Fastest way to drop 2 dress sizes

[Anycrispsleft]

After many years of SAHing I have an interview next week! It's on Zoom thank goodness but if I'm successful there'll be another interview, possibly in person, around the corner. But all my work clothes (which are in good nick despite being old, I don't work in a very fashionable industry) are all 1-2 sizes smaller than I am now. What's the fastest way for me to lose weight? Intermittent fasting? I'm guessing I have about maybe 3-4 weeks till the follow up if it does happen, which is maybe too soon, but if I get the job I'll have to fit into those clothes eventually anyway (or go shopping, which is worse than dieting IMO!)

What works?

3-4 weeks is not really enough time to apply for, study, and complete a postgraduate degree in a completely new subject, commuting from the other side of the country, while being twice the age of your fellow students. That is a guaranteed way to drop two dress sizes.

With the time you have ... Give up meat and all processed foods, including bread. Cut out most carbohydrates - pretend potatoes, pasta, etc don't exist. No sugar. Lorry loads of vegetables and fruit, decent olive oil, beans, lentils. Oats, Seeds. Vast quantities of peppermint tea. Only as much coffee as you need.

I know this would work. I'm just wondering why I only do it so half-heartedly that I still have dresses bought three years ago that I can't get into.

No bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, cakes, biscuits, sweets. Have veg on your plate (not starchy veg tho) every day. Strength training. Cardio. You can do at home, YouTube is good for routines. Walk instead of drive, whenever you can. Squat 50 times a day, don't have to do it all at once.

This is my go to for losing weight in 3 weeks although it's more a lifestyle generally for me. I do have the occasional treat.

Alcohol is a problem. It's not so much the calories in the glass, more the raging appetite and reckless fridge behaviour that ensues ...

Fast 800 knocks a stone off (and therefore a dress size for me) in 3 weeks

Might be easier to buy a new outfit that fits?

Well done on getting an intervew, and good luck!

To drop 2 dress sizes in 4 weeks I'd have to stop eating altogether and subsist on water. So I wouldn't try it. Either buy a nice outfit in your current size or if you do start losing weight then buy something when you get the second interview date. My size fluctuates over a few months or years and I like having at least one work outfit ready in the wardrobe whatever my size. There are clothes in my wardrobe with luggage tags on the hanger that say "small size" or "big size" so I don't grab the wrong one by mistake.

And I think you should buy a new outfit anyway. Body shape changes over over several years and styles do chnage as well even if you don't work in a fashion conscious industry (I work in IT academia so that's two reasons to not give a toss!) It's a bit of a boost to wear something smart and up-to-date and if you have an interview then you've earned it!

I hear what you're saying on the new outfit, but I really, really hate clothes and shopping at the best of times, and I live abroad and I don't really have any shops nearby that I like, and they tend to cater much less to the fuller figure here than they do in the UK...

It won't be a problem if I get the job, as I won't need to wear formal workwear, only for the interviews. But I would really like to be the size I was 10 years ago. It was a healthier size, and I just feel so inspired right now, I thought it would be a massive uphill struggle to get an interview after so long out and the thought that I could see results in losing weight in short order as well is really quite exciting. I feel as if I've just woken up!

Thanks very much for all your suggestions- I really appreciate it, and the congratulations too.

Porridge with water for breakfast
Piece of toast with thin layer of peanut butter
Banana
Chicken salad no dressing for dinner

You could drop a dress size in about a month with v strict adherence to the fast 800 diet with low carbs. Maybe a bit more if your starting weight is pretty high.

I found my husband of 20 years leaving me was pretty effective but I don't recommend.

I would suggest reducing food intact to mostly healthy salads and protein (reduce dressing!) lots of water, and be realistic, hit the charity shops for a few bits to tide you over until you loose it

Just buy a selection of a few things and return the items you don't like if your local shops don't cater well to you and you hate shopping. Crash dieting is terrible for you physically and mentally and not sustainable if you actually want to lose weight long-term.