Personally I'm fine putting on a bit of weight over Christmas. I'll try not to go completely bananas, but I don't think a bit of excess at a special time of year with your friends and family is a bad thing. Factor it into your plans, I say.
*** Big Fat Weight Loss Thread ***
- Thread starter AndyCr15
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Yeah, that's kinda my plan. I've spent a few months dropping the weight down, to allow for a little excess at Xmas. I will try and keep it a little bit better than last year though. I probably went a little OTT last year with the indulgence...
My Christmas eatings have started - had three work dos last week and have relaxed meals a bit more at home. It was probably booze more than anything that was the killer last week. Bit more focus this week (although unprompted takeaway this evening didn’t help). Multiple on calls mean that I can’t really get into the festive booze, especially the weekend before Christmas, that might be the saving grace this year. If I manage a single gym session this week I might be on for a weight hold. Just reminds me that if I want to keep my current weight stable I do have to be quite cautious with intake.
I hope everyone has the chance to enjoy some fantastic food and drink over the festive season. Turkey is the leanest of meats after all
I hope everyone has the chance to enjoy some fantastic food and drink over the festive season. Turkey is the leanest of meats after all
I've decided I'm on holiday from tomorrow, and thus set my weight loss target for today before the Christmas debauchery begins. I'd set myself a target of getting down to 82kg, which I didn't hit, but at 85.7kg I'm 5.5kg down from when I started, 8.3kg down from my heaviest point at the start of last year, and 1.5kg down on the same day last year. So, overall, I'm reasonably happy.
Not going to worry too much about weight over the next few weeks with Christmas/New Year/my birthday, and then try and correct and lose a little more in January.
Not going to worry too much about weight over the next few weeks with Christmas/New Year/my birthday, and then try and correct and lose a little more in January.
Just over a month later… now at 13 stone*, 0 lbs - hurrrgn!
*Not sure about everyone else but I just take my ‘lowest’ weigh-ins as my weight for consistency purposes. My weight bounces around all over the place by 2-4 lbs daily, so unless you monitor your lowest or highest weights, you’ll never really get a grip on how you’re doing. So I guess that means that I’m still above 13 on a daily average basis but it doesn’t really matter - the progress of a 1/2 stone drop is legit
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I now quite like how my app shows averages. Depending on what view I'm in, will show a different average (year view = monthly ave, quarterly view = weekly average).
This morning might be my last weigh-in of this year so -
It's almost scarey how easily you can put weight on (end of June, trip to Girona) and then how hard it is to bring it back off., I think in 2024 (starting with Xmas) that's what I'll try and avoid.
This morning might be my last weigh-in of this year so -
It's almost scarey how easily you can put weight on (end of June, trip to Girona) and then how hard it is to bring it back off., I think in 2024 (starting with Xmas) that's what I'll try and avoid.
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That's definitely what i've found since i've been here. What's been frustrating is i'd hoped to hit sub 100kg by Christmas, and i've had a few weigh-ins where i've been 100.3kg and thought "this is it, another day or so and i'll sneak under", then the next day i'm back at 101.5kg or something.
I've decided to just accept it for this year and then try and really kick on in January. The kids are over for Christmas which will involve a lot of eating out which is never low in calories as lots of stuff is fried in tons of oil/bytter! I'll have cleared out most of the booze by then too.
Hopefully i can keep a couple of active days/week without the distraction of work and that'll help keep things under control.
I've bumped up about 5lbs since the start of my mince pie diet in December 
Doesn't help that I've had a bit of a dodgy knee from Krav maga meaning I've been missing my cardio sessions/walking and the little one hasn't been well so it's been a case of my wife is up most of the night then as soon as I finish work we've been swapping.
Almost all of that 5lbs feels like water weight though as my calves have been playing up again when I have managed to get out for a walk and the sock imprints on my ankles after a day sitting in in the office are impressive!
Doesn't help that I've had a bit of a dodgy knee from Krav maga meaning I've been missing my cardio sessions/walking and the little one hasn't been well so it's been a case of my wife is up most of the night then as soon as I finish work we've been swapping.
Almost all of that 5lbs feels like water weight though as my calves have been playing up again when I have managed to get out for a walk and the sock imprints on my ankles after a day sitting in in the office are impressive!
Yeah I’m not going to deprive myself of Christmas dinner or anything, but I don’t think there’s any need to totally ‘let it go’ over Christmas. A mince pie here and a mulled wine there why not, especially at social events, but there’s no need for a daily baileys / throw in the oven Christmas snacks on top of the usual routine.
Also there is a lot of ‘overbuying’ - Christmas is like 3 days (eve, day, boxing) no need to go turbo with abnormal consumption beyond that.
Just don’t buy it then if its not in the cupboard, it’s not a problem.
Also there is a lot of ‘overbuying’ - Christmas is like 3 days (eve, day, boxing) no need to go turbo with abnormal consumption beyond that.
Just don’t buy it then if its not in the cupboard, it’s not a problem.
Eat as much as you like, not eat as much as you can!
Had a hungry couple of days and expect to be up by new year, but festive food is amazing and to be enjoyed! I don’t think going back to being very strict will be too hard come January / February, but I echo @AndyCr15 ’s sentiments that it’s fast on, slow off.
Year progress. There’ll be a slight uptick which I’ll acknowledge in a couple of weeks with more strict logging. Can’t complain though! Fitter, happier, more productive!
Had a hungry couple of days and expect to be up by new year, but festive food is amazing and to be enjoyed! I don’t think going back to being very strict will be too hard come January / February, but I echo @AndyCr15 ’s sentiments that it’s fast on, slow off.
Year progress. There’ll be a slight uptick which I’ll acknowledge in a couple of weeks with more strict logging. Can’t complain though! Fitter, happier, more productive!
For me, I'm not sure there's much between the two... In fact, it has happened before that I've wanted to keep eating, but simply can't...
After this post…
On Thursday we had pizzas.
On Friday I went to a friends for drinks and had more pizza supplemented with garlic bread and chocolates.
On Saturday I have a super rich meal out and drinks.
… didn’t really work out so well did it
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Soldato
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Pre-Christmas check in and I’ve made it to 65.5kg, so really happy with that. About 1.5kg of the post holiday weight was water so have lost 4kg or so whilst gaining strength and keeping up my bike fitness.
Things that have made a difference:
-No refined carbs outside of bike rides (pre/during). Probably the biggest one for me. I reckon I was easily putting 3-400 cals away each day mindlessly grabbing Haribo/biscuits etc.
-Doing easy rides (Z2 up to 1hr) fasted. I actually used a continuous glucose monitor for some of this period and found my blood sugar was more stable doing this than having a snack before, and I felt no different on the bike. I found them easiest to do in the morning after a coffee.
-Better snacks. Usually a small handful of nuts and a piece of fruit rather than a really processed energy/protein bar.
-More sleep. My cravings are so much worse when I’m tired.
-More beans/pulses. Really filling, satisfying and low calorie compared to rice etc.
I still have a beer or two on the weekend and dessert etc but I’m a lot more mindful about it. I’ll be a bit more relaxed over Christmas but we don’t tend to go crazy. My wife has stocked up on biscuits etc but I’m just not eating them, I’ve realised I can’t eat them in moderation so not putting myself through it.
I've been curious about these. What do you use and how do you use it? Is it like the Sapiens thing? (Wow, they're about £1,500 a year! And I thought my Whoop was expensive!
)
Soldato
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- 29 Dec 2004
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I signed up for Zoe (not for weight loss but for other dietary reasons) and you get one for two weeks. I don’t think it’s something that would be useful long term but it gave me some interesting insights over the fortnight. One, my body hates potatoes. They give me a massive sugar spike and crash. Two, short low effort rides are better fasted than with a snack before. Again, that usually just gives me a massive spike and crash. Three, if you’re going to eat dessert it’s much better to do it straight after dinner than leaving a gap. Assuming you’re having good quality protein, fats and fibre then it will help moderate your blood sugar response.I've been curious about these. What do you use and how do you use it? Is it like the Sapiens thing? (Wow, they're about £1,500 a year! And I thought my Whoop was expensive!
To be fair to Supersapiens the sensors themselves are relatively expensive (£96 per month) but I’m not sure it‘s worth it over the long term. A lot of the principles with blood sugar management are common knowledge and while it’s interesting to find out for yourself, I’d wager that potatoes, bread, rice and pasta are not good options by themselves at mealtimes for anyone. When it comes to riding, I think you’ll generally find your choice of carb source varies according to intensity with solid food and more complex carbs working better at lower effort and drinks/gels for harder rides.
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Yeah, I think I'd be most interested specifically in what happens on a 4 to 6 hour ride. For example, we'll stop for a coffee and brownie, but if we stay for maybe 40 or 50 minutes, I need to have a gel before we set off or I might be a little light-headed. I would love to know what's going on there.
Girona with bike I take it?
im there beginning of June
been there this year already.
get ready for some HOT temps!
we've hit 40s in afternoons...not pleasant on bikes unless you really love heat LOL
great places to eat and drink.
great coffee shops for coffee and breakfast
if you have any Q, give me a shout
Associate
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christmas:
Add 4 mince pies, one can of pringles, and chocolate to my belly.
Add 4 mince pies, one can of pringles, and chocolate to my belly.