What's gone wrong? (weight issues)

[flipchart]

For years I've ate a shed load of sweet stuff and snacks. I've liked my alcohol too. I have always exercised and I am quite fit ( but chubby)

My weight has hovered around the 12 stone 7 mark for the last couple of years.

10 days ago I thought enough is enough. I've not had a drink in 14 days.i cut out all processed sugar, no snacks, biscuits, cakes, sweets etc.
I've been having oats with soya yogurt in the morning with chopped banana, food like tofu with noodles and veg for lunch nd cous cous with veg for tea.

I've still exercised. 2 spinning sessions a week. 10.6 mile bike ride on Wednesday, 5.7 mile walk in Tuesday.
My weight and measurements are exactly the same.
Gutted I've not even lost 1/2ib to get me motivated.

I'm not due a period, I've been drinking water. Even on a meal out in a fancy place I opted for a sweet potato baked with watercress salad and soda water to drink.

Lost a bit of motivation I have to say!

Same here! I've cut out everything and haven't lost anything yet...but I do feel better, tummy flatter etc. Im hoping I might get a whoosh effect soon and see a big loss. Have you tracked your cals?

Im on an allowance of 1,200.

I've just weighed myself ( I've been weighing every 2nd day) same time,no clothes).
11 days into my healthy eating regime and I've put a pound on.
I don't feel any better and my stomach isn't any flatter.

I'm a bit down because I really went cold turkey on the sugar and processed foods. I was drinking alcohol about 3 times a week and I've just not bothered with it. I've not replaced it with fruit juices or any other high calorie drinks.

Genuinely baffled.

Are you weighing your food and accurately counting your calories? From your description you are not eating a healthy balanced diet, carbs for every meal and not enough protein. You must also be hungry I would have thought. Are you vegan? If so maybe post again making that clear on one of the diet boards and someone knowledgeable will come and advise.

Eat more.
More protein, more calories.

Sounds weird but it will work.

There are tools to work out how many calories your body needs: BMR (to keep breathing) and TDEE (to be averagely active/inactive). Google them. Then set yourself a calorie goal somewhere between the two.

I felt like you after a couple of weeks on a watching-my-calories thing. But 6 weeks in my trousers are looser, my waist is 2ins smaller and I have lost a few pounds.

I am not doing a mad low calorie thing or eating particularly healthily. Just 1600 cal target and a walk most lunchtimes. It's slow going but am pleased it's working at all.

my weight goes up around ovulation time. Also exercise can cause short term weight gain. highly frustrating I imagine though!

I'm vegetarian.
I did think my diet was balanced because I was having some protein every meal eg soya yogurt for breakfast with 1oz of oats and 2 Brazil nuts,, feta cheese with pomegranate sald for lunch, tofu chili with stir fry for tea.
I think I was really pleased with myself for going so long without sweet things I expected something.

At work I have never brewed up without having a few biscuits from the tin,every night I would have a cake and some chocolate, it was none stop. I socialise most days, either at lunch time or in the evening and would have a drink. Me and DH always have a great weekend around food and drink. So I decided enough was enough and not had anything since or missed it, even when I've been out.

I'll up the protein,keep exercising and hoping!!

Ah that sounds better, initially you said tofu and noodles for lunch and cous cous with veg for dinner. Protein at every meal is good, and refined carbs just give your body easy fuel. quinoa makes a lovely alternative.

Look at the Paul Mckenna way of eating. It's eat only when you're hungry and stop when you're satisfied also eat slowly ; NO calorie counting or weighing of food or 'diet' foods. I've lost 3 stone on it over 2 years or so (you can go off and on it it's not a big deal at all) Iam maintaining too.

I think you're not eating enough . Fruit and veg are important too. btw.

That sounds like a recipe for loads of wasted food. And convenience stuff.

It's the long game; you'll have weeks where nothing seems to happen, and weeks where pounds suddenly drop! Annoyingly for you you've just started on a slow week, that's all.

You're eating a lot better, and that's the important thing.

Caroline I've notbeenhaving any conviennce foods, unless you count fresh noodles and porridge oats, everything meal has been made from scratch.
I've been having fresh veg every lunch and tea time. What do you mean that it sounds like a receipe for wasted foods. I've been cooking either single portions or family meals. Nothing has been thrown out.

Check your clothes. do they feel looser? Paul Mckenna thinks that excessive weighing is not a good idea.

Weight takes a while to go on so also it takes time to take off IFYSWIM. Your skin must look better. dd1 says her skin looks amazing when she cuts out alcohol.

Congratulations on eating better btw !!

Sorry flip, I meant the Paul McKenna thing only eating when you are hungry and eating til you aren't thing.
If I did that I wouldn't know when to eat or how much to make so I'd need to have lots of convenience foods or make enough that I knew would fill me up and then bin what I didn't want.
Presumably people don't do that and I guess it works for them but it sounds v inconvenient to me!

It works caroline because I don't put much on my plate (it's good not to be a member of the clean plate club btw.) I eat fruit a lot.(of course ) and steamed salmon and salads etc. I eat very healthily. You do because you eat slowly and really taste your food so eating crap doesn't work. (it tastes disgusting when eaten slowly).

It's not good to bin food. Make the right amount.