To really want to lose 2 and a half stone before Christmas

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Honestly, is this realistic?

I really am fed up of being big. I’ve lost all of my confidence and I hate how I look. At work, we have photos attached to our emails and so I can’t hide - my big fat face coming up every time someone emails me (which is a LOT!)

Please tell me it’s possible?

Blood sugar diet by Michael Mosley, 800 calories a day. On it I drop around a stone a month.

This is massively unhelpful but I would love to gain 2 stone. I'm desperately trying to gain weight.
Sorry not helpful.

You could lose a large chunk of weight before Christmas, but I think you might be pushing it to lose 2.5 stones.

Average weight loss is 1-2lbs per week and there are just over 9 weeks left till Christmas.

You could do a more extreme diet to lose more, but not really sure that's a good idea. However, if you do some reading up on the Blood Sugar Diet (by Dr. Michael Moseley) that's an 8 week plan, of 800 calories per day, and from what I've read has very good results.

But you'd have to be completely committed to it!

FFS why post then, SilverLining?

It's ten weeks.

Realistically you could lose 1.5 to 2lb a week. So 20lb maximum.

Which would be a start and a confidence boost. Then you could join everyone else trying to lose weight in January to get the rest off.

Yes, I was thinking of an ‘extreme’ type diet

I know they aren’t considered very healthy but I really need something to kick start me I think.

Are you likely to stick to it though OP.

That's a long time to go on only 800 calories a day. Probably easier to do in January than on the run up to Christmas.

Well I've started the 8 week blood sugar diet and have lost 12lb in 3 weeks. I am being extremely strict and the food is actually really nice. Example

b: full fat Greek yogurt with seeds and berries
L: Medi platter, which is cucumber, cherry Tom's, a pepper, 2 tablespoons of hummus, handful of olives and a matchbox size of crumbled feta (rather filling)
T: griddled chicken breast on white bean mash served with greens

The recipes are so nice.

I've never really had a sweet tooth, so cutting out sugar has been easy.

I've swapped to black coffee and herbal tea and I have cut out alcohol.

As I say, I am being strict because I want to lose weight more than I want a glass of wine.

But I think it is doable. Well I bloody hope so!!

The way I see it, ypu could start today and be thinner by Christmas, or worry that you might not achieve 2.5stone and still be in the same position as you are now. Join Weight Watchers, commit to a daily walk, and I promise you, you will be down by at least 5lb in 8 days time. You can do it.

Trust me, you do not need extreme. WW is brilliant. I lost all my post breastfeeding weight and kept it off.

Any sensible diet will work if you stick to it. It's the sticking to it that is the problem for most people. And once you come off it, the weight just goes back on. It's changes for life that you need OP.

It takes 6-8 weeks for a changed habit to stick so maybe focus on that as well as a good, balanced diet. Can you get a daily walk in?

The NHS Active Ten is a good app for this

Why before Christmas?
You really need to think long term rather than just the next nine weeks. Its really better to develop healthy eating and lifestyle patterns that you can sustain long term than trying to lose a lot of weight very quickly.

I do intermittent fasting OP. Or the 5:2 diet as it's called (google it!)

I'm not sure you'll lose as much as 2.5 stone but I've lost a stone this month and I find it surprisingly easy to stick to (eating a chocolate bar as we speak 😄)

Good luck!

I’d recommend joe wicks 90 day plan

You could do a stone in 5-6 weeks after that it might slow down a bit but even if it was ‘just 20lbs’ that would make a significant difference to how you feel over the festive period and you could do the rest in January.

I started almost 4 weeks ago and I am aiming for about 24 lbs, currently 10lbs down and a stone to go.

I agree I need to think long term but I also need to feel a bit better about myself in order to do that; I hope that makes some sense!

It could be possible on certain extrmeme plans. Depends on how much you want to keep it off though?

It's a catch 22 isn't it OP. You feel unhappy with yourself so you don't take care of yourself and that makes you feel unhappy and on it goes.

For a quick fix I would use something else as a boost such as a new hairstyle/colour, new item of clothing, luxury bubble bath or whatever lifts your spirits.

Then draw a line under this moment and start now. Don't go for big goals just say that you will never be as heavy as you are right now and make a start on that first 1lb.

As each 1lb goes you will feel better about yourself and then you will be off. Accept that weight will fluctuate, allow yourself to gain the odd lb as you move forward, take it in your stride and make this a priority.

Getting your head in the game is key.

Not to be rude but are you very overweight/obese now? If so you probably can. I was 16 and a half stone when I started last Sept and lost over 2 stone by Christmas and it wasn't extreme at all. Really just healthy eating and some daily HIIT sessions

I think a stone is more realistic in the timeframe. If you're for long term, sustained loss.

Send me a message if you like. I have dropped 8 stone kept it off and have done every bloody diet and can advise what worked for me and what didn't. What caused me damage and what was realistic. Good luck xx

PositiveVibez I'm going to look that diet up - those meals sound like something I'd enjoy. I've got 2 stone to lose to get into a healthy BMI range. I think the biggest hurdle for me will be giving up drinking, I do love my red wine at weekends!

Losing weight isn't always a magic fix for how you feel about yourself.

I am a firm believe that if you set too high a goal and you fail to reach that, you'll feel even worse about yourself

Ive just ordered that diet book through the library. Looks good.

Losing weight is all down to your willpower to change your habits and lifestyle. That is the truth and the end of story. There are no "diets" or quick fixes. All of that is bullshit. You need to stop making excuses and start doing what you need to in order to regain your health. Stop eating sugar-loaded garbage, stop eating enough calories for three people, and you WILL lose weight.