Starting Calorie counting tomorrow. Anyone want to start with me?

[Bookaholic73]

My current weight is 11st 4lbs.

I have a holiday in 7 weeks and would like to lose 2lb a week before my holiday, reaching 10st 4lb.

I already exercise consistently and love it. I do HIIT classes, life weights and have started boxing.
But now I just need to lose the fat.

My calorie deficit is 1700 a day, and I’m aiming for 120g of protein a day (or as close to that as possible).

Anyone else want to start with me tomorrow, or just join in if you’re already calorie counting?

It's really trial and error to establish your calories @Petitewinter You can use a TDEE calculator as a starting point with your height/weight/activity level and then start with a modest deficit and give it a few weeks to see what happens. You need a calorie level that is sustainable on average over weeks not just days, if you can't stick to it then it's not going to be effective. You can also change it over time - start with a smaller deficit that is manageable and then trim it once you are in the swing of it.

Also with period weight gain just ignore it and keep going. If you’re in a deficit then it's not fat gain and you can still be making progress. Don't let it put you off. It's normal for your weight to fluctuate by a few pounds so you need to look at the trend over the past couple of weeks not days.

Great advice. Thank you.

My low cal breakfasts tend to be a muller yoghurt, with 20g of porridge oats and some added fruit. Usually strawberries or red grapes. That sits below 300 cals.

Lunch I'll do 2 eggs, scrambled or poached, with half a tin of reduced salt and sugar beans and some slices of meat (usually beef brisket). Thus usually comes in at around 350 cals.

I tend to go higher on protein at lunch to keep me fuller. I do like a pot of Harvey's jelly for a treat, at 7cals.

I would say though, being the wrong side of 40 it's taken a while for me to lose half a stone. I lost quickly the first couple of weeks but it slowed quite considerable. I aim for 1300 cals, usually come in just below it and occasionally above it.

I did just make my first target weight this week, so I'm pleased.

Checking in - 15lb off now. Still v big at 14 st 8 lb but that is down from 15 st 9 lb since the start of May so I am pleased with the downward trajectory. No real change in the fit of my clothes or anything exciting like that. When I dieted previously, it took about a further stone for me to start feeling a bit slimmer.

Stick at it folks - it works!

This is great to hear, you are doing great! It also gives others a boost. Well done.
My first weigh in is tomorrow 😬.

Good luck - fingers crossed the hard work has paid off 😊

How's everyone doing?

I didn't manage a deficit over the weekend, ate around maintenance calories. We were away and did lots of walking so still managed to lose half a pound, which is better than nothing.

I think part of this for me has been learning that in order to manage this long term, there will be higher calorie days and to just put them behind you and move on.

Back to normal today, will be back at my deficit which is now 1590 at 5ft 6 and 14 stone 8 pounds.

For anyone who has fallen off - just draw a line under it and start again today ☺️

Lost 10lb altogether now. I need to lose 4lb to get to 12st which will be a stone lost. It's taken forever but I did have a2 week all inclusive holiday in the middle of it.

Can I join please? I’d like to lose at least 7lb. I’ve been trying to calorie count the last week or so, using my fitness pal. I keep going over my calories though 😳 not by much, 100 or so each day, but enough for it to mean I’ve not lost any weight. I think I need to lower my daily target. The TDEE calculator said I should have 1670 per day to lose weight.

10lb off despite an AI holiday is a brilliant achievement - well done you!

@Greentigerprint welcome! If you are in a deficit at all you will be losing weight, albeit slower. Try and gradually cut down to your target and look at things you can swap out to eat the same amount but cut out those 100 calories 💪 volume eating lower calorie foods to help keep you full

Oh dear, i have totally fallen off the wagon since i came back from my holiday. I have gained a few lbs, so now it's time to get back on it.

My goals for the rest of this week:
1800 cals a day
10k steps a day
1.5L water

I've already started today, and have booked a boxing class at my local gym, so I'm going to that in a minute.
I've tracked my breakfast bagel this morning, and have already drank a litre of water.

I’m trying so hard but I’m so hungry. I keep snacking on small things like an oatcake with cream cheese and not tracking it but these things add up.
I’ve ordered some Huel to try and help. I ordered some shakes and some meals. I plan to have a shake for breakfast and a meal for lunch then my own dinner.

@Greentigerprint It's important to track everything to make sure you are keeping within the daily limit - have you tried some higher volume, lower calorie foods to keep you fuller? High protein is helpful for this. I don't use meal replacement drinks and things but great if they work for you. Maybe if you list out a days meals we could give you some ideas?

Today I missed breakfast as I had an appointment but normally I would go for something egg based or a bowl of fruit and greek yogurt.

Lunch I had a taco beef salad bowl.

Dinner I had chicken curry with cauliflower rice.

Snacks I have had a few bags of low calorie crisps, an ice cream cone and a bowl of strawberries, greek yoghurt and chocolate chips.

Another pound off here, 16 now in total. Slow and steady but non-scale victory I am wearing a jumper today which was quite tight on me - haven't worn it in a while and now it's loose 😀

Keep at it everyone!

I have 3.2lb to lose by next Saturday 19th and I'm just not going to do that. So pleased with my 10.8lb loss. It's taken me an age to get to this point but I've had an all inclusive holiday away plus a few weekends away too.

I shall carry on after my holiday as I'd like to lose another 10lb or so.

I have been tracking my calories and I’ve increased my protein intake massively. Most days I’m consuming 1500-1700 calories. I lost 2lb in a week doing that. Then had a weekend away and it’s all back on. Very frustrating. I didn’t eat nearly as much as I normally would on a weekend away! No breakfast, much smaller portions and not much alcohol. But enough for it to make a difference.

I sometimes find it seems to come off further down the line when I'm not expecting it. It's as though my body hangs on and then throws a weight loss at me.

Can I join? Been tracking since start of June and lost around half a stone. Still want to lose at least another 4 lbs, ideally 6 lbs by end of August. Tracking is having the added bonus of making me drink less alcohol which tbh needed to happen anyway! I work more on a weekly than a daily average and my TDEE is around 1600 so trying to keep below that overall.

Hi all can I join please?

Haven’t calorie counted in years, was doing OMAD successfully for a while last year but once I went on holiday that was me well and truly off the wagon.

I am aiming for 1450 calories per day roughly does that sound reasonable? 1200 would give me a 1lb a week loss but it doesn’t feel sustainable.

Well done on all your losses so far!

Should add my aim is a stone by Christmas

Can I join please? I realise you started in March so I’ve probably missed the boat.
I’ve hired a diet coach to help me with better planning and accountability and I’m 2 weeks in. Have 10kg to lose.
is there room for one more slightly chubby one?

Hi! I’m just joining the board and was looking for a thread where people were just having a chat, rather than hijacking someone asking a specific question, so I’m hoping I can join in here.

I’ve recently lost 4 stone on MJ, but with the recent price hikes, I’ve decided to go cold turkey from it and calorie count instead. My thinking is that it was the low cals that was making me lose weight, the MJ just took away the hunger, so really I should still do as well if I can stick to the calories.

I’m 40, vegetarian, I’m short, and do very little exercise, so I’ve worked out that 1200 cals per day should be right for me. I’ve got another two stone to lose. I know I need to up the exercise, but I’ve never found anything that I don’t hate while I’m doing it. I’m using NutraCheck to count my cals.

I don’t tend to have breakfast, I eat a couple of prunes and have a cup of tea. For lunch, I either have Greek yoghurt and fruit and seeds, or soup. We use Gousto for tea times, so I have that 4x a week and the calories for those are usually 6-800 per meal. I’ll have a snack if it’s on the lower side that evening, and u have a few cups of tea throughout the day. I’m less strict on my other evening meals and have a takeaway on a Friday as aid be miserable to miss out on that when the family are having one.

That's a great goal! Starting tomorrow is the perfect time. If you're looking for a simple tool to help, there are tons of apps out there. Just like an online auto auctions app helps you bid on cars, a calorie counting app helps you track your food intake. It can make the process much easier. Good luck, and hope you find a partner to join you!

Bit late to the party but I have a wedding evening do in 8 weeks and I'd like to lose 8-10lbs. I'm 12st 8 and 5ft6. Was 14st a year ago. I lost quite a bit but have been stuck at 12st 8 for a while. Eventually would like to be 10st 7. Have had success with calorie counting and upping exercise before so let's do this.

I really really need to do something, so I am in.