how do people do it?!

[katiebrusby]

Im a food lover im the first to admit it and i have a big sweet tooth. Im currently 5ft 3 and weighed myself yesyerday and have reached 13st 2. Me and dh have just started trying for a baby and i know that losing weight will help with that plus i have other medical conditions which i know are made worse by being overweight.

Ive previously tried sw, shakes, mfp, atkins and even had orlistat from the doctor but i have coeliac disease so struggle to eat some stuff, take steroids for an illness which increase my appetite, struggle with exercise due to illness and generally find having the willpower really hard!

Doesnt help that dh is a twig and eats like a horse so meals always involve some form ofa carbs and there is always some sweets and crisps in the house

[TalkinPeace]

I want no pain in my knees more than I want more food.

[Kumiho]

Start by firing up MyFitnessPal and log everything you eat. Weigh it! So, breakfast, weigh your cereal, log each slice of toast, chuck it on the scale before and after the butter to weigh the butter... the idea here is you get to see over an average day how many calories you eat.

OK, so the NEXT day, you want a lower figure. Plan your meals ahead. Eat smaller portions. Try an identify your problem - are you hungry? More protein/fat to feel fuller longer. Low on energy? Carbs. Don't demonise carbs, just cut the portion size. Sweets? Don't have them in the house. Cut to a once or twice a week treat - and log them too.

MFP will let you also see how well-balanced your macros are - your carbs, fats and protein. Dip too low on one and everything is thrown out of balance; too much protein and low fibre gets you constipation, too-low carbs gets you headaches and energy slumps, too low fat gives you hormonal slumps and low mood. Keeping things in balance also means things you enjoy - eggs, whole-fat milk, yoghurt, apples etc. Assuming you enjoy those things.

Use it as a guide to see what you eat now and how to change to new habits. Not quickie diets with milkshakes, but sustainable things.

Takes about 10 days for the sugar cravings to go. Try 10 days off the sweets and then you may find you're no longer craving them.

[DownWithThisTypeOfThing]

Kumuhio

Takes about 10 days for the sugar cravings to go. Try 10 days off the sweets and then you may find you're no longer craving them.

So agree with this. Get 2 weeks under your belt and I bet it'll become easier.

[katiebrusby]

10 days god that sounds like hell! I know i need to though x

[whitewithtwo]

I find that the first 3 days are the worst but it's much easier after that. Then, as others have said, after 10 days you don't really fancy sweet stuff anymore, even if it's on offer.

[Dowser]

Three and a half weeks in. Just breezing along!

Hurt not eating some ake at the Indian buffet we went to tonight but my god....I'd eating everything else!

[katiebrusby]

Ive started with mfp this morning. Im going to just eat as i would normally today to get an idea of the amount of calories im actually eating and then im gonna do my best to stick to it. Af came ueterday early which may be why iv been wanting sweet stuff cos i always find i want cake more before im due!

[DownWithThisTypeOfThing]

Oh and get on tumblr or reddit or instagram - whenever I'm feeling "oh but it's too haaaaaaarrrrd" I look at the before/ after progress pics - so inspirational (and assuming everyone is accurate with the weight they post, fascinating to see how differently people carry the same weight).

[katiebrusby]

First day done. 2004 calories And that was eating what id normally eat and more since id normally have porridge for breakfast but today i had 4 slices of white toast! (Bread needs using!) Ok so i may not lose weight eating that amount but i would think i should be able to maintain a steady weight at that?!?! So why do i keep bloody gaining!! Grrr damn you body!!

[SilverNightFairy]

Katie, can you fit any exercise into your day? 30 minutes of exercise might make you feel better and will give you some extra calories on MFP.

[karinmaria]

Hi Katie, I'm 5'4" and weigh almost 10 stone. I'm not very active and find I gain weight if I eat 2000 calories per day. According to MFP I need to only eat 1500 cals to maintain weight so you're prob similar? It's surprising how little we need to eat.

The two big weight/calorie changers for me are oils and carbs. So cooking with oil I now use a spray or measure out the oil, and carbs I try to minimise the portions so I can fill up on green veg and lean protein.

[SilverNightFairy]

Oh, FFS! I just went back and read your original post more closely...saw that you are feeling too unwell to exercise. I'm so sorry

I was recovering from hip surgery when I began MFP. I found I was able to lose about a pound a week even without the exercise. I know it feels so difficult in the beginning but stick with it, you will see results.

[karinmaria]

(And it's really hard to stick to but so nice when your favourite clothes start to fit again!)

[madmother1]

I've been on a 1500 calorie diet. I literally write down everything in a diary or use MFP. You will then lose 1lb per week. Having 2000 is a normal women's intake. You will not lose weight. I've lost over a stone. I'm 5ft 3 inches and was 11 stone. I want to lose another stone. Measuring and writing it down has really opened my eyes to what foods are laden with calories. I eat a good varied diet with treats. I walk a few days and go to a fitness class. As you notice the weight coming off and people noticing, you'll get more into it. Also, you just get to know what calories are in foods. The NHS website has a good calorie counter that you can download as an app. Good luck x

[karinmaria]

Some things that help me when having a sweet/junk craving (well, they help more and more - I'm far from good at this!):

• having a cup of warm water with lemon juice when I get up. It feels so clean that I want to eat cleanly too.
• drinking a glass of water, herbal (caffeine free - green tea is not caffeine free) tea or sugar-free squash when having a craving.
• trying a piece of fruit first.

[MyNameIsPinkiePie]

I used a mix of MFP, weight watchers - WW is similar but gives points instead, most fruit and veg is 0 points as opposed to MFP which counts the calories and made me avoid the fruit for more unhealthy snacks of the same calorie amount - and Rosemary Conley at the start which uses calorie counting too. I have lost and maintained without exercise, I don't find exercise as important but it can speed up the loss if you are still careful about food. I have a bad back so struggle to exercise much too, just do things that feel ok. To lose weight I stick to 1200 to 1400, I really don't believe the daily recommended allowances you see published on the side of cereal boxes, perhaps for those with very physical lives or very tall people.

Once you get used to the food which fits into the calorie goal you set it is easy to have a few options for each meal without weighing things etc. Eg. A bowl of porridge with milk for 300, a tin of soup and slice of bread for about 300, snacks such as fruit or cereal bars/crisps under 100 calories a portion. Then you have about 500 calories for a healthy but filling dinner. Avoiding food over 5% was a good rule, except for oily fish and oats. Find options you enjoy and are filling so you stick to it, it doesn't have to be a big change from your usual as there are cheats to reduce calories in favourite meals. Have a treat once a week to reward yourself and make sure your DH understands and doesn't sabotage the diet - mine brings home bad food and he's tall so hides his excess weight much better than me! Saying no gets easier, especially once you start seeing results but discipline is tough initially. You can do it.

[dun1urkin]

katie have you calculated your TDEE? There are lots of calculators online. It's an estimate of the number of calories you need to eat to stay the same weight.
I'm 5ft5, 10.10 and 'lightly active' and need ~1900 calories a day to maintain this weight.
I've used the info you've given, guessed your age at 30 if I'm way out, and yours is 1780, so that's why you're gaining weight if you're eating 2000 a day.
I echo the advice on here you've already had - it does get easier once you've got your head around it all (I've lost 5 stone, and have kept it off barring the odd Christmas/ holiday blips!)

[toffeeboffin]

Don't fall into the trap of eating like a man.

Women need lots less calorie wise, I used to go out with a builder and eat the same as him. I put on three stone! He had a very physical job so used to burn it off easily, me, not so much. Adapt your meals, replace carbs with veg.

[mandy214]

I think you have to be really truthful too. Count absolutely everything. And look at swapping some of the less healthy things for the same "light" products. Also find things that you like, which are low calories (or low points if you're doing weightwatchers). Be realistic. My downfall is about 9pm when I finally sit down after doing all the jobs. I need (well not quite need, lets say desperately want ) a treat at that point and telling myself that I can't have one just makes me want to eat. So I've found a couple of things that I have in the house that I can have, include it in my points etc and don't deprive myself. Good luck!

[katiebrusby]

Sorry only just managed to get on Here! im 26 in july so im closer to 30 than i am 20! I always say im gonna stick to it and then never do but i honestly feel a bit different thinking that im doing it to help us try for a baby. My step sister has pcos and was overweight never used any protection and after she lost 3 stone she got pregnant so im thinking if she can do it so can i. im quite good with fruit and things anyway cos i do like it and i dont like a massive amount of carbs unless its rice im a sucker for rice! I did sw for a few months and found that when i stuck to it religiously i lost 3lb a week but that wasnt having any treats at all which is where i struggle! Today iv had a couple of mini milkyways and 2 yoghurts and iv found that thats satisfied me along with a healthy dinner and then tea i just had a bowl of cereal cos dh is working nights and i couldnt be bothered to cook for myself. Mfp says i should be aiming for 1200 but im thinking if i can get there gradually maybe aim for 1500 to start and then go from there. I take steroids for an illness and they make it really hard cos they make u wanna eat all the time! Plus im on anti depressants too which are also known for weight gain! I desperately want a baby though and i know if i can lose some weight my health will improve too cos atm i am classed as obese for my height

[dun1urkin]

I think 1500 sounds like a good plan. Don't give up when you have a wobble/blow out/ 4 day feeding frenzy. Just get back on it, and keep plugging away.
You can do it, there are lots of us on here that have done it, and you've got a fab incentive now you're TTC.
I was about to say 'good luck', but there's no luck involved