To think I can lose 3 stones by mid July?

[FreyaFromTheFens]

I’ve recently made some big changes to my diet and gone from drinking a lot of alcohol every night to not at all during the week. I lost 3 and a half lbs in the first week.
Is it realistic to think such big changes mean I can lose around 2 lbs a week if I keep it up or will the weight loss reduce once my body gets used to the changes?
2 lbs a week over 23 weeks would be amazing if it worked!
I’m pretty active if this makes a difference.

Can I just jump in regarding weighing yourself.
Try to weigh yourself at the same time and place the scales in the same spot each time you do.
Don't deny yourself the odd treat or look upon it as being on a diet, look upon it as healthier eating. Good luck 💪
Congratulations to all the other posters who have achieved their weight loss, however big or small.

I lost 2.5 st in 3 months about 10 years ago. Very strict keto and portion control and no exercise as I broke my foot. Never been able to replicate that since though.

It's good to aim high though. You may find you lose less but losing a stone or even two in that time frame is still significant and will be noticeable.

@FreyaFromTheFens - well done on cutting back the alcohol. How much were you drinking? Have you found it difficult? I drink too much wine during the week and really need to limit it to weekends only! I need to lose about a stone. Keep up the good work.

Yes good idea, that will help keep me on track too 👍

Thanks I do weigh the same time, before breakfast after poo 😁 I have the scales in the same place but move them a bit if it shows as less!

I lost 3st 10 in 4 months, defo doable. I've kept it off too.

That is impressive! Low carb is doable for me but keto maybe a step too far 😬

Well done you especially without exercise!

I lost 30 pounds in 18 weeks. I've been doing intermittent fasting alongside WeightWatchers. I'm 56 and post-menopause. I also exercise a lot as I'm a sports coach. It can be done OP, so good luck.

I can't do low carb without keto personally. I need to get deep into fat burning or I'm just constantly hungry. Everyone is different though and you can always lower the carbs later if your weight loss stalls.

Thank you I never thought I could do it as pathetic as that sounds but it’s been ok. I was drinking a bottle of red wine every night, sometimes a bit more at the weekend so this is something that has to change and I’m hoping will make the biggest difference in terms of weight loss.

Good luck to you too, hopefully we’ll be looking and feeling brilliant soon 😁

This is absolutely achievable , I’ve done this is with slimming world a couple of times! I’m aiming for 2 stone by May.

I need to lose around 6 stone & have cut out alcohol altogether, although that’s for other reasons as well as weight loss. Hoping to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week. If you aim for that OP, in theory you could lose 44 pounds by mid July which is 3 stone 8 pounds. I’m totally unfit due to physical health problems for over 3 years so I’m going to start walking daily. I really don’t eat a lot but do need to avoid snacking - terrible for crisps! Love mayo so will try to have less of that.
Good luck!

@FreyaFromTheFens - it’s not pathetic, it’s so easy to fall into the habit. It’s good to hear that you’ve managed to limit it though and you’ve inspired me to do the same.

Not sure what it is in stone but I lost 16kg from March to July one year.

I tracked my calories religiously in my fitness pal and ran minimum of 5km 6 days a week.

Great to hear thanks and good luck!

Oh mayo is my absolute downfall I have it with everything but will have to wean myself off of that gradually I think, one thing at a time 😆

Good luck with your weight loss!

Thank you it's not been as hard as I thought, I find soda water with lime or cranberry juice is ok. Nothing like red wine of course and food doesn't taste as good without it but needs must!

I lost around four stone since last year but recently it has slowed up. I have taken up swimming regularly four times a week. You do have to be very disciplined.i have also given up alcohol and chocolate. You can do it you will feel much better. The local charity shop has done well out of me! I would like to lose another stone. I am ten and a half now at 5 ft 6. My tummy is my bugbear.

I have. And I'm terrible for not being able to deny myself anything. I used an app to track my approximate calorie intake. I wasn't anal about it, just wanted to know the sort of things I could / could not eat. Bread was out, and also diet drinks and / or anything with aspartame in them.

If I wanted a big breakfast, I balanced it with a small dinner, and vice versa.

The kicker is that I walked 6 miles, three times per week, as fast as I could, no matter what. Didn't matter how tired I was, or what time I got home from work, somewhere I fitted it in. Speed is important too as a slow amble won't be sufficient to burn. When I started it took ages, but by the time I finished, I could do it in about 75 minutes which isn't far off running pace.

If you can stomach the gym (I couldn't) then weights are your friend as you will burn much more rapidly, however if you do this, don't use weight loss as your guide as you will increase muscle mass. Use dimensions (I focused on waist size).

You can do it, just be consistent.

I have done more than that however had a lot to lose. Ye s it is entirely possible.

Don't base everything on your first week, as some people lose a amount of water weight.

If you are consistent in what you do it will work, however there will be some weeks you won't lose or it might seem you have put some on, these are to be expected and most of time you won't have put weight on it will be due to fluctuations in the body.

Good luck you can do it. Just dont be too hard on yourself.

You should read "the fast 800" by Michael Mosley..hes quite well regarded and it debunks a lot of dieting myths..like " starvation mode" etc..it recommends a short sharp approach .8 weeks. At 800 calories a day.
Really interesting amount of calories, means you cant afford to eat processed , sugary or fatty foods if you want to not be hungry.
And because you only do 8 weeks you aren't looking at it as a forever way of living..more a learning experience/ weight loss method.

I haven't used the recipes in the book as they are quite a long way from what i would enjoy but i just put meals i think might work into nutracheck and then wrangle the ingredients about until the day works out less than 800.

I do about 400+ calories worth of exercise a day too, just as part of my job, which might make it more effective?

I'm 2 and a bit weeks in and over a stone down. I would probably be more but for a couple of birthdays ! Lol.

Hey @FreyaFromTheFens I completely forgot to check in on this thread since I started and I wondered how you were doing? I'm doing pretty well, I've lost 10 lbs in 3 weeks so I'm happy with that, just need to keep it up!

That's brilliant well done!
I lost 3lbs in the first and second weeks so stuck to eating really well and no booze during the week to then only loose a quarter of a lb last week despite only having a salad when I went out with friends for dinner.
After the initial excitement it has definitely made me a bit fed up and although i'll stick with it i'm not enthusiastic like I was 🙁

Its possible but if your diet is too restrictive it might not be sustainable. So if you restrict too much you will likely gain when your eating goes back to normal (as it will if you restrict to 1200 or 1600 calories a day) and you also risk muscle loss and losing fat and muscle from places it is hard to regain it to like your face. Its even a risk to your heart, which is a muscle after all.

Its usually better and more sustainable to lose weight over a longer period adjust your eating and reduce excess calories (but don't go too low) and increase exercise including strength training.

@FreyaFromTheFens hey just wondered how you have gotten on? :)