To ask what diet worked for you

[springtimemoon]

As two years later I am still hugely overweight.

Please don't be offended if i don't rhink it is for me. I am just trying to work out what might help me as I am despairing!

A few years ago I lost weight with weight watchers. I lost about 2 stone (and got to goal). I didn't really change my habits though, I still ate rubbish, but just less of it.

I then lost half a stone by doing low carb, it worked but not having bread and pasta was miserable.

I have recently put weight on after my second baby and I am slowly losing weight by eating better and increasing the exercise. It's slow but I have lost half a stone since Christmas and I'm not feeling deprived. As I lose more I may need to start calorie counting but we'll see.

I find the more exercise I do the more motivated I am to eat better.

try to consume 2000 calories a day that's way way too many for most people. Look on a calorie calculator which bases it on your age, height and level of activity.
eg. according to this I need about 1300 calories per day to maintain my weight
www.calculator.net/calorie-calculator.html?ctype=standard&cage=47&csex=f&cheightfeet=5&cheightinch=0&cpound=110&cheightmeter=180&ckg=60&cactivity=1.2&printit=0&x=69&y=23

@LemonShark

It's beautifully simple and straightforward if you want it enough.

This is hugely insulting to the OP.

Losing weight is never as simple as people make it out to be. It's bound up with all sorts of emotional and psychological needs.

If it was so simple, and people could just lose weight 'if they wanted it enough' then there would be no overweight people.

It's simple in theory, op asked people what worked for them.

People can offer suggestions of diets and plans, it won't help op if she's not in the frame of mind to lose weight.

I have always had success with Weightwatchers until this past week - Done it properly twice in the past and found it easy and ate plenty. I started it again a couple of weeks ago, lost 5lbs first week and then put 1lb on second week without cheating, but realised I've got water infection so that could have been something to do with it. Unfortunately, the pound on made me go off the rails so I'll have to start again. There was a one month free to do 3 months online - basically paying £25 ish for 3 months - it's really good honestly because you can eat anything you like

Biwi there was no need for that defensive attack.

A diet in itself can be simple and yes wanting it enough is half the battle for many people. There was clearly no intent to insult the op.

And your ascertain that losing weight is never simple is very wrong. For many people it really is that simple. To say it' never is, it way off beam.

OP you’re not alone! Nothing seems to work for me unfortunately, I don’t seem to have the willpower to keep it up long term. Every diet I’ve been on has worked in short term, but I don’t have the willpower to make it last. I think it’s because I have 5 stone+ to get to even the top end of the healthy weight range for my height and it just seems really daunting. I am quite good on the exercise side of things though, but as I like food and treats too much the weight doesn’t come off with exercise alone. I think I need hypnotherapy or a friend to break my jaw or something! I also like cooking and baking which really doesn’t help!

Got rid of all the cakes, biscuits, crisp, chocolate etc from my cupboards. Only have treats on a weekend now. If it's not in my cupboard, I can't eat it.

Plate half full of veg for all meals. Don't eat much bread now and lots of fruit for snacks.

15 minutes exercise each day using You Tube videos. I use tins of beans instead of weights (to save money)

Losing about 1 pound a week, but have lost a few inches from my waist due to the exercise.

Have you watched The Truth about Exercise? Not sure if it’s still on iPlayer but it’s very interesting.

I’m following WW Flex and eating as many unprocessed foods as possible. 80/20 so eating well 80% & eating what I want the other 20% (in moderation I’m not scoffing 3 pizzas and a tub of Haagen Dazs), so far 8lb down since Dec 28th and it’s not a hard slog unlike other diets I’ve tried.

@Bluntness100

The OP was asking for help. Can no-one read between the lines here?

She wasn't asking to be patronised, and - by implication - made to feel that she just doesn't want it enough. You can tell by her posts that she wants it!

And maybe for some people it is simple - but for the vast majority, just going by all the weight loss chat threads on MN for a start - it isn't that simple.

Biwi I think this is the written word interpretation, because your take from the thread and mine, and many others, is very different. That poster was not attacking her in any way shape nor form.

If you a dog in this fight? Are you being defensive and attacking for a reason, as in are you also struggling, which could impact your interpretation v mine?

No - in no way! I'm just trying to be supportive of the OP

Diet - the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats.

Faddy 'diet' - a special course of food to which a person restricts themselves (restriction is crap for people with low self control).

Sorry but it has to be a lifestyle change.

Crowd out naughty food with healthy choices ie vegetables, learn to enjoy chewing. Buy some seasoning / herbs / spices, enjoy what you eat. Accept that you will eat like this for life, and that is ok. Do some exercise, your joints and bones will thank you long term. Sugar and white carbs cause lots of insulin release - go gentle on them. Go slow and steady, you are in this for life. Visualise your goal, you are going to be leaner, fitter and healthier. Of course you are allowed birthday cake.

I'm doing the 5/2 diet.

I have lost 1 st and 2 pounds since the 1st January.

My BMI has gone from 28 to 25.9 in 5 weeks.

I have lost 2 inches off my waist.

I feel great. I'm told I look great. I'm approaching a big milestone in my life and I decided that I wanted a body to match how I feel inside. I've always known how to do it, but I just couldn't stick with it. But this feels better than any food has ever made me feel.

I joined weight watchers and it worked for me. It was recommended by my health visitor as I was quite depressed abt the weight gain..I’m actually now aiming to become a wws coach as well...search for a local meeting and give it a go...worth a shot?

I was too fat to be referred to a Consultant about having my gallbladder out which given the amount of pain I was in very definitely focused my thinking and very quickly.

Realised that everything I had done in the past had failed as I had regained weight so needed a new approach. I worked with what I knew my mindset responds well to which on my case is numbers and a project. 2017 was very much Project Me which is still ongoing.

Bought a Fitbit and signed up for Nutracheck which I saw recommended on here and set about creating a calorie deficit. Did all the things like having a smaller plate and eating slower which have helped.

I'very found the portions suggested by Nutracheck have been helpful as I'd lost sight of what a normal portion was. Also found that for me I respond well to the concept of healthy eating about 80% of the time which leaves flexibility to accommodate the inevitable things that crop up and the concept that one bad meal/day /week/month does not indicate all the good I had done and to keep on keeping on.

When you have a lot to lose you know it's going to take a long time so i've built in periods of time where I look to maintain to give a bit of a break and to practice maintenance which is the tricky bit for me.

I find my Fitbit motivating and exercise has slowly but surely become a part of my life that I no longer hate. I've made it a social thing and meet friends to do it as less likely to cancel and it makes it more sustainable.

Have accepted that I will need to be careful for the rest of my life but now I feel different and can feel the benefits that is ok. DH has been diabetic since childhood do counts food to do his insulin, I look at what I do as my medicine to be healthy.

One thing that stuck with me was something I saw on a forum along the lines of it is hard losing weight but it is hard being fat, choose your hard. For me that is definitely true.

I did the 5:2 and in a way found it easy. It’s not sustainable forever but I do a variation of it now, sort of 16:8 by not eating in the evening and postponing breakfast as late as possible.

I am slim now but permanently starving.

Low fat low sugar low carb
Increased exercise
Lost 4 stone so far
Trying to lose another 2

I really like that choose your hard

Getting a happier more satisfying lifestyle so that food isn't always on my mind

Oh, and get a very active dog. It's working for me.

The only thing that has worked for me is:
Checking how many calories needed for weightless for my height/weight (no more than 1lb per week weight loss).

Sticking to my daily calorie limit (apart from the odd day and that's not the end of the world)

Trying to eat more healthily but not banning any foods.

I lost nearly 3 stone doing this and still use this method to maintain my weight. I've also more recently incorporated intermittent fasting into my diet but this is mainly aimed at regulating my blood sugar.

I’ve always been slim although middle age has seen some weight gain. Do you work OP? When I’m dieting, which I do whenever I’m a stone over the weight I want to be, I find being busy really helpful. This is how I’ve stayed slim all my life.
I always eat smallish portions.
I don’t deprive myself of anything but keep an awareness of balance. If I’ve eaten lots of sweets I skip a meal.
I love wine and am aware that wine contributes to my calorie intake so make adjustments.
I drink lots of tea and coffee but don’t take sugar. Can you cut out sugar in these drinks?
I never drink fizzy drinks or juice.
I always eat salad with my meals. Add salt , pepper and herbs and maybe some pickled veg and it tastes great.
I try not to eat too much bread.
When I am dieting I diet hard as I have no patience. If I don’t see quick weight loss I give up easily. Once I can see results I can take it more slowly. I love sweets and cakes so I know if I am dieting I cannot buy them or I will eat them.
I have a dog which I walk every day and have a mildly active job but other than that I do no exercise.
You will feel so much better if you lose weight but it’s hard to do it alone. Is there someone who could partner you as it’s much more manageable if you can share your hardship. Think positive OP and do what feels right for you. As many PPs have said, don’t waste your money on fad diets, just be mindful of the calories in the food you eat. I am in my fifties and only need about 1200 calories a day to maintain my weight. This is hard to accept as I love sweet things. Sometimes I just accept the weight gain and tuck in but I feel so uncomfortable when I weigh more than I should that I always diet eventually. Good luck OP, you can do it if you want it enough.

Losing weight is never as simple as people make it out to be
It is for me. I eat too much, I gain weight. I cut back, I lose it. There's been a few times in my life when I have lost weight without even trying. Once when I was a nurse and had to skip meal breaks while doing a very physical job. Other times when I was poor and couldn't afford much food and had to walk miles instead of using public transport. Just proves to me that it is about eating less and moving more.

The only thing that works for me is cutting out all sugar. I lose the weight quickly and generally feel better on no sugar. ( Does take time to get over cravings but after a while you get used to it) I would start by eating crisps as a snack rather than cake. I also eat full fat milk/cheese/ everything. I guess I do a higher fat low sugar thing. The days I eat aren't transfers. Apple cider vinegar works too but I ended up getting reflux from drinking too much of it!!