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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

So, what's the best diet?

48 replies

TwoTeaTessie · 11/04/2013 19:16

I have name changed for this. Little bit of background.

Within the last month I have hit the 19 stone mark, I am going to hit 30 in July and have a DS of 8 and a DD of 1. Have spoken to my Doctor about losing weight, initially she prescribed pills for me, but I didn't take them as they made me feel rubbish.
She can't/won't refer me for surgery as I have no underlaying long term health problems that are caused by my layers upon layers of fat.

So I need to be doing this on my own but don't know where to start, I'm not sure where to get my perseverance and courage from.

Over the last couple of months I have read a couple of success story diet books (both American) which set me up as I was reading them, but as soon as I finished the book so too went my resolve.

How do people stay on track? What happens when I fall off?

I've been toying with the idea of Diet Chef (or something similar) as it provides everything you eat and I wouldn't want to waste that much money by cheating.

Any thoughts, tips, slaps round the face to get me started would be good!

OP posts:
QueenOfCats · 11/04/2013 19:21

No advice I'm afraid - I'm in the same boat myself!

Will watch with interest though.

Can I ask what pills you were prescribed?

ElizaCBennett · 11/04/2013 19:24

Hi twoteatessie have you considered doing the 5:2 diet? Find out what your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) is, eat to that 5 days a week, and in any two days just eat a quarter of it - usually about 500 calories. It is amazingly easy to follow and has great results. Sounds scary at first but is doable. Worth trying for a month before you start paying out for Diet Chef?

Original poster
TwoTeaTessie · 11/04/2013 19:31

I was prescribed 120mg capsules of Orilast Queen, which is apparently 3 times stronger than anything you can get off the shelf.

I have considered following a 5:2 diet Eliza as my husband started it just over 6 months ago and has lost 4 stone. I tried it for a couple of weeks, but it seems my eating days outweighed my fast days by quite alot calorie wise. I tend to binge eat in large quantities.

OP posts:
Beechview · 11/04/2013 19:33

All diets work. You have to find one that suits you so you can keep it up.

You don't even need to diet. Just cutting out junk food, eating 3 or 4 healthy meals a day and walking will work.

I have about 3 stones of baby weight to lose. I just cannot stick to a healthy diet if I'm sleep deprived. I just keeping reaching for sugar.
I'm trying to find something too and am giving Slimming World a try.
www.slimmingworld.com/healthy-eating/non-vegetarian-menu.aspx

Weekipper · 11/04/2013 19:38

In my experience you need a 'switch' to click in your head. Like I realised finally my weight was preventing me from doing something I wanted to do: move to NZ. My DH wants to be a healthy weight for a job interview. Etc
This time I started on Sunday which was World Health Day and it just felt right to get this pregnancy weight sorted, especially when I'm considering another baby in next wee while.
You need to think about your reasons.

Original poster
TwoTeaTessie · 11/04/2013 19:39

I need to start doing fruit and veg don't I!

OP posts:
MrsWembley · 11/04/2013 19:41

Slimming World, absolutely bloody wonderful.

I'm not a joiner and I don't do groups and at first I felt a little uncomfortable. , but I love my weekly meeting now. It's a giggle and it feels good to know that other people know how I feel. And do you know what, when you've done well it's fantastic to have everyone happy for you and it's a brilliant feeling to pass on what you did to achieve a loss and help others.

We even get stickers!

I'm nearly at a 3 stone loss and, although it's taken a year to get to this it's been by my own choice, as I don't always stick religiously to the plan but that's fine - I have a little diet break, such as at Christmas or birthdays, then it's back on it, but I don't beat myself up about slipping. I could be at target now if I really went for it but I'd rather be happy with my day-to-day life. So it's little and often with the weight loss, gradual and constant being more important for your morale as well as for your health.

There's a week's trial menu on the website so you can see how you feel about it before paying anything. You never have to feel hungry either, check out everything you can have unlimited amounts of.Grin

MrsWembley · 11/04/2013 19:43

You'll love it, Beech!

Furball · 11/04/2013 19:49

you could try logging everything you eat into my fitness pal - you say how much you want to lose per week (1 - 2 lb is deemed healthy) and it will tell you how much you can eat.

It is a real eye opener into your actual intake. You can gain more by exercise.

The good thing is nothing is out of bounds Smile

PeppaFuckingPig · 11/04/2013 19:52

In 2008, i weighed approx 20 stones and was a size 24. I'm now 10 stone (and have had a child since then).

I wish there was some easy secret to the weightloss, and i wish i could say it was easy. I read about people all the time who lose weight and suddenly discover a love of exercising and healthy eating. Not me. I hate exercising. I like sweet stuff and junk food.
But i hated myself at a size 24. I was seriously unhealthy and felt so shit - physically and emotionally.

I cut out alcohol, junk and joined a gym for a year and was really strict with it - i lost the bulk of the weight in that year.

Initially after losing the bulk of the weight i piled a couple of stone back on, but managed to lose it again, and then lost a bit more over the next couple of years.
People say dieting is a lifestyle change, and i agree with that, but i still haven't got my head around it completely, and i still have days of binge eating and feeling crap afterwards, and then having to strictly calorie count for days afterwards.

I think, for me, the eating was an emotional thing which i still haven't dealt with, so if that's something you can relate to then perhaps look at that...?

Sorry, i know that's completely unhelpful, but big weightloss can happen, but it's not easy and you have to be determined to do it. And don't let 'a bad day' stop you. Now when i have a bad day, i just tell myself that i'll do better the next day.

Original poster
TwoTeaTessie · 11/04/2013 19:59

That's what the books I have read say (in that really chipper american way). I just seem to throw in the towel and go, what the hell!
I think planning will be a good thing for me. Sorting out a menu and possible batch cooking for the first couple of weeks to I don't just go what the hey and order a chinese.
My husband has taken to trying to bribe me (he's bought me a lego set and told me when I've lost 5lbs I can have it) My DS has started noticing that I eat the whole packet of biscuits and not just 1 or 2 (and then dobbing me in to DH) and I know this will have an impact on him in later life. I want and need to change things before DD gets much older as I don't want her to have the same eating issues as me Sad

OP posts:
MrsWembley · 11/04/2013 20:05

Yes, it will involve a life-style change, but it's like anything really, once you've done it for a while it will become normal.

Silly things really, like using Fry Light on your roasties instead of olive oil (which, btw, taste betterShock) and doing a similar thing to make your own chips, which means you can have as many as you want.

MrsBucketxx · 11/04/2013 20:10

another vote for mfp.

I find if I keep to the food diary Im less likely to cheat as others can see it ( I have made mine public)

any diet works if you stick to it.

Beechview · 11/04/2013 20:14

MrsW I'm looking forward to losing weight while eating baked potato, pasta and rice and curry!
Thankfully I love fruit and most veg (bleurgh to swede and aubergines) so I shouldn't have any problems as long as I get organised.

BikeRunSki · 11/04/2013 20:19

Another vote for SW. I have also lost 3 stone on SW recently. I am not sure it would work if you have a tendency to.binge though, as pasta, rice, spuds etc are "free", but the principle is that you eat until you are full.

MrsWembley · 11/04/2013 20:33

Don't forget that it's the whole point of what's free on what days though. Yes, pasta etc are free but on days when there's very little meat on the menu. It's what it does to your metabolism and your appetite that's important.

It's been pointed out several times at our meetings, and I've tested it to prove the point, if you limit your food you are actually risking your weight loss. You need to eat loads of free food to lose. Makes me Smile

Original poster
TwoTeaTessie · 11/04/2013 20:53

I think I need to look a bit closer at the slimming world diet and see if it's for me

OP posts:
poorpaws · 12/04/2013 00:53

I vote for Weightwatchers. I went to Slimming World and gained weight. The following year I went to Weightwatchers and lost 3 stones. There are some fabulous people on the WW thread on MN, take a look, ask questions, they are a great bunch of people. Oh, and good luck whatever you choose.

HeySoulSister · 12/04/2013 01:05

Slimming worlds free pasta/rice/potatoes ethic is seriously wrong!! Eat as much as you like? Really?

tigerdriverII · 12/04/2013 01:18

Another vote for SW. It isn't necessarily quick but it does work. Based on home cooking but not difficult. I started off with 5 stone to lose. I am nearly half way there. It isn't quick for me, but I know I can keep this off. I have gone from looking like a fat person to looking like someone who could wear nice clothes. Am liking this.

Beechview · 12/04/2013 08:23

On Slimming World, you're limiting fat, wheat and sugar (not fruit).
You would lose weight if you did that anyway without following any specific plan.

BlackAffronted · 12/04/2013 08:33

I started off similar to you. Slimming world, 5:2, WW etc, none worked for me at all. I started low carb (I joined the bootcamp threads on here) in Jan and I am over 2 stone down. I love the way I eat now, plenty of great veggies, tasty meat plus some dairy.

3ismylot · 12/04/2013 08:36

I have moved over to a paleo/primal way of eating after many years of yoyo dieting (in 2008 I lost 7 1/2 stone in 6 months on a vlcd but slowly put it all back on Sad )
I tried sw ww vlcd mfp and nothing worked because I am an emotional binge eater and once I go into binge mode it can last several months!

I started doing a vlcd again but after 2 weeks I knew it wasn't for me and had been researching paleo and decided to give it a go, I have been doing it for 2 weeks now and couldn't be happier Grin
I haven't felt the urge to binge once ( yes Iknow its early days ) and I never feel hungry between meals or need to snack.

I have lost 1 1/2 stone in the last 4 weeks my skin is great, I never feel bloated and I am sleeping better and have more energy.

I know it sounds hard to begin with but its certainly worth a go.

There is a paleo/primal thread or check out the bootcamp thread as the principles are very similar

Hood luck with whatever you choose x

Prawntoast · 12/04/2013 08:39

The diet that works is the one that not only allows you to lose the weight but crucially keeps the weight off. If you go for a diet with too many rules and restrictions you will eventually put the weight back on. You have to embrace the fact that you need to alter your way of eating for life not just for a diet. I've done 1200 cals a day diets before but only stuck at them for a month or so, I felt deprived. I've never done WW or SW, it reminds me too much of Little Britain and being told to eat dust! Sorry, it will work for some though who like the support of others.
I've been following 5:2 since end of Jan, lost over a stone, was full of trepidation before my first fast but found it to be much easier than I thought, it's not a diet but a way of eating, and even when I lose all the weight, another 1.5sts, I will still follow the principles and move to 6:1. The threads on MN are very helpful and supportive. Take a look on YouTube for the original Horizon programme with Dr Michael Mosley, I think it is still available.