The NEW Weight Loss thread!

[witch]

I've been trying really hard and have got nowhere it seems.

[arwen]

I lost the will a bit last week. Didn't go too over board, but did go to the gym for the first time in ages.

Put on 1.2kg :-/

 

Back to salads this week for lunch. No more sandwiches/paninis ! Feeling lethargic and lack of energy is not helping matter I feel.

[CAM]

I'm having a shot at weight loss after looking in the mirror and deciding....no, just no. Add a few heart flutters and decided it's time to change my lifestyle.

 

Currently taking up weights and doing that when I can. Eating is harder, I'm terrible at tracking calories and tend to eat a pot of salad at work, but no idea how many calories go into a pot!

 

Add in being naughty yesterday and today and slacking off rom my weight training for three days. No idea how I accidentally ordered a large Burger King but I regretted it quickly. -.-

[elsiegee40]

I went away for 5 days and undid some of my good work... With a party at the weekend where I will consume too many alcohol calories and a celebration meal out this week that will just be too many calories, I need to be on my best behaviour the rest of the time to try not to undo all the good work I have done so far! :/

[Joanne]

Just to put it out there... mainly for people who don't get filled up by a salad... (I know I don't) make yourself grilled meat and vegetables for your dinner. I had 1.5 chicken breasts, broccolli, peas and cauliflower mash for my dinner. Just as healthy and much more filling!

[Xeba37]

Just to put it out there... mainly for people who don't get filled up by a salad... (I know I don't) make yourself grilled meat and vegetables for your dinner. I had 1.5 chicken breasts, broccolli, peas and cauliflower mash for my dinner. Just as healthy and much more filling!

+1 way better than salad.

 

I also tend to make 'extra' evening meal to take to work the following day.

 

I love to snack and take 5-6 'lots of food' per day. That said, my main meals are not particularly large (I probably eat less than 1/3 of what my partner eats in the evening).

I snack if I get hungry - I don't go hungry, I think that is where most 'diet fads' go wrong, that and nobody wants to live on lettuce and food that tastes of nothing.

 

Between my bigger meals (which I cook from scratch, jars of sauce, ready meals etc you consume so much sugar that you don't even realise) I will have a handful of nuts (they don't have to be plain, I roast my own with madras powder on them yum) or a Nakd bar, half a bag of urban fruit strawberries (oh my, those things are amazing), slice of wholemeal bread with cashew or almond butter or a banana. I am not a saint and eat cake on a Sunday at climbing or if we go out for a meal. But actually, after the first few weeks you don't miss it. I also found cutting out white carbs helps as wholemeal stuff tends to keep you full for longer. I also limit my gluten intake as although I am not intolerant, I don't think it is good for anyone to eat wheat every day, although I do love my toast with almond/cashew butter, I limit it to 4 slices a week.

 

If I take on loads of processed food and generally eat not so well for a few days I feel so sluggish. Once you get into a decent habit of consuming a good diet you will never go back! That first couple of months cutting out most of the sugar and processed foods though urgh is a killer.

[Joanne]

That first couple of months cutting out most of the sugar and processed foods though urgh is a killer.

 

Can confirm.

 

Over it now though!!

[Xeba37]

Can confirm.

 

Over it now though!!

 

Totally worth it. I did it a couple of years ago and not looked back.

[hardtailstar]

I'm back in.... New job and everything. I stagnated for a while, not sure if I've put on weight as I do not feel fatter which is good but I may be.

 

Tried all sorts of ways before but this time will just be changing diet slowly and exercising.

[Joanne]

Yeah you've got to make a lifestyle change. Sometimes it's a total blag when you get home cooking a full meal when the kitchen has been left in a state... but last night Husband wanted to be lazy and ordered a pizza, but I stood my ground and we ended up eating salmon and broccoli and peas. Really glad I did.

[JLambert97]

Yeah you've got to make a lifestyle change. Sometimes it's a total blag when you get home cooking a full meal when the kitchen has been left in a state... but last night Husband wanted to be lazy and ordered a pizza, but I stood my ground and we ended up eating salmon and broccoli and peas. Really glad I did.

 

Poor man

 

*moments silence to commemorate*

[Griff]

I was going great guns on the weight loss but busted my ankle playing ice hockey and basically had 2-3 months of doing nothing slowly getting back on my bike now but still waiting for MRI scans etc nightmare!!! but its really made me focus on what I am eating, recently discovered water cress the stuff is great if you get bored of regular salad. First summer holiday abroad for years and years coming up in August so got to get trim boom

[Joanne]

Poor man

 

*moments silence to commemorate*

 

It's OK... he still gets his fair share of junk food at work!

[JLambert97]

It's OK... he still gets his fair share of junk food at work!

 

That's good

[Mako]

Tried all sorts of ways before but this time will just be changing diet slowly and exercising.

 

You have to find out what works for you. Every body and everybody is different. I am in no way a nutritionist or health professional so take what I say with a pinch of salt. (although not too much, got to watch that intake!)

 

What I found out: Fix the diet first, before the exercise. Changing your intake and simultaneously increasing your burn may leave very undesirable results, such as feeling extremely tired and sluggish. Once you know you're on a food plan that is working, by monitoring your weight, then you can up the exercise.

If you're going down a 'diet' route, stopping sugars and carb-heavy foods etc will leave you lacking the energy your body is used to. Once it adjusts to a new routine you'll feel much better and healthier once the exercise begins. As people have mentioned above, cutting the 'bad' stuff is the hardest part. Once you're over that it's plain sailing.

 

What also works for me is not a diet per se, but simply smaller meals. I have stopped (almost) all junk foods, no more takeaways, McD's, Pizza Huts and no dairy chocolate. I still eat what I want, just less of it. I aim around 1200-1500 calories a day and exercise 3 times (sometimes more) a week. I started in October and it took until Christmas for the alternate eating style to start kicking in, when I was noticing weight loss. February I started the exercise and the weight is coming off nicely, I'm 2 1/2 stone down since I started in October.

 

One tip: dark chocolate. 80%+ cocoa chocolate is a godsend. You get your sweet tooth on and it's a nice energy boost during the work day, 6 squares can easily fit into a daily regime and I love it, and it is nowhere near as bad as a bar of milk chocolate.

[arwen]

Ok... so I've downloaded MyFitnessApp to count my calories for me. I've to aim for 1300 each day. Went over by 2 yesterday and that was me eating pretty much normally so hoping I can keep it up without feeling too horrible. The weekends will be the test I think.

I am now kinda worried since looking at the Nutrition/Nutrients page on the app however. The only things I seem to get even close to their 100% (or slightly over) are Carbohydrates, Protein and Sugar. :-/

[Iain.Faulkner]

You have to find out what works for you. Every body and everybody is different. I am in no way a nutritionist or health professional so take what I say with a pinch of salt. (although not too much, got to watch that intake!)

 

What I found out: Fix the diet first, before the exercise. Changing your intake and simultaneously increasing your burn may leave very undesirable results, such as feeling extremely tired and sluggish. Once you know you're on a food plan that is working, by monitoring your weight, then you can up the exercise.

If you're going down a 'diet' route, stopping sugars and carb-heavy foods etc will leave you lacking the energy your body is used to. Once it adjusts to a new routine you'll feel much better and healthier once the exercise begins. As people have mentioned above, cutting the 'bad' stuff is the hardest part. Once you're over that it's plain sailing.

 

What also works for me is not a diet per se, but simply smaller meals. I have stopped (almost) all junk foods, no more takeaways, McD's, Pizza Huts and no dairy chocolate. I still eat what I want, just less of it. I aim around 1200-1500 calories a day and exercise 3 times (sometimes more) a week. I started in October and it took until Christmas for the alternate eating style to start kicking in, when I was noticing weight loss. February I started the exercise and the weight is coming off nicely, I'm 2 1/2 stone down since I started in October.

 

This is what has worked for me (approx 7 stone below my heaviest ever weight).....portion control is key as is everything in moderation. Don't tell yourself that you "can't" have chocolate/beer etc etc whatever your vice is, as you'll crave it all the more. Fix the diet first and then increase the exercise. I lost most of my weight through diet alone (first 12 months) and then introduced exercise gradually. I'm now not really losing any weight, but I am changing shape thanks to the exercise.

[Griff]

Ok... so I've downloaded MyFitnessApp to count my calories for me. I've to aim for 1300 each day. Went over by 2 yesterday and that was me eating pretty much normally so hoping I can keep it up without feeling too horrible. The weekends will be the test I think.

I am now kinda worried since looking at the Nutrition/Nutrients page on the app however. The only things I seem to get even close to their 100% (or slightly over) are Carbohydrates, Protein and Sugar. :-/

 

I normally ignore the nutrition page lol! Best thing about this app is if you use it long enough you automatically start to store in your head the calories for certain items eventually you won't even need to log it. You can self calculate throughout the day it is also quite funny calling out the calories on items your friends are about to eat/buy then seeing if you get it right KitKat being the easiest (107 for the original or did it shoot up to 110 now?)

[Xeba37]

I normally ignore the nutrition page lol! Best thing about this app is if you use it long enough you automatically start to store in your head the calories for certain items eventually you won't even need to log it. You can self calculate throughout the day it is also quite funny calling out the calories on items your friends are about to eat/buy then seeing if you get it right KitKat being the easiest (107 for the original or did it shoot up to 110 now?)

 

The problem I have with that app (and I have tried to use it) not to count calories specifically but more to track what I am eating and I am getting enough of what I should be etc is that for pre made products it is OK, but I make the majority of my food from scratch so without typing in the exact weight of each ingredient I put in something in the correct proportions relative to my portion size it is pretty much useless

[arwen]

I normally ignore the nutrition page lol! Best thing about this app is if you use it long enough you automatically start to store in your head the calories for certain items eventually you won't even need to log it. You can self calculate throughout the day it is also quite funny calling out the calories on items your friends are about to eat/buy then seeing if you get it right KitKat being the easiest (107 for the original or did it shoot up to 110 now?)

 

I am terrible at doing maths in my head. One of the reasons I am so bad at counting calories. I do genuinely miscalculate!

[Mako]

This is what has worked for me (approx 7 stone below my heaviest ever weight)

 

That's impressive, congratulations!

[Sam_Brown]

Really struggled this last week. Been picking up my running a lot and finding I've been craving a lot of junk food. Think I've put on about 3lbs this week despite running three times. Need to get this sorted ASAP.

[CAM]

Trying porridge this morning to stave off breaktime cravings (after eating a banana and a packet of raisins yesterday). Also discovered I shouldn't be using my hand weights two days on the trot, need simple ideas for something on the days in-between!

 

Oh and I was naughty again. Two slices of cake and custard in the evening....

[Joanne]

For breakfast I have 3 weetabix with almond or coconut milk and a handful of blueberries. Keeps me satisfied. I have a snack at 10, usually something nutty then dinner is 11:30-12 then a snack at 3 - again nut related and then tea at 6 or 7... if I feel the need... another snack before bed.

 

I'm maintaining weight though on a lifting regime.

[Mako]

Really struggled this last week. Been picking up my running a lot and finding I've been craving a lot of junk food. Think I've put on about 3lbs this week despite running three times. Need to get this sorted ASAP.

 

Tried some delicious home-made burgers? Make your own patties and grill them, don't fry them. Low-carb bread buns and you're good to go.

Dark, high-cocoa chocolate if it's that sweet tooth annoying you. 6 squares should be around 120cals.

Eggs! Eggs take longer to digest due to the protein content, can make you feel fuller for longer.

High-fibre foods. I eat a bowl of bran flakes on a morning. The body cannot digest fibre, and so it can satisfy cravings for longer. Also helps with digestion. Some diets recommend high fibre and high protein foods. Just make sure they're not high-sugar cereals etc.

Nuts! Graze on nuts, they work wonders for weight loss.

 

Mix up cardio with weight/strength training. On the days you don't run, lift some weights if you have them. If you don't, do bodyweight exercises (situps, pushups etc). Keep your body using up the fats and proteins, but make sure you don't over-compensate food intake to balance it out. Keep everything in moderation and record/measure what you eat.