beans. Dinner was homemade Pide (Turkish pizza) which was a real treat - made it with mushrooms on, cherry tomatoes, tuna and some feta cheese cubed - a smear of reduced fat pesto on the base)!! with loads of fresh salad with peppers, spinach, rocket, spring onion, baby tomatoes, celery, red cabbage sliced up and v low cal dressing but I calorie counted it and my whole day came in at 1,588. Not bad. I did my gym session and although I took it v steady I can tell I moved in ways that are at present alien to me!!! But this morning I've lost a pound - moral of the story Get my ar$e to the gym or get a long walk in every day or else.
It's making me much more aware of what I eat.
I'm eating more veg. Possibly less fruit? I'm drinking more water - less tea and coffee (although I only drink decaff of both and the odd fruity tea) but the splashes of milk in reg tea and coffee don't half add up when you are honest about what you are having. I've mostly quit cake, biscuits, chocolate over the last few years anyway whilst struggling with weight gain BUT if I wanted some I will count it and have it - so that hot cross bun was 152 cals and the butter on it was 92 cals. I refuse to let it rule me but I can see the maths and it's curbing my trips to the kettle for a cuppa and making me think about what I was doing - like shaking out a large portion of muesli that had loads of dried fruit and nuts in but still feeling I was eating well....hhhmmmm I was eating well compared to a breakfast cereal made up of chocolate crunchies (!) but I was packing the cals down without thinking about it.
It's early days for me really and I have been literally stuck in working on accounts for nigh on 2 weeks (didn't get above 3,000 steps most days - groan) so my weight didn't shift on the scales...let's see what happens now I can do some walking and gardening and get to the gym.
Have a lovely carb free Easter and hang the shorts on the front of the wardrobe for inspiration..... It's keeping me focused! as is humming the first bars of Whispering Grass........... ;)
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Pepski, that all sounds really healthy. You're exactly right about 'can't have'. It's totally psychological, isn't it? If somebody told me I couldn't walk around the supermarket naked, I'm sure I'd want to do it!!!!! Chilli con carne last night without the rice was not so good. I had a packet of shop bought microwavable cauliflower rice and that went right in the bin! I make the Slimming World chips (daughter still lives at home with us), and they are good. I tend to use spray oil most of the time now when cooking, but nothing beats something cooked with olive oil and butter. I think, at least if we don't loose the weight we want to , dieting like this has made us more aware of what is good and bad for us, and health wise that has to be a bonus. I have a dress hanging on the wardrobe I want to get into which does give me a bit of inspiration but I am considering buying a really good pair of sucky in pants!
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Hey holidaylover!
And now I'm imagining you running round the supermarket naked just because someone said "don't" !! That's made my morning....
Sorry it was a long post.... I didn't realise. Just typed away like I was chatting....
I haven't managed to go near cauliflower rice as the idea makes me feel icky. So you are much braver than me. I can eat cauli and broccoli happily (& have it on the 500 cal days with a simple bolognese sauce) but the rice is a step too far. Ugh.
Working in the garden today & trying not to fall out with oh over his cutting back of trees obsession. Is it me or do we get so worn out with menopause crap that eventually - & I'm talking after going through the stage of snapping peoples heads off & muttering under our breath a lot for a few years - we get really chilled out & just don't care?!
I think it's either that or no energy left to care. When we get a sh!tty letter from the neighbours re said trees ( which has happened before) I'll just pass it to him & smile sweetly.
Have a lovely day.....what delights are you making for tea?!
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Hi Pepski
We had a roast chicken last night with lots of oven roasted veg, and I threw in some baby potatoes for DH. I've got a tray of minced beef in the fridge to use for tonight's tea but I haven't thought what to do with it yet! Burgers perhaps. Or I quite like a keema curry where I add in some peas and sultanas (not Keto friendly) then I also have a fresh cauliflower and so I might attempt cauliflower rice with that. I'm hoping it will be better than the packet stuff I had. I shall not be beat!!
We used to have a huge leylandii hedge round our back garden that was a real pain. We eventually took the plunge and had it removed and replaced it with a fence. We also dug up all our front grass last year and replace that with chipped stones. I'm going to get a big pot to put in the centre and fill that with flowers. Low maintenance is the way to go. My menopausal back couldn't take anymore digging, planting and trimming. I like to 'potter' in the garden so shall fill lots of pots and do some hanging baskets. I'm quite a fair weather gardener and DH is just not! We have a rockery to one wide of our drive and DH is always complaining that things have got too tall, bushy, etc. I quite like when things get higher and fuller as it stops me seeing all the weeds! I've also found my inner Percy Thrower and have bought some seeds. So I'm going to have myself some lovely salad vegetables and various herbs. Or that's the plan anyway. On the exercise front I am going out walking later in the afternoon with a friend who is clearly far fitter than me and strides out at an incredible pace. My menopausal brain has stopped me from being able to walk and talk at the same time, so I have to stop every now and again to explain things and to have a rest. I just cant seem to 'do hills' anymore.
What's on the menu this week?
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Hi Pepsi I’ve managed to lose my meno belly well it’s better than it was 🤣 I have found cutting down on white or refined carbs and upping things like sweet potato swaps for chips and lots of olive oil on salad avocados, seeds, anything to keep me feeling hungry because that’s when I reach for the chocolate. I also swear by vit B6, b12 & magnesium to help me feel less ratty.
Something I never knew was getting some exercise in before breakfast helps you burn more fat rather than carbohydrate stored in your body. I do walking and a you tube class called growingannanas.
Since I recovered from my hysterectomy I’ve tried to “eat a rainbow” or whatever they call it 🤣 and I do have chocolate now and again, not every day like I was pre op and so far this seems to be working for me. I hope this helps in some small way. Xx
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Definitely try and exercise every day, walking for 30 minutes before breakfast ( so in a fasted state ) always helps me lose a bit of weight. It’s good for us to do weight training too, for our bones and weight. I’ve found the best way for me to stay healthy without going off and on diets is to keep to a manageable, simple and enjoyable eating plan so I never count calories. Limiting refined foods most importantly, including sugar and oil. Not fats, just oil. I have whole nuts, whole foods, lots of plants and avoid drinking calories- no alcohol. We need 200 less calories a day as we get older, I’m late 40’s, according to my menopause specialist, so that’s good to keep in mind too. I had to lose a lot of weight after having my child so I’ve been more careful approaching menopause and now on HRT don’t find it hard just by sticking to how I normally live. I eat quite a bit more volume of food than a lot of people, little and often, but I don’t eat refined food at all, including ingredients. I have oats for breakfast with berries and blackstrap molasses, a nut bar I make after a workout, a large salad at lunch or a salad sandwich, fruit or yoghurt snack and dinner I aim for half my meal being vegetables, 1/4 protein, 1/4 starch. I vary the vegetables, include beans, seeds nuts etc
I use YouTube for exercise: Leslie Sansone for walking videos, Heather Robertson for weights and HIIT, Fitness Blender and Coach Kel for Pilates or barre style workouts.
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I think the reason for weight gain in postmenopause is a slower metabolism.
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I think the reason for weight gain in postmenopause is a slower metabolism.
I think you're probably right. I ended up going to see an NHS nutritionist (vaguely related reasons) and he told me that menopause = loss of muscle mass = less calories burned during activity.
I've been gaining weight, initially managed to drop some by going to the gym and watching what I ate, but have since put it all back on and then some. I stopped going to the gym during pandemic and can't really go back because of time / energy constraints - I work like 12 hour days.
I was chatting to my daughter about this and she said something like separate out the fitness from the fatness. Weigh yourself in lbs X by 12 and - 200, whatever is left is your starting calorie goal per day - for me it comes out at 1900. Whenever I've tried to lose weight before, the calorie goal has been significantly less. BUT alongside this I need to count all the calories I eat / drink, every single one. I use My fitness Pal (because it lets me scan in barcodes). It's stupidly time consuming. I complained about this to said daughter who said something along the lines of: yes, conscious eating is, and does it stop you from nibbling because you can't be arsed to add the calories? In the end, it's the nibbling that's probably caused my current weight gain (staffroom is full of treats), bits and bobs at home when I'm watching telly, etc. Preliminary results are encouraging. Once this current (minimal each week) weight loss slows, daughter tells me to minus another 200 calories from my daily total. The idea is to reach a target weight and then up by 200 calories until stable, by which time the habits should have been formed ...
Re: fitness, I'm on my feet all day, have a dog and work an allotment. My fitness tracker (via Fitbit) shows that bit of my lifestyle is probably ok.
But yeah, I currently feel blimpy and unattractive. It's upsetting.
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Obviously opinions will vary hugely, I did study nutrition myself, and IMO from what I learned calorie counting is neither effective or healthy. It’s also very unnecessary. You don’t need to go to an actual gym, but exercise is absolutely a must. You won’t be healthy overall without it. You do work long hours so I see it’s going to be hard. But break it up a bit is a good idea, 10 min fast walks 3-5 times a day is a good start. Skipping for a minute at the start and end of your day? You already know what you shouldn’t eat, try to focus on nutrient density and eating highly nutritious foods full of fibre, rather than worry about counting calories. I’ve seen so many people do that and as we know, 95% of dieters just put it back on. Whatever you do, it should be a way of eating you can maintain all of the time. Otherwise as soon as you stop, you will put weight on. Hormones absolutely can and are affecting things. It’s the thyroid hormones that affect metabolism the most. Are you on HRT? If the sex hormones are still unbalanced that will impact things too.
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That's strange ATB, NHS nutritionists seem to say that conscious eating is the way to go. What about this is unnecessary?
Re: exercise, as I mentioned, I use a Fitbit and have done for nearly 3 years. I'm happy with my 60 minutes + activity per day and 20,000 + steps. I also swim about 10 miles a week. Am I missing something?
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Conscious eating isn’t the same as calorie counting. Opinions vary amongst dietitian’s, of course, and many also don’t encourage calorie counting. It sounded like you couldn’t exercise because of work, but if you are then great! I’m simply just adding my advice & opinion, not to just you but to the thread and OP. My previous comment addresses the original posts points too. People can take what helps them and leave what doesn’t. I’d assumed if you were gaining weight you’d want to hear some other opinions about why that might be.
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Hi Pepsi I’ve managed to lose my meno belly well it’s better than it was 🤣 I have found cutting down on white or refined carbs and upping things like sweet potato swaps for chips and lots of olive oil on salad avocados, seeds, anything to keep me feeling hungry because that’s when I reach for the chocolate. I also swear by vit B6, b12 & magnesium to help me feel less ratty.
Something I never knew was getting some exercise in before breakfast helps you burn more fat rather than carbohydrate stored in your body. I do walking and a you tube class called growingannanas.
Since I recovered from my hysterectomy I’ve tried to “eat a rainbow” or whatever they call it 🤣 and I do have chocolate now and again, not every day like I was pre op and so far this seems to be working for me. I hope this helps in some small way. Xx
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Thanks for this Louise2010
I am getting there but it has been going slowly.....7lbs off now. Enjoying the food I'm making though which is the best way to stick at things long term. I don't feel deprived in any way. Ex is key for me and I should be ok with that hereonin as got through end of tax year workload! Holiday soon - quite excited....best, Pepski
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Hi Pepski
We had a roast chicken last night with lots of oven roasted veg, and I threw in some baby potatoes for DH. I've got a tray of minced beef in the fridge to use for tonight's tea but I haven't thought what to do with it yet! Burgers perhaps. Or I quite like a keema curry where I add in some peas and sultanas (not Keto friendly) then I also have a fresh cauliflower and so I might attempt cauliflower rice with that. I'm hoping it will be better than the packet stuff I had. I shall not be beat!!
We used to have a huge leylandii hedge round our back garden that was a real pain. We eventually took the plunge and had it removed and replaced it with a fence. We also dug up all our front grass last year and replace that with chipped stones. I'm going to get a big pot to put in the centre and fill that with flowers. Low maintenance is the way to go. My menopausal back couldn't take anymore digging, planting and trimming. I like to 'potter' in the garden so shall fill lots of pots and do some hanging baskets. I'm quite a fair weather gardener and DH is just not! We have a rockery to one wide of our drive and DH is always complaining that things have got too tall, bushy, etc. I quite like when things get higher and fuller as it stops me seeing all the weeds! I've also found my inner Percy Thrower and have bought some seeds. So I'm going to have myself some lovely salad vegetables and various herbs. Or that's the plan anyway. On the exercise front I am going out walking later in the afternoon with a friend who is clearly far fitter than me and strides out at an incredible pace. My menopausal brain has stopped me from being able to walk and talk at the same time, so I have to stop every now and again to explain things and to have a rest. I just cant seem to 'do hills' anymore.
What's on the menu this week?
Hey holidaylover,
how's things? I hope you are keeping your head up and ignoring the siren call of the mixer (ie no baking) etc!
I'm at 7lbs off now re 5:2 and watching my calories which is a bit tragic in some ways because I thought it would be more - sigh - but I'm happy that it's going albeit slowly and anyway, I am 56 now not 40 when everything just melted away with willpower!
Off on holiday next week so just have to see how I cope with delicious temptation and lots of non home cooked meals - I'll be v active though so should balance out with a fair wind and a bit of positive thought. I'm lucky in that I do love salads and mezzes where you can graze. So I'll keep an eye but enjoy. That's the way forward for me.
Tonight was supposed to be homemade grilled chicken skewers/kebabs with big mixed salad of red cabbage, grated carrot, toms , spring onions, red pepper etc and leaves and probably some couscous BUT, it's not as warm as we hoped and I don't half fancy your roast chicken with roasted veg so probably changing to that instead!
How are your seeds? With going away I haven't done many but have got Sweet peas , Cosmos and some old fashioned wild looking marigolds all looking ok and popped in a cold frame now to harden off and be monitored by my lovely neighbour whilst I'm away. I've scattered Candytuft and Nigella seeds and Linaria hither and thither outside in some vague notion of it all looking kind of softly unkempt (bit like me then) so we'll see what happens.
Anyway, do hope it's all going ok for you - love the idea of walking and stopping to "concentrate on the conversation" aka rest. I'm no good at hills either and have a friend who is half blooming mountain goat. She always picks us out a walk "with a view" - in other words a great big hill.
Take care - Peps x
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Hiya Pepski, I've not been doing too bad diet wise
until today!!! and up until yesterday remained carb free. One month in!! However, after having a much too spicy thai curry last night (served with spicy cauliflower rice), I was kept awake most of the night, (sweats, palpitations (again), and just the inability to sleep, and feeling wired). I suffered badly this morning with a bit of a dodgy tum. I must have added too much curry paste, I presume. I had a shopping day planned with daughter today so after a couple of Imodiums I made it, but had an absolute meltdown at lunch. The tapas restaurant beckoned and I'm afraid I caved!!! With the sound of the spanish music and dreams of patatas bravas, etc, it all became too much. So.... I'll be back on it tomorrow, although I really don't feel I have lost much weight at all. I'm actually a bit disappointed. I don't weigh but just go by clothes and I'm now wondering if my body might need a little bit of carbs. That's my theory!!! I'm taking betablockers for palpitations and have read that they can contribute to weight gain so I've been kind of blaming that too. It's five and a half hours since lunch and I still feel like I could burst! So nothing else for me tonight.
My seeds have been put into pots and they are in my little mini greenhouse, so fingers crossed. It's quite satisfying when something grows and you can actually eat it. Had a bit of a disaster last year with some veggies and they all got eaten by slugs. It seemed such a waste of time.
Well done on the weight loss, 7lbs is good. It's best to lose at a steady pace. You are going in the right direction. Hope you have a lovely holiday. x
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Same problem here! I am 67 soon. Hardly ate, really, but gained, and developed back problem that Chiro must work now on. Not cheap :o I gained 5kg since October... so, three weeks ago, got fed up and went on High fat Low carb diet. Lost 3 kg so far. Yippee ::) I love this diet! Shell see how long I'll last, but hope to lose another 5..at least :-\ Doing Pilates as well, once a week.. but for a first time, I do feel old after last winter.. :'(
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If you could afford it, get a personal trainer and learn to strength train. You may not see drop on the scales but clothes will fit better. Much better than cardio for maintaining muscle and metabolism. Great for bone density too
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If you could afford it, get a personal trainer and learn to strength train. You may not see drop on the scales but clothes will fit better. Much better than cardio for maintaining muscle and metabolism. Great for bone density too
Hey Bungo,
You read my mind!
I'm going for a slightly cheaper version of this as locally we have an over 50's ladies session re H.I.T.
Up to 7 ladies in a session with a trainer so much more reasonable price wise. All doing weights and reps targeting of various problem areas and toning up. It sounds and looks good with excellent feedback. I'm nervous as my fitness is really down at the mo due to having being really low with Vaginal Atrophy since before Xmas (and thus not going to the gym). Now that's under control I'm looking forward to this and hoping to start next month.
Cheers,
Pepski
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Hiya Pepski, I've not been doing too bad diet wise until today!!! and up until yesterday remained carb free. One month in!! However, after having a much too spicy thai curry last night (served with spicy cauliflower rice), I was kept awake most of the night, (sweats, palpitations (again), and just the inability to sleep, and feeling wired). I suffered badly this morning with a bit of a dodgy tum. I must have added too much curry paste, I presume. I had a shopping day planned with daughter today so after a couple of Imodiums I made it, but had an absolute meltdown at lunch. The tapas restaurant beckoned and I'm afraid I caved!!! With the sound of the spanish music and dreams of patatas bravas, etc, it all became too much. So.... I'll be back on it tomorrow, although I really don't feel I have lost much weight at all. I'm actually a bit disappointed. I don't weigh but just go by clothes and I'm now wondering if my body might need a little bit of carbs. That's my theory!!! I'm taking betablockers for palpitations and have read that they can contribute to weight gain so I've been kind of blaming that too. It's five and a half hours since lunch and I still feel like I could burst! So nothing else for me tonight.
My seeds have been put into pots and they are in my little mini greenhouse, so fingers crossed. It's quite satisfying when something grows and you can actually eat it. Had a bit of a disaster last year with some veggies and they all got eaten by slugs. It seemed such a waste of time.
Well done on the weight loss, 7lbs is good. It's best to lose at a steady pace. You are going in the right direction. Hope you have a lovely holiday. x
Hey Holidaylover,
how are you doing? It sounds as if you had a tough day both tummy wise and then temptation wise but the tummy was hopefully a one off re the curry paste - I find I'm a lot more sensitive these days, do you? think I mentioned that we make our own bread now? I'm not gluten intolerant but bread was irritating me. Can't describe it, not particularly bloaty - just off. So now we don't eat much bread and what we do doesn't have preservatives in it. £50 on a bread maker was money well spent!
I managed to walk loads on my holiday (one day we did over 26k steps)! so I managed to balance out the naughties ok really. Only gained a pound.
Back on 5:2 but a bit more serious about it now too plus the oh has joined me properly!
Hoping to book another hol for Sept so got a good run at this one....
Also going to do the H.I.T classes I signed up for - got my V.A under control (touch wood) so feeling more like I can put myself out there.
I'll let you know how I find it.
Planning on getting back in the garden this weekend so hoping the rain sods off! How's yours coming along?
Best,
Peps
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Pepski, Well done on your holiday walks, 26k steps, I'm impressed!! Everything going fine, My palpitations have been playing up again lately and feel it could be carbs, as I came of the keto plan, as I was feeling a bit lightheaded at times. It's swing and roundabouts really. I bloat but cant put my finger on the culprit. I need to give myself a shake and get motivated again excersice wise. Garden wise, fine! Planted flowers into pots at the weekend, although all my little pots of herbs in my greenhouse got blown over in the wind, resulting in the compost escaping and also the sticks I had in labelling the different varieties. So I scooped it all back up into pots, now label less, and am hoping for the best. I wont know my tarragon from my coriander, nor my parsely from the dill, but hey ho, sure it will taste good! x
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If you could afford it, get a personal trainer and learn to strength train. You may not see drop on the scales but clothes will fit better. Much better than cardio for maintaining muscle and metabolism. Great for bone density too
Hey Bungo,
You read my mind!
I'm going for a slightly cheaper version of this as locally we have an over 50's ladies session re H.I.T.
Up to 7 ladies in a session with a trainer so much more reasonable price wise. All doing weights and reps targeting of various problem areas and toning up. It sounds and looks good with excellent feedback. I'm nervous as my fitness is really down at the mo due to having being really low with Vaginal Atrophy since before Xmas (and thus not going to the gym). Now that's under control I'm looking forward to this and hoping to start next month.
Cheers,
Pepski
Do join, youll be amazed how quickly you'll progress. Don't let being unfit now turn you off, if anything it means you'll see much bigger progress and that will motivate you. Stick it out for a month no matter what and then you should find it easier
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Hey holidaylover,
sorry to hear you have had a few blips - it's frustrating trying to establish what causes what these days. I have times myself where I think is that new or am I imagining it - the latest is really dry skin. Blooming menopause. Hope you are balancing out again and feeling good. Not long til your holiday!!!!
As we're supposed to be talking about diet (we were at one point!) thought I'd see if you've tried any of the Hairy Bikers Diet books? I'm really happy with dipping into them at the mo having left them gathering dust for years.
I even made the lemon and blueberry muffins the other day just to show willing on the baking front as all around me lose their collective heads over the Jubilee! I'd forgotten how nice they were. Sadly they were eaten before they had cooled enough for icing (there were a few of us don't worry!) but that just saved a few cals anyway so it's a win.
This week's fave recipes have been Spanish Style Chicken Bake and the Salmon with Chilli Ginger Sauce. I checked and they are available online so you could have a look if don't have the books.
I cook similarly to this anyway (love an all in one roasting tin full of veg etc) but sometimes I just like following a recipe for focus and to see if I pick up something new.
Anyway, share a fave (low cal if poss) recipe if you can? By the way - love your not knowing your tarragon from your coriander, sounds like a metaphor for menopause! Feels like I've not known my parsley from my basil for years now.......
Keep smiling x Peps
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Hello Bungo,
you're probably right about seeing greater effect if I start cold but the fear is I'll be on the floor within 10 mins!
Anyway, got to start somewhere and the classes look really varied (I do get bored in a gym on my own) so hoping I can do this for the 6 week course and then take from it to keep a programme of sorts back in my normal gym on my own. Obvs the HIIT classes are still a lot more expensive than my normal membership so long term not sure I could keep them up. So many things I need to spend money on this year (inc private meno consult and all of that malarkey which is really adding up).
Gosh, did NOT see any of this on the horizon as a skinny, fit 22 year old.
Have you done some HIIT classes/training yourself then? Interested to hear from others about it.
Best, Peps.
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Hi Pepski, I started doing 1 on 1 strength training lessons and then progressed to a class setting after a few months after I'd learned the basics. I then was confident to lift on my own without any classes. I built alot of muscle over the past few years and can eat the same as I did pre menopause as my metabolic rate hasn't decreased.Ive more muscle than I ever had in my life. I didn't do hiit at any stage I'm afraid but found pure strength training to be great. I'd be on the floor myself and if tried hiit! Strength train isn't so intense but long term effects are amazing.