AIBU to ask how you stick to a diet?

[JacketSpud55]

After maintaining a weight of 9st 7lbs for years I have gone up to 10st 7lbs, so I’m trying to loose that extra stone at the moment. Nothing in my diet has changed to make me put on the weight so I think it is possibly from a change to my birth control pill.

Today is day two and after not eating since 6pm last night I practically inhaled my lunch at 12 noon on the dot! Please tell me this gets easier and if not please share your coping methods as I am really struggling with the lack of food.

I am trying to loose as much as possible as quickly as possible so I done need to buy new clothes for autumn as I have loads that are a little to tight.

I will attach a picture of my lunch, that is all I will have until 6pm where I will have a jacket potato with 2 table spoons of grated cheese and a salad similar to the one I had for lunch minus the hummous.

Could you not go without sex for 6 weeks rather than food?

Read the book by Dr Andrew Jenkinson - Why we eat too much
No diet but it will transform things without a "diet"

Honestly, you are eating too little. If you want rapid weight loss without hunger, go very low carb. Eggs and spinach for breakfast, chicken salad for lunch, grilled salmon or steak with mushrooms and watercress for dinner, with pudding of greek yoghurt and blueberries or raspberries.

Or skyr and berries for breakfast, veg and cheese omelette with salad for lunch, peppers stuffed with mince and veg for dinner. It doesn't have to be strict keto, just steer right off the wheaty, floury, sugary things. Add some brown rice or sweet potato if you need a filler.

Agree with
@Ihopeyourcakeisshit

@SweatyBetty20

After many, many, MANY diet failures and getting up to the horrid weight of 14st7 I am trying the Fast 800 and it’s working. I had one small garlic chicken breast, home made closelaw and a big beef tomato and one square of dark choc and I’m actually contentedly full. I’ll be hungry for tea, but not starving the way I usually am when I’ve had sandwiches for lunch.

Yes. I found this very good in May/June. It works. High protein, low carbs, no sugar.

Your salad looks great but it's missing something. I've been intermittent fasting for a while now and would add some kidney beans or roasted chickpeas, maybe a little avocado and some feta. I would also have some natural yoghurt and fresh berries afterwards.

You're not eating a balanced diet .

You need more protein and healthy fats - will also fill you up more

Intermittent fasting works really well but only if you do it properly. When you are in a fasting state drink plenty of water and if you need the caffeine kick (like me!) black coffee or tea. When you break your fast eat nutrient rich foods - plenty of protein and low in carbs.

I started IF last summer after putting on about 1.5 stone due to lockdown. I practice 16:8, though sometimes ii go longer without food as I just don’t feel hungry enough to eat. At the same time I started Couch to 5k and over the course of about 6 weeks I shifted a stone of my weight gain.

The other thing that works best for me is to have a meal plan and stick to it. It’s a lot easier to slip up/make poor choices when you don’t have a plan in place.

Given the choice between sex and food I know what I'd choose. Why on earth would you go on a new pill to cover just six weeks?

Your lunch looks awful and I echo what everyone else said.

@EatYourVegetables - what's wrong with 'massive salads'?

That’s really unhealthy and the first thread I’ve seen in a long time with someone basically starving themselves. Which is very coincidental on the under eating thread currently going on.

@lazylinguist - I feel a “Massive salad” is MN speak for eating a few sad leaves with no protein and fat and claiming you’re full. So unhealthy martyrdom.

I personally dislike salads and prefer my veg in a different form. If someone loves salads though and wants to eat them as a full meal (yuck), it’s a good ifea include enough fat and protein (eg eggs, meat, fish, cheese, nuts, seeds) to keep them full until the next meal.

Is this the mumsnet sponsored “MASSIVE SALAD” diet?

I love a massive salad. But not just cut up basic salad vegetables. Some of those (I'd do lettuce tomato cucumber peppers & either rocket or watercress), then add a carb, like hot or cold quinoa/rice/new potatoes/buckwheat/barley, some protein like beans or lentils, some form of fat such as avocado/seeds/chopped nuts/olives, some chopped fresh herbs, maybe some something like alfalfa sprouts, something pickled or fermented such as sauerkraut/pickled onion/kimchi/beetroot/brined peppers. Simple dressing made from your choice of vinegar, oil, some salt & pepper, I usually use either balsamic or raw apple cider vinegar with olive oil.

I'm transitioning to veganism but you could obviously add meat, eggs etc for convenience & additional variety if you like them. Salads are only boring if you don't really have the experience or motivation. I'm wheat intolerant but croutons would be an excellent addition. Variety of textures, flavours etc is key. I pre-prepare (make extra of) stuff like new potatoes, quinoa etc, so I always have some in the fridge for salads or with a quick meal. Much better than relying on unhealthy convenience food. I have a Pinterest board full of salad ideas. Mostly stuff I can make ahead & store in the fridge, then just grab a couple of spoonfuls, it makes a plate of plain salad veg a lot more appealing.

Rice must be cooled quickly as it can cause food poisoning but I discovered a great trick by chance. I cook it, then decant it directly into a flat-ish plastic tub, like a sandwich box, put the lid on loosely, & put a freezer blocks under it & another on top. It's usually fully cool within about 20 minutes & ready for the fridge.