Who has lost weight successfully without fasting?

[MotherGirth]

There seems to be very little traffic anywhere else now, but fasting just doesn't suit me. I get to a point mid-afternoon when I struggle to look after the DCs without being irritable. I give in and eat something to see me through, then I just don't see the point and binge.

So although I can see te merits, I've tried time and time again but just can't do it.

Low carbing seems costly to me, and I don't have mug imagination as far as replacing sandwiches and cereals go.

I'm thinking of just tracking with MFP to educate myself on TDEE, and doing plenty of exercise. Has anyone had success with a simple approach?

Mug? Much!

Paul McKenna I Can Make You Thin. Want the link to our thread?

Mothergirth
LOTS of people do it with MFP
lots use WW and SW
another huge gang are under BIWIs wing in the low carbers

5:2 is new and working for people for whom the others have not
but it certainly does not suit some people ....

this board seems to be the springboard into one of the groups, but there is support across and between them all
because those of us who have made it work really want to make sure that those who are trying get the support and information they need.

I did it with my fitness pal. Lost 3st7lbs in 4 months. Couldn't fast or do any fad diets as was breastfeeding.

MotherGirth I had great success in 2012 using MyFitnessPal and eating at just 15% below my TDEE. I lost 3 stones, with minimal exercise and never felt hungry cause I was eating only at a small calorie deficit. Logging all my food and eating only recommended serving sizes helped me, for the first time ever, learn what normal, healthy portion sizes were. I loved it also because I could eat whatever I wanted, just in moderation.

By the end of the year I'd learned enough to be able to stop counting calories. So in 2013 I shifted to 5:2 (but without counting/logging, just guestimating my portions based on how hungry/full I felt) and lost a further 3 stones (so 6 stones in total; photos in my profile).

So I definitely highly recommend MyFitnessPal. Just don't eat too few calories or you'll feel deprived and will be more likely to fall off the wagon.

Good luck!

Bssh need new pic of teeny tiny you

I can't fast, it doesn't suit me. Have had success with both low carbing and Slimming World even though they operate on very different principles! The low carb threads on here were always very busy and really helpful when I did it.

Thanks solo. I do have the Paul McKenna book and DVD having tried and failed at that one too and I might well revisit it. It's heartening to know that MFP alone can work just as well as any other. I really don't fancy WW as it feels too much like a diet.

Thanks folks

Thread Here if you'd like to join us! :) it's not a diet!! it's great and we're very supportive!

I do we and lost 4 stone last year with no exercise at all as I was in plaster cast for 11 months due to a badly broken foot & surgery I found it really simple and was never Hungary

That should be ww as in weight watchers not we

I lost 2.5 stones using Guardian Eatright which is basically calorie counting (1300/day) and them recommending me low GI food. (Pretty much what I like anyway). Have maintained for 2 years by using MFP intermittently. Most importantly have totally changed drinking habits. (3-4 units of alcohol per week; no fruit juice/smoothies; no milky coffee drinks - never drank pop before anyway).

Me. Just more exercise. I swam 50 lengths of a 25m pool every day for a year. I lost 3 stone over the year. I discovered that 40 lengths 5 days a week maintains my weight - any more and I lose 1/2lbs a week. I didn't change my diet at all. I love food!

I've lost 3 stone in the last 6 months by eating less and moving more. My approach has been fairly random. I go to the gym 2/3 times a week and I have cut down on snacks and reduced portion sizes, but I eat whatever foods I fancy and don't weigh foods or calorie count. I try to think about whether I am truly hungry and, if I think I have eaten too much in one meal, I try to cut down for the next meal. Sometimes I skip breakfast if I am not feeling hungry or for example if I know I am going out for lunch later. Today I just had a piece of cheesecake for lunch as it was left over from New Years Eve and I knew if I had a balanced healthy lunch I might be tempted to scoff the cheesecake later anyway. Most of the time I do end up eating 3 healthy meals and I suspect I am eating between 1500 and 2000 calories per day, but the key thing is I do not feel like I am on a diet and I believe I can sustain this long term.

Target for 2014 is to lose 4.5 stone to get down to a healthy BMI for the first time in my adult life.

I just calorie count religiously, I have a little book in which I write down everything I eat and drink and tot up the calories.

I aim to eat less than I need, so between 1400 and 1900 cals as I am a shortarse.

I don't give up if I eat more I just write it down. I have lost 3 stones in 6 months and maintained over christmas despite lots of choc and wine. Good luck

Fasting is the diet for the long termers (like me ) who hate the drudgery of the 1200 calorie a day diets - I think most diets fall into this.

The best diet I ever did was Atkins but it was hard work. But you have to do it properly with all the veg recommended and not just think it's low carb. South beach and blood type diet similar.

It also depends on how overweight you are. If I only had half a stone to lose I wouldn't mind how I'd do it.

I have lots to lose so need the long term fasting.

Sorry, that wasn't clear. Atkins was brilliant short term, 6 months or so but I couldn't have done it forever. So if you've only a small amount to lose you could that way

Long term fasting for me is the only way.

I lost 2.5 stone on WW but I picked healthy foods for my points and ate alot of fruit and veg - still maintain on it. 5:2 would not suit me as I exercise hard 6 days a week and need my calories to be fairly constant and need my 3 meals a day - get low blood sugar and shakey otherwise and suspect I might have a blow out on a low day. I do, however, eat low carb overall - I get my carbs from oats, ryvitas, fruit and veg but no pasta, bread or potatoes and this suits me and I feel well and look lean. Eggs, chicken, cottage cheese and pulses work for me along with yoghurt and salads and homemade soups.
Good luck to you.

Yes, me.

I lost six stone using MFP to track calories and upping my activity levels. It wasn't fast, it took about 15 months. But maintenance isn't too hard as I've changed my habits. I've put a couple of pounds on over Christmas so am back on MFP to lose it again.

Oh and I didn't set a huge defecit, just enough to lose one pound a week. And I ate back my exercise calories.

I lost about 4 stones doing the 'eat less, move more, basic common sense ' approach.
I cooked my own food, had smaller portions (used a smaller plate), ate less of things that are obviously high calorie .So, eg. I would weigh things like cheese, potatoes, measure the oil I used in cooking, only ate 1 or 2 small slices of bread.
Didn't read any books, buy any 'diet products' or stop eating any of the foods I liked.
Exercise - I like swimming, walking so do lots of them, I also do things like squats, pushups, stuff with dumb bells. I'm very pleased with the results.
I still do ttese things, weight is stable and I'm quite fit and healthy.

The Paul McKenna principles are very sound but when I was large and my appetite was big I just found it too difficult to keep trying to work out whether I was hungry or not (wondering where I was on the hunger scale all the time was hard work, for me). Also I found myself snacking more (eating at first sign of hunger) and then not being able to eat my main meals with family, colleagues... This is not a fault of the Paul McKenna way of course; it just became too difficult for me.

But today, having lost all my weight by controlling portions, not snacking and finally learning what true hunger is via 5:2... well, now I naturally implement his 4 golden rules :)

I'm very inspired by the losses mentioned here. It makes my 3.5 stones seem achievable. I'm going to give it a go. MFP is coming up with about 1500 cals for a 1lb a week loss which seems like a reasonable amount. I kind of like the logic too - I find it too easy to forget about WW points as the formula isn't as simple.

I have lost 4 1/2 stone calorie counting. I found it educated me about nutrition, as I felt a lot more satisfied on the days I ate my calorie allowance in home cooked foods rather than a day eating the same amount of calories in fast food and chocolate. Best part was that I could use my calories on fast food if I wanted as it is flexible that way.

Another advocate of the 'eat less move more' theory :)

No particular 'diet' just common sense, less snacks/crisps/chocolates and takeaways, more fresh fruit and veg and going to spin classes two or three times a week

Boring but it works :)