Best way to lose 3 st

[DottieLottie1]

So, I've obviously buried my head in the sand. This morning I realised my go to comfy clothes are in the wash. I've basically been wearing leggings and baggy tops for the last year or so. I tried on a top I haven't worn for a while and my oh my it looks terrible! I thought enough is enough and braved the scales- I'm 13st 4, the heaviest I've ever been! I'm 5ft 9.

4 years ago I was just over 9 stone and a small size 8.

My ideal weight is around the 10st mark.

I've never eaten breakfast or lunch but have a large dinner. This can be something extremely healthy or the polar opposite 😬 I don't really snack on anything. I drink just Tea without sugar and occasional sugar free soft drinks. I assume my downfall is my love of Prosecco.

I'm fairly active as my job is physical.

Where am I going wrong? I know I should cut out the wine. I've tried eating breakfast, lunch and dinner but gain weight.

What diet would be best?

TIA

You just need to be in a calorie deficit, check out james smith pt on facebook / instagram and it will all become clear

Eat/drink what you normally do for a few days but log it. You'll see if you're having too many calories and what the culprit is (although sounds like you already know) and then decide whether to cut something out of your diet or eat/drink less of it if you feel you have control over it.

Thanks, I will look into both your suggestions. I've still got to get my head round this as reality only hit a few hours ago. It's the first time I've been on my scales in 4 years, so that was a biggish step. I've always feared them 🙄.

I’m 5’8, have a desk job and am 55. I’m holding steady at 10 stone on the following
Coffee and sometimes toast for breakfast
Wholemeal sandwich plus small bag crisps, fruit & coffee for lunch (office)
Supper, things like spaghetti Bol, chicken, new potatoes & salad or fish curry & brown rice etc. Include lots of veg.
I replaced white bread/rice/pasta with brown or wholemeal and it made me feel full for much longer. I have an occasional cake but no ready meals, I learned to cook quick food
I jog for 30 mins one lunchtime a week, do Parkrun on Saturdays and an hour martial art per week.
I have one small glass of wine a week. If I want more, I run more.

It’s harder to keep my weight down as I get older. If you are younger, it might be a bit easier. Good luck.

Thanks @Seniorschoolmum , I think I've got to blame the wine! As I said in my OP I was just over 9st four years ago. I knew I had gained a bit but have been in denial as to how much. I will admit that what's been chucked at me in my life over the course of those 4 years has left me depressed- I've not seeked any help. This is obviously not going to help my cause, but I want to do this and need to.

I'm a sports coach so I do move a lot!

A bottle of prosecco is about 500 calories.

I got to 11’2 before I realised the weight was going on. It took about 6 months to lose it. I bought smaller dinner plates and tried to cut portion size by 10%.
Running made the difference for me but I was pretty inactive. Clearly you don’t need that.

Could you cut one bottle of wine a week and put the cash towards a holiday? 50 weeks x £8 is £400.

@Seniorschoolmum that's exactly the mindset I've got to get in! I drink once midweek and at the weekends. The midweek one will have to go.

2 months ago I was in the same boat I had a stressful year and was drinking 4 bottles of wine over the weekend with the wine came the snacks the weight piled on I went from an 8 to a 14 In 6 months I looked in the mirror and didn't reconise myself I was puffy and fat. I had to get back to the old me so I cut out the wine to Just once a month worked out most days and ate really healthy salads with low fat / sugar dressings loads of veg I'm nearly back in my size 8s I feel and look like me again good luck op you can do it 😊

How much weight did you lose @Babyg1995 ? Two months is quite impressive!

So far so good today! I'm not really a snacker. When I have (vaguely) attempted shifting weight before I've tried 0% Greek yoghurts and Fromage Frais etc but end up gaining weight. I assume I'm going over my required calorie intake- I'm thinking I'm being good but obviously I'm not.

I've consumed around 1,100 cal today. Not intending any more!

Just tea and water til bed.

I'm going to try and use this thread to stay positive. Got lots of it at the moment although it is only the beginning of day 2.

Looking to book a holiday for next February, maybe Mexico- inspiration to get beach ready

I was good yesterday but did get a pang for something sweet around 8.30pm- I resisted but I don't normally have a sweet tooth or snack. Ether my body isn't used to the sudden change or maybe I'm missing something?

Have tracked my calories. Have consumed 1,070 and 1000 calories mon/tues- no wine (I drink set days )

I'm going to have 2 glasses of Prosecco with dinner tonight to keep calories lowish.

I'm not really eating less than I did so I'm going to try and cut down on alcohol intake.

3 good days on the trott! That's if you count drinking half the amount of alcohol I normally do as good?

Feel like I'm talking to myself here, but I'll keep going

Weigh in day and I've list 4lb. So good start. I have lowered my calorie intake to around 1200 per day and will easily halve my alcohol consumption. I didn't have a great weekend as it was my birthday and already had a party planned. I could have started my diet overhaul this week but when reality hit it had to be there and then.

I've downloaded MyFitnessPal and it's been really helpful. I am being true to the number of calories I'm taking in.

That's great, you are doing really well, keep us updated!

Thanks @VivaFrida, I think (?) I'm in the right mindset so should have the will power. Just need to get what I put inside right. The alcohol is most probably likely to be culprit (no drink problem just habit!) but I've also been guilty of consuming food I believed to be "diet friendly " when in fact it was loaded with calories.

Furthermore I've just caught a glimpse of my reflection in s window! Longggg way to go but hopeful it instils the motivation as i don't want to look or more importantly feel like this.

Just wanted to say well done on keeping motivated. Try cutting back on the carbs, it’s made a dramatic difference to me.

Thanks @TheWaiting , I've gone low calorie. High protein and a few carbs. I don't feel hungry and haven't felt like I'm missing anything yet!

This will probably fall on deaf ears and I totally get that, but 1000-1200 calories is too low. You'll loose weight and muscle tissue and drop on the scales, sure, but then you'll have to eat less and less and exercise more just to maintain your weight.
MFP is great but I wouldn't go by their calculations on how much to have. 1500 Cal's should be bare minimum, with 30% protein, 30% fat and 40% carbs, hitting your protein should be the main goal. If you add resistance training to this, eventually you'll end up teaching your body to accept more calories whilst still loosing/maintaining weight.

@agirlhasnonameX , not falling on deaf ears promise! The chances are I won't be able to keep to particularly low calories at the weekend so it's a bit like a fasting diet.

How old are you, OP? Your weight gain might also be hormone related.

41

The chances are I won't be able to keep to particularly low calories at the weekend so it's a bit like a fasting diet.
Not many people can live happily on a very low intake of calories. A quick fix is always desirable against a lifestyle change, but if you do as I mentioned- calories not too low, protein and resistance train, over the course of time your body composition will change and you'll loose weight and be able to eat more over time instead of less, with no fasting or starving yourself required.
Anyway just a suggestion, best of luck.