What happens if you genuinely don't eat cake, sweets, drink alcohol

[Newbrummie]

And still aren't loosing weight ?
It's not even funny.
I've been doing the fitness pal diet tracking, I always come in under calories but around 1500 a day.
I'm 5'9" and 11 stone so a good size 12 but i want to be a comfortable one instead. I really can't think what else to do, am body pumping and spinning once a week too.

[lorelei9]

Oh I forgot to ask
A pp said OP shouldn't have a protein shake for breakfast
I find them a really handy breakfast so bit puzzled

[louloubelle2]

Protein shakes aren't ideal as a meal substitute, the powder is full of artificial ingredients, and part from the protein, not hugely nutrient dense, especially if mixed with just water. They are supposed to be post workout supplements or between meal fillers. However any healthy diet shouldn't need such supplements, unless you're trying to build muscle.

Having said that, the OP did clarify she was hugely busy in the morning and it worked for her getting out the door, so I can see why they are handy for that.

[RedMapleLeaf]

How are "artificial ingredients" defined?

[SaliShoes]

I'd forget about weight, honestly.

No amount of 'toning' will shift a roll of fat and it's silly to think it will. Toning will only tighten up loose muscles.

Exercise will help burn calories and speed metabolism, and build muscles which mean you will burn more calories standing still BUT you need to do a huge amount of exercise to achieve that and it will take months not a few weeks.

I agree with others that you may be underestimating what you eat. Even eating a homemade shepherds pie might be mega calories eg- how big is the portion? How much butter etc goes in the mash?

Swap the sandwich for salad (meat, fish, egg) and maybe quinoa with chia seeds.

Are you noting down everything you eat? You may need under 1500 cals. I can't lose weight on anything over 1000 cals but I'm 5 3" and small boned.

You could also try the 5:2 diet- that gives you a deficit of 3500 cals in a week which equates to 1lb- 2lb weight loss. You stick to 500 cals for 2 days a week.

[foodiefil]

You're already so slim! But as other posters have suggested you might need to up your exercise to HIIT/bootcamp style. Check out Joe Wicks. Good luck x

[ridingabike]

Take up running. 5k twice a week and you'll see the difference especially alongside the body pump and spinning. Swimming is also good for toning.

[Cb1989]

If you struggle with breakfast try doing overnight oats , you can make it the night before when the kids are in bed, then it's ready for you in the morning no effort needed

[salsamad]

I find swapping my evening meal and lunch around always helps me loose a few pounds before I go on holiday. Eating the smaller meal in the evening definitely helps me. If you can make time to have a substantial but healthy breakfast, a medium sized lunch and a smaller, easily digested evening meal.
I used to run 5k 3 times a week but then developed an Achilles problem in November (i have only just started back to running once a week) however my weight didn't increase until I ate lots over Christmas.

[eddielizzard]

ime exercise never made a different to weight loss. the 5:2 diet made a big difference and i did it for 2 years but struggled with will power and stopped.

i think eating a lot more veg and salads, no sugary drinks, and def cut that latte! i don't think calorie counting is particularly healthy. also not too many carbs. but don't be extreme in anything and have the odd choc when you need it, because if you deny yourself to that extent you end up bingeing. also watch your portion sizes and never carry on eating if you're full. give yourself permission to bin food if it's too much.

moderation in all things is my motto.

[GarlicShake]

I'm on the "exercise" side, I'm afraid. Sorry! I keep fat around my midriff and the only thing that ever shifted it was a vast increase in CV exercise - running in particular. I bloody hate running, but used to do 40 minutes every morning and do to the gym after work every day.

I was in very good shape but, god, it was a pain in the arse

[LumpySpacedPrincess]

I'm your weight twin!

I could wear a size 12 and sometimes do, but I prefer to buy a size 14 and take them in a bit if necessary.

I also believe in exercise to help the shape of my body. It doesn't make me weigh less but the fat bits hang on a much better frame. The very least I ever do is 5 minutes of planks each day which tones the middle.

[Kennington]

1500 calories per day is quite a lot of you aren't moving about much. I suppose it is a combination of exercise and reducing calorie intake but I am not surprised you aren't losing weight as I am in a similar position and think 1500 is the problem.

[GarlicShake]

1500 calories per day is quite a lot of you aren't moving about much.

No. It's rather low for a woman of 5ft 9ins.

[Cuttheraisins]

Have you tried low carbs? And no processed food. Lots of fibre and protein, but from a natural source not shakes. Eat eggs, lean meat, pulses, nuts, quinoa. No rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, crackers. Basically a low carb high fibre high protein diet. Give it a Go for just two weeks you will see if it makes a difference for you.

My fav book is the blood sugar diet because I carry my weight around my middle and the diet is really helping.

[Gwenhwyfar]

"Rather than normal tea, try drinking green tea or white tea?"

Why? I know green tea has a reputation for helping people slim, but I haven't heard that about white tea. Normal black tea has no calories unless you add milk.

[0ryx]

Cut the bread & pasta (limited nutrients anyway) and throw in some weight training.

Eat wholesome, non-processed foods and your body will thank you for it. :)

[BlameItOnTheBogey]

OP I know this is not what you want to hear but you can't change your fundamental body shape. I am a super slim size zero - I eat healthily and work out 6 times a week. I STILL have saddle bags on the backs of my thighs. It's just the way it is. If you are doing all the right things and your jeans are still too tight, then buy a bigger pair...

[GarlicShake]

I hate to stamp on everyone's dreams, but the diet that has proven - medically, by scientists using grown-up methods - to reduce weight and improve blood sugar is a front-loaded one: you have half your day's calories at breakfast, which should be a proper meal with pudding.

I still say it's more about exercise than diet for brummie at the stage she's at. Diet sounds fine. Although, if you're not going to run in the mornings, get up earlier anyway and have a full dinner!

[GarlicShake]

True, Bogey, you can't change your basic build.
It might be more about the cut of the jeans!

[ljfarminer]

You need yoga or pilates (preferably both) to tone up - you don't need to lose weight :-) Make sure it's high energy fitness yoga though, none of that relaxing meditating rubbish! :-)

[SuperFlyHigh]

What realły helped me (bar no other exercise) was walking until slightly out of breath for 30 minutes or more each day (eg 30 minute period like an exercise class).

Combine that with healthier eating you should lose weight. In fact I was walking another route to another tube station with a colleague the other day (similar distance walk only in 13/15 minute slot, she said when she did this recently for a beach holiday she lost weight. Plans on doing it again too. It can be an effort to keep up every day especially if you want to stop in at eg Tesco Metro, Starbucks etc.

[SuperFlyHigh]

The lunch should be fine, interspersed with whatever else you have (eg not every day) try a ham salad sandwich for lunch.

I agree with more snacks or healthier ones and porridge great for breakfast. You also do not need to cut out carbs at all. You could combine them with sweet potato, use brown rice or wholemeal pasta but your poor body is probably thinking its starving and holding onto the weight!

On simple diet sheets they say to limit even skimmed milk in tea and coffee so look at those drinks, maybe drink green or herbal/fruit tea interspersed with normal.

A kit Kat won't kill you and I'd look at calcium maybe fromage frais or yogurt as essential for calcium. I'd even look at feta cheese in salads with hard boiled eggs.

[Room101isWhereIUsedToLive]

Gwen because caffeine interferes with the bodies ability to deal with glucose, leading to higher blood sugar levels.
I follow a low gi method of eating, which regulates blood sugar levels. I lost two stone while increasing the amount I ate. It was changing what l ate and drank that helped with the weight loss (loosing the weight also regulated my periods. Shame it didn't do much for my skin, I suffer from PCOS.)

[Kirriemuir]

Agreed Gwen. Zoe harcombe talks the same when it comes to caffeine which is why, in phase 1 with her you cut out caffeine.

[SuiGeneris]

I would echo the comments above, scientific evidence suggests the following work:

1. walking at fast pace for at least 30 minutes 5 days out of 7 (minimum)
   
   
2. portion control. Weigh what you eat at home. Most people vastly underestimate their portion sizes
   
   
3. check fat and sugar: butter on toast and in mash, snacks etc. Many healthy things, such as hummous, can be quite high in fat and sugar, which both are 9 calories per gram.
   
   
4. increase fibre and water intake: both make you feel full and the fibre does so for a long time.
   
   
5. breakfast properly. E.g. Wholemeal porridge with skimmed milk and apple purée if you want to sweeten it. I do 30 grs wholemeal porridge, 10grs oatbran, 200mls 1% milk and 1 tablespoon apple purée. Tots up to 240 calories and keeps me full for 6 hours (office job).
   
   
6. yoga or Pilates for the roll of fat.
   
   But most of all I would say that you need to keep at it. Some small results might be visible after 6 weeks but you need to keep going for 3+ months to have something noticeable and, crucially, to change habits long term