How should I lose weight?

[nikkylou]

Sounds like a Stupid question I know.

I've been doing slimming world on and off for about 2/3 years. When I'm on plan, it's great and I do lose. My first go I lost 3 stone! But when off plan, the guilt is enormous like me haha . I can't pull myself back and I dread going. It sounds horrid but I'd much rather go back and be told how foolish I was, than the head tilts, "its not as bad as you think"s "we all have bad days"s and the "do you know what happened"s. Of course I know what happened, it was the inability to control myself from the cake I baked, the chocolate and meal out I wanted.

Anyway, as such I'm quite good at losing and gaining the same stone over. And I'm fed up of it. I skipped out of going back again yesterday after basically having all of December off and know for a fact I've put on all of the 13lbs I lost before my month and a half binge.

I suppose my issue is two fold. I don't hate the group's but it's not exactly a fun use of my evening. I only want to go when I lose. I feel terribly guilty all the time and as such when I go off the rails, well each time it seems to take me longer and longer to psych myself up to go back.

I'm now thinking I can just do it all from home, buy a decent set of scales, and free up an evening a week. But it's practically the same price for online as it's in group and I'm not sure it's worth it.

Plus, although I know the plan works, I'm wondering if maybe I should look at something more sustainable.

I'm not sure if like a slimming world light work, where I do slimming world but calorie count and at least if I do go off plan, I can stay under a calorie goal too if that makes sense? Or is that just stupid?

What does everyone else do?

I spent years yo-yo dieting and being miserable and thinking of nothing but food for YEARS - mainly Weight watchers but I tried SW too. After baby number 3 I just couldn't get going with it with all the bastard menu planning and point counting etc so I tried 5:2. After the first few fast days it was so easy, and I really enjoyed food again and feeling hungry for my meals. It re-set my appetite and I now very rarely eat beyond feeling comfortably full. I lost 3 stone and have kept it off with ease since last summer. DH also did it and lost 2 stone. So bloody easy, wish I'd done it years ago. I will do 5:2 (or 6:1 as I am doing now to maintain) for ever now. I feel so much better and food isn't plaguing my every thought. We eat what we enjoy and I never worry about eating out, treats etc. It's a great freedom.

Another +1 for 5.2, I’m down 23 pounds since I’ve started. Still one more stone to go but it’s so simple to follow that I’ll keep it up as a lifelong habit but probably switch to 6.1 as soon as the last stone is off.

I am currently trying to lose weight and have achieved a stone so far by changing my habits. It’s taken a year to lose a stone but I’m taking the gradual route so I don’t feel hard done to and don’t put weight back on after the diet because I’m not strictly on a diet now iyswim. For example nothing is off the menu but one of the first changes I made was to eat 1 pudding a night instead of two. Obviously there were periods of overeating and I put on weight again but I’ve found this to work for me. Also could you free an hour or so one evening to go to an exercise class instead? This may be more fun and is a great mood booster to spur you on. Hope you find something to suit you x

Have you looked at MyFitnessPal?

I have decided to keep a strict diet diary on there and instead of going to SW once a week like I did (lost 2 stone, gained it back over the course of a year) I am going to go swimming. I am also going to cycle to work and back for extra exercise and to save money on fuel/bus fare.

You're locked in a cycle with SW. ditch it and have a look at rebelfit on Facebook, or just plain old calorie counting on mfp. Or 5:2 as pp suggested.

How much do you need to lose to get to a BMI of under 25? Do you have any medical
Conditions? Your GP will be helpful and refer you to the practice nurse for advice on diet and exercise and you might qualify for exercise on prescription (Paris scheme). What exercise do you do now? Can you increase the amount you do and maintain that amount? My advice to my patients was always to try porridge for breakfast as this helps lower cholesterol and is a great healthy breakfast; and to walk if they don't already. Little changes make a difference long term and your chances of success are far greater is the changes you make can be maintained. No one can maintain low calorie diets forever as they lead to binging and gaining back the weight lost. Slow steady weight loss by increasing activity and making healthier choices is the way to go.

Definitely right with being locked in a cycle! I go feel really motivated for all of 2 weeks, then sludge on for 4 more before someone invites me out for dinner. I ruin it, find it difficult to recover, attend for 2 more weeks before it all goes completely pear shaped. Avoid for a month / two months and then return.

I've downloaded my fitness pal, I've done it before, about 5/6 years ago thinking about it. I actually remember getting into better habits, as I started selecting low calorie foods so I could eat more, and felt fuller. I think I'll try it again actually.

I've already tasked my partner to find us a gym as I do need to be more active!

How does 5:2 work? Will that work along side mfp?

Hi, sorry for the hijack, but can I ask those of you that have done 5:2 how long did it take to lose the weight?

With 5:2 were people calorie controlled on the 5 days too? Think I need an appetite reset too!

I started on the 7th of September so 4 months to lose 23 pounds. I was pretty healthy on my non fast days during the week but went out for dinner every weekend and usually a few drinks too so I’m sure I could have lost more quickly but I wanted to have my social life as well.

I started in late Feb and lost most of the weight by July although I've dropped a few more pounds since then very slowly. It was a gradual downward trajectory rather than a consistent predictable weekly loss. I didn't count calories on the other 5 days I just tried to choose things I would enjoy and I found I chose healthier things for the most part anyway (when you're properly hungry it's amazing how delicious 'real' food is). I still ate all the things I liked but found I naturally had smaller portions. I now HATE that overstuffed bloated feeling and I find it easy to stop eating when I stop enjoying whatever is on my plate because I don't feel I have to binge. Nothing is off limits. If I want crisps or chocolate or wine I have it, although in general I don't drink at home, only on a night out. I go on quite a lot of nights out though

I might try 5:2 - it sounds relatively straightforward. The two VLC days mustn't be consecutive, have I got that right? And the 5 'normal' days - healthy eating and not a Chinese banquet for 4 all to myself and chippie tea?

There is so much information about this eating plan online, which is the best website to use? Thanks in advance.

You can do the 2 days back to back if you want- I've never had the stamina for it but some prefer it. There's a really active Facebook group you can join that has tons of info and inspirational pics, recipes etc. I just checked and it's called 'The 5:2 Diet'.
If you want a Chinese or a chippy tea on one of the non-fast days, have it. I'd be surprised if you could manage a 4 person banquet after a fast day tho!

Hi all, thought I'd pop in and update. I've downloaded my fitness pal, synced it with my fitbit and bought a shiny new set of scales.

It feels it's going well so far, but we'll see what the scales say on Tuesday!

For the first time in a long time, I've felt less restricted, strangely, considering I'm having to do more weighing and measuring than ever. But I've started making much better size portions and surprised at how I don't seem to feel any worse off due to it.

Pretty much all this week I've been thinking of things I can have that I no longer have to syn. And I'm using real oil again just in a controlled way. My partner's happy I've started wanting to cook proper food again!

Anyway, think I'm going to make my way to some other threads to try and keep this motivation going!

With regard to losing weight, each person is individual and everyone needs their own approach. Here are the main tips for losing weight from me:

1. 5: 2 diet plan. It’s better to read an article about it (for example, bbs article: www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/what-52-diet )
2. Sport. You do not need to fight training. It is best to make a training plan with a trainer specifically for personal training. If you do not have time for this, then exercise, yoga or jogging in the morning will speed up the process of losing weight.
3. Reduce the consumption of junk food. Various sweets, fatty foods, fast food and the like should be excluded or at least limited.

Also with age, there may be problems with hormonal levels. It will be necessary to take tests and check the level of hormones in the body. Such hormones as growth hormone, testosterone and estrogen are the most common in our body. Estrogen deficiency
( hghtherapydoctor.us/estrogen/what-is-estrogen-identifying-a-need/ ) can cause weight gain, depression, low libido, brittle bones, insomnia, hot flashes, and other symptoms. In this case, you need to contact an endocryologist.

Just joining in here, I love the 5:2 approach!

I'm doing it with LighterLife as I find the products easy and I don't have to do much thinking or meal prep.

Some weeks I have 3 fast days x

Hello .. I have been trying to lose weight for last 6 months . I had my child 8 months ago but gained so much weight . I went from 120lbs to 170lbs . I just need a friend who I can chat with everyday about the diet or exercise .