I’m a Pear/Apple - Part 5. Still going!!

Here’s the photo shirleyw

madeleine45 you have a lot to contend with. However I’m pleased you are now safely back home.

Whiff I know as soon as all the festivities over You, like me will be back on track with our trusty Cals/Carbs book at our side.

Now as promised the Columbian Christmas Eve. M decided to cook a traditional British Xmas Dinner. In Columbia they celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. Here is a picture M took of the crib scene on top of the book case. Small tea lights were put on the Mantlepiece which were lit and we were all invited to make a wish and blow out a candle. Mine was said out loud and was for the War in Ukraine to stop. We then all gathered for a family hug. It was very moving and of course we realised many people do not have the opportunity to be with family at this time of year, so we were grateful for this.

Will read the thread probably as just finished my cuppa and need to get some jobs done . Braved the scales not as bad as expected 5.75 lbs on not as bad as yesterday I weighed 3lbs heavier but have been up a lot in the night to the loo. And on that thought I will leave you . I will be back 😄

shirleyw I don’t have time this morning to reply but will do so soon. In fact we had a Columbian Christmas Eve ceremony which was very moving, will tell you all about it tomorrow. Our almost daughter in law in fact cooked a traditional British Xmas dinner, which was fabulous.

Hi Madeleine45!

Sounds like you have a lot to deal with and despite it, have a busy life!

I am inspired by your determination to be well. I tried swimming when I first retired but gave it up (long story).

Although I am not diabetic I have been told several times that I am pre-diabetic but seemed unable to make any positive changes until recently.

It was getting back on the scales after a long time that made me determined I had to at least try to lose some.

I was a bit cynical but the diabetes UK web-site has lots of meal plans so I went for a mediterranean diet and I have lost almost a stone in two months. It really is working for me (although I know it may not be for some). I really needed to kick those bad habits I had developed over time and I think I seem to have succeeded- so far!

I hope you find lots of good tips and lots of support here- I know I have so would be great to hear about your progress!

Just seen this thread for the first time so have come to look and join in for now. So I am not in a "concentrate on weight loss " state at the moment, as will be revealed as you read on. But one of the things that makes it rather a vicious circle for me is that I have various health issues. That means I am aware of what is a good way to live regarding diet and exercise, but often cannot follow this. So I have cancer for a second time, this means treatment which affects both appetite and mobility. I have a very bad lower back, which I know how to manage, having this for many years., and have to adjust my exercise according to what it is being like at the time. At home , never lie flat, or stay in one position for a long time. Unfortunately I have to do that for the cancer treatment, and the so called bed is as hard as a table to lie on. So however well I cope with the treatment, my back complains bitterly for the next 3/4 days . I am a type 2 diabetic, on metformin but not injections.
So, in general , I eat a good mixed diet, majority of my food is from scratch, and exercise the best I can. I am getting less mobile so can no longer do the walking I used to. My best thing is I go swimming , as this is less painful, the pool has a hoist to put me in the water and get me out. So I try to do 20 to 30 lengths of a full size pool. Not all at one go, in the beginning it is very painful so do a couple of lengths , rest a little and then carry on doing about 4/6 lengths at a time . I go to a disabled session, which is once a week, then usually do 2/3 sessions per week. If I wake up in a lot of pain very early in the morning, I get up and get stuff together and then drive to their very early session so am usually in the water about 7am. At that time there is usually 2 or 3 groups of people. The intense group who have their counters on their wrist and charge up and down the pool without stopping, then get out and go off to work or whatever; the friends groups, who over the year I have discovered, are there through meeting at post operation physio, or met through being in hospital, and then another group vary in size as they all used to work for the same firm but are now retired. They use the swimming pool as a get together and encourage each other to lose a bit of weigth and exercise. One problem I find is that despite , or probably because, I have been in water, I am always very thirsty when I get out of the pool. So I sometimes come straight home, but other times go to cafe nero for a coffee. On the way there I go in the bakers and buy one fresh teacake , which I eat before i get to Nero's . Then I am not tempted to buy any food but the teacake lets me do a bit of shopping or whatever before I go and make some lunch. I am a widow and live alone, so in general I sort of run 2 jobs in parallel. One standing , and one sitting. I start one job, but when my backs gives me a lot of pain, change position and go to the other job. Frustrating, as I was always a "lets get one job finished properly before starting another" but learnt the hard way that saying I will just finish this, just causes me more pain. On a good day, when I am in the mood, I do some cooking, make a lovely shin beef stew, some curry and bolognaise sauce etc. Then I put individual portions up and freeze them. So on a bad day when I can hardly stand I have something that only needs reheating. Sorry to be going on , but I have to allow for all this when I am thinking of food etc. So the combination of being unable to run or walk far now, cannot stand in the kitchen for long times and the factor that I live alone, so no one to say what are you eating or whatever. So I hope to learn some good ideas from all of you, and when I feel out of inspiration , have somewhere to look for ideas. So that is me, I am 79, live in north yorkshire alone, and have just had a major disaster with a broken pipe behind the toilet and tiles which has meant total emptying of bathroom, sanitising and new bathroom fitted. Sounds lovely , which in the end it was, but nearly 11 weeks in a hotel, only got home on the friday before christmas day!! So, on the whole, with added hassle of no winter fuel payment, getting car MOT'ed which passed but needed new brakes and cost £345 You can see why I shall not be sorry to see the back of this year and hope to begin 2025 with a better attitude to exercise and good food.

Well, my son developed a headcold a couple of days after arriving. He probably picked up a bug on the flight. His cold lasted 3 days. I caught it and it lasted 5 days. However we're OK now. Yesterday we went to see an annual exhibition of Gingerbread Houses. Photo of an unusual one we liked. Lots to see and do before he returns home on January 2nd. Needless to say I have not braved the scales but I will get back to healthy meals in the New Year!

4lbs off is well good keepingquiet.

How was your Colombian Christmas dinner nankate?

As I’m a daily weigher, I went off track for just the 2 days and put on 1kg, but went straight back on track on 27th and it’s paid off as I now lost the kg I put on.

When does your son go back cocoapops?

Enjoy the new year with your friends whiff

Happy and healthy new year everyone.

I don't intend getting weighed again until well past new year- what's the point?

I'm leaving it until then because I'm away for the New Year, but even if I put some on, which is almost inevitable, I know I can start again in January when the festivities are finished.

So happy new year everyone and have fun!

Morning All.

Well done keepingquiet keep at it.

I’m with you Whiff back on the wagon. I avoided all chocolate over the hols I must have had about 6 alcoholic drinks and thoroughly enjoyed them.

I will be weighing myself next Friday and will be hoping to lose this coming week what I put on over Xmas.

Of course I will have a brief break on NYE.

Well my Christmas binge is over back on my usual eating routine until new year's eve when having 2 friends for lunch gluten free veggie lasagna but using more cheese than usual a mix if 3. And full fat cheese cake . One if my friends is gluten free and has osteoporosis so needs full fat. Making gluten free shortbread for the crumb base . Decorated with dark sour cherries and chocolate ganache .

Keepingquiet well done with the 4lbs . Expect my scales to say one at a time tomorrow 🤣

Hoping everyone had a good Christmas and are well and looking forward to a healthier 2025.

The day before Christmas Eve I found out I'd lost 4lbs in a week!

That is almost a stone gone now since October!

I haven't put any restrictions on for Christmas but haven't indulged in too much alcohol. No one bought me chocolates or biscuits either- which is a help.

Let's go forward to 2025 with hope for a healthier and lighter year!

Well said Whiff.

Happy Christmas All 👋🎄

CocoPops have a brilliant Christmas with your son . Bet his been looking forward to his mom's Christmas meal all year.

To everyone on here have a wonderful Christmas and eat drink and be merry . Always another day to think about getting rid of those pounds . 💝⛄🎄🥂

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year . My son is over from the UK. He's brought his appetite!

Put on 2lb but was expected . Only got back to exercising yesterday and have comfort eat this week. Don't laugh but it was on porridge and Weetabix not together. But used jam and plenty of sugar to sweeten it.

Back on the old routine untill Christmas day and boxing . Then high cal meal on news eve as having 2 friends for lunch a gluten free veggie but very cheesy lasagne and making full fat cheesecake my brother's recipe.

Have a wonderful time NanKate with your family and safe journey.

To to all the pears and other fruits have a wonderful Christmas and hopefully 2025 we will reach out goals 🤔🤣. Well I can but hope in my case .

🎄🥂🍾⛄🎁💞

Thank you nankate , wishing you and the fruits a lovely Christmas.
Colombian Christmas dinner, sounds lovely and different. Looking forward to hearing what you had.

Yes, 3 days off for me also, but with control….i hope. I’ve stayed the same this past week, (usually this time last year I’d of put on ) …we are at my daughters again this year, we are looking forward to it.

Stay safe everyone…

Here’s wishing all you Pears and Apples a Happy Christmas.

I intend to take 3 days off from my Diet. I won’t be going mad but just having a few extra treats and enjoying a Columbian Christmas Dinner cooked by my daughter in law.

We set off for the Brighton area tomorrow where my son and Family live. It will be ‘full on’ with 3 boys 2 eleven and 1 thirteen ! We come back next Friday. Fingers crossed that the M25 behaves itself both ways.

Have a great time whatever you are doing and I look forward to us regrouping in early 2025. 🎄☃️❄️😤🥧🍫🥂

What helps me is the tape measure and my clothes being looser!

Well done keepingquiet for losing a pound. I visualise a pound of butter when I have a loss. When I lost 5lbs I visualised a bag of potatoes. This helps me.

Yes, lots of colds going around- mine is in the lingering stage now whichis annoying.

Much to my surprise I mamagedto lose 1lb this week, and a little more off my waist. This was despite a three course trad turkey dinner and next to no walking!

For me I think this signals that my habits really are changing; little bread, occasional cake, no biscuits (they are the worst!) do due to my busy week ahead I'm not sticking to my planned meals but just having healthy choices and hopefully not too much over indulgence.

Hope everyone has a good week and isn't feeling too overwhelmed by it all.

Hope you are feeling better Whiff. Please give us an update.

It might take a week to lose a pound but for me one day that and more can go on.
NanKate well done on losing half a stone, well done. I have keot to 1500 cals max, for weeks now but

I ate most of a fruit cake yesterday as was upset, annoyed with myself so today being extra strict.. Christmas day will be a challenge as well as I will indulge I know I will.
Whiff glad you feel bit better.

Shirley well done with the pound . It takes eating 3,500 cals less than your body needs to lose 1lb . Mind you I think it's less to put on 1lb well it is with me . 🤦🤷.

Allsorts looking at things the same amount as you have lost is surprising but also spurs you on . The book is brilliant. I keep mine in the living room on my side table by me with my note book and pen. When going out to eat I look up things then make my decision what to have or if going to a cafe end up just having a drink.

NanKate brilliant achievement bet you have noticed a different with your clothes.

keepingquiet that's the thing about this thread no judgements just encouragement. The hardest thing is deciding to lose weight and sticking to it no matter how many set backs you have . Every day is a new start and for me a life style change .

Lost 2.25lbs this week that's including a couple of goodies but the trusty book came in handy for those.

But had a rotten week healthwise. My GP put me on Adcal-D3 tablets as I have Osteopenia in my left hip. I have had muscle spasm/ cramp in my right hamstring since Saturday last week thought it's because I was jigging in the kitchen . But as per me carried on as usual . I am no wimp and used to pain as been in pain my whole life. But the pain and spasm/ cramping got worse from Thursday haven't known pain like it for 3 years so bad I cried . Plus my chronic fatigue went into overdrive and kept falling asleep. Wasn't until Friday I looked up if you can you have to much calcium and vitamin D. Turns out you can . So after 2 weeks didn't take any on Saturday and won't take them again . They stopped my pain tablets working . And I got very frightened and didn't want to go back to how I was . My daughter and grandsons came on Saturday and said mom you look awful ,said I am glad I look how I feel and burst into tears. The spasm/ cramping was worse on Saturday so kept drinking mainly just water to try and flush the calcium out . Every muscle and joint hurt all week even my collar bones.

Yesterday no spasm/ cramping and pain levels down . Hopefully will feel better today. Got blood test this morning but having a taxi and going to sit fit this afternoon but already told me teacher I wouldn't be doing any exercises just going for the company.

I have still done my wake up exercises but very gently and slowly all week just to see if they would help.

Anyway hopefully back to my normal self this week .

Have a good week everyone. Hard to believe it's Christmas next week. 🤸😊

Thanks all for your kind words. We are going to family at Christmas and I don’t want to spoil the loss I have had, so will try to make sensible choices in what I eat, while still joining in all the merriment. Fingers crossed. 🤞