AIBU to think I can lose 4 stone without going to SW or WW?

[WhatshouldIdo123]

I am in a mess. Been comfort eating for 7 months in the midst of terrible personal events. Feel so so low about my weight. I am 53. I MUST fix this now as my health is at serious risk. On AD's. Very limited in what I can do exercise wise due to knee injury. Has anyone done this? Any positive stories to spur me on as right now it seems a mountain to climb.

I've lost more than 4 stone in the last year doing 5:2 , there is a really supportive thread on here that it might be worth checking out

@OohMrDarcy that is amazing.

Is there a reason you don’t want to do SW or WW? I believe the community that is created around them both is as much help as the diet plan. If you drink I’d suggest kicking off with dry January too. Good luck

I’m sorry to hear you have been having a rough time. I would say you can. I’m at 2.5 stone loss in 4 months using my fitness pal, walking, swimming, jogging and breastfeeding (last one may not be feasible ).

I find my fitness pal great as it’s a consistent gradual weight loss. It limits calories not the food you eat which I also like. I only count through the week then have what I like at the weekend. Cut out alcohol and fizzy drinks if you can. Aim for 20mins walking minimum per day.

Firstly, you don't have to worry about not being able to exercise. There's plenty of evidence to suggest that exercise isn't actually that helpful when it comes to weight loss. According to Dr Jason Fung (who wrote The Obesity Code), exercise accounts for only 5% of weight loss, compared with 95% for diet.

Second, you don't have to go to SW or WW - just have a look at the weight loss section on here - there are support threads for any kind of diet you're interested in.

Good luck.

All you need to do is eat healthy low calorie density foods and you can do it. Think home made salads. Google some low calorie recipes and do some low impact exercise like swimming. Keep at it and good luck x

I’ve actually just this second been talking about this! It’s obviously mega individual but I stopped drinking lager and wine in June. Still drink gin. However people keep saying it’s amazing how much weight I’ve lost. This is the first time in my adult life I haven’t dieted. I eat what I want when I want. Is there a huge change such as cutting the super calorific booze that you could do?

I lost four stone in about a year and a half by doing a low calorie diet and using a rowing machine.

The trouble is keeping it off as low calorie diets long term are just soul destroying.

I used My Fitness Pal app to see how many calories I could have per day.

I lost 5stone in a year, no WW or SW. I did do low carb bootcamp a couple of times but I'm confident I would have lost the weight even if I didn't do that

I've lost two stone by reducing my meals to two a day and drastically reducing alcohol intake.

I'm also in my 50's and this has been the only way to loose it without 'dieting'. I eat two meals a day five days a week and three but smaller portions the other two.

I'm still loosing weight now but it's a much slower loss.

I've manage to lose 4 stone in the last 18 months by cutting out sweets,biscuits and cakes and trying to keep to under 1800 calories a day,by only having 2 meals a day (light lunch and bigger evening meal). I still have another 4 stone to go though. Can honestly say I haven't increased the amount of exercise I do (I have quite bad rheumatoid arthritis so exercise is difficult for me). Good luck!

I've lost nearly 60lbs this year by using the Noom app. It's completely changed the way I eat and feel about food.

Download my fitness pal and track your food on there - I’ve lost a stone and a half so far just doing this

I’ve lost 3.5st since July by doing low-carb which really suits me (appreciate it's not for everyone).

I can’t do a lot of exercise due to problems with my spine but I have made a conscious effort to be generally more active (leave the car at home for short trips, taking the stairs) which has helped and has become a positive cycle - as I have got lighter I have more energy so I can move about more.

No way could I go running or do circuits!

Good luck OP.

I used myfitnesspal and did a low calorie diet. Bought kitchen scales and weighted absolutely EVERYTHING. And I mean everything that I ate. Ate lots of veggies, bit of meat, eggs, good healthy things. Did it all by myself, no clubs, no 'diet buddies' or anything like that. Wasn't even very hard for me. I was hungry at first, but then my appetite decreased and it was fine afterwards.

Lost 7 stone (well, almost, it was 6 point something). Went from size 20 to 6/8. Kept it all off. Oh, but I should say I eat only once a day and no snacks whatsoever (did it for about 4 years). I'm healthy, do regular check-ups. Looking good is much more important to me than food.

I lost 2 1/2 stones in about 9 months. What worked for me was walking plus reducing portion sizes rather than cutting out anything. I found the Hairy Dieters cookbooks really useful. Good luck, it can be done!

Intermittent fasting was the one for me too. I lost 3st of baby weight easily and have been maintaining for a while now.

I’m at a stone and a half lost in about 7 weeks. A combination:

No snacks or seconds.
No sweet things during the week but I might have a little pud at the weekends.

Eating slowly and mindfully etc à la Paul McKenna which means (this is the most important bit IMO) I’m satisfied by MUCH smaller portions.

If you’ve chewed the life and every atom of flavour from something you don’t need as much of it.

I’m not saying no to anything; I honestly think this is key because I don’t feel deprived or panicky. It isn’t the fastest way to lose weight; but I feel happy I’ll keep it up.

I (who is 5'4") went from 17st 8.5lb to 9st 8lb in the 12 months of 2017.

No commercial diet whatsoever.

Just educated myself on low calorie, whole grain, made from scratch non-processed food.

I mainly ate meals of about 3/4 above ground veg and 1/4 low fat protein. No breakfast, just lunch and dinner. Occasionally wholegrain carbs (oats, rice, quinoa).

I have four children (then aged 3-13), who ate the same evening meal as myself and DH throughout. DH lost 6st, I lost 8st, kids have a far healthier diet.

5 stone lost in 9 months here - counting calories* and low carbing, that's it. No more exercise than usual.

*and I mean counting - weighed literally everything.

I would still recommend exercise as it’s great for the brain! Low impact for your knees such as a rowing machine gives an all body workout, or swimming. Failing that you can sit in a chair and do weights as strength training is great for the core and burns fat.

I have lost 4 stone since February using mfp. So definitely doable if u r committed

Yep, lost 12 (yes, 12 - from 21 stone down to 8.5) over the course of two years using My Fitness Pal to keep in a calorie deficit (between 1200-1400 a day initially, gradually rising when I got target weight) and adding in regular exercise once I'd post enough weight for it not to be a strain on my joints.

I now eat around 1600-1800 a day to maintain, plus gym 3-5 times a week and regular walks / jogs. It wasn't easy at first but it's now become easy and a habit to eat the right kind of food so I feel full / satisfied, with the odd treat, and I feel absolutely better in my health and my body.

No need to join SW or WW and pay into system to do it, or eat branded foods - just get a feel for calorie counts, start making swaps for foods you eat, and over time it becomes natural won't deny it took a LOT of willpower and determination, but I wouldn't go back to the way I was for the world.

Yep, I lost 5 stone without going to any slimming club. Took me about 2 years, and I had a knee injury during that time. I did swimming and walking for exercise, it really helped, and losing weight really helped with the knee. Also, I did it in my late 50s.

Read Dr Michael Moseley’s ‘’ Fast 800’’. No exercise or apps required. Quick results. . You can get a copy for £4.