Best diet for someone "a little bit" overweight

[Idocrazythings]

I hardly ever weigh myself, but had a medical yesterday and was quite bothered that I have put on about 7kg (my clothes have been a little tight lately but I told myself the tumble dryer shrank them. I think it was our trip to Italy that did it followed by my complete lack of exercise lately normally I run and do a exercise class or two but I think I probably should do something about what I eat too.

I like the sound of trying the 5:2 or maybe some shakes or something but firstly (1) I wouldn't know which one to pick and (2) more importantly I have an impressionable 7 1/2 year old and I don't want to send wrong messages to her. I try not to talk negatively about body size around my DC, we always talk about healthy food options etc and everything in moderation. And I try to set a good example with exercise too.

I think my weight is more in the upper range of healthy to maybe slightly overweight, but I really want to do something. Can anyone suggest anything please?

Watching with interest

I can strongly recommend 5:2 as the health benefits are amazing and it's a 'way of life' and not a faddy diet.

Is very easy to maintain and is very adjustable so works well with social events and holidays etc.

I have been doing it for a while now, my energy has increased and I finally got below 9 stone which I was stuck on for a while.

I haven't given up any foods that I like, I swop my days according to what is going on that week and I find if I want I can do an extra day (4:3) if I know I'm going to have a busy social weekend or drinks etc.

Any questions and I'm very happy to help as much as I can.

I had great success with just using myfitness pal to track calories. No real dieting other than having slightly smaller portions and cutting out the crap. MFP gives you a really low target daily intake of 1200, but I upped it to 1500. I found I eat about 300-400 calories per meal. This leaves me another 300-400 calories for snacks. I don't cut any food group out.

I have lost nearly 3 kg since march. I also do three cardio and one body balance classes a week.

It is probably slower than something like 5:2 but you won't look like you are dieting at all. So no negative messages to children.

I was more than "a little" overweight, I have lost almost 5 stone. But I have done it using My Fitness Pal to track calories, and increasing how much exercise I do. I have 3 DC, including a 7 year old DD, and I didn't want to pass on negative ideas to them about eating. But it has opened up a lot of discussion about what is and isn't healthy, about the importance of exercise and about treats in moderation. I lost it fairly slowly, roughly 1lb a week after the initial half stone, but I'm hoping that will make it easier to keep off.

I'm a 5:2 er and it works for me.

Re exercise, I run, swim and do yoga and Pilates DVDs at home. DD often asks me if she can do the DVDs with me. I talk about the health benefits rather than weight loss. Tbh, she spends most of them rolling around on the floor, but I think it's a very positive maternal role model to say its important to stay fit and healthy. You can lose weight without your life becoming a 'diet' iygwim.

I like 5:2 because you stay with it for ever after you stop needing to lose weight

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I think I'll probably do as others have with small children and just slowly. I'm really disappointed in myself for letting the weight sneak back on and whilst I want to drop it as quickly as I can I need to set a good example too.