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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.

How can I lose 10lbs before my holiday on, er, Monday?

999 replies

WhatsGoingOnEh · 12/08/2014 23:47

In a panic. Was meant to start diet in May but one thing (or rather, one pizza) led to another and now I've got less than a week.

I'm 5'6" and look great at 9st 7. This morning I was 10st 11! Shiiiiiiiit!

What can I do? I really REALLY need to crash some of this off. I don't care if it's unhealthy, it's only for a few days and I can do it properly when I get home.

Any and all ideas MASSIVELY gratefully received. What are your tried and tested tricks? Thank you!

OP posts:
WhatsGoingOnEh · 15/08/2014 23:05

High-five to my quick-fix sisters!

Yes, easily lose a pound a day on Scarsdale and I SWEAR to you, I didn't start going anything back for two years. Only when I moved back to my parents house, which is the place where good intentions go to die.

Scarsdale is just a low-carb, low-calorie diet plan. He tells you what to eat every day for a week, and you do it for two weeks at a time. Then you take two weeks off and do the "maintenance plan" which is much less strict. Then you alternate fortnights on and off until you hit your perfect weight.

I LOVED it. I loved the structure. Plus there's no weighing or sodding trying to cut bits of cheeses to the size of a matchbox to get the right point count... He just lists today's foods. Those foods, you can eat as much as you like.

If we were doing Scarsdake today, we'd be eating:

BREAKFAST grapefruit or fruit, 1 slice dry toast, black coffee.

LUNCH Cheese, all you want, with 1 slice dry toast, spinach, tomatoes and some other veg. (I used to save the breakfast toast and just have cheese on toast, or sandwiches). Coffee, tea, water or diet drinks.

DINNER Fish, any kind, cooked without fat. Lots of veg. Maybe fruit for pudding. Coffee, tea, etc.

That's from memory. It might be slightly wrong - I can't remember which veg. But you could eat a TON of cheese and a TON of fish and still lose 1lb/day. Saturday was good - chicken for dinner. But Sunday is the best day - chicken for lunch and steak for dinner.

It was family friendly - I just gave the kids potatoes, pasta etc with the main meals. Very simple foods. Like Atkins but with fruit and veg. The most similar diet is probably South Beach. I felt great on it.

OP posts:
WhatsGoingOnEh · 15/08/2014 23:07

See, if I were dumped, I'd just dive into a tub of ice cream... Flightywoman, I'm sorry you went through that but I'm glad you looked hot! I hope your ex got to see you rocking your newly tiny bod. :)

OP posts:
WhatsGoingOnEh · 15/08/2014 23:18

I've abandoned my handsome fiancé - who's currently lying on my bed - to go to the loo. I'm having ShitterTea rumblings. I can't tell him why I've left. It sounds like thunder is clapping away inside me, but nothing's coming out. I've been sitting here farting for about 20 minutes. I'm going to need an excuse. What can I say I've been doing?!

I got through dinner with no booze, no chips, no bread, no pudding. Just steak, some prawns, plus some undressed salad. Another F&S and a gallon of water. I felt so full, I couldn't even finish the steak.

God, another fart but still no action. Argh. Is this what it's like on the Cabbage Soup diet?

OP posts:
WhatsGoingOnEh · 15/08/2014 23:21

Twinklestar I will def order sugar-free jelly pots when I'm off this bloody toilet!

Mummyboo, sorry about the dress. Must be lovely to have glorious baps though. My chest has deflated worryingly. My tummy looks a lot flatter, but my boobs have just... Wilted.

OP posts:
WyrdByrd · 16/08/2014 08:14

Love this thread - it's so much more fun than the other diet threads I've ventured into!

My mum lost 1.5st in 6 weeks on Scarsdale back in the day - basically lived on eggs, cheese,chicken, ryvita, fruit & salad.

OP if you like steak try it grilled with Mediterranean veg and 3 new potatoes quartered and roasted in a little olive oil. It's my low GI version & it's almost as good as chips & onion rings. I sometimes make up peppercorn sauce with skimmed milk & lots of sliced mushrooms to bulk it out a bit more.

From slower loss/maintenance perspective, the GI diet is good (9lb off in a month) and I can't recommend the Hairy Bikers diet cookbooks highly enough - their recipes are delicious!

Itsfab · 16/08/2014 08:51

After my euphoria 2 days ago of losing 1.5-2lbs I am now back up 2lbs. I weighed only every other day to give my mountain climb at Brecon Beacons and my 2 hour walk the other day to have an effect. Crap.

I could cry. I feel such a failure in all aspects of my life and after doing the 5:2 really thought I had sorted out my food issues.

Slim rice/pasta I can confirm is not particularly nice and is expensive imo.

Itsfab · 16/08/2014 08:55

Scarsdale sounds a bit like Pig 2 Twig. Maybe I should look at doing that again.

WhatsGoingOnEh · 16/08/2014 09:31

TEN STONE EIGHT!

OP posts:
flightywoman · 16/08/2014 10:14

WHOOOOOHOOO! Result, the farting has paid off. Who knew gas could be so heavy?...

WhatsGoingOnEh · 16/08/2014 12:13

WyrdByrd - I love our crazy crash-diet thread too! It's fun. And even though I know my 5lbs will be back on my arse the moment I even look at a Dairylea triangle, this diet has REALLY cheered me up. It's reminded me that I do actually like eating healthy food. And that I don't have to drink booze to have a nice evening.

Your peppered-sauce sounds gorgeous. I've decided to just stop eating potatoes, pasta, rice and bread. But I could eat a steak with grilled veg. GORGEOUS.

OP posts:
WhatsGoingOnEh · 16/08/2014 12:15

Itsfab - nooooo! No feeling like a failure! You've done a mountain walk! A hike through the Beacons! You're HEALTHY. That 2lbs is undoubtedly muscle. Or, are you due for your period? That's such a dispiriting week. You could eat one slice of lettuce a day and puke it back up and STILL gain 5lbs. Where are you in your cycle?

OP posts:
WhatsGoingOnEh · 16/08/2014 12:18

You need to stick to a proper, actual diet for a week until you're on track. I'm a firm believer in following an eating plan. I have never ever lost weight doing my own thing with food. Why not try the James Duncan thing I'm doing? It's surprisingly easy. Link here Plus the food's cheap.

What is Pig 2 Twig? Please, please don't feel depressed. Even because that'll just make you hate yourself and send you straight to the cupboards. I'm here for you!

OP posts:
WhatsGoingOnEh · 16/08/2014 12:19

Flightywoman - thanks! :D

OP posts:
WhatsGoingOnEh · 16/08/2014 12:23

This morning I had a boiled egg, and half a tin of grapefruit in natural juice blitzed up in the blender to make a (surprisingly creamy and nice) smoothie. I thought it was delicious. I gave a sip to Fiancé (who was frying bacon and eggs, and drinking milky tea with sugar, whimper) and he made a face like I'd forced him to lick a nappy I'd found on a beach. "It's so... Bitter..."

My tummy looks the flattest it's looked in a year. This is brilliant. I feel so much happier and in control. Water and the F&S sachets have curbed my appetite and I don't even mind only having fruit for lunch.

OP posts:
NellVarnish · 16/08/2014 12:50

WhatsGoing don't fart inside your Zaggora wetsuit thing or this might happen ...

NellVarnish · 16/08/2014 13:00

See that Scarsdale menu you posted looks ok. I like to be told EXACTLY what to eat, no fannying about having a WW bar to make up 11/2 points or whatever. I'm going to buy it. They may have to reprint it at this rate.

Do you have to go on holiday WhatsGoing? What about US? selfish We will be bereft without your tales of slithery poo and shitterteas.

goldface · 16/08/2014 13:27

Have just found and read this thread and am delighted to have found where I belong. I love the Almased too and find it works for me esp for a pre Christmas crash diet. Am also a fan of slimfast which I think works like Almased but is just cheaper and easier to get hold of.
OP - I too, like a daily weigh in BUT an unexpected gain makes me such a mardy cow all day

LuckySaint · 16/08/2014 13:39

I love this thread, it's hilarious!

Well done op.
I kind of want to join in got loads of weight to lose
I might order that book later.

I've got a Vogue beauty book from the 70's somewhere (it was my Aunt's) and it has the most insane diets ever in it.

I'll look for it when I'm home and post a few tips later.

NellVarnish · 16/08/2014 13:52

I've just found this Scarsdale sample plan, until my book arrives.

Those Full and Slim sachets sound good but spendy. Think will have to use Severn Trent's best instead to fill me up.

goldface I'm like that too. My weight rules my life. Sooooo depressing, but this thread is very motivating. Grin

Looking forward to wafty eat a slice of cucumber and two chicory leaves 1970's Vogue tips Lucky.

WhatsGoingOnEh · 16/08/2014 14:17

Hail! More Diet Rebels! We are SO going to have the last laugh when we (temporarily) lose a TONNE of weight and manage to take flattering After photos, before we ping ping ping pile it all back on after one Ritz cracker.

OP posts:
WhatsGoingOnEh · 16/08/2014 14:26

My mum had that Vogue Beauty Book. Oh God, yes please post diet tips.

One of my favourite books is Sex and The Single Girl by Helen Gurley Brown, founder of Cosmo and a thinness Nazi. That book is mainly healthy - vitamins, protein smoothies, exercising 18 hours a day or you're a slothful pig, etc - but she includes a crash diet. She says it's "male-friendly" and says you can do it with a "beau".

BREAKFAST: one egg, cooked without fat; one glass white wine
LUNCH Two eggs, cooked without fat; two glasses white wine
DINNER Two eggs, cooked without fat; finish the bottle of white wine.

I'm serious, that's the actual diet. She says you should do it over a weekend and not make any other plans . "Sufficient nutrients are here, but you get fuzzy."

OP posts:
WhatsGoingOnEh · 16/08/2014 14:30

Nell, that Scarsdale sample page is perfect. Go get the food before you start, or you'll be tempted to substitute "grilled chicken" for Fray Bentos chicken pies. It's such a nice diet. You lose weight every day, which really motivates you not to cheat. I used to leap out of bed every morning to weigh myself. Blush

OP posts:
WhatsGoingOnEh · 16/08/2014 14:33

I'm playing fast and loose with my James Duncan diet today. Lunch was "fruit". I've had a banana chopped up with a clementine - delicious. But also added a spoon of Atkins-friendly double cream. Hmm I also ate a fistful of the dried fruit that's going in a fruit cake I'm doing for the holiday. And some nuts. But I'm taking the boys out all afternoon and I'll leap about to try and burn it off... I hope I still lose a pound. I might skip the chops I'm allowed tonight and have a boiled egg and some tinned tomatoes instead. God I forgot - I also picked at some ham and cheese, and two individual Salt and Vinegar crisps. Yikes.

OP posts:
LuckySaint · 16/08/2014 15:07

Extracts from the completely bonkers Vogue body and beauty book - Bronwen Meredith (circa 1977)

List of diets... (let me know if you want more details of any... i'll list a few of my favourites)

Low carb diet
Protein and fat diet
Calorie control 1,400 a day diet
Calorie control 1,200 a day
Weight watchers plan diet

Crash diet section...

Milk and banana diet
Cottage cheese and banana diet
Banana drink diet
Honey and egg diet
Wine and eggs diet Shock
Wine and steak diet
Wine and cheese diet
Egg and tomato diet
Egg and grapefruit diet
Egg and potato diet
Egg and hamburger diet
Avocado diet
Vegetable and fruit diet
Rice diet
One meal and lemon diet
Vegetable juice diet
Fruit only diet
Steak tartare diet
And my personal favourite... the drinker's diet!

LuckySaint · 16/08/2014 15:12

Wine and eggs diet... recommended for 3 days/loss of 5lbs (2.5kg)

Breakfast - 1 egg hardboiled
1 glass of white wine (dry, preferably Chablis)
Black coffee

Lunch - 2 eggs, hardboiled is best, but poached if necessary
2 glasses white wine
Black coffee

Dinner - 5oz (150g) steak, grilled with black pepper, lemon juice
Remainder of white wine (one bottle allowed per day)
Black coffee

I think the idea is that you spend the day shitfaced and just fall asleep :o