AIBU to know diets don’t work but also need to lose 3-4 stone

[MoirasWigStand]

I’m the fattest I’ve ever been. 5’6” and weigh 14st 11. There is a reason, I had health issues last year which meant no exercise (even walking) for almost a year, as well as a period of time on steroids (which made me pile on weight).

I really, really, need to lose it now. I can exercise (although my efforts are pretty pathetic so far!). I started calorie counting and lost 6lbs in January, but it’s gone back on after a few stress do l weeks.

And I found it so hard. 1500 calories is so little food 😂. I clearly have issues with stress eating and bingeing. Also when ‘bored’ at home when wfh.

I need a massive kick up the arse. I know diets don’t work, I’ve read those books. But I really need to lose some weight, I’m disgusted in myself.

"Diets" don't work, but consistently cutting calories does.

But that's a diet? Saying diets don't work is just semantics, usually used to advertise a new diet. "This isn't a useless diet, it's a lifestyle change/way of eating/intuitive eating/personal eating plan". Those are all diets.

Its also wishful thinking to people that normally overeat and are overweight (including myself). Eating feels great so it's easy to tell yourself that it's pointless or even unhealthy to cut back.

@MoirasWigStand come join us on the weight loss chat www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/4467971-LOSE-IT-February-2022?msgid=115427286

You can do it with a focus and preparation is key I've found!

I have massively cut down on alcohol. I don’t want to cut it out altogether, because I don’t think that’s realistic long term. But I used to drink a lot less before lockdown.

The last two years have been hard. Covid/lockdown, divorce, massive health/heart issues. And now it’s got to a point where it feels like a hill to high to climb. But I will.

@MoirasWigStand I can really recommend reading Why We Eat (Too Much) by Dr Andrew Jenkinson

It explains why calorie counting really doesn't work, as well as outlining a way of eating that does work.

The process behind losing weight is simple

1. work out how many calories your body burns doing 'nothing' a day

2. eat 250 calories less than this amount a day

3. burn 250 more a day though exercise or walking

3,500 calories in a lb

500 x 7 = 1lb a week

Adjust for fast/slower weight loss

It really is that simple. People who say cutting calories means your body goes into starvation or whatever and you start putting weight on, don't know what they are talking about. These are usually the people who stay large because they are in denial.

Calories out > calories in = weight loss

well said @Autumndays123

Intermittent fasting (eat 8 hrs fast 16 hrs), high fat high protein low carb, carnivore diet - these all work for me, without the unpleasant calorie restriction.

Diets are calorie cutting but have been marketed as a short term "fix". If you starve yourself for a month then eat how you did before, of course it won't work long term.

It would be great if there was a shortcut but for the most part it's eat less, move more. It's not nice or easy though.

@Quincythequince you're not a very nice person are you?
You literally just need to type into Google. Plenty of health sites that state it can be dangerous to cut calories drastically, whether that's cutting calories with regular food or meal replacement is not good for your body and not sustainable. Keep posting your "evidence" but for every piece of "evidence" you find to back your theory there's one to back up mine. Clearly your word is final though.

@HisHX

1500 cals can equate to a lot of food, you don’t need to go hungry you just need to eat healthily. Exercise helps to hit a calorie deficit more quickly but it’s not essential for weight loss as you can achieve a defect without it. I’d recommend using the app MyFitnessPal to track what you’re eating, it really helps with keeping on track and helps change your mindset too. Try bulking out your meals and snacks with as many vegetables as possible. An omelette with peppers, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes and Tabasco sauce is a go-yo lunch for me for example, filling and low calorie. For breakfast, porridge or overnight oats with fruit. For dinner, fill your plate with at least 1/3 green veg before adding carbs. Avoid processed foods as much as possible. Drink a lot of water. Think about where your calories come from (again MyFitnessPal helps) and reduce where possible - sugary drinks, smoothies, sauces, alcohol, etc. Good luck!

This is good advice and what I do. I don't see it as dieting. Realistically at my age ( nearly 50) I can't eat like I used to, if I want to stay under 11 stone. Exercise helps but I can't outrun diet. You don't mention your age but I think you are going to have to give something up to get something.

If planning meals has become stressful it might be worth sitting down and figuring out a two week meal plan of foods your DC will eat and that give you roughly 500 calories a portion. Then shopping/prepping as much as possible each weekend and repeating it for a few months.
If your mostly working from home and have access to your kitchen but not time during the working day then you could batch cook veg curry/soup/arrabiata sauce for example and portion and put in the fridge/freezer for lunches and dinners during the week.
Natural yoghurt/eggs muffins/boiled egg with asparagus are all good protein breakfasts and can be prepared quickly.
Go for 1800 calories a day the first two months, try walk/cycle when you can and up your sleep as much as possible.
Also please stop calling yourself disgusting, you've been divorced, coped with Covid and a heart attack. Give yourself a break!

@Autumndays123

The process behind losing weight is simple

1. work out how many calories your body burns doing 'nothing' a day

2. eat 250 calories less than this amount a day

3. burn 250 more a day though exercise or walking

3,500 calories in a lb

500 x 7 = 1lb a week

Adjust for fast/slower weight loss

It really is that simple. People who say cutting calories means your body goes into starvation or whatever and you start putting weight on, don't know what they are talking about. These are usually the people who stay large because they are in denial.

Calories out > calories in = weight loss

Well of course cutting calories works. That's the oy way to lose weight. No one has said cutting calories doesn't work. What people mean is cutting to a ridiculous number, say 800 a day, doesn't work because it isn't sustainable.

You might want to have a look at Dr Chatterjee's book I think it's Feel Great Lose Weight. If you can get past the many soft focus pictures of him , it makes a good point that if your sleep, stress and general well being are all over the place, your body is going to fight any calorie cutting (as you will have found). You need to get you environment and your head on side.

And that is your problem.
Just ‘Googling’ is not considered good evidence thatsplentyjack

How on earth do you know the veracity of what you are looking at?

If it was that simple to gather evidence then with this very low requirement for any rigour or decent scrutiny, you’d also believe a bunch of other blatantly false stuff.

Honestly!

I have provided you with details of the most up to date publications (peer-reviewed) in the world and you counter that by googling something 🤣

Me being nice or not (and I believe I am, at least I try to be) is not based on my challenging your utterly incorrect assertions re scientific findings.

You don’t stay on 800 kcal a day jack

FGS - you are making yourself look silly now!

There is vast amounts of data in this area. Vast

Roy Taylor
George Thom
Mike Lean
Nerys Astbury
Susan Jebb
Naomi Broanahan
Falko Sniehotta

The list goes on!

Eminent scientists in the field.

But they must be wrong because you’ve googled something else

🤣🤣🤣

I’ve been loosing weight after my baby 10 months ago
I was 14.7 ( six weeks PP) and now 12.0

It was slow at the start, but now a pound a week odd. I just have low fat everything , and halved my dinner portions.
I’ve also been having gallbladder issues that have reduced my diet even further ( not fun)
Agree with Previous Posters - work out your BMR and work from there.
I’m also not drinking , so that’s saved a few cals over the week
I’m also using my Fitbit and walking a lot.
It has been SO BORING but I was happy to feel like my old self again ( and have cheekbones again)

It can be done and it’s not forever - once your at a more comfortable weight, you can just maintain I’m not some workout for gym bunny , just a stressed out new mum trying to get back into her jeans haha !

@Quincythequince aw ffs, I know you don't STAY on 800 calories a day! When did i say that 🤣. Cutting calories by that much, even for a short period of time can have a negative affect on your body in the long term.
Clearly this means an awful lot more to you than it does to me 🤣.

[quote Thatsplentyjack]@Quincythequince aw ffs, I know you don't STAY on 800 calories a day! When did i say that 🤣. Cutting calories by that much, even for a short period of time can have a negative affect on your body in the long term.
Clearly this means an awful lot more to you than it does to me 🤣.[/quote]
No, it doesn’t. There is absolutely no evidence that this is the case.

Yet again, read the literature.

You are now just making yourself look incredibly stupid by arguing back in this fashion.

Almost like an anti-vaxxer who has ‘done their own research’ in the face of vast amounts of other evidence by googling and YouTubing for 10 minutes.

Are all those scientists out of Oxford, Glasgow, Newcastle, Nottingham to name just a few all wrong.

But you are right?

🤔

Heavily restrictive (either in terms of calories of types of food) diets don't work long term for most people, no.

But basic calorie counting does if it's maintained. Calorie counting doesn't have to = diet. You can choose whatever foods you like to fit within your calorie allowance (something like My Fitness Pal will work out what you should be eating to lose your desired amount - choose slower weight loss for a more generous allowance).

Are you sure you're eating 1500 calories? The food your posted looks like it would be about 1000-1200 to me:
Ok, we’ll I was having porridge, then tuna wrap/eggs and smoked salmon on toast type thing for lunch and then chicken breast and veggies or tofu stir fry type thing for tea. And I was hungry. All the time

There is no need to cut out wholemeal carbohydrates. They're not empty calories, they're fuel that your body needs. Look at the NHS 'plate' of healthy eating - we should be having about 1/3 of our diet in fruit/veg, 1/3 in starches and smaller amounts of proteins, dairy and fats.

Faddy diets that cut out whole food groups are partly responsible for both obesity and eating disorders.

I’m saying this a lot at the moment but have you tried Noom? I’ve found this to be the most balanced and effective strategy to losing weight. I don’t need to lose a lot but have always yo-yoed before this.

With the programme I’m aware of what I eat, haven’t cut out anything at all. Nothing is good or bad. And it’s not just about food.
Some days I struggled to eat enough calories, and I eat regular meals now instead of what I thought was less food but was actually more!

And just for the record, I don’t care what method people use. I have suggested 5:2, keto and even speaking with a GPwSI re bariatric medicine to the OP in terms of methods to try to lose weight.

But I will counter bad science and incorrect statements when I see them.

OP I’m with you, diets fail for a huge percentage of people who attempt them. Even if you reduce your calories your body will adapt to this and start burning at a lower rate whilst increasing your hunger hormones so that you’re pretty much destined to fail.

A good book to read is “why we eat too much” by a bariatric NHS London Consultant.

It will give you some great tips and lifestyle changes that absolutely doesn’t include counting calories. Good luck 🤞

I went to see a nutritionist for help, was £££ but found out I had SIBO which was causing me a lot of grief.

She also helped me with my diet - loads of protein, veg, fruit etc and not many carbs. I found the protein intake really helped me and I lost 2 of the 3 stone (then had ivf and now pregnant so suspect I will be back to square one!!). Have been eating more pulses and vegan food and found it really helpful. Pulses were really key for me.

She did recommend cook meals and meal boxes. Both easy and practical and they helped. Just need to be a bit careful with choosing the meals for your meal box. DH and I really enjoy it though as our food is better overall and still quick.

I’m a veggie and I don’t drink as I was ttc/pregnant so those things are helpful.
I didn’t count calories too much as I found it obsessive and I could never stop thinking about eating. Focused on portions and eating good food.

Good luck op, here is to a happier, healthier 2022. Xxx

You are now just making yourself look incredibly stupid by arguing back in this fashion.

🤣🤣 Nice.

Na pal keto is good for you either.

Wishing you luck op. Minus the heart attack I feel the same and I think we are in a similar situation..I posted something similar a month or so ago about feeling disgusted with myself. My mental health is terrible so I am trying to make smaller changes ATM to manage but also not set myself up to fail.