If you had to lose a stone how would you go about it?

[Graee]

Have a stone I would like to lose. In no particular rush but it just has me feeling gross. I haven’t been on a diet in ages. So much contradictory info. Some say fast - others say this stresses the body. Same with walking but a friend said don’t bother the calories lost is not worth it.

id love any advice as i really dont know which path is best

In your case then likely not as you’re already in good shape. Remember that the UK has a huge obesity epidemic hence why I asked about where you currently stand.

Sounds like you have answered your own question so I’d start with that and see how you go over the next 2-3 months. Ideally aim for 0.5-1 lb of weight loss per week as it will be most comfortable.

Good luck.

I just eat less when I need to lose some weight.

Have you thought about patenting that? You could make a fortune.

What's worked for me and I'm not doing it right now but strict cutting out all sugar (even sweetener, honey) and limiting or avoiding refined carbs. I'm a size 10 but had to do it for medical reasons and my waist suddenly looked amazing not even a bit of mummy tummy. Miserable though! I've just had to go gluten free (coeliac) so reintroduced sugar as one of my few food joys left

But you can just pay for them.

😂

I've lost a stone in the past month by making sure I do 10k steps a day at least, drinking loads of water, having a light breakfast (usually fruit and yogurt) and lunch (chicken salad) but fairly normal evening meal (home cooked and healthy but nothing extreme) also still had a few wines and meals out here and there as I've just wanted to keep it sustainable for my usual lifestyle. Never have any snacks but I've never been bothered. I'm happy with that really. Really low carb works for me but no carb is no good as I end up starving and pigging out.

Can I ask why you cut sweetener? I live off sweetener - have it on iced coffee, Greek yoghurt etc. It doesn’t seem to have any negative side effects

Think I will follow your approach

Thanks all for the advice. Taking it on board.

Keto and 2 meals a day.

Loads of good advice above. I use Noom which wraps up lots of the above advice - calorie counting, changing mindset, nudging you from carbs and refined foods to whole foods and proteins. I find it great.

How many calories would those meals come to?

This is a great simple diet plan. Especially the rule not to cut out sth entirely….your cravings will go out of control. So eg sugar cut right back but have something sweet 1/2 times per week.

Get decent food tracking app on phone (I'm on Lose It, but others are available). Tell them what you want to lose, and how long you'd like to take to do so. They'll tell you how many calories you need to eat every day. Track what you eat, and if you stick to what they say, you will lose that weight!

Walking is excellent cardiovascular exercise and good for your bones. Get the NHS Active 10 free app and aim for 30 brisk minutes every day.

Naughty advice here but I cheated and got Munjaro. Took less than 2 months on lowest dose 2.5 and I haven’t regained it. Easiest thing I’ve ever done and don’t regret it in slightest.

As long as you continue to eat sweet things, even if the sweetener is artificial, you will continue to crave sweet things. By gradually reducing, you can train your palate not to expect sweet stuff. Makes everything else so much easier - gradually you'll get used to the much subtler taste of vegetables. Can be life changing!

I agree. And even more effective if you wear a weighted vest and/or ankle and wrist weights.

Yup, just do it, whichever way, mounjaro/tirz, just help yourself it's easy! Why torture yourself?

First and foremost Don’t call it a diet ! You won’t stick to it once you’ve reached your goal weight. I have lost half a stone within the last 3 months by doubling my protein eg eggs for breakfast , have 1/3 of my dinner plate with chicken, salmon, sardines meat of choice etc. I have cut down my portion sizes on potatoes and pasta which was my biggest problem. I buy the veet rice which are great for portion size and then fill rest of plate with veggies. The biggest change for me though was letting my food digest and not reaching for seconds , dessert straight afterwards. You will find once you do this your stomach is telling your brain you’re full. I do have treats occasionally as well as alcohol but not to the extent I used to. Make other small changes eg I only have half tsp sugar in drinks. Oh and lots of water very important! And I do go on long dog walks podcast on and off I go makes alot of difference in steps. It’s a lifestyle I now follow. You can do it!

I would worry that the change would only be temporary and I would put the weight back on once I stopped.

What do you mean lie

@Empress13 gives good advice 😀

I’ve lost 2 stone since March, I had my 3rd baby in October and was feeling gross.

The first thing I did was weigh myself and work out my maintenance calories and how much of a deficit I’d need to lose weight - for me this was 1600 cals a day. Going from eating whatever I want whenever I want was a struggle at first I have to say 😂 but I am really used to it now. I do have one day a week where I don’t track calories at all and allow myself whatever I want but I have found my habits have changed completely and eg whereas before my dream breakfast would be a bacon and egg sandwich on warbies toastie bread, this morning I chose a mango chia pudding instead… I also make date and peanut butter snacks, the old me would never!!

I think it helps that we only have one car which DH needs for work so I walk absolutely everywhere, at least 12k a day and sometimes up to 18k a day. I can rack up 6/7/8 miles a day walking sometimes which must help.

I am 3lbs away from my target now where I will switch to maintenance calories (1900.)