Basic info and techniques for weight loss pls from those who have succeeded!

[Sanscollier]

Hello. I currently look like a hippopotamus, feel sluggish and unhealthy and look awful. I have about 3 stone to lose. I want to turn things around realistically and permanently.

A lifestyle change is way overdue but before I begin, I thought I would seek advice from the collective wisdom of Mumsnetters who have successfully lost weight, and kept it off, as to what worked and what didn't. (Or perhaps someone could point me in the direction of where I can find this info.)

For example, what is a realistic time frame for losing 3 stone? My dh and I (God willing) will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary in two years. Would that be a healthy and realistic target?

Should you set a target for the first stone (for example) and then go on to the next? Or set a target/time frame for the entire weight loss?

A while ago I tried to stick to 1200 calories a day on MFP but found it a struggle. What daily calorie allowance do you suggest for someone who is 5 ft 8 and a bit, and who weighs 13.5 stone but is slimmish in (original) build?

How much should one aim to lose per week (again realistically and sustainably) pls?

Is it better to fast or is it better to have 3 smaller meals a day with healthy snacks in between? (I do find I get very shaky if I fast for a long time or does that feeling go away eventually?)

Did you find it easier to stick to a particular diet plan and eat the same things or did you just eat everything (within reason) in smaller portions?

Finally, I live in a very "foodie" country/environment and my dh, who is food and cooking obsessed. My dd has always been on the lowest weight percentile and I need to continually feed/build her up. In these circumstances, how do you manage to focus on your own diet in the context of the family?

Any particular techniques or tips that worked for you?

Thank you for your help!

[Sanscollier]

x post

Justwondering thanks - the one thing I have going for me in terms of weight loss is that the more active I am, the less I want to eat. And you have just explained the reason why! So I am going to re-start a power walking programme and use my exercise bike for fitness instead of using it as a clothes horse! Also contemplating the purchase of a treadmill!

As for the distraction factor: in addition to exercise, I am starting to hand sew a patchwork quilt. Sewing + food don't really mix - so I reckon that if I can grab and sew a patchwork square on the occasions when hunger is calling - it might help!

Dh and I are also trying to think of other ways of socialising which doesn't involve food all the time as our contact with friends tends to revolve around eating!!

[revolution909]

Yup! I appreciate my approach is not for everyone... I went from being a couch potato to a part time athlete!

[Sanscollier]

Wow Revolution I think part-time athlete may be a bit over-ambitious for me but that's amazing!

[MakeMineADoubleGin]

There's LOADS of brilliant advice here. The biggest thing I take from all this is that everyone is different and the key to losing it and keeping it off is finding something that suits you personally, and is sustainable long term.

For me, when I'm in the zone, it's easy. My head is in the right place, I can say no to sugary fixes and even booze! But I easily get bored/complacent and let things slide. So for me it's setting new challenges, small targets to aim for.

I've done weightwatchers, slimming world, Atkins, Harcombe, 5:2, calorie counting, the Body Coach... I've just restarted WW as it's changed a lot since I last did it, and I like the new project.

Your target sounds totally do-able and once your mind is in the zone you'll be off! Just remember that it's never linear progress, some weeks there will be random blips, go by inches/clothes as well as weight - scales alone are misleading.

Good luck!

[Badgoushk]

The reason you shake after that banana on bread breakfast is because it's really high carb. Your blood sugar shoots up, peaks then plummets. You get shaky and you need more carbs/sugar to bring it up. And the cycle continues.

You need higher protein/fat foods. I have lost 5 stone by cutting out most sugar. I have fried eggs on toast for breakfast. I get no sugar high/plummet. I have some kind of grains and protein for lunch, afternoon snack is high protein like edamame beans. Dinner always involves protein, rice, etc.

I only eat low carb fruits like berries.

Hope this helps.

P.S. I have suffered from high/lows of blood sugar myself and eating like this has stopped all that. Feel free to PM me.

[Sanscollier]

Sorry, missed most recent posts!

Thank you for the encouragement Makemineadoublegin some v wise words there.

Thanks Badgoushk and for the offer to pm! Happy to report that I had fried eggs on wholemeal toast for breakfast this morning. Slowly diminishing my consumption of high carb foods and I no longer have that "I need to devour something right now" feeling!

[Sanscollier]

Consumption of pulses and beans a bit more problematic as I have had IBS symptoms in the past, but I do make home made veg soup once or twice a week without fail.

[londonmum789]

I lost about 3 stone last year by completely changing my eating habits. Tips that worked for me:

• smaller portions are essential. It doesn't matter how well you're eating if you're eating too much, which I was. You can adjust to eating less
  
• I drink much more - water and teas. Often if I think I'm hungry I have a nice big mug of tea
  
• more protein and much less carbs. A good breakfast for me is scrambled eggs, half avocado and mushrooms with a piece of whole meal toast. I try not to eat non-vegetable carbs (rice, pasta, potatoes) in the evening
  
• less fruit and more green vegetables
  

-no skipping meals

• I'm exercising a lot more, which is great for generally feeling good and being healthy, but isn't going to help to lose weight on its own
  

I feel better than I've done since my twenties (some time ago!).
Good luck!

[Sanscollier]

Thanks for such positive advice Londonmum your first point is extremely pertinent I think but they are all really good tips! Especially motivating to know one can feel so much more youthful too!

A three stone loss is a huge achievement; do you mind me asking how long it took you?

[londonmum789]

It was about 9 months. I don't have scales, so could only tell for sure when I visited my Mum and used hers!

[Sanscollier]

Thanks again Londonmum ; yours and all the other positive stories on here are very inspiring!

[AdultHumanFemale]

First off, must wave at HumanFemale , we have such great names!
I am someone whose weight has crept up over the years due to falling into line with very foody DP's eating habits, so I can absolutely relate. He loves cooking and does a great job, but my downfall has been allowing him to 'plate up' and then eating what's on my plate! The difference is that he trains a lot, and probably eats an appropriate number of calories for his needs. Like you, I also have DDs who I haven't wanted to alert to my efforts.
My weight loss journey has involved
-serving myself!
-opting for a longer time span to achieve my weight loss goal (5'7", 2/3 of way through losing 10 kg), because I absolutely don't want to obsess about it, especially as I have no specific event or occasion to get 'ready' for.
-keeping the meals I cook easily 'countable' in as much as I have done a thorough weighing and counting of calories once and put it on MFP. I have a stock of breakfasts, lunches and evening meals which I know pretty much how calorific they are, so I can stay within my range (1400-1500 / day)
-eating 3 low carb meals a day (if DP is cooking, I just say no to carb components) and allowing my body to 'fast' between meals. Looking back, this is how I always ate when younger (and before living in snacky UK), and I was positively willowy.
-eating the evening meal by 6pm, and then nothing until breakfast.
-got a FitBit and don't stop until 10,000.
-due to our work patterns and child care, it's been hard for me to get out to a gym, but I started going out late at night when DP came back from work and DC were in bed, to get some fast paced walking, jogging or cycling done. It seemed a bit topsy turvy to begin with, exercising just before bed, but it has become something I look forward to.
-regrettably, I have stopped baking. I am quite a mean baker of all things bread, pudding and pastry, but have knocked it on the head, even for the family. Now, if we have a desert, I make a fruit compote served with yoghurt or fruit salad.
Good luck

[Sanscollier]

Adulthumanfemale sorry for late response; a lot of very relateable things for me to think about there! Thank you so much for it!

A definite yes to serving myself (and buying ingreds and cooking) but about the baking but understand why! (Will have to think about that.) I was willowy when young too and used to have much longer gaps between meals! Noted about stock calorie specific meals too! Thx again!