This is me, what do you think will work?

[Titsalinabumsquash]

If I tell you about myself and my lifestyle will you advise. What will help me to lose weight please?

I'm 28, mum of 4 (age ranges 11yrs - 10 months) still breastfeeding a lot. I work evenings currently in a very active job so I do get at least an hour or more of active fitness mon-fri.

I'm only 5ft but I weight 10stone 11, I want to make small goals towards 9 stone which I know is still above healthy but I know I feel and look healthy at that weight.
I'm currently a size 10-12 but I'm not all that bothered about clothes size.

Here's the thing, I have history of eating disorders and Although I've found slimming world and other meeting based plans successful I find they trigger something in me and my mental health takes a nose dive so I, not going to do anything like that. Mfp was the same, with the numbers there's started getting competitive with myself to see how little I can eat in a day and silly stuff like that.

I do like having a plan of some sort though, a guide of what types of food I can/can't eat so I can go back to it if I find myself Slipping.

I have a sweet tooth, I can hoover up bags of chocolate and sweets easily but I'm no better with savoury and crisps can disappear just as quickly with me around.

I was going to try 5/2 but I'm not sure if it will effect my milk and DD eats like a horse.

[capsium]

I would go for 3 main meals a day with no snacks. Plenty of drinks in between but not sweetened drinks and no sugary drinks.

I would cut out things with added sugars, simple carbs and anything sweetened with sweeteners.

So for example breakfast could be porridge (old fashioned type not instant oats) or plain yoghurt and raspberries/blueberries. Lunch could be homemade vegetable soup (could add a few lentils) with small amount of melted cheese on top. Dinner could be a stew or casserole served with green veg.

[capsium]

If going without snacks is too difficult I would take them from one extra portion of homemade soup throughout the day.

[capsium]

If you get a spiraliser you can make 'noodles/spaghetti' out of courgettes - which you can have instead of standard noodles and spaghetti,

[Titsalinabumsquash]

That all sounds quite achievable, I drink nothing but coffee and Diet Coke at the moment which is silly because I actually really like cold water to drink, our water here is dire (hard and chalky) but I'm going to buy a jug with a filer now and keep it in the fridge for my drinks.
I don't take any sweetener in coffee and I have to be up at 5am when I work mornings so coffee would be hard to go without.
Thanks for the tips.

[capsium]

That's a ok. See how it goes, if it is not working you can tweak it. Some people get more success giving up caffeine. I personally like red bush tea and decaf coffee but even just making those initial changes suggested might work for you before you give up the caffeine.

[MrAliBongo]

I'd definitely ditch the Diet Coke if I were you... Artificial sweeteners tell your body to expect a sugar hit, and when it doesn't appear, you're more likely to overeat something else.

You sound like you understand yourself pretty well, and you have a very moderate, healthy attitude to setting goals. That's great! Also, with four kids and working, I'm guessing you don't have tonnes of time to start fannying about with separate meals for you. So I'd look at it in terms of the positive things you can add to your diet/lifestyle that might displace some of the less desirable habits. For instance, if you're not eating at least five portions of fruit and veg each day, that's one. If you're not getting a decent dose of protein at breakfast, fix that. If you rely on snacks, make sure you carry them with you, so you have something sustaining and with some nutritional value. I always have a little pot of almonds, and often an apple kicking round in the bottom of my handbag... One or both is enough to get me through any emergency.

If you want to try a diet that isn't a diet, look into low GI principles... You can work these into your life whether or not you want to lose weight, but the stable blood sugar that results makes it much, much easier to keep unplanned eating under control. And it'll be good for the whole family.

[Lovingtheseagulls]

The weight watchers filling and healthy plan is good. Just a list of foods you can eat freely at mealtimes and fruit for snacks. You are allowed a certain amount of points over the week but rather than use them for chocolate and treats I kind of put that possibility out of my mind and instead use them for a bit of cheese on jacket potatoes or a bit of honey on a crumpet. It isn't super speedy but I've lost half a stone since Christmas on it!

[Titsalinabumsquash]

Thanks for the replies. I just really need to get in the head space now, I used to be able to think "right, diet time!" And I was fine, no bother. Now I think "right, diet time!... Oh, cake for breakfast! 10am biscuit stack, sure why not!"