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Calorie-counting

Discuss calorie counting, including tips, challenges and real-life experiences. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

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

516 replies

ginandchocs · 10/05/2020 22:26

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?

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lmfaoo · 02/08/2020 10:12

That sounds really good I have literally been doing 10 minutes of lifting 2kg dumbbells which sounds so feeble in comparison 😂

How's everyone's weekend going? I was very off plan all yesterday and I went out for dinner in the evening and had a burger and chips followed by an ice cream sundae and half a bottle of wine! It was delicious but means I'm going to have to be quite strict with myself for the rest of the week which is fine. Today I will be having

Porridge
Tuna salad, yoghurt and granola
Popcorn
Fish cake and veg
Plenty of water!!

cockroachcrumble12 · 02/08/2020 14:25

Hi can I join ? I am 5 foot 2 and 12 stones. I have lost 4 pounds in the last two weeks.
I like to miss meals so I can use my calories for eating my treats. I dont drink alcohol but I love coke which I am cutting down on. I have started drinking water for the first time in my life. I am 48.

MrsEHB · 02/08/2020 19:39

Hi everyone, just checking in!

I have got back into my exercise this week but the diet is not going so well! I seem to be finding excuses almost daily to have a treat. And I'm going to be away for the next 4 days so may struggle there, going to try and make better choices for as many meals as I can though as opposed to going all out since I'm on 'holiday'.

Welcome @cockroachcrumble12! Are you doing calorie counting? I struggled with the thought of missing out on my treats when I first started (I used to live on junk food) but I've found a nice balance of 3 lower calorie meals a day and I still manage a cuppa, choc bar and crisps/popcorn at night. Instead of regular rice I have cauliflower rice, I get the special k bars as opposed to Cadbury's, etc. Just lower calorie options that I still enjoy!

ginandchocs · 03/08/2020 16:31

Just checking in after a couple of weeks hiding 🙈

I've struggled a bit over the last 2/3 weeks, but stepping on the scales this morning showed a gain of around 2lbs which I'm actually pretty pleased with (obviously a loss would have been far better but you can't win them all 😂). I thought I'd be half a stone heavier.

It was my son's birthday yesterday so there was lots of food (even though it was just us and grandparents 🙈) and there is some left over. But, I think I'm going to jump back into calorie counting tomorrow. I'd like to be a stone lighter for Christmas, which is around 20 weeks away so averaging at 0.7lbs a week. I think I'm going to decrease my weekday calories to 1500 and still not count at the weekend and see how it goes.

I hope everyone else is doing ok 😊

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lmfaoo · 03/08/2020 18:02

Hi everyone and welcome @cockroachcrumble12 and welcome back @ginandchocs well done for getting back on it that's always the hardest part!

TOTM hit yesterday and my god the bloat is unreal! I have a continuous dull stomach ache since Sunday morning which has been pretty crap. On the plus side I've been on plan food wise after Saturdays blow out so we'll see if I can rectify any damage before fridays weigh in!

MsMiaWallace · 04/08/2020 09:36

Hi can I join you guys?
I'm trying to shift 2st baby weight.
I'm clean eating & trying to drink plenty of water.
I've been walking daily. Can't do much more exercise yet as need to wait 12 weeks after c section (I'm 6 weeks now). I'm not breastfeeding. Scales have been stuck for about 2 weeks now though despite eating really low fat.

Just had porridge for breakfast. I've got used to having it with mainly water too.

Ottiva · 04/08/2020 15:19

Welcome @MsMiaWallace and @cockroachcrumble12

I am tentatively going to say that I have reached my target weight! I tend to fluctuate a little before any loss 'settles' though so it may go back up slightly over next few days.

I am starting to think about how I can switch into maintenance mode. I am considering remaining 'strict' Monday to Friday evening and relaxing at the weekend. I will also continue to exercise as I really see a change in my body in terms of tone and definition.

Today's food has / will be:
B: porridge with oat milk, grapes, raisins, flaxseed & honey
L: mini avocado, tomato with lime on corn cake thins
D: roasted garlic mushrooms with cherry tomatoes, garlic & little bit of cheddar
Snacks: coffees, satsuma, Apple, peach, chocolate rice cake

I 'made' some frozen grapes at the weekend and they're amazing. Can highly recommend. I just washed some grapes, striped them off the vine, dried roughly on kitchen towel and popped into a Tupperware. They are really sweet when frozen and feel a lot more like a treat for some reason!

ginandchocs · 04/08/2020 20:49

Today was brilliant, until 6pm 🤦‍♀️ I'm a little cross with myself but have already got an idea of tomorrow's food in my mind so know it will be a great day. Up until it all went a bit oops I ate:

B: half a grapefruit, a bagel and 2 scrambled eggs. Sparkling water to drink.
L: salmon, sweet potato and a salad
D: stuffed jackets with a salad.

I then had a cupcake for pudding which was left over from my son's birthday at the weekend. It would have been absolutely fine if I stopped there but very much didn't. However tomorrow's another day.

I hope everyone else has had a great day 😊

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lmfaoo · 04/08/2020 21:17

Wow @Ottiva congratulations I'm very jealous! You must be really please!!

@ginandchocs ahhh me too! Really good until dinner time when DP came home with a hamper of cheese wafers, luxury crackers and creamy vintage cheddar, salted caramel biscuits, chocolate wafers and fudge! obviously I had to sample all some of it and it was insane! That cheese was an out of body experience and I have no regrets!

I did my exercises afterwards so that will have cancelled out the cheese right? RIGHT?

ginandchocs · 05/08/2020 15:09

@lmfaoo that sounds pretty amazing and guaranteed the exercise would have balanced it out 😂

Today's going well. I had a busy morning so just grabbed some rice cakes and grapefruit for a late breakfast and then had a big chicken salad with sweet potato for lunch. I've just had a small piece of leftover birthday cake so that will now see me through until dinner time. Tonight's dinner is spag bol.

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Egghead68 · 05/08/2020 15:12

Can I join you very late in the day please? I been losing 100- 200g a week for the past few weeks which suits me fine. I’m about 69.2kg 2.75m. I was 63kg pre lockdown & Covid.

My main strategies are gradually increasing exercise and cutting out dinner. I have a sweet tooth and allow myself cake, chocolate etc.

Egghead68 · 05/08/2020 15:13

Blimey 1.75m not 2.75m!

cockroachcrumble12 · 05/08/2020 18:50

@ottiva well done that's great how much did you lose in total ?

RachelLyg · 05/08/2020 18:59

I’m a bit late to the party as I haven’t noticed this thread before but I am also doing this. I need to lose about 18 pounds and have decided that 1.5 pounds a month should be easily do able. This will get my BMI down from 25.5 to 22. I carry weight around my stomach, so it’s very obvious when I put on weight.

I find restricting myself to 100-1200 calories a day only works in the very short term and I end up failing after a couple of weeks and give up. Also, as others have said, it’s about adjusting your diet to something that is sustainable long term.

I’ll reAd the full thread now and see what other tips I can pick up.

RachelLyg · 05/08/2020 19:01

A sweet treat I’ve found are Aldi’s Valencia Orange or Scottish Raspberry I’ve lollies. They really do satisfy my evening sugar craving and only have 65 cal per lolly.

Ottiva · 05/08/2020 20:57

I'm 5ft8 and have gone from 10st11 to 10st1...so not a massive loss but it's the lightest I have been since I got married. I could probably lose another few pounds but I think this weight should be fairly sustainable.

I'm also a lot fitter now and can see some definition in my arms. I'll never have a defined stomach but I have definitely lost inches from my waist.

lmfaoo · 05/08/2020 21:36

Evening all! I've had a good day today, 14,000 steps, did my exercises and on plan food wise. Tomorrow is going to be tricky as I'm going out for drinks and nibbles with friends in the evening. Im really excited to go but jeez eating less was so much easier in lockdown!!

ginandchocs · 05/08/2020 22:17

Welcome to all the new faces 😊

@Ottiva that's brilliant weight loss! Well done!

My day has been a success! 3 meals, 1 afternoon snack and a small glass of red (bottle was already open so what was I to do?! Didn't finish the bottle though so quite proud 😂).

@lmfaoo well done on a great day! I am with you on the eating out thing though, I'm meeting a friend for lunch tomorrow. My plan is to eat whatever I want (won't be heavy I wouldn't think) and then just eat normally for the rest of the day.

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Egghead68 · 06/08/2020 06:21

Morning. Some good successes!

68.6kg this morning, which is a loss of around 1.5-2kg in total in the past month.

Plan today:
B: Cherries 280 cake 230
L: Roast veg, beans, grains 400 tzatsiki 100
S: Free choice 400-600.
No dinner.

RachelLyg · 06/08/2020 13:21

I’ve lost 2kgs or 4.4 lbs in 2 months. Not noticeable yet but heading in the right direction. More importantly, I’m eating mindfully (watching what I eat) and exercising more, so I’m feeling healthier and happier.

Egghead68 · 07/08/2020 08:43

Managed to underestimate by 2-300 calories yesterday. Aiming the the same today.

Plan (I know it’s not the healthiest): 80g chocolate 400, bag fat free Crisps 100, Veg/beans/grans 500, pineapple 40, Brie & veg panini 500.

Egghead68 · 07/08/2020 08:44

Undereat not underestimate

MrsEHB · 07/08/2020 11:16

Well done on reaching target @Ottiva!

That hamper sounds amazing @lmfaoo, I love a nice cheese!

Weighed myself this morning after being on 'holiday' and I was shocked I'm 10st 4.8lbs. I think I got down to 10st 4.6 last week so I was expecting a big gain, even if it was mostly bloating. We did quite a bit of walking though ( it much else to do!) and walked up Ben Nevis yesterday which was apparently 2000 calories burnt!

My only goals for today are to get a nice long walk in and drink plenty of water. I'll get back on it tomorrow Wink

lmfaoo · 07/08/2020 13:46

Well done @MrsEHB walking up Ben Nevis is great id love to do that!

So today is weigh in day but I woke up really late and literally flew out the door so I'll do it first thing tomorrow! Yesterday evening resulted in too much wine and too much pasta and too much chocolate and it's been TOTM this week so I'm mentally prepared for an inevitable gain!

I've been really struggling not to snack this week and keep picking at stuff so I'm going to start afresh from tomorrow! I might plan a few different recipes as I am in the habit of eating the same things most days and I think I'm getting bored.

Hope everyone is coping in this heat it's too bloody hot for me!!

ginandchocs · 07/08/2020 15:00

Walking up Ben Nevis sounds fab @MrsEHB Well done, and great news on your weight. I think we're picking up new habits which we are following without realising!

Yesterday was good. I didn't calorie count, but think it was ok.

For breakfast I had a buttered bagel and then we had lunch out. There wasn't much choice, so I shared 2 light bite plates and 2 small bowls of chips with my children. We went for sweet chilli chicken. I had a piece of birthday cake for an afternoon snack and then we had chicken traybake with roasted veg for dinner. I was peckish last night so had a couple of buttered rice cakes and finished off the wine from the bottle that had been open for a few days.

Today I went food shopping first thing (never good on an empty stomach 😂) and then had a couple of filled crepes for breakfast. They were around 150 calories each so 300 altogether. For lunch I have had a massive salad with cajun chicken and half a packet of microwave rice. I also had some chilli crackers for pudding (about 100 calories worth).

It's now 3 o'clock but I'm still full from lunch so I don't think I'll have a snack this afternoon. We've got sea bass for dinner so I'm just trying to decide what to serve it with!

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