To ask what the most convenient weight loss diet is?....

[OscarWildesCat]

I've done WW and Slimming world both with varying degrees of success in the past, I need to lose a stoner 2 again and theyve both changes since I last followed either of them.
What diet did people follow and find easiest to follow when cooking for a (sometimes fussy) family?.
Alcohol is my main problem at the moment, I'm drinking way too much whilst in lockdown, DH reckons I should just ditch alcohol for a bit and eat a bit healthier rather than follow a structured diet but I'm a bit, "all or nothing". Not sure if hes right, any advice?.......

I find no carbs/keto the most effective, I can easily drop a stone in a month on it when needed eg after Xmas, after holidays and then just go back to eating normally and it says off. I think the key is finding a diet that includes food you enjoy so it doesn’t feel like a chore!

Another one for MFP and a fitbit, so you know what calories you've earned back.
I'm taking my weight loss easy. 4/5 days being careful what I eat, 2/3 days have "fuck it days"
Couch to 5k running 3 x per week
And YouTube fitness videos 4/5 days.

Weight loss is slow but happening.

If anyone can tell me how to give up the alcohol (and the terrible food choices that come afterward with the hangover) that would be appreciated.
This is my main problem!

For quick weight loss, low carb

Simplest thing is to cut out the booze. Not an essential, if a bitter drink is what you want, that's perfectly doable with having diet tonic on its own (tons of ice, lime slices and a proper glass).

Don't have crisps or obviously high calorie dense/low nutrition snacks - olives and the like are satisfying that need for something savoury without providing pointless calories.

If progress isn't fast enough for you, try reducing refined carbs - if you really want something creamy and cheesy, have Cauliflower Cheese instead of Macaroni Cheese - you get the lovely sauce but not the extra calories from pasta - and, let's face it, it is all about having an excuse for eating cheese sauce.

But cutting out alcohol is definitely the easiest. You need to eat. You still need carbs, protein, fats and nutrients. You don't need alcohol. So don't have it in the house. Unless you're an alcoholic - they physically need it to not die or sustain brain damage. But that's not the case for you, I hope.

@Whatifitallgoesright Dr has a concern of this at the moment and I'm on medication to see if it helps (its not) before being offered a scan/testing but in my heart of hearts, I know that I need to cut alcohol and fatty food and get healthy first and if im still in pain then I know I tried everything I could.
@Isawamagpie same, I am drinking way too much, I've always been a binge drinker limited to Friday and Saturday nights but now it feels like every night is Friday or Saturday, I'm struggling. Its embarrassing. I totally understand.

Only eating at mealtimes and not if you're not hungry. And cutting out bread. Definitely no fizzy or sugary fruit drinks. The Keto diet is delicious too.

Totally agree with @LEELULUMPKIN

@OscarWildesCat, you've dieted in the past and have gained weight again so will be stuck in this cycle for ever unless you stop dieting. Diets do not work long term as they rely on restrictions and will power which are unsustainable, so most people will regain the weight plus extra. Instead, think of trying to gain new, healthier habits, rather than "dieting", so eg easing back on the wine (maybe try spritzers?) or trying new nutrient-rich, lower energy density meals for fun (if you like cooking), and variety (variety = more nutrients) rather than with the aim of losing weight. You'lll probably find the by product will be weight loss without thinking about it, which is far more sustainable than dieting.

@Candida I know, I like eating healthy and I live cooking (although this will be harder when back at work f/t) and I agree, as soon as I say diet, I'm doomed, I'll call it a healthier lifestyle. I'm impatient, I want to drop 2 stone asap but I am going to try to be patient as I know any fad diets dont last .

Problem with alcohol, you're not only getting those calories but the next day food choices are off as well. I always want to pac man the next day after a night on the booze. If you're drinking every night you probably will see a difference quite quickly just by giving up the drink for a few months.

Low carb, low sugar. Blood Sugar diet is for diabetes but essentially it’s for losing the fat from your middle.

I liked it because unlike Atkins ( and other diets ) there is no “ unlimited” foods . It’s very definitely “stop eating”. Which is refreshing to hear.

It works very quickly, easy to stick to and you can all eat the same - you just will be eating the veg and protein bits,

I am drinking way too much, I've always been a binge drinker limited to Friday and Saturday nights but now it feels like every night is Friday or Saturday, I'm struggling. Its embarrassing. I totally understand.

You need structure. You need to know that you are waking up at x time, doing z and y next day. Treat it like working days. Start an online course on Openlearn or something and stick with it for even just half an hour a day at regular times.
Structure your week into weekend and weekdays.
And don't buy alcohol stock if you can't keep away from it.

Structure is a miracle cure for lots of issues ime

Fasting. No preparing fancy meals. Just don’t put anything in your gob.

Any change takes a while to learn . I think the Mediteranean style/blood sugar diet is good but you cant get away with take away/convenience food. I've stopped in motorway services and the only thing has been a packet of nuts or those tiny cheese bars or if lucky a non pasta salad.

How long is it safe to keep up a low carb diet? Can you be on it long term?

Low carb is really easy with families. You can cook so that you just have the same as everyone else without the potatoes/rice/pasta/bread. The BSD recipe book has a lot of good, easy things that work well for families by just doing carbs on the side for the non-dieters.

The most convenient weight loss diet is to love yourself and to not feel like you have to lose weight.

Diets only work in the short term - you're better off making different lifestyle choices to see more sustainable results.

@Maisieme, yes, you can. Many people find that after the weight loss phase, they move to a slightly modified form of it - larger portions and occasional carbs. But unless you have Type 1 diabetes, or any other medical condition which requires a different kind of diet, it works well in the long term.

How long is it safe to keep up a low carb diet? Can you be on it long term?

It depends on what you mean by low carb, how low carb you're going, and what the rest of your diet is like. We need some types of carbs for our health and long term a very low carb diet could mean you miss out on some nutrients and on getting enough fibre. Short term it's fine but I would look into it more before following it long term.

I think your DH is right, btw, you should ditch the alcohol for the moment.

Thanks, I was thinking of low carb for about 6 months .

Be warned😂 There is a such thing as carb withdrawal 😂 I was SO irritable for a while. My friends still laugh about it!

In terms of absolute least effort, it has to be intermittent fasting (5:2etc)

No special cooking, no counting calories. Just don’t eat much for a couple of days of the week (easier when you have worked out what works for you for the fast day food— just stick to that each time)

Dead easy

But doesn’t work for everyone and takes a few weeks to get into the habit.

You can low carb for as long as you want. The other bonus I found is that as fast as I lost it, it really didn’t come back quickly either.
I think my body had got used to using food properly.

Another poster put this video on the other day. Jason Fung

We know we eat too many calories but that doesn’t stop us eating. You get fat because insulin makes you store it instead of burning it off . Don’t trigger the insulin and you can use the stores. I know 1 diabetics that skip their meds. No insulin and they get skinny. ( and ill obviously).

1. Realise that you probably do not need 3 huge meals a day plus snacks.
2. Eat fresh food, freshly prepared and weigh out the helpings.
3. Make sure you are drinking enough water/tea etc. I am convinced that a lot of people eat, when they are actually only thirsty.
4. Never eat SLUDGE.

What is this? It is anything you do not have to chew at least 25 times before you swallow. Why? Well, first of all chewing kicks off the digestive process. Secondly, you should be getting a bit more dietary fibre, which is good for gut health and making you feel full. Thirdly, you should be eating slightly healthier food, because, let's face it, chocolate, biscuits cake and crips do not require massive amounts of chewing.

1. Only eat when you are actually hungry. There is no law that says you must have an enormous breakfast at 08:00, followed by a large lunch at 13:00, tea and cakes at 16:00 and another meal at 20:00.
2. Inform yourself about the important things your body needs to attain and retain good health, so protein, vitamins, fibre, minerals, carbohydrates, fats etc.
3. Remember that helpings (and fast food in particular) have increased by at least 50% in the past 50 years (tv programme I saw with Michael Mosley in 2012). A regular stomach has around a 1 litre capacity and should only be filled to 75%, otherwise discomfort may ensue.
4. Ditch anything that is not as near to its original state as it is possible to be.
5. Remember that fat, as well as being a sign of over-eating, is also a mechanism to store "poisons" in the body and keep them from adversely affecting the body's functions. Reduce the over-processed rubbish and see what happens.

10. Did I mention making sure you are drinking enough? If constipated, a mug of boiled water, as cool as you can comfortably drink without burning your mouth, sipped, can get things going, as can some vigorous exercise.

I lose weight by figuring out a set calorie daily diet and just eating the same thing every day for a few weeks.

So I batch cook some breakfast mini burritos which are 150-180 calls, then I weight out and measure the exact amount for a 150 cal smoothie and just remake it every day at 11.

At lunch I eat a premade supermarket veg only salad with 2 tablespoons of dressing. Maybe 150cal all together.

I make different things for tea because of DP but make it vegan (no dairy, no meat, no eggs) and limit the carbs to half a cup.

No alcohol and no treats except some raw veg if I'm really hungry.

It's boring as fuck but gets the job done when I stick to it. Unfortunately, lockdown has me not sticking to it much 😂