Need to lose about half a stone. Any reasonably painless options?

[Pinkrose1]

I am 4'11" and weigh 8.9 stone. I used to be a stone lighter and felt much better but all this fat has settled around my middle which is the worst place apparently. I only want to get to 8 stone to feel more comfortable round my middle, bending down etc.

I don't eat massive amounts and rarely eat cake or sweets. I don't exercise at all because I am a carer for a disabled child and never seem to have time.

I usually have porridge and fruit for breakfast, lunch is a slice of bread humous and salad and evening grilled salmon, boiled new potatoes and veg. I drink a lot of semi skimmed milk but no soft drinks so not sure why this weight won't go. I do eat pasta sometimes and the odd ice cream and have salad cream and butter so is it these little treats that do the damage?

Feeling a bit down with it all. Half a stone should be so easy but I have tried since May and got nowhere!

High carb? Low carb? High fat, low fat? Any ideas.

Can't cope with the fasting one though!

Well your diet is excellent. When you say you drink 'a lot' of semi skimmed milk, how much is a lot? Though I'm no advocate of cutting out dairy, milk is designed to fatten small animals in short order!

Re exercise - is there anything you can think of you can do? building a brisk park walk into your routine with DC, for example? if you are not a lone parent, a morning or evening walk while DC is sleeping?

Whole 30

I am now eating a magnum and a coffee for my lunch so that example was on a good day . I will have oily fish and salad to dinner with a small yoghurt. I have always eaten very small amounts, since the DC they have crept up and I need to nearly starve to lose weight

I am sure you are right and the answer is to stop the stupid things like magnums and increase my exercise level. I've got a bike but it's been in the garage all year so far! Even half an hour a day with a buggy in the park will do something. I've bought a hot tub for him but will go in myself though I doubt that will lose me any weight!

What's the whole 30?

I'm quite petite like you and have to eat a bit less than the average woman to stay slim. I lost about 10 pounds, from 9 stone to 8 stone 4 about two years ago. I used My Fittness Pal and it took about six months.

Tea swimming in milk, milky bedtime drink. About a litre a day! Butter an inch thick! I think it's those sneaky cals that do for me. Going for a walk this afternoon now the sun is shining.

I think I know where I'm going wrong but have no willpower to change so need to do something totally different to stop me doing the stupid things.

Tried fasting and couldn't do it!

Tinkly. I'm downloading the app now so will give it a go.

Rounded off naughty day with a packet of cashews! I think I can see a pattern of impulsive eating here. Have also been very lazy so no exercise despite good intentions. I guess it will come down to will power and getting very cross with myself!

Maybe keep a brutally honest food diary. Tbh, I don't think healthy fats are a problem, and would include butter! You mention nearly starving post DC to lose weight. You need to give your metabolism a bit of a kick. Exercise, and perhaps eating more (of the right things) - am on phone but will post some links later

Cheers rooty. I think links would be good

I just need to read a diet list...eat this at this time, etc. Walk 1/2 an hour briskly at this time. But when I read diet lists the food is so faffy! I hate cooking and I won't eat anything if it takes longer than 10 minutes (20 for pasta) to prepare! Diet books are full of fiddly recipes. I've to s of diet books but if the food has more than 4 ingredients I can't be bothered. Somebody please invent a simple diet!

Food diary will no doubt highlight the random packet of nuts, odd glass of wine, magnum ice cream! Even fruit can add a lot in calories I think