SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME

[coolj]

Hi im new to this topic so the following questions may already have been answered.

I would like to lose 3 stones.

For the past 3 weeks I have been eating really healthily, drinking loads of water, cut out 99% of any unhealthy foods, walking everywhere but dont seem to be losing much weight.

I dont trust my scales though as my partner lost half a stone through moving the scales onto carpet. But surely I would feel my clothes to be a bit looser??

So I went swimming this week and swam 30 and 40 lengths respectively and kept my heartbeat up for 40 mins.

All of this and I still feel really bloated and disheartened.

The only area I can see toning up is my lower leg.

I think I store a lot of water, which I thought drinking loads was supposed to flush it out?

Im getting really fed up now as I know I have worked really hard to get this far.

Can anyone please help.

Well done if you have read this far.

[mumsanutter]

Hello coolj,

I count calories with the help of a website (myfitnesspal.com) and if you have just started your diet quest then your body might be storing water where it would normally of stored fat, so carry on and this will shift.

I feel the same way, but when I took my measurements, I have lost 4 inches from under my breast, 4.5 from my hips and it varies between .5 and 1 inch from my arms and legs - the only bit that I haven't lost any inches is on my waist - the bit I want to lose!!! [urgh]

Carry on you are doing all the right things, and I hope you get to your goal

[hercules1]

I think you are possibly expecting too much too soon.
How many calories or fat are you having a day?

[Penthesileia]

This is going to sound really obvious, but, even though you've cut out the unhealthy foods (well done for that!), are you sure you're not still eating too much? Even healthy foods can make you overweight, or stop you losing weight, if you eat too much of them! Getting to grips with portion sizes was what helped me lose a couple of stones 3 years ago. It was a revelation: I thought I ate healthily too - but I was eating way too much.

Do you drink? I also cut back my drinking, and the weight fell off me.

I didn't even diet, to be honest: just kept the portion sizes right, and drank less.

Good luck!

[ByThePowerOfGreyskull]

I would say that what you are doing seem to be all the right things (unless you have cut out too much food in which case your body will be in panic mode)
Keep going and the weight will start to come off.
keep an eye on portions though even of healthy food.. even healthy food has calories so if you have swapped 100cals of chocolate for 100 cals of lettuce, it is better for you but it is still 100 calories if you know what I mean.

[coolj]

Hi on an average day I have the following:

Breakfast:
either 2 oatibix/skimmed milk or
bio yogurt and a piece of fruit

snack: piece of fruit

lunch:

sandwich (seeded bread) with chicken and loads of salad on

snack: fruit

dinner:

fish or chicken with vegetables or salad/new potatoes (3) or rice.

The portion size is not huge at all.

I am teetotal and have 2-3 cups of tea a day and as much water as I can stomach. (Constantly sip it all day).

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

That sounds like a sensible diet - only thing I'd say is a bit of protein at breakfast (maybe eggs, bacon, even tuna) would set you up for the day and you wouldn't need the snack.

Carbs burn much quicker than protein, leaving you with low blood sugar, feeling tired and potentially craving sugar.

And fruit is sugar, albeit in its natural form.

For me, that way of eating would make me lose 1lb a week, which is pretty much what I'm doing ATM.

You'll probably find the weight will start to shift if you keep it up, but as someone said, it might be worth checking the calories for a couple of days just to get an idea of portion sizes.

Good luck.

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

And with the water, I'm guessing you struggle to drink it if you sip it all day.

Try having it warm - some people (ie me) can't bear cold water - but I drink a pint first thing, then another pint between each meal, plus a last mug after dinner.

[coolj]

Thanks for your replies, Ive obviously been listening to the wrong advice:

I was told if you drink a glass of water in one go it would just 'go through you' whereas if you sip it, it hydrates you better.

Also I thought it was better to eat little and often to keep your blood sugars up, hence fruit in between meals?

I dont actually crave anything sweet, (ive never really had a sweet tooth). The only thing I ever 'fancy' is seeded bread with a little spread on .

Can anyone recommed anything for bloating. I once tried 'waterfall' (think thats what its called) but got tummy ache.

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

You could try avoiding wheat for a couple of weeks (not easy if your craving is for seed bread!)

See if that makes a difference.

[coolj]

You know it actually does make a difference as ive cut out bread before .

Bread is the only thing I crave though so it makes it difficult. I might try Ryvita again.

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

I once read that the thing you crave is the thing that's bad for you.

There are some really quite palateable alternatives to bread - I found the main thing is always to toast or microwave it - seems to make it softer and more bread-like.

And I'm sure you do know Ryvita is a wheat product.

[coolj]

Hi, I used to use Ryvita and it didnt bloat me out as much. Are all Ryvits wheat based then. I used to eat the multigrain on ?

Can you suggest the altervatives to bread for me then, I cant think of any.

[mistlethrush]

Coolj - Shiney has a thread with lots of people with different aims - from healthier eating to losing some weight - there are lots of helpful people and the odd recipe etc - not got Shiney's permission to invite you, but new people do seem to just turn up - I'm sure you'd be welcome...

[mistlethrush]

this is it

[OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper]

If you go to any supermarket, there's usually a 'free from' section. Then it's trial and error as to which ones you prefer.

I seem to remember liking a sliced 'multigrain' one - can't remember who made it.

And, as I said, they taste better toasted.

[mistlethrush]

Or, you could do like me and not just avoid wheat but not bother about finding alternatives....