half a stone in six weeks

[peachypetite]

Weight has gradually crept on without me really noticing since I got married almost two years ago and I'm a large size 12. This might not sound big but it's the biggest I have ever been and I don't like how I look at the moment. Im only 5"3 so feel excess weight really shows at this height. I eat pretty well but have an office job and don't do any exercise other than 10,000 steps a day. I think I'd feel a lot better in my bikini on holiday if I lost half a stone. All the weight has gone to my bum, thighs and my stomach isn't flat. I've never put weight on my belly before so it's a bit of a shock. My mum and nan are overweight and I would rather nip this in the bud before I end up just continuing to put it on. I'm going to aim for 1200 calories a day using my fitness pal and thinking of the following for meals:
Breakfast - overnight oats/overnight chia seeds, almond milk and berries
Lunch - salad with protein
Dinner - veg and protein

Hoping this thread will make me be more accountable. Going for a run later today and have joined a gym where I'll do a minimum of two HIIT classes a day. If anyone has any thoughts or advice or wants to join let me know

[AwdBovril]

I'm also 5'3" & feel very overweight at a size 12. A size 8 feels much better for me. A lot of taller women I speak to about weight & weight loss, seem to be able to eat a lot more & still lose... I just can't.

I've recently found that sticking to a diet of (mostly) raw food is very effective in losing the excess flab in a healthy way, while providing a decent volume of food, variety of nutrients, & not being too expensive or onerous in terms of preparation. I usually do one or two new batches of something each day, & each batch is enough for at least a couple of extra servings.

I usually eat yoghurt, fruit & either muesli or a homemade granola for breakfast. I'm not into eating salad for breakfast, much as I am lucky to genuinely enjoy vegetables!

I usually go to the gym 2-3 times per week. Disability/pain levels permitting. It's more difficult during the school holidays though!

[AwdBovril]

Meant to mention, I just returned from holiday yesterday. I put on 4-5 lbs. Departure from my normal diet is entirely to blame. (I don't usually eat ice cream. And rarely chips.)

[Sianlouise432]

You sound like you have a similar body type to me. I'm a bit jiggly at the moment post partum but before ds I was quite fit. My advice would be that what you've said is a bit OTT. I did 1200calories and lots of exercise and looked ill. Introduce one thing at a time and see how you feel. HIIT is really good but you need rest days. The high energy should hopefully shift the fat off quite evenly.

Doing office work and still getting in 10,000 steps is really good going to be honest. Perhaps attend just one HIIT on a day when you feel more peckish so your calories in balance your calories out. The rest of the week, focus on diet. If you're going to go as low as 1200, make sure it's nutrient dense so you don't feel hungry. Lots of salad. Good luck and take it easy!

[peachypetite]

I don't have a very sweet tooth and cook from scratch so I was actually a bit shocked at how much weight I've put on. I feel I need to take quite drastic measures to shift weight, it's not like I drink loads of fizzy drinks and eat loads of crap that I can cut out and see a difference. Maybe it's also partly to do with age now I'm into my 30s?! Sucks.

[peachypetite]

Sian - thanks - in my OP I meant to write two HIIT classes a week, not a day!

[AwdBovril]

I did wonder if the 2 HIIT per day was a mistake! I follow Jessica Smith on YouTube, she has a number of workouts for beginners & more advanced as well.

I've noticed that since I got into my 30s, it's much harder to lose weight. As a teen & in my 20s, I could just cut out cake & crisps for a bit & the pounds would drop off, no exercise needed. Don't know if it's an age thing or a post-pregnancy thing, I got pregnant at 30.

[peachypetite]

I would also like to TTC soon so it's no bad thing to get the extra weight off now and eat really well to get my body in prime condition. I went for a run earlier and have eaten really well. I have just made a healthy salad and breakfast to take to work tomorrow.

[AwdBovril]

Hello @peachypetite how are you doing? I'm not doing so well, I need to get back on wagon, it must be admitted. Going to walk up to the farm shop with DH to buy some lovely vegetables etc later today.

[peachypetite]

Doing well and my jeans are looser! I've been living on a very repetitive diet but got used to it.

[Mymygivemeafry]

Interesting thread

[Mymygivemeafry]

@peachypetite- I understand how you feel as I am a similar height and would feel large and ungainly in a size 12!

Hope it is going well- for me, I have to do as @AwdBovril does and cut out literally everything unhealthy to lose weight- lots of veg, fruit and salad and lean protein!

[peachypetite]

Yep. Lunch and dinner are protein and salad or veg. Breakfast is yoghurt topped with berries and a spoon of chia seeds. Maximum two cups of tea or coffee a day, loads more water.

[Mymygivemeafry]

That’s exactly what I’m doing diet wise at the moment too 🙂. Such a slog but will be worth it!

[peachypetite]

I am so sick of salad hahaha

[Mymygivemeafry]

Me too (hence the username...I could really do with some french fries 😬😍)!

[peachypetite]

Just prepared a spinach, boiled egg and salmon fillet salad for lunch tomorrow. I'm keeping to 1200 calories a day on my fitness pal, I'm definitely getting used to eating less.

[AwdBovril]

I am having a crap time at the moment - migraines. Only chocolate & bed helps. And I can't get to the gym for at least a week. Hopefully will feel better shortly but it's so depressing every month knowing that I'll have a massive backslide.

Keep on at it @peachypetite & @Mymygivemeafry.

[peachypetite]

I do find cutting calories more effective than exercise, that's more for the health benefit for me. I am getting used to not eating less and you realise how multiple cups of tea throughout the working day really adds up in terms of calories (milk).

[peachypetite]

Awd I hope you feel better soon

[AlwaysSunshine81]

Is this thread still going? How u getting on? Your original post is just like me. I’m 5ft 2 and creeping to a large 10/ small 12 and I do not like it!

[peachypetite]

It’s going well. I wore a dress to work today that’s previously been at the side of the wardrobe I never look at because it was too tight. My jeans are looser too! Going to increase my gym classes but I think the weight loss is largely down to the reduced calories (1200 a day)