82kg today.....need to get it as low as possible in 6weeks. <eek>

[BaronessBlonde]

Yesterday, a close family member announced their wedding will be in 6weeks time.

Apart from the shock announcement (am actually truly thrilled for them, but...shocked at the time-frame) I am big-time overweight. I am comfortable at 70kg, although that is technically nudging overweight for my height (I have a large frame, size 8feet, can't buy bangles in shops due to large wrists etc.) I am currently 82.4kg .

Weight was hitting 85kg, but a visit with GP lit a fire under me- for the first time in my life, I was admonished about my weight . I had decided to do slow and steady and can trust myself that I would lose the weight in about 6 months. However, this wedding has moved the goalposts.

So, I have to ditch the excuses, lose the pounds and hope to fit into one of the many lovely dresses languishing in my wardrobe.

Any advice?

I know that I need to up my exercise- currently do an hour's walk daily, Pilates once a week.
Breakfast and lunch are fine- but I get tired and ratty round dinner and find it difficult to resist tea and "a treat" after.

That's probably my weak point.
I am self-employed so sit down to do work after DC are in bed and "need" tea and a nibble to concentrate and stay on-task.

OK thanks for all the cheerleading. I'll work my way through all the double lovely comments

@slowrun you sound inspiring.

Paul what a great phrase, a calorie festival!. But yes, aiming for calorie deficit as large as possible each day.
The fact that it is sooooooo warm is both a help and a hindrance. It helps that I cannot wear any of my nice trousers (which were loose, last summer)- so that's quite an incentive.
It's a hindrance as I don't want to walk any distance in the heat.
Lots of lovely salads, with vinaigrette.....mmmmmm

A Target weight-> ?
No idea what is possible.....but want to be proud of myself, when the day arrives. I said 75kg upthread, but that's probably not reasonable. 78kg? what do you think?

@kelper wonderful, the more the merrier.

Aw, thanks, Baroness

Well, I did my run (slow jog) this morning.

Had 1 egg,1 slice of chorizo and half a slice of whole meal seared toast with tea for breakfast. Went out for lunch but only had one glass of dry rose wine and chose a chicken and bacon salad open sandwich (one of the less calorific things on the menu). Walked round town in the heat. Had coffee and one chocolate (Thornton's box) when got back. Tonight's dinner is bolognese with wholewheat pasta. Half portion again with some salad so I don't finish mine first! However my D.C. and DH eat more quickly than me so that's not too much of a problem. Will have another coffee and chocolate after that. And a tea this evening.

Exercise wise, I'll do a 20 minute low impact aerobics routine of YouTube in a bit before dinner. Then a 30 second easy plank (against piece of furniture with legs on the floor). That's enough to make my belly shake at the moment. Some arm exercises and some knee strengthening exercises. Plus some thigh exercises. Not for long though.

Hi to you too, Paul!👋

slowrun a plank! Great idea...always feel very virtuous when I do a full plank and some wall sits. I can feel my heart thudding with the effort.

Thanks to the inspiration here, we did grilled chicken breasts with a brown pasta and green leaf pasta for dinner. It was delicious.
One of my DC decided to make some brownies (in this heat?!) after supper and I had a small portion. So no bought, trans-fat laden treats this evening.

Yeah, I'm just building lots of shortish sessions of exercise in. I can often say, oh, I've 20 minutes whilst something cooks in the oven or similar so I just do a short routine then.

Morning anyone reading!

82.1kg this morning - now, I know, you don't need to tell me, losing 0.5kg in one day is probably water loss etc.
BUT! it's going in the right direction.
And gives me impetus for Day2. Eating porridge as I type, walking gear on and will give the dog a walk before it gets too hot.
Then shower and work.

I’m on my personal threshold, anything below my current weight I’m all pom-poms and party time...

...just need to exercise a degree of self control today.

No coffee and biscuit at playgroup
No snacks this afternoon
Fill up on water

I was doing really well until DS1 and his girlfriend came home with cookies from KFC......
Back on it this morning ;)

Last January I hit 83kg and decided to do something about it. I did MFP and 16:8 and by July I was 76.2- that was very low effort and a slow loss. I am now in a stressful job and have hit the wine and puds again so have crept up to 77.7. I have put myself back on 16:8 with hardly any sweet treats, severe limitations on bread, cheese and wine and exercise 5 times a week. I have 4 weeks until my holiday and want to be smaller than the 76.2kg I managed last year.

You sound similar to me- also a single mum with a cross trainer at home. It's difficult for me to get out to classes so anything I do needs to be st home. I am joining you all as an extra buddy- my aim is 73kg in 4 weeks which is ambitious but not impossible.

Yeah...come on Paul - you can do it for one day! Think of how good you'll feel in the morning when you've broken your barrier

kelper go for it woman- get a Shred on today (I can't face it in this heat so I'll live vicariously! )

Duchess be ambitious! ( what's 16:8?)

How about joining Slimming World - the meetings are child friendly and you could lose 12kg (almost 2 stone) in the time you have available - we regularly have members that do this. Or have a look on ebay for the Slimming World books - its basically low fat, low sugar and lots of fruit and veg.

kat 12kg in 5ish weeks?
Really? (think there's a meeting in a sports club near here)

Won't they have stopped meeting over summer?

Great tips so far! I lost 1 st with MFP, it really helped me keep track of what I was eating and where the calories were. My helpful tips would be - swap carbs for protein. See if you can get low fat or fat free yoghurt etc. Lots of fruit & veg. Don’t have any biscuits in the house - if you don’t have it you can’t eat it (& can’t nip out if children asleep!)
Hope it goes well & you stay on track for the wedding.

Well I'm going to stay with relatives this weekend. I'm going to have to do my best with half portions and bulking out with veg/salad. And not drinking too much!

In a bit of a sulk this morning as I had a bit of a fight with my epilator and they've got a pool. I'm hoping no one notices the red marks! I've got my new mastectomy costume and swim boob all ready. It really is the most fantastic flattering piece of engineering. Cannot see any bulges or scars. The swim boob is sponge so I'll have to discreetly squash the water out, though... Think it's too hot for the wig too. Short spikey grey hair it is then. Caught between being self conscious and wanting to let go, enjoy myself and join in. I really hope my weight loss thing works it will be one less think to mither about!

gruber thanks for the cheering and tips!
Yes, I know about not having treats in the house; I've often been caught short when kids were asleep.

slowrun I didn't realise that you are a cancer warrior; I'm even more impressed.
No-one decent will notice your red marks, or your hair or your boob; they will be prostrated in awe at your strength.
(as for anyone else, well, really - would you leave your self-esteem for them to walk on?)
As for spongey swim boobs- some engineer somewhere needs a slap on the wrist.

Thanks, Baroness. Actually, thinking about it, the sponge swim boob might be the sort of plasticky sponge that does not get too waterlogged. I've just not used it before. I'm sure it'll be fine, reviews were good.

Similar weight and height to me.
What works best for me is taking out all carbs - bread, pasta, potatoes etc. Concentrate on good quality protein (fish, meat, chicken, eggs) and good fats (avocado, nuts, seeds etc) with every meal to fill you up, and then fill your plate with low carb green veg or salads.
No caffeine, no alcohol, no snacks.
No fruit except berries and citrus.
Two or three meals a day in an eight hour window.
An exercise class or a home video every day.
Lots of water.

Works without fail and I feel great in the process, not at all hungry but instead strong, in control and well nourished.

Important to see it as a lifestyle change, rather than a temporary diet.

Good luck! Keep us posted on your progress!

Been reading with interest, just adding a post to recommend 'carb substitutes' like carrotetti and courgetti - easy to do a family bolognese and do normal spaghetti for everyone else and this for you. I've even managed to sneak some carrotetti into the kids portions without them noticing!! Cauliflower rice is also reasonable if you're having it with something saucy like a curry or chilli (smells like farts when you're cooking it though!).

First parkrun in two years today! Let’s shift some pounds

Soon....82.2kg this morning.
Heart is disappointed but head says onward!.
I was "good" yesterday- on MFP I had a "deficit" of 175cals.

Botanica I love that image....feeling "strong, in control and well nourished". That's probably more important to me than weight.
I know that I can sustain that....and most importantly, if on the day I don't feel that my dress is "good enough" or a bit tight or whatever, that mental strength will get me through on the basis that, actually, nobody will remember.

NotPenneys courgetti I've heard of but not tried. Homemade meatballs and courgetti?
Difficult to make, do you think?

Sound like a few of have similar challenges! I have just started with MFP as it is the snacking that is sabotaging me - I want to get back to strong rather than skinny.

Signed up for 100 miles in July on the bike and back to Parkrun. How did is go this morning PaulHSG👌

81.6kg this morning.
Am happy with that- had an unexpected invitation to drinks in a friend's garden last night.
Went and sipped sparkling water, nibbled at cheese- mostly grapes and left without feeling stuffed or deprived.

I'm too scared to get on my scales (Also I promised myself I wouldn't for 4 weeks!!)
Its so disheartening, every time I get on them they say the same.
I gave up alcohol for 5 months, stopped eating sweets, exercised loads and never lost a pound. Didn't really change shape or lose inches either.
It becomes almost like a torture, do loads, get on scales, no change, feel shite about myself (But I don't comfort eat which I suppose it one good thing!)

Good to see that you are happy with the plan you have decided on.

I was a bit taken aback to be told that you are aiming to lose 12.4 kilos in 6 weeks but aren't a fan of 'crash dieting' and immediate dismissal of the medical community's currently favoured method of fast weight loss. How else do you think losing over 2 kilos a week (4.4 lbs) is achieved?

90% of weight loss is from changing what you eat, exercise has a much smaller effect.

A more realistic aim for a traditional calorie controlled diet, which is a very good way of losing weight for the long term, is 1-2 lbs (500-800g), after the first week or 2 where you might lose 4-5 pounds (mostly the body's emergency stores of glycogen and associated water, which it will replenish as soon as 'normal eating' is restored). Good luck, I'm sure you will look great at the wedding, whatever size you are.

kelper it is disheartening.
You must have got fitter though?

angelic thanks for coming back.
I'm not aiming to lose 12kg in 6 weeks- I did ask upthread, what a realistic and healthy weight loss would be in that time frame. Realistically, 78kg ( so about 10lbs??) while it is a stretch, is probably achievable with iron-will determination.
VLCD diets are the favoured approach for BMI 30+ (which I am not) and are used under medical supervision.
They are not, IMO, to be used by the "ordinary" dieter who has sat on her bum eating crisps for the winter

kelper, that has been like me. That is why I decided to go to half portions. Thought there is no way of kidding myself on the food consumption then. So I'm running between 30 and 45 minutes most days. Doing 20 minutes low impact aerobics most days along with a few weights and stretches.

Lost 1lb since last week. Not bad as we were staying with relatives at the weekend and were enjoying eating and drinking for Britain! I expect I would have lost more but put some back on at the weekend but that is the way I usually tend to roll.