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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Weight loss. AIBU to ask if you've lost weight by not following

44 replies

SquirrelInTheOak · 10/08/2019 12:50

an actual diet, how you did it?

I seem to become rather rebellious if I try to do WW/SW/LC and so on.

I'd like to lose weight - about 4 st Blush - by making healthier choices, adjusting portion size, getting more exercise and so on rather than feeling like I'm 'on a diet'.

AIBU to think this is possible or do I need to follow a diet?

OP posts:
dollydaydream114 · 10/08/2019 12:59

I have only ever successfully lost weight by reducing calorie intake, never by following a diet. Use MyFitnessPal or a similar app to work out how many calories you should be eating to lose weight and take it from there. It's slightly fiddly at first getting used to logging everything and making sure you know exactly how much of everything is on your plate (kitchen scales, rather than bathroom scales, are your friend here) but it does work and it also means you don't have to cut out any specific foods.

It's the only thing that's ever worked for me. I'm using a personal trainer at the moment and it's what he recommends too - he is adamant that 'diets' don't really work and he would rather his clients just kept an eye on calories and getting a reasonable balance of protein and carbs.

Oysterbabe · 10/08/2019 13:00

Why not try?
Intermittent fasting is the only thing that I can stick to long term.

Iwouldratherbemuckingout · 10/08/2019 13:04

I’m also using my fitness pal - find it far more liberating than following SW or WW and really made me reevaluate my portion sizes. Losing weight much quicker also - 1lb a week rather that 1/2.

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 10/08/2019 13:07

Rebelfit and 16:8. Lost 14kg this year, got a lot fitter doing kettlebell workouts. I don’t like SW/WW etc and don’t have time to go to a gym, so this is something I can keep at consistently.

Original poster
SquirrelInTheOak · 10/08/2019 13:09

Interesting. The one thing that I've never tried is calorie counting. I have MFP on my phone but never really used it. Definitely one to consider.

Not sure about IF - worried I'll massively overeat

OP posts:
EatsFartsAndLeaves · 10/08/2019 13:10

As above, im also using MyFitnessPal. My Fitbit automatically adds calories to my daily allowance so the more exercise I do the more I can eat that day, walking a couple of miles a day keeps the calories high enough that I can snack a bit in the evening. I could probably eat almost anything I wanted if I took up a nice strenuous hobby, I'm considering roller skating.

Schwibble · 10/08/2019 13:12

Cut out sugar, starches and up your vegetables and protein, drink lots of water and exercise more. Works a treat.

AbbieLexie · 10/08/2019 13:13

I've lost weight - slowly but I have health issues - we began adding beans /lentils to everything when we were cooking. Felt fuller - saved money and good for the cholesterol levels. Increased my water intake. Began going to Pilates classes. Health app monitors my movement / exercise and gives me encouragement to complete my rings daily. Weight is slowly coming off but have gone down 1 dress size and this size is becoming loose on me.

SillyLittleBiscuit · 10/08/2019 13:13

Use a tdee calculator to work out how many calories you need to eat to lose weight safely. Stick to that for 30 days. Don’t go too low calorie wise as it’ll be hard to maintain and you’ll only have to go lower when you start losing. After 30 days of being patient, eating these calories, drinking water and sleeping well check weight and tdee calculator again.

Patience is key. Good luck.

WhataLovelyPear · 10/08/2019 13:16

I've only ever managed to lose weight following a diet - I think because it's a ready planned balanced calarie controlled intake.
However, I am pleased to say I've managed to stabilise my weight with intermittent fasting (previously my weight has always crept up and then I've dieted to get it down).

Sexnotgender · 10/08/2019 13:16

Yip. Paul McKenna I can make you thin. Basically mindful eating. Lost nearly 2 stone.
Now a size 10-12. Would like to lose another stone probably, maybe 1.5.

PutyourtoponTrevor · 10/08/2019 13:17

I used the principles of an old WW plan where you ate from a list of foods so plenty of fresh fish, meat, poultry with potatoes, brown rice and pasta, loads of veg, eggs. No proper bread but did have wraps, thins and bagels. I've lost 8.5 stone in 18 months

soloula · 10/08/2019 13:17

I've lost 2 stone since february by doing keto. High fat, moderate protein, low carb. First diet I've enjoyed and doesnt feel like a diet. Feel like I've got such better relationship with food now I've cut sugar (carbs).

Pastaalldaylong · 10/08/2019 13:18

Another vote for my fitness pal but you might need to start weighing some of your ingredients if you really want to see results. Its easy to underestimate how much you're eating I find otherwise. And it does work!

UpOnDown · 10/08/2019 13:20

I calorie count, using myfitnesspal. It works for me.

Volluto · 10/08/2019 13:23

How do I calorie count?
Sorry if that is a stupid question. If I make spaghetti Bol for dinner, how do I work out the calories to record?

katy1111 · 10/08/2019 13:25

I've recently lost 18lbs (started at the end of May) using My Fitness Pal. I don't feel like I'm on a diet because I eat whatever I want but I just stick to 1200 cals per day in the week and 1600 at the weekend (so that I can have some wine without having to starve myself Grin). It works for me because it makes sense to me and it's easy. I also make sure I walk at least 11,000 steps on weekdays which I think is helping. I don't log exercise onto the app though.
I have about a stone to go to get back to pre-baby weight (baby is now 17 months old 😂).

PixieLumos · 10/08/2019 13:28

I’ve never followed a diet. I’ve always been fairly slim but gained weight when I was pregnant and wanted to lose about 7 kg after having DS. I lost 8kg, by ‘eating less and moving more’ - you know, that crazy diet that no one seems to want to believe in.

namby · 10/08/2019 13:28

Another vote for MFP, not only does it not feel like a diet like SW etc as you can eat what you want you just have to moderate, but it re-educated me on having a healthy diet because it forced me to reduce portion sizes, eat less processed food etc as I could eat more of it. I lost 20lb and have kept most of it off (did put a little back on but not following anything right now and still a healthy size, clothes size 10).

Charles11 · 10/08/2019 13:31

Doing the 16:8 plan is the only way I’ve lost weight.
You can only eat in an 8 hr window. I prefer a 6 hr window so I delay breakfast til 1 then stop eating after dinner at 7.
Skipping breakfast has a big affect on me. I don’t ‘wake up’ my appetite and seem to be more easily in control of my eating.
I’m also very productive in the morning while I kill time til I can eat.

PixieLumos · 10/08/2019 13:31

How do I calorie count?
Sorry if that is a stupid question. If I make spaghetti Bol for dinner, how do I work out the calories to record?

Calorie info is on most food packaging, and you can use google to find out as well. You might need to start by weighing things if your unsure, but after a while you just kind of ‘know’ and can estimate.

Original poster
SquirrelInTheOak · 10/08/2019 13:33

weighing my food isn't a problem as I cook a fair bit from scratch although I may baulk at weighing salad etc - thanks WW Hmm

I don't mind losing fairly slowly either. every time I've lost some weight previously it's been a fast initial loss but then it piles back on. so no problem at all losing slowly, e.g 1lb a week after the first week would be fine.

OP posts:
GummyGoddess · 10/08/2019 13:33

I used myfitnesspal and a bodymedia but a fitbit would suffice. Think it was about 50lb lost, 20-10/12. However I do lift weights so my size 10/12 is 10.5-11 stone.

The first week or so is a pain entering all your foods but much easier after that.

PinkFlowerFairy · 10/08/2019 13:34

Im going to try rebel fit. I think the evidence is stacked against diets so I know I need to change how we eat to eat better.

(How is wraps/etc "better" than bread? Isnt it just differently shaped...?)

Tableclothing · 10/08/2019 13:34

I cba to calorie count or follow any specific diet.

I lost a couple of stone by:

  • drinking water, tea with no sugar, fruit teas during the day
  • lots of wholemeal/high fibre stuff to fill me up - porridge for breakfast, brown bread, jacket potatoes rather than fries, the obvious stuff
  • recognising I have zero willpower. No chocolate or sweet snacks in the house, avoid the cakes/sweets aisle altogether in the supermarket. (DH not into sweet things, which helped)
  • also on the zero willpower thing: reducing the number of sweet things I eat fairly gradually, first to one a day, then to one a week
  • snacking on fresh fruit and only when really hungry (I know some people reckon that fruit is too sugary. I think this is bollocks and no one ever became obese due to their 20-Granny-Smith's-a-day habit)
  • getting used again to feeling hungry for a couple of hours before the next meal.
  • picking the low fat / low cal / healthy meals from the BBC Good Food website