To find eating so bloody, utterly confusing?

[stevienickstophat]

Right, I've come to the belated conclusion that I need to lose a lot of some weight.

I don't want to do WW or Slimming World, or Atkins or any lo-carb stuff. Been there, done that, fatter than ever.

I find MFP far too time-consuming and confusing.

I just want to make sustainable changes and learn how to make good choices so that the weight comes off slowly and naturally and stays off.

But the advice these days is all so confusing, I end up staring in the fridge like a bunny in the headlights, and give up before I even start.

Eat fruit. Don't eat fruit, it's full of sugar.
Eat protein. But not too much red or processed meat.
Eat veg. But not carby veg.
Eat cheese. Don't eat more than a matchbox sized amount of cheese, it's full of fat and salt.
Eat full fat everything. Full fat everything is full of calories.
Fill up on brown carbs. Don't eat carbs.

I don't know which way is up any more. I've got to the point where I feel guilty for eating an apple.

So, how should a 41 year old, 12 stone 4, size 14 woman eat in order to lose weight long term, please?

I need unequivocal advice in words of one syllable.

TIA

[eversoslightlytired]

Oh for gods sake!!! Title thread not tithe threat!!

[eversoslightlytired]

I like Bounce with Becky For tithe threat!! Becky is a chirpy petite immaculate young lady who weighs about 7 stone. I imagine one day I will have bounced my way to looking like her. Or not!!!

[notasheep11]

Ignore the don't do this,don't eat that,don't put mustard in the custard!!!
Eat 1500 calories a day,try and do some exercise each day and you will lose weight.
I put on four stone on some horrible prescription medication.Stopped taking the tablets,did 1500 and exercised and weight came off.

Good luck.
Eating lots of strawberries is a good tummy filler,just pass on the sugar and cream :)

[stevienickstophat]

Good idea!

[Crosbybeach]

Call the new thread 'bounce with becky' - that would make me chuckle too.

[eversoslightlytired]

The DVD I am doing is called Bounce with Becky. Does make me chuckle - I have such a dirty mind!

[eversoslightlytired]

Thank youmark and stevie. I have to say though I do have to stop within 10 minutes as need a wee!!!!!

[stevienickstophat]

everso - you're inspiring


Anyone fancy a new thread?

What shall we call it?

[MarkRuffaloCrumble]

everso chucking out the scales sounds like a good move, you know when you've lost weight by how your clothes fit and how you feel. Well done for having the motivation after what you've been through. My DCs have a trampoline - perhaps I should try using it if my pelvic floor cooperates .

[saturnvista]

You will probably lose weight if you just make a few changes to your eating patterns.
Eg.
1.Cut out obvious junk like crisps and chocolate.

1. Make your dinner-time carb portion minute while upping the vegetables.
   
2. If you have a sandwich or pasta salad for lunch, swap it for a leafy salad with either cheese, avocado, chicken or smoked salmon with perhaps an oatcake on the side.
   
3. Swap one of your regular dinners for a bowl of homemade vegetable soup.

[smellsofelderberries]

Do the great-grandma diet. If you had your great-grandmother next to you when shopping and you put something in your trolley that she wouldn't recognise as being food, take it out again and don't buy it. That eliminates a lot of foods (basically processed stuff). Eat lots of veges, fish, eggs. Eat moderate amounts of good grains, red meat, white meat, nuts, fruit and dairy. Eat very little/almost no processed foods and sweets. Drink water. Make good choices and watch your portion sizes.

[MeganTrainer]

I'm pretty much doing the no S diet at the moment. I'm also just cutting down - for instance just having one slice of toast instead of two for breakfast. I've lost 10.5lb in the last two weeks. Admittedly that was after coming home from holiday, so just eating less than when I was on holiday has meant it's falling off. Snacking in particular is SUCH a habit for most people as opposed to being hungry.

I did lose weight on low carb but I just find it so dull. I love fatty food like pork belly but got so bored and really, I'd rather die at 75 instead of 80 if it means I can have cake once a week. Also low carb is so erratic and I find it demoralising. I like a nice steady loss.

Although I am trying to eat less bread - it's terrible for bloating.

[eversoslightlytired]

Hi there. I am a 42 underactive thryoid, just finished breast cancer treatment, 14st 11/12/13 lb 5.7 lady who absolutely loves food and hates having to diet. I have done WW and Slimming World which work at the time but unfortuantely food is my "go to" regardless of my emotions and the weight piles back on. I eat when I am happy, sad, depressed, bored, etc! This time last year I was 11 and a half stone!!

I have decided to stop "dieting", cut out the crap for the majority and exercise. I hate exercise I have to say. I was very sporty as a child but now the thought of exercise fills me with dread. I did running which buggered up my legs. I can't swim as surgery has made my arm too sore at the moment so I have bought myself a trampette and have been doing a DVD for beginners which actually is vaguely enjoyable and is only a 30 minute routine. It is also easier on the kneews. According to my scales I have only lost 1/4 lb this week but everyone has told me that they can see I have lost weight.

I I think I may just throw the scales away and go by how my clothes fit (and not look in mirrors!).

[SuperFlyHigh]

I'm place marking so I remember the no S except on a Saturday sounds perfect for me and easy to remember!

[Elizadoesdolittle]

I'll join you!

I could literally have written your post. I'm 41 in November and a size 14. I have no idea what I weigh as I don't have any scales but a full length mirror tells me I have a fair bit to shift. I have 3 children and my baby is about to turn 6 months so now have no excuse.

I used to sit on my sofa of an evening and eat biscuits and chocolate. No more. like you I can't be arsed with calorie counting. I intended to do the couch to 5k but not quite got there yet. What I have done is:

1. limit portions. I was a nightmare for this too.
   
   
2. stop picking at kids left overs
   
   
3. eat more fruit, veg and salad.
   
   
4. No chocolate, cake or biscuits just for the sake of it.
   
   
5. Exercise more.
   
   I don't like fizzy drinks so that helps and I don't drink alcohol at home. I tend to go out quite a bit and I don't limit myself when I do but I have become more aware about what I eat so try to get a healthier option whereas previously I wouldn't have cared.
   
   Re exercise, DH works funny hours which limits what I can do. I try to do at least a zumba class once a week which I enjoy and go for evening walks with a friend or a swim. I also do the school run on foot as much as I can pushing a double buggy which helps.
   
   I find it a lot easier in the summer months to do all the above but will cross winter when it comes. At the moment I'm feeling a lot happier and healthier than I have for a long time. I'm just hoping this will trangress into weight loss. But as I said I don't own scales so for the moment I'm just concentrating on how clothes fit to try and gage how I'm doing.
   
   Good luck!

[Totality22]

Carbs aren't the devil.... moderation and sensible choices is what is important

[Totality22]

Cut out all the processed crap, especially stuff with refined sugar. Swap your white stuff for brown (so pasta, bread, rice) but also portion control carbs particularly in your evening meal , cut out fizzy drinks and booze, stick to lean meats and fish, walk as much as you can.

Following this (which is basically low GI) I lost 3st

[stevienickstophat]

Thanks to all PPs on this thread, it's made for some really interesting reading.

I started my plan today - wrote my eating journal after breakfast, and noted down all the thoughts and feelings I'd had while deciding what to eat. It really made me realise how messed up my attitude to food has become.

I ended up having beans on a slice of gluten free toast. Very filling and low calorie.

I realise it's got carbs in, but I'm going to concentrate on calories I think.

If anyone wants to join in with me feel free

[AmIbeingTreasonable]

Nobody has mentioned "Easyloss", google it. There is a facebook page with a lot of support and people having very good results.

[Kreeshsheesh]

OP, I could also have written your message! I'm 5' 8, now 12st 7 or thereabouts and a size 14 (sometimes 16 on the bottom half!) I tried SW and lost 1.5st which was good because I was nearly 14st when I started it, but I got fed up doing it and started to hate the food I was having. Like you, I generally try to eat healthily but I reach for biscuits etc at certain times of the month/stresses/imminent school inspections, etc and this always hijacks my efforts. I'd really like to lose 2st. I once lost 9lbs once with mfp but find it hard to stick to and have started and restarted c25k a few times now!
I'm going to follow your plan and see if it helps! Please PM me if you fancy a buddy! Good luck!

[ppeatfruit]

Exactly Worktolive You really do have to change your eating habits for good and start enjoying good healthy food, for life! It's habits that need to change! They began so they can end can't they?

[WorktoLive]

Dieting can work.

It's the mindset that when you have finished dieting, you can go back to eating 'normally' that doesn't, if your normally is too many calories and lots of junk.

Slimming world allows so much more than quark and options. You are allowed a small proper treat every day plus the occasional bigger one.

You could easily have a glass of wine and a bag of crisps a day for example, plus one meal out a week and stay 'on plan'.

When you get to your target, you are encouraged to eat more of the healthy foods that are restricted in the weight loss phase (dairy, wholemeal bread, nuts, dried fruit) rather than have increasing amounts of crappy treats.

[herbaceous]

11st 7! Not one stone. That would be ridiculous.

[herbaceous]

Ooh I know!

While not massively overweight - 1st 7, and 5'8" - I've put on a few pounds of late that I'd like to shift. I'd done the 5:2 before, and it does work, but isn't very compatible with being a nice parent at the end of each day, I found!

I'd stayed roughly the same weight for a year, since cutting out wheat when I realised it was the cause of my 25-year stomach problems.

So for the past 10 days I have been low-carbing. Yoghurt, nuts and berries for breakfast; ham, cheese, avocado, eggs, etc for lunch; omelette, soup, fish and veg for dinner. Didn't lose a single pound. Yesterday I finished my PGCE (yay) so celebrated with Pimms and wine, ate some hideously sweet Minions birthday cake. This morning I'd lost a pound. I mean, WTF?

[Wheretheresawill1]

Courgetti not forgetting noodles!