How to lose weight?

[YourFace]

Put on half a stone over Christmas and want to lose it.

If I ate 3000 calories a day over Christmas and went back to my usual 2000 a day consumption now, would the weight go of it's own accord. Or do I need to go an actual diet to lose it?

I already do loads of exercise if it makes any difference and kept it up mostly over Christmas although apart from the exercise I was generally lazy and spent more inactive time than usual.

[AuntieStella]

The short answer is to eat less.

Now I know there are drawbacks to calorie counting, but if you expend about 2000 calories daily (your usual consumption that maintains your weight steady) then eating that now will maintain your current/higher weight (as 7lbs isn't going to make that much difference to your BMR)

So yes, reduce to about the 1600 mark and cut out highly processed or refined foods and the weight should come off over a few weeks, then taper back up to the amount you eat to maintain.

[YourFace]

Oh man! That wasn't the answer I was hoping for, but it does make sense.

Thanks.

[YourFace]

Oh man! That wasn't the answer I was hoping for, but it does make sense.

Thanks.

[DailyFail1]

I think it would work. I consumed 2-3k a day over christmas, went to my usual 1500-1800/day intake and the extra pounds dropped more less in a week. I am naturally very active though.

[YourFace]

That's closer to the answer I was hoping for. I'll try my best over the next week. I'm not one for over or under eating normally, I 'll find restriction hard. I do go the gym a lot so hopefully that will help!!

[DailyFail1]

Ye and raise your normal activity levels to - I am for between 6-10k steps per day in addition to gym