2022 weight loss thread

[Carole S]

Thanks Jill yes it is a battle!!
Diabetic Test results were "could do better" as usual
Slowly slowly making inroads but then things get in the way, like last weekend a weekend reunion in a selfcatering cottage in Dorset with old college friends who love to cook, but I only had 1 glass of wine honest guv
We go there twice a year to visit our dear friend who lives nearby, she has a brain tumour and then had a stroke, this time she is now bed bound so it was rather sad....
So now back on the erg and onward
Keep cheering I need it

[Paul Victory]

That is tough Carole. I’ve also been struggling with my weight, and it’s hard enough to keep things under control without any underlying illness. Fair play to you for keeping plugging away.

I’ve been off the erg for over a year now because of issues with my lower back. I think it’s kind of a ‘chicken and egg’ situation, with my back problems keeping me off the erg and my lack of fitness contributing to my back problems. None of this is helped by putting on around a stone in weight.

Anyway, I decided a few weeks ago that I needed to get serious about trying to losing weight and I’ve been keeping a food diary for just over three weeks now. I find that having to write everything down makes me much more conscious of what I’m eating and I’ve managed to stay off chocolate (other than high fibre Slimming World bars), biscuits and crisps since I started keeping the diary. I even managed to avoid eating any of the leftover treats on Halloween!

I’m still drinking wine, but have been much better at limiting my intake and at avoiding wine altogether on non weekend days. As a result, I’ve lost 9 pounds in just over 3 weeks and I’m back in my ‘green zone’ (sub 95 kg) for the first time since February 2020 (just before everything was shut down for the pandemic).

My updated table is below and I’m going to try keeping on top of things and I’ll try to post a weekly update.

Paul V

Date________Weight (kgs)_____Weekly Change_____Overall Change
01/01/22______100.5
05/11/22_______94.6___________-1.4_______________-5.9

[Paul Victory]

Managed a further small loss this week. I think I need to start erging again to make any real progress.

Paul V

Date________Weight (kgs)_____Weekly Change_____Overall Change
01/01/22______100.5
05/11/22_______94.6___________-1.4_______________-5.9
12/11/22_______94.3___________-0.3_______________-6.2

[Carole S]

Well done Paul
My week was influenced by my eldest grandchilds 10th birthday with celebratory homemade pizzas by his Mum
Lol
X

[Paul Victory]

Well done Paul
My week was influenced by my eldest grandchilds 10th birthday with celebratory homemade pizzas by his Mum
Lol
X

Family celebrations take precedence over pretty much everything else! Hope you enjoyed it.

I managed to make another slight loss this week.


Paul V

Date________Weight (kgs)_____Weekly Change_____Overall Change
01/01/22______100.5
05/11/22_______94.6___________-1.4_______________-5.9
12/11/22_______94.3___________-0.3_______________-6.2
19/11/22_______93.6___________-0.7_______________-6.9

[Carole S]

[/quote]

Family celebrations take precedence over pretty much everything else! Hope you enjoyed it.

[/quote]
Thanks Paul we did x
The next 2 weekends another 2 of my collection of granddaughters will be with us, they are bilingual and can order "chocolat chaud " in French or English at the cafe after the park lol
I will try and stick to my flat white......

I see yr thread abt returning to training and am interested to read that bit abt looking too thin at a certain bmi
2 yrs ago when I got to 10st 13 having for yrs yoyoed up and down between 18 st and 13 st none of my friends liked how I looked , scrawny they said, my own Mum didnt recognise me at distance and got upset abt it and my face looked like a deflated old balloon, and I cant afford a facelift lol
Currently Im 13st 13 and I see the GP abt my migraines this week

[J-Dog]

Hey, Free Spirits.

I'm back rowing after 4 and a bit years, and I need to lose 10 kg or so.

I'll post weight check-ins (good or bad) each Saturday.

Thanks for the great support thread - I think I'll need it

J-Dog

[Carole S]

Look fwd to yr updates and glad to be in the supporters club here as this is no easy task

[J-Dog]

Thanks, Carole.

My first weigh-in is 89.8 kg.

My target is 80.0 kg (a BMI of about 25 - the start of 'healthy').
I know BMI doesn't work well for rowers with lots of muscle, but that isn't me: I'm just fat and bones

My losing-weight strategy, for now, is to just to stop eating snacks, and miss breakfast, so I eat twice a day, with the main meal at night. Plus, I'll do some rowing each day, as I try and get my heart back into shape. I'll also make sure I close my activity rings on the Apple watch, so no sitting around for hours, whilst I work.

I'm happy to take ages to achieve 80 kg, as long as the trend is downwards, each week.

I may have to start counting calories, if this plan isn't enough, but let's see.

J-Dog

[Paul Victory]

Thanks, Carole.

My first weigh-in is 89.8 kg.

My target is 80.0 kg (a BMI of about 25 - the start of 'healthy').
I know BMI doesn't work well for rowers with lots of muscle, but that isn't me: I'm just fat and bones

My losing-weight strategy, for now, is to just to stop eating snacks, and miss breakfast, so I eat twice a day, with the main meal at night. Plus, I'll do some rowing each day, as I try and get my heart back into shape. I'll also make sure I close my activity rings on the Apple watch, so no sitting around for hours, whilst I work.

I'm happy to take ages to achieve 80 kg, as long as the trend is downwards, each week.

I may have to start counting calories, if this plan isn't enough, but let's see.

J-Dog

Hi J-Dog

Good look with the weight loss. I’m not a fan of the “one size fits all” target of 25 BMI. I think it’s one of those approximate “rules of thumb” that somehow has morphed into a hard and fast rule. I’m happy with my weight around its current level, but I think I’ll try to stick (most of the time) with the approach I have been using for the past six weeks, during which I have lost 6.6 kg.

I never (well, hardly ever) skip breakfast and I don’t think this is recommended for those trying to lose weight. Most mornings I have porridge with fruit (usually melon, but sometimes berries) and low fat yogurt. I have a light lunch and my main meal in the evening. For snacks between meals, I have fruit or these high fibre bars that I get from Slimming World (I’m one of only two men in a local group of around 40 members).

The mantra of Slimming World is to eat plenty of healthy food so that you don’t feel hungry and to limit (but not necessarily eliminate) unhealthy choices. I started going there over five years ago in order to lose weight so that I would look relatively presentable walking my daughter down the aisle on her wedding day. I’ve been a member ever since, but fell off the wagon during the COVID lockdown and it was only six weeks ago when I decided to cut out eating junk and to keep a food diary that I started to lose weight.

But that’s me. Go with whatever works for you. I still haven’t managed to get back on the erg (it’s been one of those weeks) and I’m going away tomorrow for a two day hotel break that will see my diet fly out the window. But I might manage to do a few metres this afternoon, if I can psyche myself up sufficiently.

Paul V

Date________Weight (kgs)_____Weekly Change_____Overall Change
01/01/22______100.5
05/11/22_______94.6___________-1.4_______________-5.9
12/11/22_______94.3___________-0.3_______________-6.2
19/11/22_______93.6___________-0.7_______________-6.9
26/11/22_______92.3___________-1.3_______________-8.2

[J-Dog]

Paul,
thanks for the advice. It sounds very wise.

My reason for cutting out breakfast (although I've just had some lovely Marmite on toast, under the "it's Sunday!" rule) is to do with marital harmony.

In the evenings, we sit together and watch films and/or detective series on the TV. It's our main 'together' time. Paula likes to have snacks during this, even though she probably shouldn't, and I don't like to be the kill-joy who refuses to join in, and makes her feel bad.

So... I count my three meals as lunch, dinner, and then rando crisps and ice-creams in the evening, rather than having breakfast, too, and still having evening snacks.

For me, I think this works OK, but my real fight is on these three grounds:

1) not have inter-meal snacks and biscuits;

2) have a smaller plate of food for dinner, rather than the wrist-breaking plates that sometimes look like Sunday roasts (!), and

3) do more exercise, especially in my mainly-work-from-home lifestyle.

Erg is for (3). (1) and (2) are new habits that must be formed.

Maybe I'll chance (1) to "have fruit or something healthy, if you're going to snack", as per your story...

J-Dog

[Paul Victory]

Hi J-Dog

It’s good that you are putting your relationship first and it’s certainly not worth jeopardising your marriage for the sake of a few pounds.

I’ve been at a few parties since I started my recent weight loss journey and I’ve partaken of what’s on offer. But I’ve put a bit less on my plate and haven’t gone for second helpings (which was something I would nearly always do). It hasn’t significantly reduced my enjoyment of these events and I don’t think anyone else noticed (apart from my wife Jennifer).

Anyway, my new found resolve will be put to the test over the next couple of days. I’m about to head off for my two day hotel break and I intend to partake fully in the cooked breakfast and evening meals on offer. Hopefully, I’ll manage to do some exercise in between meals in order to partially offset the damage.

[J-Dog]

Paul,
I hope you have a great time, away.

Maybe, your body can't extract and store more than X calories a day, anyway, so it's better to go berserk — very rarely — than eat extra 10 calories a day for a long time?

I think 'portion control' is important, as you say: I'm still eating plates like a teenager, for dinner. I need to reduce that.

J-Dog

[J-Dog]

I've not really changed anything, this week: just had good intentions

This is probably a blip, although I have done more exercise than usual.

26 Nov 89.8 0.0 3 Dec 89.1 -0.7

J-Dog

[Paul Victory]

I've not really changed anything, this week: just had good intentions

This is probably a blip, although I have done more exercise than usual.

26 Nov 89.8 0.0 3 Dec 89.1 -0.7

J-Dog

Well done on the weight loss, J-Dog. I had a marginal gain this week, but I'm happy that I've remained more or less on track after two days away at the beginning of the week and a boozy annual lunch gettogether yesterday.

Paul V

Date________Weight (kgs)_____Weekly Change_____Overall Change
01/01/22______100.5
05/11/22_______94.6___________-1.4_______________-5.9
12/11/22_______94.3___________-0.3_______________-6.2
19/11/22_______93.6___________-0.7_______________-6.9
26/11/22_______92.3___________-1.3_______________-8.2
03/12/22_______92.4___________+0.1_______________-8.1

[J-Dog]

Sounds like acceptable 'damage', Paul, as long as you had a good time

You did have quite a big loss the week before, too, so maybe this week was always likely to be more consolidating than further progress?

J-Dog

[Paul Victory]

Sounds like acceptable 'damage', Paul, as long as you had a good time

You did have quite a big loss the week before, too, so maybe this week was always likely to be more consolidating than further progress?

J-Dog

Thanks J-Dog. I’ve been quite disciplined over the past seven weeks, but I can feel my resolve starting to falter and I had a bit of a bow out this weekend. Hopefully just a temporary blip.

[Carole S]

I had 2 weekends of grandchildren to stay
The biscuit tin has been emptied and todays visit to the dentist and the vampire blood nurse has helped keep me in line
Well done chaps keep going stay strong

[J-Dog]

Thanks, Carole.

My stats now:

26 Nov 89.80 0.0
3 Dec 89.10 -0.70 -0.70
10 Dec 89.70 +0.60 -0.10

So back up a bit this week, but a tiny bit lower than my start.

I'll have to avoid the snacks better, if I can.

I am gradually doing more metres, though, so I'm probably getting fitter (but not less tubby).

J-Dog

[Paul Victory]

I had a similar sort of week, although I haven’t been back on the erg since I pulled a muscle in my hamstring on my return to the erg last month. It’s better now, so I may give it a try later today. We’ve had some snow over the last few days, so I haven’t done as much walking as usual.

Anyway, another slight gain, but I’m comfortably in my ‘green’ zone, so I’ll be happy if I can stay in or around my current level.

Paul V

Date________Weight (kgs)_____Weekly Change_____Overall Change
01/01/22______100.5
05/11/22_______94.6___________-1.4_______________-5.9
12/11/22_______94.3___________-0.3_______________-6.2
19/11/22_______93.6___________-0.7_______________-6.9
26/11/22_______92.3___________-1.3_______________-8.2
03/12/22_______92.4___________+0.1_______________-8.1
10/12/22_______92.6___________+0.2_______________-7.9

[J-Dog]

Oh dear.

26 Nov 89.80 0.0 3 Dec 89.10 -0.70 -0.70 10 Dec 89.75 +0.65 -0.15 17 Dec 90.00 +0.25 +0.20

Another week of no sacrificing, and just hoping it would work out...

J-Dog

[Paul Victory]

Oh dear.

26 Nov 89.80 0.0 3 Dec 89.10 -0.70 -0.70 10 Dec 89.75 +0.65 -0.15 17 Dec 90.00 +0.25 +0.20

Another week of no sacrificing, and just hoping it would work out...

J-Dog

At least you’re remaining relatively stable. I had my final weigh in of the year this morning.

Another slight gain, but I’m still comfortably in my ‘green’ zone and I’m happy to have limited the gain I made over Christmas. The key now is to not continue with slight gains each week!

Paul V

Date________Weight (kgs)_____Weekly Change_____Overall Change
01/01/22______100.5
05/11/22_______94.6___________-1.4_______________-5.9
12/11/22_______94.3___________-0.3_______________-6.2
19/11/22_______93.6___________-0.7_______________-6.9
26/11/22_______92.3___________-1.3_______________-8.2
03/12/22_______92.4___________+0.1_______________-8.1
10/12/22_______92.6___________+0.2_______________-7.9
31/12/22_______93.1___________+0.5_______________-7.4

[Carole S]

Well done chaps
Im currently banned from rowing after frightening my GP with my blood pressure problems see injury thread...
Xmas was good and New Year have family staying so Ill be back to being a good girl very soon
Not rowing but still supporting you from the sidelines

[plummy]

For the first time in 19 or so years (first recorded row was 2004) I find myself standing on the scales as a HWT. When I say that I don't mean a quick blip post cruise over-indulgence, which always disappeared after a couple of days but I mean about 2~3kg that simply won't shift. Sitting between 77~78kg (depending on time of day, pre/post meals etc) I'm mortified that it won't just go anymore. Admittedly I've had some man-flu recently so my metres have dropped off but that's only these last 4~5 days and xmas preceded that.

I now have the quandary re CTC and IRL challenges where I seriously don't want to be entering as a HWT - which might mean a dual profile - ugh...don't really want that either

I've been fighting wonky technique (that does my head in after 10~15 minutes every time I get on the beast) but the LWT status gave me some sort of feeling that I was doing "ok" - but to be a HWT - there's just no point for me.

[Draggon]

but to be a HWT - there's just no point for me.

I hear ya, Plummy. Hopefully you find a way to drop a few Kg. If you're not "counting calories", try it for a month and see if what you think you're doing is really what you're doing as far as calories in. I know metabolism slows down as we age, so it may just be that you'll have to reduce your intake a bit more than "normal" to adjust to your new metab?

On the LWT vs HWT thing - I've always been on the low end of HWT with no real desire to lose the pounds necessary to qualify as a LWT. I feel I'm at a disadvantage being outweighed by nearly, well, everyone, but I guess you just get used to it. Granted, it helps to be doing this mainly for fitness as I age rather than for competitive reasons. I know you come from a competitive rowing background, so I can see how that could be a tough adjustment if you can't get back to LWT.