Dieting is horrendous

@SassyLemonFish use the MyNetDiary app (Apple with measuring tape logo), it’s free, and try to hit your protein levels within your calorie allowance whilst keeping saturated fat down. You scan barcodes and it tells you exactly what’s in each food. I lost 10lb using this in 4 weeks. I did exercise too though.

Whats also good about this App is there is a community all sharing their journeys and encouraging each other. So, you never feel you’re doing it alone. They share great tips too.

Have you considered intermittent fasting? I had previously done calorie counting and found it so miserable and also took up so much brain space thinking about it. I started doing 8:16 over 2 years ago- I just only eat between 12noon and 8pm (ish, sometimes a shorter period) and outside of that have only water or black tea/ coffee (no sugars, sweeteners). I've found it so much easier as I don't have to think about it and if I keep myself busy in the morning I don't actually miss the food which really surprised me. The 8pm curfew reduces evening snacking/ drinking. I got to my target weight pretty easily and have continued it, but am a bit more flexible these days and then just go stricter if I notice I've gone up a few pounds

Dieting is DEFINITELY horrendous! I'm on Mounjaro (for diabetes, so only 7.5 which is a low dose) and it's still horrendous.

You have to remember that you're in it for the long haul - and if you make things too difficult for yourself you just won't stick to it. I allow myself roughly 1200 calories a day and usually manage that, but I eat a LOT of salad and vegetables to fill myself up, and drink a lot of water. I know myself, so I allow myself treats of lower calorie crisps and chocolate brownies etc, all under 100 calories, and ensure I include them within my daily calorie allowance. I also buy myself ready-meals as my big problem is portion control and they are portion controlled, and calorie counted, already. I have discovered that Morrisons reduced fat sausages are delicious! (In my opinion, obviously). Nice and meaty and not overly peppery or herby, neither of which I like. We're having sausages tonight - I will have 2 with a lot of cabbage and DH will have 3 with cabbage, mash and onion gravy. I won't feel deprived because I really like sausages and cabbage, I'm not bothered about mash and I have never liked gravy with sausages.

Different things work for different people, you just have to find what works for you. Good luck.

You can get GLPs legitimately with a BMI of 25 now.

It is horrendous, mentally and physically.

What are you eating OP?

Are you drinking any alcohol?

I agree with others. Up your calories by at least 200 cal a day and eat low calorie high volume foods - broth based soups, lots of veg, apples, carrots, watermelon in this weather. And healthy protein.

Because it’s life changing, for exactly the reason you’ve stated, dieting is horrendous. Muscle mass loss isn’t inevitable, as with any kind of weight loss you need to manage muscle loss, MJ isn’t different in that regard.

1000 calories is actually going to hurt you. Up it to 1400 and go for high volume, low calories.
Example- Breakfast - 100g greek yogurt, a banana, 100g strawberries, 30g blueberries and a small handful of granola is around 300 calories.

OR
Shashuska - A whole tin of tomatoes, 1 onion, garlic, cayenne, paprika - 2 egg, 300 calories.

Lunch - a whole cucumber, 2 tins of tuna, half a tin of sweetcorn and half a red onion. Dressing - 2 tablespoon greek yogurt with a tablespoon of mayo and a teaspoon of mustard. Add some diced pickle and dill. 500 calories

OR

Ramen noodles with veg and cooked chicken - 300-400 calories

Dinner - 120g chicken, 100g rice, a HUGE salad Approx 450 calories.

OR

https://www.instagram.com/p/DYlF4TKtJT8/ Greek chicken and salad 560 calories.

Biggest things that can catch you out... None diet fizzy drinks, cooking oil, dressings.

I do not feel hungry at all and lost 3 kg in 5 weeks starting at 73 kg. Think big plates, low calories - berries, melon, greek yogurt, cucumber, courgettes, peppers, cauliflower, cabbage.

Never compare yourself to a man losing weight. They are built differently physically and mentally. Usually (not always) in my experience they find it easier to lose weight.

1000 is way to low! You shouldn't be eating under your BMR. You should be eating up to 500 under your TDEE.

My BMI is slightly higher at 31 and I' m on 1600 calories min with exercising 3 times a week. Its slow but steady weight loss

My BMI is 42.9.
to get a hysterectomy I have to have a bmi of 35 or less.
because I can’t have the hysterectomy, I have to have prostap, toibolone, desogesterol amongst others. All the lovely drugs that make you retain weight. The ones that turn a cup of water into fat. It’s fucking impossible, so depressing and even worse when some twat says “well just go on monjaro” like the cost isn’t extortionate and it doesn’t lead to massive health complications down the road. (Especially if like me you have other long standing heart issues that it cannot have been tested for).
Even worse when that twat saying “just go on monjaro” is your bloody mum who has lost masses of weight on it, but is now obsessed and struggling….
With you in solidarity.

Oh my goodness you poor thing, yes it’s understandable you feel awful dieting like that. Stop!!

This is a better plan

1. Find an activity or sport you love and do it a couple of times a week
2. Go and do strength training at a gym x2 a week
3. walk as much as possible, especially after meals

Do this for at least 3 months. Don’t change your diet in that time.

Only then, once you’ve built some fitness and muscle, you can gently tweak your diet. Your newly improved metabolism will help you lose weight IF you maintain the exercise alongside.

TLDR: Exercise loads for 3 months. Only tweak diet after that.

It's up to you of course, but it's a miserable way to do it. Your choice though.

What are you eating?

1000kcal of potatoes, soup, veg, fruit, ice lollies, tofu etc is high volume and you should be able to manage quite comfortably.

1000kcal can also be used very quickly with a few bowls of cereal and a sandwich, which would make anyone feel hungry.

There’s a couple of YouTubers that I have found really helpful- DanielJrStretch and Madelaine Rascan. Both are advocates of not going to hard on calorie deficits, upping protein and fibre, weights and step counts. I have found their advice simple and sustainable and they are good, entertaining presenters as well. Be prepared to eat lots of eggs, cottage cheese and lean animal protein! Learn to love roast squash and just settle in to a long term change of habits.

1000 calories a day is insane. What's your age, weight, height and activity level? It sounds like your calorie deficit is far too dramatic!

I think you can probably fill up on protein and veggies and still loose weight while being less miserable and hungry. What sort of foods are you eating?

Well, I am afraid I do, and no amount of informing me I don’t means that I don’t!

As others have said you are eating way too little. You won’t be getting anywhere near enough protein or fibre I’m sure

honestly id take a much more simple approach

prioritise protein ar every meal to ensure you get at least 30-40g each meal

ensure you get at least 25g fibre

get carbs from nature / pulses/cruciferous veg not refined starches and junk food

up your movement a bit

optimise sleep and minimise stress.

that’s it

You don’t understand how GLPs work. Or how BMR works. Your approach is destined for failure and there is a whiff of self punishment about it as well.

None of this is necessary or healthy. Lots of sensible advice on the thread, if you can’t afford GLPs which would make the whole thing easier (and that is fair enough, obvs).

Do not start exercising if it’s not already part of your daily routine!
Concentrate on weight loss first through diet, exercise later.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t be walking more, but actual fitness training? No.
As you lose weight, start to add in more exercise, but first you have to get used to the different diet and succeed there.

No, this mentality is what's lose-lose.

You shouldn't be feeling deprived. Dieting by massively smashing your intake and restricting food beyond what's healthy isn't sustainable.

And telling yourself that this is the right way and then feeling guilty when you break something that is not healthy or sustainable is entirely self-inflicted.

Diet by making swaps and asking what you can add - that is healthy and sustainable.

Why would you decimate your muscle? 🤔

I ate protein and upped my strength training as anyone should when on any diet. I actually increased my muscle. My BMR reduced by 200 because I lost over 50 pounds and I need fewer calories.

I think that’s setting yourself up to fail. I lost a stone and a half, slowly over about a year, by eating more fibre and veg, good tasty food, stir fry, soups and salads. Having protein and fibre at every meal, lots of beans, lentils and the like. Stopped random drinking, late night tv snacks, eating junk at work.

Why aren't you using your TDEE and cutting from there?
1000 is absolute starvation rations, I'd be starving and miserable too.
It's not sustainable long term. No-one can fight themselves permanently like this. And you WILL lose muscle mass crash dieting.

You're not very overweight. Take it slowly, up your activity levels, eat enough protein.

You have my sympathy but your diet is unsustainable. BMR stands for basal metabolic rate, it’s what your body needs to maintain basic functions. It’s the calories you would burn in a coma.

Cutting so low you are setting yourself up for failure, you will lose weight but it’s impossible to maintain such a huge deficit.

There are plenty of people on MN who “tried every diet under the sun” and claim that nothing has worked for them. Or people who recommend going low carb “because it’s always worked for me” meaning they have been putting on and losing the same weight on and off again their whole life. Don’t be one of them, it’s easier to lose weight and maintain if you get it right from the start.