Tell me the best way to dump 2.5 stone sensibly

[PurpleToeNail]

I cannot believe I'm in this situation. I've been a size 8/10 all my life, now menopause hits & wham 2.5 stone extra, size 16 & an apple tummy. I do know I've become addicted to sugar through covid (anxiety about being alone). If I try and cut my sugar by even a small amount I get the shakes and I can't concentrate/ get headaches etc & anxiety rises. I could also do with sensible food suggestions for breakfast & lunch. I'm ok with making healthy dinners. It's so depressing to hear the weather is getting warmer and I can't easily dress this huge 41" apple waist.

If you’re addicted to sugar then going cold turkey might be hard.

Seriously cut down on carbs as they cause hikes in blood sugar then drop down suddenly making you hungry again.

By reducing carbs and upping protein intake this makes you more satisfied and you’re eating less.

Lots of water as well.

There’s low carb section on MN where fantastic BIWI organises The Bootcamp.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/low_carb_bootcamp

Lots of recipes, friendly chat,no judgement if you fall off the wagon (as shit happens in life) and the result.You’re not doing it alone so there’s encouragement.

Sorry,there’s no magic cure. Willpower is needed to ditch processed foods, confectionary and alcohol. Slowly and steadily the weight comes off.

Go for it. It’s worth it and you will feel better.

Good luck 🙂

Fasting and then eating in a window, I have lost 31/2 stone in a year doing this and it is second nature now. I have wine and dark choc in moderation in my window which is 12 noon until 8pm....

Ooh and lots of walking and as little processed food as poss!

Slimming world! I've lost 3 stone in a year. (12 stone 3 down to 9 stone 1 so far.)
I don't go to group, I do it online. I bought a lot of the recipe books and the meals are honestly delicious.

Don’t do Slimming World @PurpleToeNail. Do a bit of research first

I lost 6 stone over 4 or so years.

I do intermittent fasting but the first few stone came off as I started to only eat when I was hungry and it was very slow and I wasn't doing it on purpose iyswim?

It was a bit here and a bit there, a bout of food poisoning saw off 10 lbs ( not recommended ). And I didn't put it back on again.

I lost 1.5 stone last year which now has me at about 12.2. I'm 5.5 and still have a bmi of about 27 and a large apple stomach, skinny legs and a flat bum ect.

I lost most of my weight mid to late 40's. I'm in menopause now and I'm 50 and it's very, very hard to get any more off.

I don't eat till about 6pm ( it's not a clean fast as I drink coffee and tea all day with milk, coffee whitener and half spoon sugar I couldn't do it otherwise.

I think most days I'm around or under 1000 cals and the odd day I do go over. It's enough to more or less keep me at around 12 stone, I put on 5lbs in December and it's taken till now to get that back off.

It's a bit crap, it is. I think low carb is the way forward for keeping you full but I do miss being able to eat more.

Must be my age and metabolism as I just can't eat that much without putting weight on. I don't really exercise though - maybe that would help.

The upshot is that I lost 6 stone and I'm so glad I did, I could do with losing another 1.5 stone or so but it's very difficult so I've kind of made my mind up to stay here.

Following. I am so overweight but have been entirely unmotivated to do anything about it, however I need to make a change as I'm so unfit too

@Wagsandclaws

If you started doing some Pilates and using weights I think you’d be amazed at how you could transform your shape. It’ll give you a smaller waist, perkier bum and your arms and legs will be more toned.

I’d also say that I think your metabolism might be confused because it’s having quite big drops in blood sugar because you don’t eat all day. That might be why you can’t shift any more weight despite hardly eating anything. Wouldn’t three small meals be better?

the only way to lose weight is through calorie deficit, however you choose to achieve it.

Sorry, but this is wrong!

Calorie deficit by whatever means is the only way to lose weight

@pattish it's something that I really want to try and get into but I have had two mri's in the last six weeks as I have some severe joint issues and take some quite heavy duty painkillers.

I'd like to say they have improved since losing 6 stone but sadly not - they are getting worse.

It is my intention to look into some kind of toning and exercise routine I will just need something that's compatible with my joint issues.

Thank you though, all great advice!

@pattish

the only way to lose weight is through calorie deficit, however you choose to achieve it.

Sorry, but this is wrong!

Of course it's not wrong. No one is going to lose weight if they eat more energy than their body expends.

Similar to you but 2 stone weight gain. I have just been doing really sensible eating, like porridge and fruit for breakfast, soup or salad for lunch, fruit as a snack and a healthy dinner like fish or chicken with veg and rice or cous cous. Had a bit of a blow out this weekend but have steadily been loosing a couple of pounds a week. My sweet tooth has been over come from eating sweet fruit like pineapple.

16/8 works for me

@bumpytrumpy

Its not as simple as that unfortunately. The less we eat, the more our body compensates for it, adjusting our BMR accordingly. It’s how our ancestors survived during times of scarcity. There’s some fascinating science about it which I will try to find and link to.

Obviously if you are consistently eating many more calories than you burn then you will likely gain weight, but it’s not true that ‘the only way to lose weight is by calorie deficit’.

It is true that the only way to lose weight is in a calorie deficit.

That other stuff is pants. You don’t see starving people stopping losing weight cos they’re not eating enough.

Healthy diet must of the time. Plenty protein for satiety and muscle preservation. Use more energy (calories) than you eat. Very simple.

our ancestors may have reacted that way but theres this thing called evolution....

If you're not in a calorie deficit you won't lose weight... so how are there other ways to do it?! I agree that JUST being in a calorie deficit without thinking about anything else isn't ideal because it won't be sustainable long term, but all the good nutrition and exercise in the world isn't going to make you lose weight unless you're in a calorie deficit.

Calorie deficit + prioritising protein and fibre + finding a way of moving your body you enjoy is the best way to do it. But calorie deficit is the essential part.

@mintich

Slimming world! I've lost 3 stone in a year. (12 stone 3 down to 9 stone 1 so far.) I don't go to group, I do it online. I bought a lot of the recipe books and the meals are honestly delicious.

I’m out off then by the syns nonsense, and the emphasis on low fat not healthy eating. An avocado is awful but some utter white full of additives is? Is there a way to do it without subscribing to that nonsense?

Shite not white.

The general principles of SW are good. Very many people find it difficult to stick to simple healthy eating and want sweet foods, cooking short cuts, etc. which is why they sell the bars and advocate some convenience foods for some people.

Isn't it Slimming World that lets you have as much pasta/rice/potatoes/noodles as you like? That seems like absolute madness to me.

There is no way at all I would lose weight eating loads of carbs.

I've lost just under 50kg, calorie counting using things like myfitnesspal. Found it really helpful as it helped me see how much I should be eating and what a portion size should look like for me and didn't have to drastically cut anything out, as long as it fitted in with my calories.