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 dont think moderately low carb is seen as risky, its recommended by NHS now in certain cases. I'd count that as moderate amounts of wholegrains/oats/rye but no sugar or white starch. There will inevitably be a few people it doesn't suit. Its hard to see how cutting out sugar and processed food can be a problem.

People often say oh its a fad diet cutting out food groups (usually then going on to say low fat) but actually we do need cut out a food group: Crap sugary/starchy processed food and snacks.

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).

I am horrified to read that!

Keeping track of what you eat via my fitness pal. Means that you can eat fairly normally while moderating the aspects of your diet that pile in the calories without being particularly nutritious or filling eg alcohol or sweet stuff.

It's the best way of learning what you need to do to maintain once you've lost the weight, too.

I find that a three day juice detox is a good way to kickstart me when I creep over my ‘ideal’ weight. It’s easy to do and I can lose about 3-4 lbs initially which then motivates me to cut out the crap, exercise a bit more and shift the remaining stone or so that I need toI’ve done it about 3 times over the last couple of years. I use a small independent juice company locally but there seem to be loads of companies who do them.

And yes I struggle with not drinking too. After a glass or two of wine I'm never hungry for tea but make myself eat because I don't think an alcohol only diet is a good idea 😂

The MFP is absolutely great, BUT watch out if you are scanning thing. I planned lovely low cal meal and then freaked because it was adding up as like 700 cal. It was because ASDA pak choi scans as some german smoked meat or ribs😂 also sometimes things are not correct. ASDA mayo has wrong numbers in MFP. I think it's about 3-4 hundred per 100 mil difference.

People often say oh its a fad diet cutting out food groups (usually then going on to say low fat) but actually we do need cut out a food group: Crap sugary/starchy processed food and snacks.
Absolutely! But isn't it then better to say eat less processed than eat less carb? Many people go and cut off things like veg and fruit and that's not healthy imo.

Ive lost alot on exante it's not for everyone though 800cals but I like the convenience of meal replacements .

I agree with others that MyFitnessPal is a good tool. I've tried low carb, OMAD, intermittent fasting, no sugar, two meals a day and failed, not because there was anything wrong with the diets, but just because I couldn't stick to them. I know those methods do work for many though. I'm now doing 1200 calories a day and it's working. It works because you don't have to give up anything, but you do have to budget for it. You can have that slice of cake or glass of wine, but you'll have to halve your dinner to be able to afford it. Is it worth it? It makes you realise what you really like eating, and what you just eat because it's there. I've realised I don't actually like cake that much. Not when it costs me 400 calories which I could spend on a bowl of soup with bread.

It works because you don't have to give up anything, but you do have to budget for it.

Exactly! Plus it does force you to consider healthier options. I am now doing half and half spaghetti/courgetti. It's actually good. Wouldn't eat it without that real spaghetti part though due to consistency.

It makes you look at what you eat. And that's what people need to lose and keep the weight off imo.
I lost 13 pounds (yes, bragging!) in last 3 weeks because of counting with MFP. It forced me to get rid off certain things. Now I have 1 day a week when I don't count and the rest is 1500 a day. If I tried restricting food group, I would crave nothing but that food group!

OMG I completely agree. But i guess thats a more nuanced message and also very unpopular with processed food industry who influence "healthy eating" advice. And gets harder to follow if you are hard up and cant just pop to Waitrose for organic asparagus.

Thank you everyone for the really helpful responses, I had weighed myself this morning and was absolutely horrified and quite upset at how bad I'd let it get, I'm a stone over my usual "if I creep above this I need to reign it in" weight.
The alcohol is a major issue and it's been playing on my mind, I have a wine club subscription so that's getting cancelled and I do tend to reach for a drink when I'm stressed (which is frequently just now), I'm really not a big eater, I get comments on the portions I eat when I'm out with friends, I'll often go for a kids portion. It's the wine, I've accepted that and am no longer in denial.

@NotMeNoNo absolutely.

It is more difficult when people have less money to spend, but it's not impossible. I found that making my own ready meals for freezer was basically a perfect cure for eating crap. Cook stuff in a slowcooker (which means very cheap meat cuts can be used), portion incl sides like rice, mash etc and pop in a freezer. If anyone has the space, I can highly recommend doing this. It will stop you from getting highly processed convenience meals. I even have healthy homemade doner there!

@Leflic @OmgThereAreNoPlanesAboveMeNow the Type 1's who are not taking their insulin and get skinny have a very dangerous eating disorder called Diabulimia. Whilst excess insulin does cause weight gain in some people (usually in those who's pancreas' does not work efficiently or at all) the reason a diabetic would lose weight without insulin is that their blood literally turns acidic, a condition called DKA, and starts eating away at the body, meaning they lose fat but also muscle and end up with eye problems, kidney problems, heart problems etc.

Pressed post too soon, obviously type 2's/LADA/etc are slightly different but specifically I meant to say I was talking about T1, sorry to derail

Ive lost nearly two stone since Christmas.

I pretty much follow the 18:8 thing so eat all my food in an 8 hour window (12pm to 8pm) for me. I only vary this if I'm running in the morning, which I don't generally do (prefer to exercise later in the day) when I eat breakfast.

That's it, I've cut my portions down a bit and will only have one glass of wine or half a chocolate bar instead of more, but I don't count anything or weigh anything.

I aim to exercise 4-5 times a week and alternate running and fitness classes on YouTube.

I've found it quite easy actually.

FairyDogMother11 Yes. The video I posted earlier shows a patient not on insulin literally wasting away. He is actually a doctor and explains the job of insulin’s better than my synopsis.

But low carb/sugar doesn’t mean you lose all your muscle which is something some people believe.

Personally I've just ditched the sweets, cut back on the alcohol and added a bit of exercise. No drastic life change, no diet (we eat fairly healthy, but i have large portions sense I'm not changing that). It won't be quick but it will work, and I've already lost a couple of pounds. I watched the weight pile on. I was stupid but I was depressed. I'm just glad i caught it and our a halt to it.

Calorie deficit is literally the only way you can lose fat.

It doesn’t matter how you do that per se, there’s not something which works for everyone.
Some people need the rules and regulations as it gives them a distraction and something to focus on - like slimming world and others just need to stop having quite as many treats but otherwise don’t think about what they’re eating. It’s what works for you that is important - if you like a glass of wine then have a glass of wine, but you have to make the decision as to whether that 250/300 cals would be better spent on an extra snack, a bigger dinner, more carbs, a couple slices of toast with breakfast and so on. Because if you have both, that’s when you put weight on.

Using a tracker is the best way and you also have to measure and be consistent with your portion control - you would be surprised just how many extra calories you’ll be taking in by not measuring something like pasta, cereal, cheese etc.

L

Atkins.

I love steak, cheese and mayonaise!

@mistermagpie

I like the sound of IF - can’t do it currently for medical reasons

But you do realise it’s still just because of a calorie deficit right? When you eat has no bearing on anything. You will be consuming less calories than you are burning. If fasting works for you because it keeps you on track then that’s awesome but a lot of ppl think it’s something more than it is.

@Leflic ah, it wouldn't load on my phone but think I've seen it previously! I'm type 1 myself and lost a stupid amount of weight before I was diagnosed, but I also felt worse than I've ever felt before (and the same goes for any time I've been ill and struggled to control my sugars) so I honestly can't comprehend doing that to myself. That said, I am overweight but do have a 3mth old DD and am busying myself with trying to shift some of the weight with healthy eating and walking every day to help with my mental health. No one warned me how hungry I'd be when EBF, I'm much hungrier now than when I was pregnant

Grumpos yes of course I realise that, that's why it works...

Well, I suppose you could eat cake for 8 hours a day, but most people just eat two meals a day rather than three and save themselves some calories in the process.

Eat less move more

No alcohol , low carb , no snacking )

Lost five stone, and maintained for three years using MFP.
I do my daily 10000 steps
Kettlebell swings x30
Sqats x 20
Plank one minute
Every day.
I also reduced my wheat intake because it was like a poison to my body. You might not have that issue.