AIBU to try to lose 7 stone in 14 months?

[nitrox]

Hello everyone,

AIBU in thinking I can lose 7 stones in 14 month (1/2 stone a month) by eating healthily, and exercising a bit more?

I'm female, 5ft 7", 18st 13.5lbs (prety much 19st), size 22.

I miss all the sports I used to do, my knee is really bad and won't heal after I damaged it cycling, and I won't go to Alton towers anymore as I'm too embarrased after the last time when I nearly didn't get the bars down on my tummy.

I've tried all sorts of diets, even had a gastric band a few years ago.. it worked but went wrong and slipped and I've piled the weight back on, silly me .

Is anyone else in the same boat? Would love to hear some inspirational stories or to at least feel like I'm not the biggest freak in the world ... I can't even seem to find a winter coat I like that isn't knee length or a ski style jacket.

It's so sad really, I'm 30 now and spent my 20's dieting, I don't want to do the same in my 30's. I don't have children yet, so I need to do this now!

I love sports, extreme sports in particular like snowboarding and scuba diving and I'm pretty depressed as I can't do them very easily now and don't want to book any holidays because of my weight.

Anyhow, I'm rambling..

Thanks for reading

[ShinyBauble]

And about 150 posts on the 5:2 forum were mine, until I couldn't cope with the headaches anymore.

[GatoradeMeBitch]

It was insomnia for me!
Every night AFTER the fast day I was unable to sleep. When I had a night where I had no sleep whatsoever, I had to give up.
I'm going to give 5:2 one more go because I love the freedom of eating well five days a week - but one more sleepless night and I am done with it.

[BsshBossh]

ppeatfruit I hope I'll do some form of fasting forever, both for the health benefits and for maintaining weight loss. I see it as a very easy weekly cleanse.

I did feel hungry to begin with but I think alot of it was mental hunger: I was used to grazing, snacking and eating three meals a day so when I removed those habits my head went what? But after a month I'd adjusted. Nine months of 5:2 and I actually just have an apple and a small mug of soup on my fast days.

My eating habits have vastly improved too: it's as if fasting twice a week has reset my appetite and I crave pure, whole foods. Yes I still love my pizza and cake etc but it's more likely to be homemade these days so I know what's in it. Portion sizes have gone down too now I'm better in tune with genuine physical emptiness and fullness (never really experienced these natural feelings when I was constantly grazing or snacking).

My DH fasts once or twice a week too - not to lose weight (he's never been overweight and is an uber-fit runner and weight lifter) but the science of it convinced him (he's a science DPhil). He is amazed at how much his snacking has naturally reduced since starting intermittent fasting.

[xCupidStuntx]

Sorry to pick your brain again bssh but see how you say you just have an apple and soup on your fast days, is it OK to have less than the 500cals??

I'd love to have a set menu for fast days as I don't want to spend too much time trying to see what more I can fit into my 500!

I've ordered the book so will soon be much more clued in hopefully!

[Talkinpeace]

Cupid
it largely depends what mood you are in .... if you are happy at 300 then do that - but keep the fluids up to avoid headaches and wooziness

here are lots of recipes on the relevant thread on the 5:2 forum

[BsshBossh]

Hi xCupid, I've been 5:2ing for nine months now and it's only in the last month or so that I've eaten less than 500 cals - and it's only because that's all I feel like; if I want a full 500 cal meal on a fast day then I'll have it :) In the beginning I also relied on ready made soup tubs (eg Waitrose's Love Life range) and M&S or Sainsbury's ready meals cause it took the guesswork out of counting cals and kept me out of the kitchen. Now I happily cook on fast days.

[BsshBossh]

I've made my before and after photos public again:
www.mumsnet.com/Profile?nick=BsshBossh&photos=p

[ppeatfruit]

Wow bssh you lost the weight fast!! you look nice in both pics though I was going to say if you had stuck to the Paul Mckenna rules you would've lost too

[BsshBossh]

Thanks ppeat :)

[oscarwilde]

www.exodus.co.uk/holidays/tps/overview
Hi Nitrox - someone up thread suggested booking a holiday to look forward to and to train for. I can recommend this one highly especially as you like to be outdoors.
Do you have a neighbour with a large dog you can volunteer to walk? 3 miles every morning at 6am before work would start to burn off a few pounds.

[nitrox]

Hey everyone,

I'm still healthy eating but not started 5:2 just yet.. Just plodding along still but still going strong!

No dogs unfortunately, we are hoping to buy a house this year and then I can get a pooch to walk to death lol.. I'm afraid I have no motivation to walk myself, a dog would be ideal..

[nitrox]

Ooh, holiday link is amazing! Definitely motivational !!

[xCupidStuntx]

nitrox I started on Monday so I'll be your Guinea pig!! So far so good, found the fast grand (took measurements and before and after pictures which were truly horrific) of course there were times I felt hungry but I just kept thinking I can have whatever I want tomorrow, and I did!!
I had over 2000cals yesterday (given my weight it's not as awful as it sounds it's still within my TDEE)

I weighed myself this morning (now I don't want to count my chickens just yet because the weekend hasn't been yet!) But I'm down 5lbs!!!
Will keep you informed!

[nitrox]

Hey Cupid,

Did you do the fast day on Monday? I'm thinking of doing it today.. I still had my doubts about it and knew if I started I would fail and scoff, so carried on healthy eating.. I'm tempted to give it a proper go now!

I've not eaten today yet, so I'm gonna go with it and see if I can manage until dinner time, then have a normal meal of around 500-600 cals.

How many did you eat Monday? and well done you! You are inspiring me to get started on it!!!! lol.

I took measurements a month or so ago, I was same weight as I am now, so I've got them ready for when I'm a size 12-14 to compare with.

A couple of snipets to motivate us to lose weight;

Waist: 52.5"
Hips: 55"
Left thigh: 31"

My thigh is the same as my boyfriends waist measurement... how crazy is that???!

[xCupidStuntx]

Dooo it!!! Just drink loads of water and buy yourself a nice low cal ready meal if you're not prepared!

Yeah I fasted Monday and ate the whole 500cals:
Lunch: Tin of tuna, sweet corn and two tablespoons of lighter than light mayo - 204cals
Dinner: Stir fry veg with Mayflower curry sauce -103cals
Evening snack: Egg fried in fry light and beans -.190cals

I think that looks loads for a fast day but I double and triple checked that I had the calories for everything right!! I'm using my fitness pal to log and I just KNOW a million percent that this time I really am going to do it, because I'm OK with it if losses end up being slow because I get to have a normal diet 5 days a week!

Our measurements are so similar but my thighs are two inches bigger, my upper arms are ridiculous!!!
My huge motivation to keep going was on Monday when I tore a hole in my size 20 leggings, LEGGINGS for gods sake!!!

You should watch the documentary and stuff tonight, I found all the extras aside from weight loss very interesting and it's the first time I'm doing something that's not just for weight loss. It also costs nothing which I wish I could say for all the other avenues I've exhausted over the years!!

[BsshBossh]

Cupid 5 lbs!!! You go girl!!!
nitrox if Cupid can't keep you motivated during your first fast then no one can .

[nitrox]

I hate hate hate my upper arms, but generally I'm in proportion apart from my bloated tummy, I look pregnant!

I got some size 20 joggers from Asda the other day, they fit perfectly, so i defo need to trim down before I go any bigger, some thing I'm a 20, some a 22, but especially tops I'm a 22 because of my fat arms and tummy.

Wow, that's a nice mix of food there! I might just drink water and black coffee and just pray I get to 6pm and eat something lol.

It'll be worth it!!!!! Eating normally tomorrow will be awesome, and no guilt!

[ppeatfruit]

nitrox Have you got hold of any Paul mckenna media? because he is very careful to say that you have to 'accept' your body there's no hating it! The tummy thing is often down to wheat allergies. Just cutting out that would help you a lot IMO and E . I do acupressure and slimmed down my arms nicely.

You can do this -: !.Hold your arms out in line with shoulders (don't hunch your shoulders). 2. drop your lower arms then swing out again (like Dad dancing ) Do it 3 times a.m and p.m..

Also do the salaam exercise on your bed (if its firm) when you wake up .

[xCupidStuntx]

Thanks bssh, I'm under no illusion that it's probably water and the weekend hasn't been yet but I'm just feeling SO motivated right now!!

ppeat I totally agree about accepting your body, this has been my problem for SO long. I would only entertain quick, fad diets because I hated my body so much and wanted to lose the weight as quickly as possible but because they weren't sustainable I ended up bigger each time and it was a vicious cycle!
My before picture is so unforgiving, my measurements are FACT, there's no pretending I carry my extra load well anymore and it's forced me to wonder what's happening inside my body. But all that said, I've accepted my body as it is right now, I may not like it but I can change it one pound at a time!!

I realise how unbelievably cheesy I sound and it's not usually my way but I really feel as if I've turned a corner.

Good luck nit can't wait to hear how you get on!!

[ppeatfruit]

Have you looked at Paul mckenna too cupid ? it would be a great help to you from the sound of it Congratulations on being more mentally prepared IFYSWIM!! Good luck !!

[oscarwilde]

You could volunteer to dog walk at a local shelter? Depends on your availability though - I imagine they would want you to come within reasonable hours.

[Latara]

Hi nitrox wondered how you were getting on;

I've been a bit low and bingeing on food again. It's healthy food (fruit and veg) that I've binged on with the odd bit of chocolate thrown in but still not good, it's stalled my weight loss so I've started trying to be good again today.

I'm getting weighed by the dietician today - I don't expect to have lost much weight but the positive thing is that I've started back at the gym and have been 3 times in the last week which is a lot for me!

[nitrox]

Hey everyone,

I'd love to say I did it, but I didn't .. Got to about 11am and I caved in. I think it was as I hadn't mentally prepared myself the day before and in my head I want to do Mondays and Thursday, arghh, anyhow.. today is the day.

I'm going to stick to it no matter what.. it's only one day and Cupid has inspired me!

I've been mostly 'good' in the day but the evenings are the worst time, so I need something where I can eat normally and this is it.

I was thinking to myself, but 1lb a week is 'only' 4 stones a year, I need to lose twice that! I'll only be 15stone something by next xmas.... But then I thought how much have I lost since last year? Oh yeh, +1 stone.. great! lol.

I need to stop wanting a quick fix! As usual cupid, you took the words right out of my mouth about body image and wanting to lose weight asap, it's like a mental block and less than 1 stone a month loss means it's not going to work.

I'll have a look at Paul McKenna and get one of his books / CD's, wonder if I can just download it onto my iPad.. I could do with a bit of motivational speaking I think. ppeat - you should get commission from him

Latara - I know exactly how you feel unfortunately. I had a referral for the dietitian at the hospital after the nurse said I could go and see them, but I'm sure they will peddle out the same diet and exercise crap that I've tried and failed at for years now. What plan are you following?

[ppeatfruit]

nitrox I was on the Mckenna support thread for years!! I've come off it because IMO some people need to stick closely to rules and I lost my weight doing a number of different things ( I believe in flexibility in all things)!!

You can get a P.M. app i know. The 5:2 works for some but not ALL people we're all different that's why the BASICS of P.M. are amazing because we DO all get hungry and if we eat consciously we can feel the 'fullness' feeling (it takes a while but it does work eventually).

BUT i've combined it with the Hay Diet which is easy you just don't eat carbs and protein at the same meal and always eat fruit on an empty stomach for breakfast e.g. I could go on but I don't want to confuse you even more

[beelights]

NO. I lost 12.5 stone in 18 months from 25 stone and have maintained it over 5 years so far...Just changed my diet to 3 moderate meals a day of 'green plus brown plus a protein' with one snack of fruit/seeds at 3pm ish. No other magic tricks or diets etc. Worked for me. Good luck!