I'm your opinion...

[wishthiswasreallife]

What is the best way to lose weight? Best as in healthiest,good results etc.

So I'm on slimming world right now (for the 30000th time) and I'm just struggling all round. I'm fine during the day and then night time I struggle because it's so much work and prep I end up having cereal etc.

I'm now wondering if I should try calorie counting? I am pretty active 12,000 + steps a day so I'm looking to have a really good diet aswell as the fitness.

All opinions appreciated,I'm feeling pretty lost and down just now.

Thanks everyone!

God sake just realised I said I'm instead of In...right in the title 🤦🏽‍♀️

For me personally, low carb and calorie counting. I also got on well with the 5:2, but it’s not for everyone.

So Iv heard 5:2 etc but I don't know about it,would you be able to explain it to me? Slimming world is not doing it for me anymore and I'm open to all options

No fad diets (slimming world/weight watchers)

Small but sustainable changes

Calorie counting EVERYTHING (milk in your coffee etc)

@wishthiswasreallife

So Iv heard 5:2 etc but I don't know about it,would you be able to explain it to me? Slimming world is not doing it for me anymore and I'm open to all options

So in a nutshell, you eat ‘normally’ 5 days a week (altho personally I cut down the quantity of what I was eating by a little bit and just generally ate healthier) and 2 days a week, you eat a max of 500 calories. It takes some dedication and, like I say, it isn’t for everyone, but it worked well for me. I also found it quite sustainable, and once you’ve lost a good amount, you can introduce a level of flexibility, eg one fast day in a week instead of two, if that suited your week better www.healthline.com/nutrition/the-5-2-diet-guide#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2

For best results, not necessarily the healthiest or easiest, The Dukan - if you can get through week ones 'Attack phase' it really is the best diet plan to loose weight.

None of us are going to solve the obesity crisis right here.
The evidence suggests
Modest goals eg aim to lose 5% of your weight and maintain that for a year
Eat mostly unprocessed fresh foods, mostly plants
Eat a diverse range of things for a healthy gut

Measured carbs, heavy on the veg, loads of lean protein. Limit snacks. Think about what you eat. Plus exercise. It’s not a specific diet, just a way of eating that’s sustainable. I follow more or less strictly depending on if I’m at the top or bottom of my happy weight range.

Ok great I really appreciate the suggestions I'm just struggling with it right now,I want to feel good about myself and I don't. How do I work out a calorie deficit? I'm 5"6 and 13 stone ideally I want to lose around 3 stone maybe more. How do I work out how many calories I need to be having a day to achieve weight loss? I'm also quite interested in 5:2 so would just need the calorie deficit for the 5 days

I’ve never been overweight and believe it’s because I eat what I want but not a great deal of it so portion control has worked for me especially as you get older.

You really do need to eat far less the older you get.

I don’t drink alcohol either which is also beneficial as you get older. Not to drink it that is!

I haven't had a drink in around 3 years so I guess that's the only good thing I'm doing!!

I think it all depends on what you choose to eat. With sw you could use syns on chocolate and sweets or salad dressing and nuts. The same with calorie counting you could have 3 balanced meals which are 59% veg or loads of chocolate cake.

Calorie counting with My Fitness Pal to pinpoint where the problem is type of food/amount/which meal etc.

Then make small, sustainable changes that you can stick to forever. Don't ban any food, just up the amount of healthy stuff and decrease the other stuff.

The best diet is one you can stick to long term and still see yourself eating that way in a year. The way to lose weight is to be in a calorie deficit. Some people find this easier to achieve by being low carb or sticking to low fat. Or for some it's intermittent fasting. Either way it results in consuming less energy than you're expensing thus resulting in fat loss. I really dislike slimming world and their ethos. Calling certain foods syns and only celebrating scale weight loss, it's awful.

Low carb/Keto - Diet Doctor is a good place to start.

Keto then low carb has seen me loose 2.5 stone and keep it off for a couple of years so far.
Once the novelty wore off, keto was quite hard to sustain but I managed for about 8 months. Now I low carb and find it very easy as I'm so used to it.

Lower carb and fasting for me. I don't stick to 5:2 I am doing a 12 week fast and generally eat between 2-7.

My DF is overweight and I have just got him started on fasting he's 77 and has some mobility issues so exercise is limited. He's been doing fasting for 1 week (not as strictly as me) and has lost 8lbs. He has found it easy to stick to and far more motivating than other diets the GP put him on/advised.

@mommybear1 interested in your 2-7 eating and fasting? What's the weight loss over the 12 weeks? Could you post what your week plan looks like if poss??

@Frazzledd hi I'm 3 weeks in (having previously done this 12 week plan and lost 2 stone last year) and loss so far this time was 7lbs week 1, 5lbs week 2 and so far 3lbs week 3 (not yet a full week so I'm hoping for 5). I tend to have feta/rocket/beetroot salad at 2 or soup if it's chilly no bread and then dinner with the family at around 6.30 I eat what they eat but smaller portions eg salmon and veg / chicken and veg / chicken stir fry / salmon stir fry / chicken and Parma ham with veg / chicken fajitas. All home made no shop sauces etc and as I say smaller portions than normal. I have also if I've been hungry or wanted a treat had some fruit or ice cream after dinner again small portion. Drinks are just mint tea, sparkling water with a slice of lime. I meal plan on Saturday which helps. I have also increased my exercise. HTH.

Calorie counting is such a nuisance. I’d go for the same / similar meals each day for a short while to kickstart then take it from there. Something like: porridge with berries for breakfast; three egg with cheese omelette for lunch; steamed fish and veg for dinner; snacks of veg sticks and fruit; some Greek yoghurt. Drink lots of water. Walk everywhere.

Well I lost lots of weight (7 stone) on WW and have kept it off for a number of years so not a fad. Diets only work if you stick to them and keep up the healthy eating after you've reached your goal weight, you can't just go back to eating how you were before. I never followed the points side of the plan, I followed what was then called filling & healthy where you ate from a list of foods which included lean meat and fish, fruit & veg, yogurts, beans & pulses. I chose that plan because I cannot be arsed counting everything that you put in your mouth, on F&H you have to be aware of portion size and eat until satisfied not stuffed.

Now I fill my plate with quarter carbs, quarter protein and half veg and I snack mostly on fruit and veg between meals - things like cherry tomatoes, pepper sticks, pomegranate, berries. I try to steer clear of the really carby fruit but I still eat out a couple of times a month and have a takeaway once a month

Ok so I'm very overwhelmed but more motivated I think.

Does anyone want to buddy up and do a sort of plan with me? I find it easier to have someone else with me so we can help each other along and things? Maybe silly.

Have you looked on the weight loss board? There’s great support there.

Totally understand being overwhelmed. The main thing is to make some changes rather than being paralysed by all the options. What have you got on today? Is there anything small but positive you could change?

I haven't but I will look there. Today I'm working from home which I do 3 days a week and these are one of my hardest days. I sit and eat the worst food at my desk because it's quicker and convenient. This is often where I fail and just don't re start again. So far Iv have weetabix semi skimmed milk and strawberries which is a pretty common breakfast for me really.

I just have smaller portions.

And don't have crap in the house.

So, once upon a time, for cooked brekkie, I might have 2 sausage, 2 bacon, 2 egg, beans, toms, mushrooms, 2 slices of toast.
But now I have 1 sausage or 2 x bacon, 1 egg, toms, mushrooms, beans, 1 slice toast. And then just make sure they're the best quality I can afford. So I'll have organic pork, eggs etc

Also, if I don't generally have crisps, chocolate etc in the house, I can't eat them! So then if we're out for tea and cake, it's fine.
Or I'll make things like doughnuts, that are best eaten on the day - and invite DS and his mates round to help eat them LOL