Confused

[Expellibramus]

I really need to lose weight, 2.5 stone at least, probably more. I am miserable about it and definitely addicted to sugar. But I just feel so helpless and confused :(

I don't know whether to try Slimming World again, fasting (5:2 or 800 calorie?), low carb, should I be gluten free (thyroid issues)? Some of them are almost opposites with the recommendations. I've lost my way and have failed so many times I feel a bit hopeless.

Anyone been here and had success, any ideas for making sense of it and motivation please?

[Thefitfatty]

All of them will work if you stick with them (although gluten free isn't about losing weight, it's about getting rid of something that makes you sick). So you need to ask yourself what will work best for you.

I've struggled with eating disorders in the past so I know anything that involves calorie or point counting won't work for me as I will get to competitive with myself to cut more and more calories.

Gluten doesn't sit well with me so for me going low carb has been a fairly "easy" option, as I feel so much better. I miss beer though. LOL. I've lost about 15 lbs since the beginning of December (and that's with going off for 2 weeks at Christmas and falling off for about 2 weeks when I had a horrible flu).

[Expellibramus]

Thanks, i think my confusion is just part of having tried so many times before and knowing I struggle to stick to it, trying to decide what's best. The gluten reference was more about me being hypothyroid and feeling as though it doesn't make me feel great, although blood tests have come back clear. I know I just need to get my act together.

[Thefitfatty]

Can I recommend low carb/high fat (LCHF). I've been doing that and I found it a bit easier because you can replace sugars with fats (including dairy). I'm loving coconut milk and whipping cream :)

[Expellibramus]

Thanks, I've been curious about it, do you follow the plan on the low carb board here?

[RunnerOnTheRun]

The issue is bloody DIETS!! They don't work long term, everyone eventually falls off them. The trick is to not diet at all and just make gradual changes yourself that will then be more permanent. You know what's not good for you, you know what is, so try to make a few changes until they are set in stone and then add more things. For eg, reduce how many times you eat out or have take aways (note, REDUCE not cut out), buy a shed load of fruit, veg, natural unprocessed foods like all the meats, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, salads, peas, chickpeas. Drink loads of water, less alcohol, less caffeine, no sugar in your drinks, no fizzy pop, less mindless snacking on biscuits (don't buy them). Meal plan, use a slow cooker and then freeze pots of stews etc that you can easily grab and boil up a head of broccoli with it. Don't cut calories drastically as it's like holding your breath, eventually you just need to gasp for air (binge) and it will be painful while cutting calories. You will feel deprived and that is not conducive to staying focused. Keep a notebook with you all the time and log everything you eat.

Best of luck with whatever method you go with.

[Expellibramus]

Thank you, I know you're right, and I very much relate to the holding breath description, I'm just very much struggling with the emotional element I guess.

[Sirzy]

For me slumming world has worked, it has taken me back to basics, refocused what I already knew about food really and given me a good, simple lifelong way to eat.

But everyone is different so it is a case of finding the the way of eating which you can stick too long term.

[Thefitfatty]

I'm not doing the Bootcamp, but I'm on the Hello! Day one anyone want to join me thread, and there's a great group of ladies there and a lot of recipes and things.

RunneronRun, of course you're right, but at least for me I find it easier to just cut out carbs. I can't log what I eat or calorie count, and I'm horrible at managing portion sizes. This has been the easiest thing I've ever done.

[RunnerOnTheRun]

No one can cut out carbs (they keep us alive and are in things like apples!!) what you mean is refined, processed carbs. Great!! It'll certainly see a great shift of body fat and get you healthier.

[Thefitfatty]

Yes, sorry. I've gone low carb. No gluten (makes me sick), no potatoes (never liked them anyway).

[RunnerOnTheRun]

Love your username Thefitfatty!! Getting thinner, obviously!

I quite like sweet potatoes made in to wedges as an alternative to starchy white ones. Much more satiating.

[Thefitfatty]

A little bit at a time. I doubt I'll ever be a waif though, I lift far too many weights for that. :)

I love sweet potato and roast garlic mash with gravy. I could eat entire giant plates of it! Which is why I limit it to special occasions :)

Sweet potato is soo much better then plain old potatoes.

[RunnerOnTheRun]

No one wants to be skinny. I lift too, it's great!

[Thefitfatty]

It is. I used to do a lot of running (10km's in an hour) but my hips were starting to suffer, so I'm trying to balance running with weight lifting. I still love plugging into my music and running for ever, but just not to the point of injury anymore!

[RunnerOnTheRun]

I agree, I do running for the head space (5km as all I usually have time for and it doesn't hurt my knees) and I do kettlebells otherwise and see much, much nicer results with those!

[Thefitfatty]

My gym doesn't have kettlebells, but I've been trying to do the same sort of movements with dumbells. I've got diastasis recti, so I'm trying to close the gap and kettle bell exercises are great for that.

[Expellibramus]

I love sweet potatoes...

I think reducing the refined carbs is a good thing for me to get my blood sugar on a more even keel, but I also think focusing on fitness will make a big difference. I'm ashamed to say I don't think I've ever truly been in good shape .

I'm 40 this year and am feeling as though now's the time to change that, I'm curious how it would feel!

[Thefitfatty]

Starting off focusing on fitness is what I did. I found the fitter I got, the more interested in heating healthy I became (you can't do a good jog after eating a load of greasy chips).