I have 7 stone to lose. Is 1200 doable?

[fresherprincess]

So. I have PCOS, love to cook, have a sedentary lifestyle, am lazy, and enjoy wine.

I've gone from being 9 stone in 2010 to 16 stone now. SIXTEEN STONE. I'm literally double the weight of my same height 18 year old (5'4")

I've looked into injections but I'm a bit anxious about putting it all on again afterwards so I thought I'd try good old calorie counting. It's free and always worked in the past. MFP suggested 1200 calories and I've just done the first day and it's so little food!!!

I had a slice of toast and marmite, poached egg on toast, and chicken and mash and green veg for dinner. Many cups of tea at 20 calories each. I've got 89 calories left for an apple as a treat.

I haven't planned or shopped for this as I basically weighed myself accidentally today after being in denial for ages so I'm having to make do, but it's just hardly any food.

Does it get easier?

The amount you can eat and still lose weight depends on your weight to start with. In your situation, for now, 1600 is fine. If you don't lose weight on it, either you're counting calories inaccurately or you need to adjust downwards a little. The minimum really should be 1400 calories, according to dietitians .

I don't lose weight at 1200 cal, so I try 1100, never below 1000.
Everyone is slightly different. The more you have to lose, the more calories you're using to maintain your weight so start with a hight daily amount.

My tip is, be patient. Don't try to go from eating whatever you want to a struct daily total. Instead, allow yoursrlf time to adjust. I suggest taking a week or two just to conciously cut down only a comfortable amount. Start making healthier choices, but don't calorie count.

Then, stage 2. Continue to try to cut down a little more, and begin to count calories. Don't aim yet for a speific total, rather, count what you're eating to get an idea what you're actually consuming.

Stage 3. Now start counting calories. Write down everything. Just a list add ip as uou go through the day. Don't get discourage dif you go over a little. If you get to the stage where you're utterly miserable and ready to gnaw at a table leg, eat something. A slice of toast, an apple, a couple of rice cakes. Just
something. Stay sane!
How to count calories easily and accurately- don't guess, use scales.
I have a list, a column for fruit, for veg, for protein, for treats. Each food item has the number of calories next to it. Examples Grapes, 20 cal per 30g.
Apple 40 in 89
0g, so half the wright in grsms = the calories. Soon you know what there is in your portion without looking it up.

Don't divide your daily calories into 3 ewual meals. Make at least 2 meals smaller, then you have spare calories for a couple or three snacks.
Finslly weighing.
Only weight once a week. Weigh at the same time, dressed or preferably undressed. Go to the loo first. DH & I weigh after bathroom, before breakfast.
Then write it down on your date/ weight list.
This approach really works. DH has lost a stone so far, I've lost 10 lbs. DH often loses 2lbs I often only lose half or 1 lb. Doesn't matter, it's going in the right direction!
It's perfectly normal to have a week or two when you lose very little or no weight. Sometimes even, your weight might go up. Of you have honedtly kept to, or very close to your target calories, it may just be you've retained more fluid that day.

Good luck!

Just a little update- I'm now at 11st 6lbs and back into size 10 tops and dresses (still a 12 for skirts and jeans) So yes it definitely is doable. Keep at it, as the previous poster says it doesn't matter if it's slow at points the main thing is sticking to it and having patience.

That's great news, @spackleplumb. I hope everyone else is doing well too. I just wanted to add that if you persevere, eating well can become a way of life rather than a struggle. Since I ditched sugar in all is forms I've not had to worry about gaining weight at all.

Moreover, I feel infinitely better and more energetic, and I enjoy my food so much more than I used to. The key is not to think of it as depriving yourself but instead view it as ADDING: eating tasty, savoury foods instead of refined carbs that feed cravings and make one feel sluggish.

Lots of herbs
Lemon juice
Ginger
Garlic
Chili sauce
Indian spices, Chinese 5-spice
Mustard
Horseradish
Asian flavours (soy, hoisin fish sauce)

Liven it up...... be adventurous 😃

So... it's been slow. Since initially posting on 28th May I've lost one stone and 1lb (in 3.5 months). It's a 1-2 lbs a week loss at 1200 calories per day , and less if I eat anything at all. In that period I've had a 2.5 week holiday in Portugal where I only gained 1.5 lbs (I'm calling that a win!) plus my birthday weekend, several big celebrations and a wedding.

I'm still grimly ploughing on but might think about injections soon as this is just so bloody hard.

@fresherprincess keep going and no you do not need injections. You planned to lose 7 stone, you've only 5.5 to go now which is a big difference from where you began. You are more likely to keep it off by learning, and putting into practice, healthy eating habits too. My weight loss is around 1-2lbs a week too, started last year and 84lbs down with no injections. You are doing extremely well so be proud of your accomplishment and keep at it, well done 👏

I've lost nearly 5 stone doing 16:8 with 2 fasting days of less than 600 calories. I have a bowl of gazpacho at 1.00pm & then tea at 5.00pm, I try to not eat more than 1000 calories a day, tea is usually something like a steak & veg done in the air fryer or a sandwich of crab & tomato or salad. I've cut out all the crap I used to eat between meals & at night, I now drink instead, sugar free or reduced sugar cordial & soda water, I try to drink 2 litres a day. If I allow myself a treat after tea I have a Solero or Del Monte orange lolly.

I have a similar lifestyle OP but I'm 115kg (18st+) and I have 7+ st to lose.

Forget diet for now. Well, obviously make healthy choices and cut out the junk but deal with that later. A nurse told me that too many people fail because they take on too many lifestyle changes at once, which is, changing how you eat, deciding how to exercise, and dealing with the social fallout (drinking, eating out etc). She said I should do a bit at a time. So first, you have to MOVE. It could be walking to the shops instead of taking the car or bus. Or just walking around the park twice listening to your favourite music as motivation. Then just up it slightly...a group activity outside like a ramble, or a short run, or water aerobics. Then up it and up it after that.

Biggest thing, try and get your exercise to fit around your lifestyle. For me, I am fond of getting the bus to my nearest station. So now, I'll leave earlier and walk it. There's no point joining a gym if you think you aren't going to make time to go, or if the gym is out if your way and you need motivation to tet there. Also, consider some gentle exercise at home... there's plenty of people on You Tube who do exercise classes to do at home.

I'm considering buying a jew bike to take on short trips around my area, with the hope that one day I can ride all the way to work (11 miles, with a b*stard hill).

I'm just starting, and hope to lose a stone by January. I think it will take a couple of years at least.

I wish you all the best.

Sorry for the typos

Well done on your loss so far!
I have about 5.5 stone to lose and would love a diet buddy if you want to work together? My DC has just gone to uni so my meal prep habits all have to change so now is the best time for me to begin.
Let me know if you fancy teaming up for moral support.