what diets worked for you?

[Lardass]

I've REALLY struggled to shift the weight, it is going but really slowly. Not got loads to lose, maybe 3/4 of a stone, but hate the way I look. Anyway, I just wondered whether we could do a bit of a survey and find what worked for others? Really struggling to do enough exercise s well which isn't helping, have a toddler and am constantly exhausted as 6 mo old DD is not a sleeper!

I did weight watchers and lost about 3 stone in a year - have managed to keep it off too (for about 3.5 years) which for me is they key thing. I've also followed the principles of Paul McKenna to keep the weight off - I think it makes alot of sense in the day to day lifestyle changes you have to make to be successful at weight loss and maintaining.

Hi, good luck with whatever you do. Hope you get to change your nickname to skinnyass.

I struggled with weightloss - exhaustion meant that I picked lots and really couldn't be arsed to diet. However, when I started to make sure I had a high protein intake, the weight fell off without any calorie / point / sin counting. It was liberating. The reason I started to eat like this was actually to combat my energy - this way you don't get sugar highs and lows resulting in more binges. I also eat every 2 to 3 hours, don't weigh things and cook with oil & butter when I want it. I should stress that I don't cut out carbs at all but make sure that every meal I have has protein. I try to eat as little sugar as possible to avoid crashes. I use xylitol (sp?) if I want sweetness.

So typical day: breakfast: nut butter on toast, porridge, smoothie with loads of seeds, yogurt, fruit etc. Lunch: beans on toast with cheese, tuna sandwich & salad or maybe some smoked mackerel and salad with oily dressing if I can be bothered. Dinner: normal meat and 3 veg kind of thing, casserole etc. I will have 2 or 3 snacks eg nuts (maybe some fruit with), low fat cheese, hummous and veg or rice cakes. I try to use rice and always wholemeal bread, pasta etc.

I guess basically it's the low GI / GL thing I do but I don't bother with counting. I just eat what I want within those basic limits and it keeps me full and the weight goes. Minute I start deviating from that, the weightloss stops but I've maintained about the same weight since October with zero effort

I don't exercise apart from being a SAHM with a toddler. I think it might be difficult to get your head around doing something like this if you're used to restrictive diets but if you view it as a way of tackling your energy needs first, maybe the weightloss will be a happy by product as it was for me.

Anyway, good luck, I'm sure you look gorgeous. The other thing that worked for me was buying some new clothes that fitted rather than waiting for the day I was a size 10 again and wearing sacks in the meantime. I feel loads better in my size 14.

Take a look on the Big/Slim/Whatever weight loss forum here. Loads and loads and LOADS of advice on diets and weight loss, as well as exercise.

I have 2.5 yo DS and 6mo DD, and I have lost over 2 stone since DD was born, from a BMI of 31 to 26. I've tried lots of different things, but what worked best for me was low GI dieting, combined with calorie counting on www.foodfocus.co.uk. Exercise wise, I try and walk as much as possible, going for a 2-3 mile walk about 5 times a week. On top of that, since I've hit a weight loss plateau, I've been doing Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. Only on day 3 so far, but already seeing my endurance improving. It's great, because it only takes 30 minutes, so you can squeeze it in.

I know you may be looking at the above thinking "omg that's going to kill me" but I found that a little exercise and a healthy diet (especially low carbs) actually boosted my energy levels hugely. Do make sure you're keeping your iron levels up though. I use Spatone about every 3-4 days.

Sorry if the above is a bit overhwlming - it's just what worked for me. best of luck!

I should've said I lost about 7 pounds though at first I put on about 3 so the net loss was 10 pounds. Went from a 14 /16 to a 12 / 14. That happened over a couple of months. Have had lots of naughty weeks where I stuffed my face full of cake etc but brought it back down by going back to what works best for me. If I'd been rigid since October, I'd have lost loads more but life's too short not to eat cake!

No that all makes sense, the thing that is frustrating me is that I am following a low GI diet, like you tingle, and its coming off soooo slowly I could cry. I wonder if it's BFing, and that my body is holding onto the fat somehow for the baby. Or maybe I'm just making excuses. I guess I'll have to stop whingeing and scrape the energy from somewhere to do some exercise!

Bloody babies....I mean I love them but I'm in mourning for my pre-preggers body!

slowly is better in the long run, you know that, and I didn't lose anything whilst breastfeeding. I think you're right about holding on to it.

Listen, I would seriously stop thinking about dieting and just ensure you eat what you need (you don't need sugar, you need veg, protein, complex carbs etc). It's really hard to put faith in this but can your really be arsed to follow diet after diet for the rest of your life?

no I hate diets! that's kind of why I posted, don't want to keep worrying about what I eat, just want something that works!

no diet has ever worked for me but eating less, keeping a diary and exercising really, really did work
in the olden days as I'm brilliant at "dieting" I'd lose all the blubber then come off the diet and snarf it all back on again

now i keep an eye on my weight and if i start to resemble a seal I go back to beginning cut down and work out a bit more

if you don't want to diet and worry about what your eating I would really recommend Paul McKenna. His weight loss system is not about what you eat but why and how you eat.

The idiot proof Diet by India Knight and Nerys Hughes. In essence it's low carb with a fabulously supportive forum. I lost 2 stone and have kept it off.

Another vote for Nerys and India, and two stone kept off for me too, and still going down! It's not so very different from any other low-carb diet but the book is written in such a way that makes it feel more like a social club rather than a chore!

I have lost 2.5 stone in a year by following a simple low fat diet and cutting out ready meals, shop sandwiches and allowing myself a small glass of red wine 2 or 3 nights per week (my treat)! I drink 2 litres of water per day and have cut out tea/coffee (mostly!). Manage to walk 3/4 miles per week but am now thinking of upping that to 2 miles 6 times per week as I have plateaued. Good Luck!

Hmmm...I can feel an Amazon order coming on!

I have cut down on alcohol - say have about 2 glasses a week and if I go out I have Vodka and slimline tonic.

I also started cutting back on carbs after 6pm. I still have rice etc but v small amounts as we usually eat around 8pm. I did have chips from the chip shop recently, but I made sure I ate it before 6pm so I had dinner with the kids.

When at work I eat M&S Feel Full For Longer range

Here seen second from the right.

I walk 20 mins 3 times a week to work too.

So far I have lost a stone and a half and am never hungry.

HTH

Oh Rexy, disappointed. Clicked on your link expecting to see a nice photo of the new slim you and all I got was an M&S ready meal.

oops sorry

Lardass - there's nothing wrong with going slowly. I've lost weight loads of times in the past but I have lost it quickly and put it back on quickly. If it's going slowly it means you are going for lifestyle change rather than quick fix. It is better that way!