To ask how I can quickly lose 8 stone?

@Shadowonasun wow - that's amazing, well done!

Or get dumped while pregnant just before baby arrives and be so stressed you lose your appetite - this worked for me to lose two stone 😫

If you're unrealistic and want to lose it all too quickly you'll be demoralised and give up when it doesn't happen. Best approach is "it takes as long as it takes."

Realistically, unless you're relying on barbaric surgery, I reckon 8 stone = 2 years. This takes into account holidays, Christmas, birthdays etc.

Follow the diebetes Uk diet - quit booze, sugary drinks, anything with sugar in and white carbs.
Walk or run/cycle after evey meal. Like straight after.
Do weights - get a pt to show you how if you don't know.

You should get at least two stone off before Xmas if you do this

rather than meal replacements, take a look at the Glasgow Diet.
I don't think you'll lose 8 stone by Christmas; one estimate I've seen was a stone per month - but .you'd probably lose the same as a meal replacement plan, added bonus its super cheap.
I did a year or so ago for a few weeks, planning to go back to it and stick at it longer.

The Lean Team No Doubt Diet plan.pdf (directclinicaltrial.org.uk)

Replace one meal with a slim fast shake, they are cheap! Cut down on snacks. Slim fast also do low caolorie snacks. They have a meal plan which I have very roughly followed which worked for me.

If there were a secret trick over and beyond not eating then it wouldn’t be a secret trick would it?

I lost 7.5 stone in about 6-7 months 8 years ago. Kept it off and lost slightly more since then, BMI 19 now. Went from 110kg to 63kg originally. That's 17-and-a-bit stone to 9.9, I believe.

The single and only reason which enabled me to do this was because one day something in my mind just clicked. I was deluding myself until that point, thinking 'it's not so bad, I'm not so fat, etc'. In reality it was horrid, I looked shit and couldn't even climb stairs without getting breathless. After that 'click' it was easy, that 'click' was the most important thing for me.

Ok, so I obvs didn't do it 'healthily', but you did ask. So I ate one meal a day, no more than 800 kcal/day, some days 600. No sugar/sweet shit, low-ish carb, low fat. Mostly piles of veg, some lean meat/fish and pulses/legumes. I did, however, drink alcohol occasionally. Weighted everything and logged everything (my fitnesspal) religiously. If I needed to make a meal, I measured and weighted every ingredient separately, including cucumbers and the like. No cheat days during those months, except twice: Christmas and my birthday.

I was hungry at first, but then my stomach shrank and it was ok. I didn't do any exercise except for normal every day activities and walking. I was young, so my skin just sprung back quite nicely.

Ozempic wasn't available then, I didn't do shakes, as too expensive and I need to 'chew' something to feel satisfied. I don't smoke (no appetite suppressant)

So yea, went from size 18/20 (I'm 5'11'') to an 8. After my diet I calculated my TDEE, upped my cals to that, and kept the weight of for the past 8 years. Put on a bit during lockdowns, but lost it again.

I eat healthy, meat/fish, lots of veg, some fruit, some dairy, legumes/pulses, etc. Some pasta, some potatoes, etc. Still no added sugar, though. I drink alcohol (not every day, obvs).

My health is fine, I feel great and look good in whatever I put on. I'm happy.

If you need to lose weight that quickly for a medical procedure etc I’d see your GP. Losing weight that quickly needs to be done under medical supervision. You’ll also have excess skin you may need removing.

Dissentry

The men in my slimming world group often lose a stone in the first month but it then steadies to 2-3lb a week. A goal of 4 stone by Xmas might be a stretch. My goal is another 2kg by Xmas and that's not looking hopeful. Exercise won't help you shift weight but may help with motivation

Low carb high fat with intermittent fasting.

Intermittent fasting. I started on 36/12 I think bur gave up day two lol.
I'm doing 18/6 so 18 hours fasting 6 eating. I'm combining it with keto.
I'm losing an average 1lb a day since starting 3 weeks ago then I took a break whilst I was in holiday (I still did the fast but didn't keto, just enjoyed every god damn bit of bread I had!)

Everyone I've ever known who has fasted has dropped quickly. The Keto aspect is what's made it quicker though I think

Why do you need to lose it as fast as possible?!

Just eat the bare minimum to function and exercise every moment you can.
The weight will fall off.
You will feel terrible though.
Is it worth it? There's no magic answer.

you can do all or any combination of these

Keto diet
low fat smoothies
Small portions, eat on a side plate
Cut out dairy
Drink only water and herbal teas

One meal a day
Don't eat after 6pm
Don't eat before 11am
Weightlifting
High Intensity Interval Training
Swimming pool resistance training

drink rehydration drinks after every workout
take multivitamins if you're only eating once a day

Losing weight at such a rate means your body goes into starvation mode, the metabolism slows down and when you inevitably increase your food intake again it will pile back on and more. A sustained reduction and a ramping up of exercise is better. As PPs said, you didn’t put it on in 8 months and it’s not going to go that fast

I think probably the best way to lose a lot of weight fast is the fast 800- especially if you have any blood sugar issues. I think 4 stone by Christmas could be unachievable but you might lose quite a bit at first.

I lost 4 stone low carbing (@BIWI boot camp), and it’s stayed off for 4 years now. Given how much you have to lose you’ll see weight come off quite quickly and there’s the added bonus of no sugar cravings after the first week or so.

Divorce him

I would be very careful about trying to lose much weight that quickly. Apart from the obvious health concerns, you are much more likely to end up with loads of excess skin than if you do it gradually.

Someone I know lost 10 stone on Cambridge diet. It’s all been regained. But I know that’s not just limited to fad diets but my diet whereby old habits quickly return. But I do think more likely to regain if following a very restricted diet than if calorie counting as with that you can slowly increase your calorie allowance until you’re breaking even, not gaining; not losing. And you can maintain easily enough as long as you still log or eat more freely and have a day or two a week where you eat much lower calories. Works well for some

4 stone by Christmas is a lot, you're likely to struggle to maintain that and fall of the wagon spectacularly. Getting the weight off slowly and healthily will mean you will maintain your loss.

But to start, reduce your calorie intake, focus on lean protein, aim for 1g if protein per kg of your body weight. And start exercising, risk walking to start and try some basic weight workouts.

Crash diets very rarely work, you need to find a plan that is sustainable and works for you and fits into your life.

I would choose a set of boring but tastish foods and literally stick to it 5/6 days out of 7. I'd go with - Porridge made with semi skimmed milk and fruit mixed in and no more than a teaspoon of sugar, A tin of soup for lunch (ideally a beany one for the protein) and a protein and vegetable dinner. Any snack cravings, reach for crudities, carrots/pepper/apple/raw brocolli - fibrous veg really do help keep you full.

4 stone by Christmas is unachievable. To get weight off quickly, follow the Fast 800 programme.