I’ve got a month to lose a stone

[Cotsworlds]

Going on holiday in one month and need to be able to fit into my bathers! Don’t have time to mess about any more so need to be properly committed to diet and exercise just for one month. Anyone want to join me?

I’m going to try to stick to chicken and fish with green vegetables or salad. Trying to tell myself it’ll be unadventurous but it’s only a month.

Get in things that are easy so that you don't fall back on snacks when you are hungry. I always have in lentil sachets, jars of chickpeas and beans, cooked chicken, nuts, hot smoked salmon, eggs, salad stuff and condiments so you can throw something together in five minutes if necessary. Skyr or Greek yogurt and frozen berries can be very helpful and fresh pears are also a good fibre source.

Congratulations on your medical degree - an alumni of Clown College.

No, it definitely isn’t a myth.

You are not overweight, I think you’d struggle to lose a stone in a month.

You could always try Keto or something if you want a quick fix.

There are many studies that show the calorie equation is incorrect, and 'weight' is not just fat.

I are 4k calories a day on a very low carb diet whilst shedding weight very quickly - it was not sustainable but shows that calories are not the key.

The literature around the biggest loser study is very readable and available online, but it's also common sense really - do you remember how to calculate a calorie from high school science? You burn a peanut and check how it raises the temperature of water. Your body is not a furnace, food is used for more than eenergy+ fat storage, and fat storage is controlled by hormones. A type 1 diabetic will get thinner and thinner without sufficient insulin.

You'll be fine. No booze. As much exercise as you can fit in. Good luck!

But if you’re honest it’s not really a priority otherwise you would have started before now..

Well, if you've not been trying to lose weight up to this point, swapping to a low carb diet may well get 14lbs off in a month - but a lot of that will be the water weight you shed in the first week. The second week, you may not lose anything, and then the third and fourth I would expect perhaps 2lb a week if eating under 20g carbs a day. So, yeah, your scales might be 14lbs down, but your appearance and actual size/shape probably won't have changed that much - sorry!

It's taken me since the beginning of Lent this year (not religious, it was just an excuse to start) to lose four and a half stone - just over seven months, I think. Post-menopausal, so it's quite a struggle at times! Hoping to shed another (the last!) stone before Christmas.

If I were you, I'd hope for half a stone before your holiday, enjoy your time away, and then stick to something sensible until Christmas, so you don't have to do this again next year. Have a great holiday!

If I have a carb I’ll have them all. Got to be strict.

I think they’re great and am pleased they’re working for so many people but they’re definitely not for me.

I agree that it's sugar that's our biggest enemy, I'm 46 and have really noticed that sugar makes me gain weight really fast. I've cut out bread, pasta, sweets, biscuits and cakes and I've lost half a stone and kept it off for a year.

https://www.aicr.org/news/the-3500-calorie-weight-loss-myth/

I was exaggerating about the bather. I can actually get them on alright but I want a flatter looking stomach in them. All my weight seems to go to my stomach.

The attempt to lose 14 pounds or 6kg in a month. Buy the next size up.

Pigs eat chicken and veg? I had no idea.

All of this sound delicious and not far off what I usually eat.

I just need to reduce the bread, cheese and wine.

Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred on my lunch today then a walk straight after work.

Thank you!

I always find Miso soup with added veg, like onions, mushrooms, seaweed etc helps me feel full & you can keep sipping it through the day, I don't eat meat but like chicken broth etc does the job too, plus then if your main meal is like what has been suggested, fish & veg the weight should drop fairly sharpish

I also have 2 or 3 big, black coffees with a zero calorie sugar substitute, sometimes I'll add almond or soya milk substitute

I'm not suggesting this is the healthiest way to lose weight but if you're in a rush I'm not sure "healthy" is what you're after

Good luck!

Who gives a fuck? Can’t turn back time. And I was enjoying myself.

I’ll take the water weight to be honest. That always shows on my stomach.

Absolutely not. That way lies ruin.

I love miso soup!

I’m planning to have coffee and yoghurt if I’m hungry during the day then for tea a chicken Caesar or chicken/fish with vegetables. I could mix it up with miso during the day though.

So what I take from this is that the 500 a day deficit is not an exact science and is not the same for everyone which makes sense when you consider that some people will overestimate their activity rate so their maintenance calories aren’t accurate and also that as you lose weight you need to eat fewer calories to maintain that weight so need to reduce your daily intake to continue to lose. It doesn’t dismiss the basic premise though.

Hi OP
I recently lost a stone in just over a month. I was 11 stone 7 and I’m 5’6. It’s not for everyone but I joined slimming world. My current weight is 10st 6. I eat lots of veg and chicken and go to the gym 3 times a week

I've lost the weight and now mostly seem to live on chicken, fish, chickpeas, lentils, eggs, bit of cheese, nuts, lots of green veg, berries, pears and yogurt. Red wine and dark chocolate in moderation. I do have a takeaway on a Friday but not huge amounts. Had a burger, chips and beer at the pub on Saturday but a very long walk fully justified it. For long term maintenance aim to get it right most of the time but not all of the time. I'm not skinny, BMI 25.4, but am strong and fit, and pretty slim really, size 10/12, and it's a lot better than BMI 29.8 as I was early last year. Just had FBC done at GP and everything looks very good indeed. BP 107/70. Resting HR 54.

As opposed to glugging wine and eating bread then asking about a last minute diet that you will probably struggle with/have limited results and be disappointed when you get on holiday.