If you were to start a 'diet' tomorrow

[specialk9]

What would you do ?

Third baby in last 18m. Heading for 41. 7lb overweight but 14lb is my goal.

12 weeks

I'm really rubbish at sticking to anything. Have done 2x before after previous children just by using My Fitness Pal but I wouldn't say I ate particularly healthy. So would like to improve that.

I already have an exercise routine and am hoping to get back running as well.

So what would you follow ?

I'm in a similar position and am determined to lose the weight this year. I don't think strict diets are a good idea, I prefer the thought of a long-term lifestyle change. I've actually done it before, and kept the weight off for about three years. Then I became a mum and it all seems a lot harder!

I am doing My Fitness Pal at 1200 cals per day, but this time my rule is to cut out highly processed food as much as possible. So instead of cereal bars I'm having a handful of nuts, and I'm making an effort to cook from scratch again. Porridge for breakfast instead of sugary cereal which tends to keep me going back for seconds or even thirds
I'm cutting out all soft drinks and increasing my water intake.

I also make sure to have my meal after the DC have eaten. This often means I hoover up their leftovers - but then I know I've already had something and I can't have a full blown lunch myself.

Small changes. I've lost 4lbs this week :)

More veg, minimal processed food, minimal refined sugar. Ensure sufficient protein

I would look at it from a health/holistic perspective and think about making sure I was feeding my gut biome. So lots of fruit and veg, minimal processed food, try and think about what benefits your body is getting from every piece of food that you put in your mouth. I wouldn’t worry about what the scales say, the weight loss will follow but would incorporate keeping active every day, getting some sunlight, sleep where possible with young kids 😄 and exercising, hiit, weights, running.

1. Have porridge for breakfast with piece of fruit.

1. Add one veg and one fruit to your lunch.

1. Don’t have pudding or wine or chocolate or evening snack after dinner.

Try that for four weeks - see if it’s working. If it is, even slowly, keep going. If not you will need to go proper “diet”.

I'd do some intermittent fasting (skip breakfast basically), go lowish carb (cut out the bread, pasta, potatoes and sugar, eat berries instead of bananas etc.) and have a bowl of soup for my lunch everyday. And I'd only weigh myself once a fortnight.

I find it easy to lose weight if I want to, but I’ve never done any particular diet. I just eat less and accept that I’ll feel hungry. I don’t focus on changing foods or healthy snacks, just literally cut portions.

I don’t snack very often.

I never ever finish my kid’s food either, I don’t want to catch any of the school bugs which are always doing the rounds!

First meal - 100g greek yogurt with banana
Second meal - 200g salad with 200g protein
Third meal - 200g veg with 200g protein

Unlimited herbs and spices (low salt though)

Two pieces of fruit and five whole grain/seeded crackers for snacks

Water and green tea for drinks

Always works for me when I need to lose weight and then my diet becomes more varied when I need to maintain. I have to be really strict until I reach my desired weight, even one ‘treat’ throws me off and I end up eating rubbish again.

Calorie counting works for me. I use the my fitness Pal app and don't change much except for portion sizes.

Intermittent fasting
Eat ‘clean’ and good portions (meat/fish, vegetables, fruit, eggs, cheese, yogurt, nuts)
No snacking
No processed food
Drink only water and coffee

2 days a week I only eat tea, the rest of the time I eat what I want, carbs, sugar anything. The weight has come off slowly and steadily. Intermittent fasting basically.

Lots of protein, hitting 100g helps control my hunger

I managed to put on 7lbs in 2 weeks over Christmas. Pretty good going, but I did nothing but eat and drink and forget the gym.

I did the fast 800 keto last week and I’ve lost it already.

Gut health diet - try to eat 30 types of plants a week (plants include herbs, spices, coffee, beans etc) and plenty of love and fermented foods.

Typo above should be 'live', but plenty of love is a good rule too

I’m currently doing 16/8 fast (so I have my breakfast at 11am and don’t eat after 7pm) and low carb. I’ve found it easier than I expected to as I can still eat most of what I want to - just cutting out the bread/pasta etc and having bigger portions of protein / veg.

I try to keep it really simple:

Fruit for breakfast.

Soup for lunch.

Sensible dinner.

No snacks.

I find that really works if I stick to it and means I've had fruit and veg by lunchtime and don't need to worry too much about calorie counting dinner as long as it's reasonably sensible.

Once I've lost the weight I relax a bit and add in cereal, porridge or greek yoghurt with the fruit for breakfast and a wholemeal roll or some crackers with the soup for lunch.

I would try to follow the Mediterranean diet. Lots of fruit and veg, fish and poultry. Red meat only rarely. Plenty of whole grains, beans and pulses. Extra virgin olive oil. No ultra processed foods.

Thanks all. Really interesting.

I wish I was someone who lost weight easily. 4lb in 1 week is amazing ! I don't think I've we've lost more than 2lb. I'm short which doesn't help.

It's so simple yet I find it so hard ! I desperately want to fit in to my clothes but am so greedy sometimes !

I think I will do what PP suggested. Start simple

Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner. Cut out alcohol, high calorie treats etc and see how I go.

Also like the idea of only weighing once every 2 weeks

Cut back on refined carbs, up my script and drink lots more water and green tea.

Script?🤣
Activity!

I've tried every diet and since having children just can't seem to lose the extra stone I'm carrying. Currently only eating between 11am and 6pm and cutting out refined sugar and alcohol. I'm trying to eat more vegetables and fruit too.

Low carb bootcamp on here.

Cut out snacking. I can spend 500 - 600 cals on snacks per day, through boredom, comfort or stress. Accept I'm going to be a bit hungry at certain times, as meal times approach.

Weigh every fours weeks, normally 10 days after the start of my period as my weight is affected by my cycle.

Other than that I exercise properly and the three meals I eat are usually healthy.

Slimming world , it really works !

I lost 2 stone during lockdown and have kept it off using the app and guidelines .

Never hungry!

Calories in v calories out.
Don't overthink it. Use a calorie calculator to work out what you should be eating in a day - undereating can be detrimental to weight loss, especially if you are exercising!

www.calculator.net/calorie-calculator.html

Don't factor calories burned into it - so say your target is 1400 a day, don't eat 1700 and say "oh but I burned 300 exercising so it's ok". Stick to the 1400 and then calories burned is an extra bonus.
Don't completely restrict foods you enjoy - I found it led to bingeing! Just everything in moderation and stick to your calorie goal.
It might also be helpful to look at the calories over the course of a week rather than daily if you've got an event or meal out planned, eat less on other days so you have some extra calories for the weekend for example :)