To think eating healthy shouldn't make me put ON weight??

[MuthaInsuperior]

So upto a week ago my usual daily diet was:

Breakfast - Bowl of Wheetos/Coco Pops
Snack - packet of crisps
Lunch - sandwich with a chocolate bun
Snack - Milky Way cake bar
Dinner - Something breadcrumbed with chips and beans
Evening - something chocolate

At this point I weighed 10st 4lbs

I decided to eat healthier in a bid to feel better and perhaps lose weight.

So from a week ago my diet changed to
Breakfast - Bowl of shredded wheat
Snack - Plum
Lunch - boiled egg and salad in a weight watchers pitta bread
Snack - Satsuma
Dinner - Fish with vegetables with low fat yogurt for afterwards

I'm now 3lbs heavier. WFT am I doing wrong? I'm so annoyed by this.

[mumsamilitant]

It's only been a week, persevere.
Also are you due your period?

[mumsamilitant]

Oh, forgot to say I've been going to Slimming World for a while and it totally fluctuates...

[PelvicFloorsOfSteel]

3lb is nothing in the grand scheme of things, there are many reasons why this could have happened.
Did you weigh yourself at the same time of day?
You can be heavier due to water retention if you're due on soon.
It's very easy to get disheartened but if you keep going the way you are weight should start to come off eventually.

[AvisR]

I agree, its only a week!. Try this diet for a month then weigh yourself.

Also you dont need 'snacks'

one last thing do you know how much 1 litre of water weighs?.. your bodies hydration will have a huge affect on your weight from day to day..

AR

[Spenguin]

I agree with the water-weight theories.

You're now actually eating fibre and fibre binds with water.

It's only been a week!

[mumsamilitant]

This may sound daft but a bowl of shredded wheat may need to be swapped for fruit and zero fat yogurt. I bloat with wheat, maybe you do too. I eat a scrap of wholemeal bread, blimey. It probably has something to do with what your body does with different food types.

[squeakytoy]

You do need "snacks", because to keep your metabolism ticking over you need to eat regularly, which is why smaller meals, but eating them more often is a proven way of losing weight..

3lbs is nothing though, your weight can fluctuate by that on a daily basis quite easily.

Try using the "my fitness plan" phone app or website, as that is very good for helping you switch to a healthy diet..

[AgentZigzag]

If you can get over being disheartened when it's not 'dropping off' after you've changed your diet, you're more than half way there

You've got to put yourself out and accept it'll be uncomfortable sometimes, and you're more than doing that by eating plums

[WilsonFrickett]

Weigh yourself once a week, at the same time. Not once a day, not whenever you remember, but once a day. You should only be aiming to lose 1 - 2 lbs a week. Keep going

[aldiwhore]

I think your body needs consistency, and time to adjust from one diet to another.

When I started Slimming World I had a very small weightloss in the first week, and the second, and then (same basic eating) 5lbs the week after.

I also do believe people are different, my weight loss and gain fluctuates massively depending on my time of the month, others are more consistent. So far though, I've lost 2 stone since March... so even though my losses haven't been as great, and they've been slower than some and I've had the ocassional gains... 2 stone is 2 stone. Don't be disheartened.

I would recommend a group, and staying for the meeting... never thought I'd say that as the idea of group therapy makes me shudder, but I love it and it keeps me going through the tough times and lets me soar through the good.

[Huffythetantrumslayer]

I weighed myself after a zumba class and had lost 2 pounds. In water. Was back to normal weight the next day. Don't worry it will start working. Don't weigh daily cos as others have said it fluctuates a lot. Weigh yourself once a week. You'll soon see the difference.

[sunshineandbooks]

Avoid avoid avoid the 'fat free' products. The removal of fat is compensated for by sugar and/or sweeteners. This leads to carb cravings and is one of the reasons why it is now scientifically proven that people who eat a lot of 'diet' foods often end up gaining weight rather than losing it.

You're far better off sticking to full-fat butter, full-fat yoghurt, etc, but including them in your diet in moderation.

[MuthaInsuperior]

Thanks for the advice - got on the scales this morning and I am 10st 7lbs it's so tempting to go back to eating rubbish again but I'll stick with it.
Not due to start a period as far as I know (I never keep a tab on these things although I should!) but am bloated through constipation (tmi sorry). Have been taking lactolose which I've read can cause water retention? Not been for a poo for about 4 days

[MegBusset]

Are you doing exercise - this is the key to losing weight, even more so than weight, ime.

[MegBusset]

Than diet, sorry!

[MuthaInsuperior]

No Meg - I want to go back to my old martial arts club (havn't trained since before christmas) but I'm scared and nervous and keep making excuses not to go. Pathetic I know.

[Piggyleroux]

Sunshineandbooks is right. You needs fats to stay healthy. It is a dangerous myth that a zero fat diet is good for you.

Start the day with a bowl of porridge made with water and add a tablespoon of coconut oil to it. You can get it from holland and barratt or any health food shop. It tastes nice. Google the health benefits of coconut oil and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Eat what you fancy but in moderation. Stay away from trans fats which are very bad for you. Green tea is also good for weight loss.

Good luck

[MuthaInsuperior]

Ooo I love coconut! I'll look that up.

I know I'd lose tons of weight on a low carb diet - I lost half a stone in a week last time but I don't have the flexibility/cooking skills/money to stick to such a diet.

[MegBusset]

Ok well it doesn't have to be gym/scheduled exercise but you really need to be getting out of breath for at least 30 mins every day - can you jog/brisk walk to work, or home from school if you're a sahm, or start with a DVD at home.

What do you drink during the day and evenings?

[MuthaInsuperior]

I drink coffee - constantly.

(hides)

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

If you're constipated, you need to drink a lot more fluids to go with the extra fibre you're now eating and stop the faeces becoming dry and hard. 2 litres of water isn't a bad starting point. Sip glasses of water (or tea or other plain non-sugary drink) all day. I'd also recommend you include some kiwifruit and tomatoes in your diet because the tiny seeds in both are very effective natural laxatives and stool softeners. Your diet seems totally lacking in fat..... some olive oil on your salads will help your digestion. And take some daily exercise such as a brisk walk. The motion of walking 'massages' the gut and this improves the digestion.

If you haven't been to the toilet for 4 days you probably need to take a more powerful laxative tonight to get things moving. And, if it carries on, see your GP.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

Stop drinking coffee for a while.... It's not good for fluid retention.

[MegBusset]

With milk and sugar? Coffee's fine in moderation but prob messing with your metabolism in high amounts. Will also dehydrate you which may add to constipation too. Swap every other cup for herbal or green tea.

[OriginalPoster]

The new diet is streets ahead nutritionally. You'll feel and look better on that regardless of weight. Step back from the scales for a month, and weigh yourself when your clothes feel looser.

Did you feel horrible on the old diet?

[MuthaInsuperior]

Ok I'm going to increase my water intake and switch back to green tea rather than coffee.

I did feel horrible on the old diet, always nauseas, headachey and generally "blurr".

Just had a 2 egg omellete for breakfast with some herby green leaves and cheese. Will have fish and some salad for lunch but it will all go to pot tonight when I go out with my friend still - damage limitation if I eat healthy for the rest of the day.