Does anyone want to lose weight as a snail's pace?

[ginandchocs]

I'd say most people want to lose weight quickly. I certainly do. But it just doesn't work. Or, it does initially, but then it all goes back on and some.

I've decided to try a different method. I'm aiming to lose weight slowly. Maybe a couple of pounds a month. If I achieved that, I would lose almost 2 stones in a year but in a way that would be sustainable.

I'm going to do this using myfitnesspal. I'm setting my calorie goal for the week to be relatively near to what I usually burn without exercise (obviously a little lower otherwise I wouldn't lose anything!). I'm splitting the calories unevenly throughout the week though as I always tend to eat that bit more at the weekend (I end up falling off the wagon and giving up another diet - hopefully by having a greater calorie allowance would allow for this). Any exercise I do would then increase the weight loss (by a tiny amount) and would obviously make me healthier. I will not eat the extra calories.

The calories I've allotted myself may need to be tweaked if they're too high and I'm not losing at all. Time will tell. This may be a bit mad, but if it works then great. I would have to eat around this amount of calories to maintain my weight if I had lost anyway so I'm hoping this brings with it lifelong good habits.

My calories will be:
Monday to Thursday - 1675
Friday - 2000
Saturday and Sunday - 2250

Some days I may be over, others under. I'm not going to eat for the sake of it nor will I say no to something because I don't have the calories left for it. However, I want my weekly calories to be 13,200 or less. As I said, though, these calories may change if the numbers aren't right. It's a bit trial and error.

Anyone else fancy a slow weight loss journey that will hopefully create new habits, and allow me to maintain forever more?

Sorry to hear about a few people feeling 'Meh'. It is tough to keep it going but 1lb up is not the end of the world - it is so easy to fluctuate with TOTM, water retention etc - focus on the overall trend and not small changes either way.

My week has been a bit hit and miss. I am on weeks annual leave and although we're not going away I have been out and about more than normal. Was at a friends for BBQ at weekend - didn't eat huge amounts but did drink 5 glass of wine! Had a kids birthday party this week too and again participated in party food and cake. I don't think I did too much damage though and will keep tipping away for the rest of the week.

I have had good activity levels this week (helped by not working) with 15 - 20k steps per day and circuits or pilates most days.

Meal plan for today;
B: home-made bircher muesli with apple & almonds
L: some sort of scrambled egg concoction
D: home-made Spag Bol (packed with veg), will serve mine with lots of green veg in an attempt to make up for yesterdays massive slice of birthday cake!

Week nine weigh in:

I've lost 0.25lbs 😂 talk about snails pace that's 0.75 lbs in the last 2 weeks! A loss is a loss though and I've reached my initial goal of 140lbs! Now I want to loose another 7lbs I think and should probably start trying to tone up.

Happy Friday everyone!

After vowing to have a good week, I ate an entire tub of Ben and Jerry’s cookie dough last night.

That after dinner snacking habit is creeping back in. I totally blame getting drunk last Saturday. Has completely knocked me off and upset my stomach too.

Anyway, DS has gone to grandma’s for the night and DH and I are having a date night at a Turkish restaurant tonight. Then I’m having a week of plain food only to try and get my insides back to normal.

@BasinHaircut sorry you've had a tough couple days. I'm the same with alcohol it just makes me want to eat everything in sight! Add that to the calories in said alcohol and it adds up so fast!

Well done on reaching your goal weight @lmfaoo! I bet you're so pleased.

@BasinHaircut I had my first big unplanned pig out yesterday since I started dieting, I think the important thing is not to let it spiral out of control. One tub of Ben and Jerry's won't undo all your hard work.

After stressing about not losing anything this week I've managed to lose 0.8lbs which I'm very pleased with! So that's 10st 13.6lb down to 10st 4.8lb in 6 weeks. If I manage to lose the same in the next 6 weeks I'll be very happy!

Thanks @MrsEHB well done on your loss too! I'm please to have reached my goal but not so pleased that I need to lose 7lbs more than I thought 🤣

How's everyone's weekend been?

I went for a 2.5 hour cycle ride this afternoon which was exhausting but I made up for it with a huge slice of cake and a coffee at a café in town! I'll have something light before I go to bed possibly eggs then I'm going to try for an early night! Have a million chores to do around the house but I cant see any them getting done tonight!!

Well done everyone for keeping on keeping on!
——————————————
Right that’s me drawing a line under the past couple of weeks and getting back in focus from today.

DS starts holiday club and so we need to get back into a routine which I think will help. I’m going to start going for walks again, will do a short one today just to start the habit back up and I also return to yoga tonight (yay!) which I’m excited about.

Well done for getting back on @BasinHaircut

I feel like this thread is starting to dwindle but I'm going to keep on posting as I've found it really helpful and motivating! I've started adding a bit of exercise into my evenings. 50 sit ups, 50 squats and 10 minutes of dumbbells (only 2 kg!)

It's not much but I'm hoping it might help to firm up my stomach a bit and it takes less than 15 minutes so I'm hoping it is realistic for me to keep up... we shall see!

I was still exhausted from Sunday's bike ride yesterday and also managed 14,000 steps I was starving though so had a few extra snacks!

Thanks @lmfaoo I will try and keep posting too. It does help. I was on a slimming world thread years ago and the support there was amazing.

Well done on the exercise. Everything helps!

I didn’t get to my walk yesterday because we ended up out buying camping equipment at lunchtime so I ran out of time. I did go yoga though which I am feeling this morning!

Yesterday was a good day food-wise. Managed to resist an after dinner snack for the first time in about a week which I’m pleased about.

So today is day 2 of getting back in it. Breakfast will be a protein shake with banana. Lunch is going to be chicken salad. Dinner I think salmon, sweet potato, butternut squash and broccoli.

I'm still here too. Weight is just over 10st now. I wasn't as strict last week due to being on leave from work and having a few small social occasions.

Back on it this week. Clothes are feeling looser now, they all still fit but are hanging nicely now. I am really starting to enjoy exercising and miss it if I have a day or 2 off!

Today's food:
B: Porridge
S: popcorn, satsumas
L: roast beetroot, lentils, hazelnuts and feta salad with balsamic
D: fish cakes
Will also have several coffees

Not planning to exercise today as barely slept last night thanks to worrying about first day back at work!

@BasinHaircut yoga sounds great I wish I had the time / energy to attend a class! I was actually recommended it by a doctor to help with my asthma but I went twice and never returned! Didn't really feel like I fitted in but that's probably my own anxiety hindering me!

Hi @Ottiva it's so nice when your clothes start to feel looser isn't it! There's a bit of a gap in my bras now so might have to buy some new ones soon. I need new ones anyway as I accidentally tumbled dried all but 2 of mine and they have never quite fit right since!

On the subject of bras does where does everyone buy? My old ones were from M&S but I think I'd like to try some without an underwire as they all seem to go 'bad'

@lmfaoo try yoga with Adrienne on YouTube. There is a 30 day series for beginners and you can do it at home. My DH started doing the Adrienne stuff and really got into yoga too. I go to the hot studio for mine and I love it.

Yesterday was good. I didn’t eat what I’d planned because I forgot about the leftovers and stuff going out of date that had to be eaten yesterday so the plan changed. I also didn’t track calories as I couldn’t be arsed to work it but I managed not to snack after dinner for the second day in a row so that’s progress!

I’ve just been for my cervical screening test which I hate. Glad that’s over for another 3 years.

Having a shake for breakfast, then more leftovers for lunch (lamb and mushroom rogan Josh, spinach and paneer, rice) and dinner will be salmon and veggies as originally planned for yesterday.

Going for a long walk into town this afternoon with DS. We need to pick up birthday cards for DH and going to let DS get some goodies for a movie afternoon.

I'm here too 🙋🏻‍♀️ I enjoy reading everyone's updates on here, none of my friends or family are currently dieting so it's nice to have you lot doing it alongside me. I've been 'off' the diet for about 5 days now, me and friends walked up Skiddaw in the Lake District on Sunday and I've been in Glasgow with the kids for a couple of days. I haven't been particularly over-indulging but I also haven't done any exercise apart from walking in a week so may see a little increase in the scales. This will be the first big test for me I think, getting back into diet and exercise after a week. This would usually be the point where I just don't bother starting again. But I'm going to do an upper body workout soon (I like upper body so it will be a nice one to ease me back in) and plan my meals for tomorrow. @lmfaoo I love my non wired bras from m&s, they're not particularly sexy haha but super comfy!

@BasinHaircut ooh thanks I will check out her videos when I find a spare minute!

@MrsEHB yes that's what I was looking at last night, sex appeal is not needed sorry DP comfort is key! 🤣

I've had a terrible day today I've been starving and feel like I've just eaten everything in sight! I didn't do my excercise either but did do 12,000 steps so hopfully that's counts for something!

I will do better tomorrow!

Just found the thread. have 1 stone 9lbs to lose. Odd amount but it takes me to bang on the stone I want to be on.
Week one done and lost 2lbs. Haven’t read the whole thread so is that an ok amount?

Welcome and well done @dementedma

2lbs is great! I’ve lost half a stone but I’ve been stuck here for weeks now due to all of the socialising we are doing again! But it’s not going back up so still a win.

The idea of the thread is that changing habits long term, losing very slowly and over a long period of time is better than a ‘diet’ where you lose quickly but then go back to old ways.

Yesterday was ok until I spotted the half a pack of ginger nuts in the kitchen. DH and I finished them to ‘get rid of them’ . Would have been ok if I hadn’t been to an ice cream parlour in the afternoon but hey ho.

Hello @dementedma nice to have you here!

Today has been good food wise but I haven't moved much except some minimal house cleaning! I've just had the shopping delivered and I've bought some frozen butternut squash chunks. I've never tried it before but it's only 32 calories for an 80g portion so thought I'd give it a go!

Weigh day tomorrow and I'm not sure if I will have lost or not... would be nice to see half a pound or so gone!

Hope everyone is having a good day! I'm dreading the weather tomorrow off to shave my legs now ready to wear a dress tomorrow 🤣

Week 10 weigh in

I've lost 2.75lbs. Really happy with that after two weeks of tiny losses! I think adding in a small bit of exercise has really helped. I'm now 137.25lbs and have lost a total of 19lbs.

Wow @lmfaoo that’s amazing! Well done! You are inspiring me to do better.

Yesterday was a good day food wise but I really need to up my activity. I’m already weight training and now back to yoga, but general movement needs to increase.

Yesterday I made pulled turkey instead of pulled pork. We love pulled pork and eat it a lot but the calories in pork are quite high. I used a turkey thigh instead and OMG it was delicious!

Morning!

Welcome @dementedma 👋🏼

Wow that's awesome @lmfaoo you must have really worked hard this week

I'm sitting at 10st 6lb which is 1.5lb heavier(I think?) than last week but I'm taking it with a pinch of salt, I feel very 'heavy' in my stomach if that makes sense. Going to stick with my diet and exercise this weekend and wait for the scales to shift!

I've been trying to have a positive mindset this week and not just focus on the scales. An old work colleague and my best friend commented that I looked like I've lost weight. My husband who notices nothing thought my bum looked perkier. I am now craving water, I used to be so dehydrated and some days just have 2 cups of tea all day! Now I'm noticing my thirst and I want water as opposed to tea or fizzy juice (or wine!). I'm tired at night now and fall asleep fairly quickly (I always used to lie awake for hours or need to watch tv to fall asleep). I had to buy heavier dumbbells as my old ones weren't cutting it for certain exercises. My longest run is now 17 minutes, which seems nothing compared to some people but considering I've never ran longer than 60 seconds before in my life I'm really pleased with that

Sorry for the long post

Morning all! Lovely weekend away and, most surprising of all, those extra 2lb that had appeared have gone and I’m back to where I was before! I think I’m going to start plotting this properly (rather than just remembering it) because then it will be easier to check the progression.

I’ve also dug out my really old Fitbit that I’ve not used for about 3 years to check my steps.

@MrsEHB I am in awe of your running. I couldn’t make it to the end of my street!

@BasinHaircut this is really stupid but what do you actually mean when you say weight training? I always see people talking about it is it just lifting weights? Pulled turkey sounds delicious how do you make it? My DP loves pulled pork so would love to make it and see if he notices 🤣

@MrsEHB ooh what a nice compliment from your husband! I love it when people compliment something specific because you know they have noticed and they really mean it! Well done on the running too! I'm moving house soon and will be treating myself to a treadmill as we'll have more space than in the flat! I wish I was brave enough to run outside but I'm just so self conscious!

Well done @PotteringAlong I find my Fitbit really motivates me to do extra activities such as walk to the shop rather than drive because I can see it all adding up. On days I forget to wear it I move so much less without even realising!

No worries @lmfaoo yes I mean lifting (or moving) weights. Things like squats, deadlifts, bench presses, cleans etc all with heavy weights. Barbells and dumbbells mainly. I love it.

For the pulled turkey I use the Schwartz seasoning packet - slow cooker pulled pork I think it’s called. Tesco do turkey thigh joints And I literally just put one in the slow cooker all day. Half way through I removed the skin from the joint and most of the juice and then added the sauce made from the seasoning packet. After 8 or so hours (on high) you can just lift out the bone and shred with 2 forks. Makes enough for 5-6 portions.

that sounds delicious Basin Haircut - I will definitely give that a go. what did you serve it with?

I have had a pretty good week food wise - not so good with the exercise.I haven't been feeling very energetic but I have managed to keep going with some lower intensity workouts and walks.

I had my routine 8 weekly hospital appointment this week and have lost nearly 5kg since the start of June! Feels significant when I see it added up like that even if the most I lost in any one week was 2 lb

@lmfaoo I do a mixture of bodyweight and dumbbell workouts. I only use 1.5kg and 2kg sets so nothing heavy at all. I like BodyCoach (YouTube), Fitness Blender (their own website), BetterBodyGroup (IGTV) and Maeve Madden (very cardio focussed but some weights - IGTV), Nathalie Hayward (IGTV - her own channel or on Trinny Woodall's)

Todays food has been:
B: porridge
S: apple, almond butter
L: couscous salad with lots of veggies, grilled halloumi
D: ramen noodle bowl made using my own chicken stock and all the trimmings - yum