to think that i can lose 6 kilos in the next 6 weeks?

[captainmarvella]

i am going on a once in a lifetime holiday to a fabulous beachy and instagrammable worthy location and feeling horrible about my size 20 body with protruding a$$ and treble chins. i want to try this one meal a day thing for some instant results but bestie says it won't work for some one like me - mid 40s, hypothyroidism, binge issues in the past, and can actually make me sick. I don't want to be sick right before my bucket list vacation! Should I listen to her?

i don't plan to do low carb or anything, just eat one filling and balanced plate of my fav stuff, once a day. right now i'm at 85 kilos. I want my weight to be at least in the seventies when I leave for my xmas vacay. i have seen so many inspiring progress pics online about the OMAD lifestyle it's really giving me hope. But most of these are from men, so I don't know if it really works for perimenopausal women! Aibu to even consider this with my current health profile?

Hi OP, I find it really sad to read how you are feeling about your body. I hope that, regardless of your size when you get there, you are able to fully enjoy your holiday and not spend the whole time obsessing over parts of your appearance that you don't like.

It sounds as if you have complex medical issues and a history of a disordered relationship with food - so I would worry about the long term impact of a crash diet.

I have found the podcast Maintenance Phase really helpful in changing the way I think about health and my body. I would recommend the episodes 'The Trouble with Calories' and 'Glorifying Obesity and Other Myths'.

Week 2 Update

1. So the scale is at 85 kilo now, as calculated when I woke up yesterday morning. It's weird though, coz it shows me as 86 when I weigh in the afternoon! 1 kilo of water retention?? For the sake of sanity I'm considering only the early morning weighing stats, so much kinder 😫
2. I stuck to 16:8 past week, save for one day. I maintained 250ml cups of water x 12 a day, and avoided all dairy and deep fried foods, but gave in and ate some delicious garlic naan bread. I could not walk or stretch every day (my original goal), but I did go to the pool thrice a week.
3. I felt a bit more upbeat and energetic than ever, but was also had a bout of depression where I binged on carbs (this is the day I failed in IIF). I got my blood tests this day, they have revealed PCOS, high BP, along with pre-diabetics and an extremely low (single digit) ferritin count. I eat meat every day how am I low in iron?!
4. The test results changed the criteria I am looking for in a doctor, because where I live it may be easy to get appointments but you have to go to the right doctor or you will end up getting a dud. I am still looking around for a good doctor who can patiently listen to my issues and is also IF-friendly.
5. I know I am not going to lose 6 kilos by xmas!!! I think this is an established fact now. But am quite glad of the 1 kilo weight loss, which has taken a fortnight. Baby steps, small miracles, as my old yoga teacher used to say. Planning to proceed to 18:6 from today onwards and brisk walk at least 30 min every day. Fingers crossed!

You've brought up a valid point. I will remember not to be miserable all the time! I do suffer from mild BDD so it's a bit hard to rein in all these negative thoughts. I am in therapy and it helps a lot.

I don't think I am doing any crash diet. I eat all my daily calories within my eating window, and I also eat I feel full, Also, Asian non vegetarian food is usually high in calories, all that rice and gravies :) I will check out the podcast, thanks.

You should only weigh in the morning. Everything you eat and drink during the day will be adding mass because... physics.
You are doing great. Slow and steady wins the race.

@captainmarvella true weight is am after you have a wee

I always weigh 3lbs more in eve

Week 3 update:

Scale hasn't moved, sadly. Still the same 85 kilos on empty stomach in the morning.

I am flying in three weeks. Will be nice if I can lose at least one kilo more. At least from my face! I want to get some nice pictures. I look good only in carefully angled selfies. I dread every time someone tags me in a group pic online because I simply look hideous in candid pics.

I am trying to stay optimistic. I had no time to go the pool the last week but I doubled my walking time thanks to extra chores at work. I have mostly stuck to 18:6, except for the weekend.

One thing I have noticed with 18:6 is my body really like it. It feels light. I thought I would be really hungry but I wasn't! However if I don't drink at least 6 cups of water by noon then I get very hungry around 9pm. Being well hydrated, I suspect, is the real key to intermittent fasting.

I found a doctor who came highly recommended by a friend. I am consulting her on Monday. Am going to push for the semaglutide tablets. It is my only hope now.

Late to reply but.. yes, you can do it!
I echo low carb. It really works. It's the only thing that makes you loose weight fast.
I must stress it doesn't have to be crazy. I can't do under 50g of carbs daily...it makes me light headed.
However, if you regularly eat over 300g of carbs daily, 100-150g will be low carb.
I follow this kind of meal plan. I do about 15-20k steps daily too, any other exercise a bonus.

Meal plan:

Eggs any way (or omelette with veg/salad)
Nuts

Cheese or chicken salad, or soup.

Sauages and cauliflower rice, chicken and veg, fish and veg.

Snacks- Dark chocolate! Go for Lindt, high cocoa content- is low carb enough.
Berries are fine- add a little cream if you like.

Drink lots of water, diet fizzy drinks are ok if you like them.
No bread, pasta, cakes or biscuits.
The only alcohol allowed would be spirit and diet mixer.

I do it before my holidays and can loose 3k in 2 weeks.
Honestly it's worth a try.

thanks your post is very encouraging, i was losing hope
i can't do low carb due to a history of binging. like u said im hoping eating less carbs would be better than my usual style of eating 300g of carbs a day!

Week 4 update: Not a good one

Weight went back to 86 kilos. Sigh.

I managed to see the doc with my test results and she has put me on metformin 500, and has told me that I cannot fast as I have hypoglycemia. Apparently I also cannot do low carb because my BP and LDL are both high, she has given me a low far diet chart. She also confirmed that I am in perimenopause. She could not prescribe semaglutide as they are not that common in this country.

It's been a lot to take in at the same time, and I didn't stick to my fasting, I have gone back to normal eating times (9am to 9pm). Silver lining, I did not over eat or didn't even seem to have much appetite, probably too depressed. I did not exercise any day, except for the short walk to and back from work.

I have to start packing soon, laundry awaits, and I am in a funk. I will give myself time until tonight for a pity party and from tomorrow get back to routine.

I think the problem is OP that GPs have very little training in nutrition. Some of what they have told you is absolute rubbish or at the very least outdated and not backed up by modern knowledge,

Could you pay to see a qualified nutritionist? Given the multiple caveats that apply to your circumstances, I think you could do with a personalised approach from someone who’s actually an expert in health and nutrition, which your GP is not,