What diet would be best for me? Help me with your collective wisdom.

[cashewnutty]

Holiday to Tuscany is booked leaving on 15th August. I need to make an attempt to lose at least some weight.

Here are the facts. Age 52. 5'6". Around 13st. My best weight is 11st (never been a skinny Minnie)

I have been on many diets over the years.

The first was Scarsdale around late teens. Very successful but quite restricting as I recall.

Done Atkins/idiot proof diet. Work well for a short period but really low carb is not for me. I have a Dh and a DD to cook for and they are huge (but skinny) carb junkies and I hate cooking more than one meal.

Weight watchers has been my most successful. I have also counted calories on MFP. I get bored counting and logging after a while.

I have tried just cutting out junk and wine etc and eating non processed food. I like this approach as I don't need to count things and I like good ingredients cooked well. I also love salads and take them to work for lunch most days. I fall down at the weekend with wine, chocolate and crisps. I also love cheese.

Anyone out there got a diet I can try that might suit me? I am willing to consider anything. I guess the main thing is that it is easy to follow.

Thanks you all for any help you are willing to guve to me.

[MisForMumNotMaid]

So you're yet to try Slimming World. Cheese, chocolate and crisps are allowed daily but in moderation. Each day you get a fibre (wholemeal bread 2 small loaf slices / oats allowance) and calcium (milk/ cheese 40g low fat) allowance.

Carbs are unlimited with the addition of 1/3 veg on the plate., so jacket potatos, pasta, rice are unmeasured

You're allowed many unprocessed foods without measuring like canned tomatos, herbs and spices, lean meats (less than 5% fat)

Low fat yogurts are fine.

Fat, alcohol and processed foods are then measured. You get a daily allowance of 15 syns which roughly equates to 300cals. A spoon of oil is 6 syns so using a spray oil or fry light saves your syns for crisps and chocolate.

A curly whirly is about 6 syns, pack of hoola hoop puffs 3.5, 187ml bottle of tower B low cal wine 4.5 syns.

Additional cheese can always be syned too.

I find it easy to feed all five of us the same on slimming world and
I've lost 5stone in the last year doing that.

[MadauntofA]

5:2? Then you can eat normally for 5 days and on the fast days you can adapt your main meal by not having any carbs and loads of veg so you aren't having to cook completely separate meals - there is a thread on here. It is very restricted for 2 days but I have found it quite easy to do with feeding a family at the same time - I have v little during the day and a big meal at night. Once you know what you are doing, and roughly what to eat on the fast days, you can forget calorie counting! Good luck with whatever diet you choose

[Vivacia]

MFP

[cashewnutty]

Misformum Thank you for that info. I am not really keen on Slimming World. I have never done it but it doesn't really look like my thing.

MdauntofA I did consider 5:2. I worry a lot about the fast days. I get so irrationally angry when i am hungry. Does this happen to anyone?

Vivacia I have MFP and find it good for seeing exactly what am eating. Not sure it would work for me long term as i get bored logging all my food.

I really don't think my perfect diet exists. I need one or two simple rules and no counting or logging of food.

If i lived on my own and had sufficient money i would do Diet Chef or something like that where all the for i am allowed to eat is delivered to me.

[MisForMumNotMaid]

Maybe look at things a different way. What has got you from 11st to 13st?

Is your basic food intake too high or is it that you put on 4lb plus each big holiday and don't loose it?

I was having a chat with my DSis about weight maintenance and she can chart her weight gains as 1/2 stone each holiday. The rest of the time she's fairly static.

If you gain in holidays then maybe a cambridge diet type food replacement with weight watchers ready meals for a week after a holiday would reverse that trend and you just carry on eating the way you do rest of the time.

If you want a simple rule just leave 1/4 of what ever your eating - chocolate, crisps, icecream, plated up meals.

Something has to give, but you need to find the commitment to choose what that is. Or accept that your weight is what it is. Unfortunately no one is going to be able to say drink a glass of water before bed and it'll drop off.

[cashewnutty]

Misformau That is it exactly. I put on weight over holiday periods and don't lose it. I have remained around 13 st since i came back fro holiday in Feb. I was less than that before i went.

I need to find a way that my normal eating is less than my current normal. I know my downfall is crisps, choc, biscuits, wine and cheese. My actual meals are fine and i don't give myself massive portions.

[MugsLife]

Maybe join us in the 3 healthy meals thread? It's working for us.

It's just 3 healthy meals a day and no snacking. I personally have no puddings too, and eat some of my meals with little or no carb, but other people are doing it differently - just trying to stick to three meals and small portions. I give the same meals to my family, I just choose to eat more of the veg and less of the carb most of the time.

[cashewnutty]

Mugslife Thanks. Will come and look later. Got a busy day ahead.