3 months to get myself sorted! What are your tips for weight loss and improving your health please?

[TwoBigNoisyBoys]

I’ve just submitted my final assignment for my second year at uni (yay!). I’ve been heads down studying for months and I have completed neglected myself, (not so yay!) I’ve put weight on, about a stone and half over the last couple of years but I wasn’t slim to begin with, so probably need to lose 3 stone realistically...I’m a single mum of two teenagers, in my forties and I also work alongside uni studies, as well as doing a work placement, so I’ve been flat out busy, and I’ve been over eating, probably drinking too much and I’m horribly unfit...but I have a couple of months off uni now, so want to sort myself out. Where do I start?! I’ve got a Noom subscription that I’ve ignored for a month 🙈 so I’m planning to re-engage with that, but I’m after some tips to make me healthier, slimmer and happier in myself...and preferably quickly! I’ve been studying online due to Covid, but I hoping to have back on campus in September, and I’d like to feel and look my best...Anyone got any tips they’d like to share with me please? 😊😊

[Butterflyfox]

I don’t have any tips I’m afraid but I am in exactly the same situation (minus the dissertation-congratulations). I have June 1st marked for the turnaround to begin. Thinking about couch to 5k. Have you looked at that?

[roguetomato]

Dry brushing and lymphatic drainage massage. Doing it for so long, can't live without it, it literally makes me feel ill if I don't do it.

[TwoBigNoisyBoys]

Hi! @Butterflyfox, I did couch to 2k 2 years ago, and actually achieved it...and then gave it up as soon as i completed Race for Life...🙄 great idea! Yeah, I’ve kinda got 1st June as a mental ‘start date, too!
Hi @roguetomato...is it literally brushing yourself down with a body beside? Or up, rather than down. You have to do the strokes towards the heart, is that right? I’m intrigued...do you really feel poorly if you don’t do it? I had no idea it was so beneficial! Thank you!

[Crazzzycat]

Start with getting enough sleep and ditch (or at least reduce) the alcohol. It’s amazing what treats you can resist when you’re well rested, but if you’re tired or had a drink things become a lot harder!

After that sort out your diet. There’s no need to go overboard. Just eat healthy food, but less of it! I do 16:8, which means I only eat during 8 hours of each day. It’s much easier than it sounds and means I can eat proper meals, without needing to worry about eating too much as there really is only so much food you can squeeze into that time frame.

Exercise is good, but it doesn’t need to be anything extreme to start seeing positive changes to your mood. It can be as simple as just going for a walk every day or spending some time outside. Obviously more intense forms of exercise are good too, but it’s easier to commit to doing something simple and achievable than it is to doing something more challenging. That can come later!

Finally, you are far more likely to succeed if you change one thing at a time. It can be tempting to just jump in and change everything, but generally that kind of enthusiasm doesn’t last particularly long. So take your time to build those new habits!

Good luck 🙂

[Happyoldbat]

Agree 100% with crazzzycat. Do all you can now ( before you hit menopause) to improve the quality of your sleep - cut right down on booze, get a new mattress now if you need one, arm yourself with blackout curtains and a one tog duvet, get enough exercise. Lack of sleep makes it extremely hard to keep weight off as it makes you hungry.

[Aquamarine1029]

Stop drinking completely. You will be amazed at how much better you feel, just be careful not to substitute sweet treats for the alcohol. Count your calories, drink loads of water, no soda or squash, and avoid processed rubbish.

Easy changes can make a huge difference.

[LittleRa]

Low carb, have a look at the low carb boot camps section here on mumsnet

[Thesagacontinues]

Hi @TwoBigNoisyBoys

I'm in the same boat and could use some tips too. I'll prob be returning to work in the office in September and want to look better again by then.

I get loads of sleep and rarely drink alcohol but am eating out of habit and boredom.

DP works away from Monday to Friday so once DC are in bed I get bored and eat eat eat.

[vivariumvivariumsvivaria]

I'll join you. What I need is consistency.

[TwoBigNoisyBoys]

Thank you all so much...everything you have all said makes so much sense! Some really great ideas, and some stuff I used to do, but have given up...It’s like I knew it, but had forgotten while, I’ve had my head buried in the books! I really want to take this opportunity to get myself sorted. Absolutely yes to the alcohol. I’ve slipped into the habit of having one or two drinks about 4 nights a week, which isn’t helping anything. I’ve done NO exercise at all. No excuse apart from having no time, but I’ve got more of that now! I’ve also developed a really sweet tooth out if nowhere. I think I’m trying to combat tiredness, so eat, get a sugar rush, then slump...and so on. Sigh.

[Feelinglow8736]

Ill join you too op

[Butterflyfox]

I’m fairly new to mumnet but shall we start a little club on here. For moral support. The 1 June club. Or should it be the 1 September club as that is when we shall emerge beautifully out of our ugly cocoons into the workplace. I love the advice of @Crazzzycat to go gently. If someone says boot camp to me it makes me want to reach for the doughnuts.

[TheVolturi]

Intermittent fasting - 16/8 is great, plus apple cider vinegar every day.

[AbstractHeart]

If you're after a quick fix then a tan makes you look slimmer, healthier and more attractive

[PumpkinWitch]

@Butterflyfox

I’m fairly new to mumnet but shall we start a little club on here. For moral support. The 1 June club. Or should it be the 1 September club as that is when we shall emerge beautifully out of our ugly cocoons into the workplace. I love the advice of *@Crazzzycat* to go gently. If someone says boot camp to me it makes me want to reach for the doughnuts.

I love the idea of emerging from a cocoon. I did yoga with Adrienne’s 30 days of yoga on January and might start again.

Is noom any good?

[Susannahmoody]

Please tell us what you eat on a typical day.

[IslandGirl5]

Hey! Qualified personal trainer (Pilates and yoga mainly) and nutrition for weight loss advisor here! This is my kind of post! Right so:

You don’t need to go crazy straight away or you’ll be less likely to stick with anything. I always advise a 20% calorie deficit alongside a step target for the day for starters (you can find some decent calorie calculators online, the one that lines up best with my personal way of calculating things is over on James Smith Academy). Then get moving with steps, walking more, take the stairs etc

Once you’ve got that down look at reducing alcohol (don’t feel you have to cut it out completely as again this has to be realistic for you but keep it within your calorie target), pick an activity or exercise you enjoy and get good quality sleep! Sleep is so important for the body to function properly and mindset!

Once that is sorted increase physical activity and make healthier food choices about 80% of the time and let yourself have some of your favourite naughty snacks or drinks as and when as you still need to enjoy your food and have a healthy relationship with it!

There are a few comments here that are alright for some but not for everyone. Intermittent fasting is just a shorter feeding window that will help some people eat fewer calories (calorie deficit is the only way to loose weight. To eat less energy than you use day to day). But if your like me and wake up ravenous you will binge later in the day so don’t do this if you feel hungry first thing.

Low carb is tricky as people literally need carbs to survive. Carbs aren’t bad. Too many bad carbs can be. Be sensible with your food choices and carbs are your friend.

Apple cider vinegar is literally pointless unless your in peak physical condition and want a boost. It’s like putting the cherry on top of the ingredients of the cake. Do the cake first. Also sorry for mentioning cake...

But do the small steps first, keep a positive mindset and find what works for you. Good luck.

[IWentAwayIStayedAway]

15k steps a day. Max 2000 calories. I follow teamrh and swear by them. You'll find on facebook. Im about 4 stone down and feeling great. Good luck

[QuentininQuarantino]

Not an expert by any means but I had a health scare at the start of February and it kicked me into action, and although I’ve never been successful at weight lost I’ve amazed myself by steadily losing a pound a week ever since. The changes I made were ones I could stick to, so:

• no more alcohol (unless at a party or out!)
  
• No sweetener in coffee/tea (helped minimize the sweet tooth and I don’t miss it or have as many sugar cravings)
  
• gluten free (it helps minimize carbs without eliminating them completely - if I really feel the need for bread I have to have the less nice gluten free stuff.
  
• lactose free - same as above - helps avoid ice cream binges!
  
• I got a personal trainer - one hour a week - this has been brilliant! I actually love exercising now. I was the girl who tried to use being on my period to get out of PE lessons, and yesterday I ran a half marathon on my period for fun! My awful bum is now
  

something with shape!!!

I’m well on my way to being a normal weight and I started as obese so am very pleased and surprised!

[Thatnameistaken]

I joined Michael mosleys fast 800 program 5 weeks ago and I've gone from 12st 11lb to 11st 1lb.
The online program is a bit of a shambles at the moment, they've changed websites and it isn't going smoothly. But there are recipe books available and the menus make your daily 800 cals feel a lot more.

[TwoBigNoisyBoys]

Oh wow!!! I never expected so many replies...thank you all so much! I’m going to have a good read through, and do my favourite thing...write a list!!
@Susannahmoody all the rubbish stuff at the moment, unfortunately 😕 I know exactly what I’m doing wrong. My diet is literally atrocious at the moment.
@IslandGirl5 wow, what a helpful post...thank you.
@QuentininQuarantino you’re an inspiration!
Everyone I haven’t mentioned...thank you so much for taking the time. I really really appreciate all of you replying

[TwoBigNoisyBoys]

Ps and I LOVE that there’s a few of us going to do this together now 😊😊😊

[whatisheupto]

I try to do:
16:8
Drink lots of water
No alcohol unless I'm out or it's a special occasion
Gluten free bread (same as PP - just sort of stops me having a carb binge)
Trying to remember to have enough protein each day
Decent walk with a bit of uphill most days

[LifeinPieces21]

@Crazzzycat

Start with getting enough sleep and ditch (or at least reduce) the alcohol. It’s amazing what treats you can resist when you’re well rested, but if you’re tired or had a drink things become a lot harder!

After that sort out your diet. There’s no need to go overboard. Just eat healthy food, but less of it! I do 16:8, which means I only eat during 8 hours of each day. It’s much easier than it sounds and means I can eat proper meals, without needing to worry about eating too much as there really is only so much food you can squeeze into that time frame.

Exercise is good, but it doesn’t need to be anything extreme to start seeing positive changes to your mood. It can be as simple as just going for a walk every day or spending some time outside. Obviously more intense forms of exercise are good too, but it’s easier to commit to doing something simple and achievable than it is to doing something more challenging. That can come later!

Finally, you are far more likely to succeed if you change one thing at a time. It can be tempting to just jump in and change everything, but generally that kind of enthusiasm doesn’t last particularly long. So take your time to build those new habits!

Good luck 🙂

That's good advice. I need to lose at least a stone so should follow it. Good look OP.

[LifeinPieces21]

Good luck