I don't really do diets but I need to lose a little bit more and am stuck at the same weight day in day out - help!

[newlifenewname]

Okay, I don't look massively overweight I don't think but I certainly have a fair bit to lose - about a stone to a stone and a half. I'm a size 12 and would like to be size 10 as I am quite petite so size 12 is big on me iyswim.

I have been a lot more than I am now post pregnancies but after my third pregnancy I've not gone back to what I was after my first.

Not aiming for pre pg weight as that was nearly 8 years ago and I'm now in my 30s not 20s!

So, my problem is that I seem to be maintaining to the exact lb a weight that I'm not happy with. I don't do well with diets although Atkins ahs worked well in the past. I prefer to go for a simple exercise versus fuel approach.

However I am not eating much at all and I am walking twice a day. I used to run but now a lone parent I can only do this during term time so it all goes to pot s bit.

I eat the following in a typical day:

Breakfast of coffee with sweetener and milk plus muesli.

Lunch of sandwich or pitta with salad and cheese or hoummus or prawns and avocado

Dinner of cheese and biscuits and then a coffee with a sweet thing like shortbread or few pieces of chocolate or a Time Out. Sometimes a pudding like summer pud.

So I don't think I over eat so why can't I lose any more weight?

I am quite low about this tbh.

it could just be your metabolism slowing down a little - that's normal. From your photos on your profile, you really don't need to lose weight

I would carry on as you are - don't bother with sweetener in your coffee put a spoonful of sugar instead (sweeteners arent' particularly healthy and there's evidence to suggest that they don't stop you wanting something sweet)

Walking is good.

the only thing I can suggest is make sure you don't eat after a certain time at night - 7pm for example.

maybe have your chocolate treat after your lunch and have fruit as dessert in the evenings.

I had my metabolism checked and it is quite high but I definitely eat too late. Could this really make a big difference?

I think you need to add more fruit and veg into your diet. What time to you eat your dinner? Cheese and biscuits in the evening, followed by a pud is probably not helping. How about a stir fry, or chicken or fish with vegetables?

Also, try drinking more water and try to exercise more.

eating in the evening makes a big difference. the food just doesn't have a chance to be burnt off.

At what time do you have your Dinner...and maybe having a protein based Dinner would be better, like some fish//chicken with salad...?
To me it actually looks as if you eat a little bit to little. Eating to little will slow your metabolism down.
Not saying you should go overboard here...just maybe eating more fruit and veg over the day.
My WW leader swears on eggs for breakfast when you plateau...apparentlty the protein in the morning helps get the metabolism going....so, try something like "fried" (In fry light)eggs and bacon (trimmed of fat)or an Omelette...things like that...

oops, have said what others have said already...ooops....should have read through better.
As for eating late....appanretly you can see a real difference if you do not eat any man made carbs (Bread, Pasta, etc...) after 7pm...
Oh and for exercising...how about doing an Exercise DVD? I love my Exercise DVD's.....

Hi NLNM,

You are very pretty . I'm not sure that you DO need to lose weight, but if you really want to lose weight, then perhaps look at the following - this isn't because I think you're being unhealthy, but just because your body adjusts to whatever you're doing/eating and becomes more efficient and so therefore you have to adjust to lose weight:

• check how much sugar is in your museli - ideally make your own, it's much better (although I realise that this is in an ideal world)
• you are eating a lot of cheese. Make this reduced fat cheese & cut down, it's very fattening
• swap puddings/chocolate for fruit salad and yoghurt.

TBH you don't seem to be eating very much. Regardless of your weight, really to be healthy uou should swap the little of bad things that you are eating (sugary museli, cheese, chocolate bars, puddings) for a lot of good things.

I think you are eating well in the day but you shoud have a proper meal in the evening, chicken and steamed veg or salad.
Cheese, shortbread and a pudding is a lot of sugar and fat.
Sometimes paople need to eat more if they are active or the body thinks you are starving it and 'hangs on ' to the fat.

Okay, have paid heed to what you all said and today have had:

Muesli - (is dorset no added sugar variety) with goat's milk

Coffee with sweetner (don't like sugar) and milk

Orange juice and water throughout day

Lunchtime snack of millionaire's shortbread

Dinner of chicken and veg stir fry all eaten before 8pm which is a rarity!

Will try to do the same tomorrow. I do need to lose weight I have rolls of lard about my hips and thighs.

Orange Juice is another bad option, unless freshly squeezed, when dispite it's high sugar contents it at least still got it's goodness, too...

I quite like a few slices of unwaxed lemon and some slices of lime in hot water...

from your OP you don't sound like you are eating much unless it is one hell of a lot of cheese and biscuits.

You look nice in your pictures but compeltley off topic I adore that one in France.

On WeightWatchers they have a program (I forget the acronym) whereby you vary your daily intake of calories/fat.

So one day, 1000 kcals; next 1500kcals; then 900kcals etc.

Also, you could try eating little and often.

Sorry you feel down about it. How old is your youngest child>?

the core plan could work like tat as you choose items from your free food list for your 3 meals...it's definately the plan that encourages healthy eating...where as the points plan, imo does not really reflect healthy food...as things like ily fish are at really high point value, forinstance

Oh yes, I remember that plan on WW. It's for plateaus. It's very effective apparently.

What's millionaire's shortbread?

Try not to drink too much juice - it's got lots of sugar in. Go for black tea - green tea (best, but not a bottled one, they're full of sugar)/water/coffee, but ideally water & lots of it.

I think the thing is here is that losing weight is not necessarily about deprivation, it's about making the right choices. So you seem to be eating very little, but some of your choices could be more healthy/low fat.

Eg: Breakfast - bircher museli (v small portion) or porridge (from oats, not processed - again, not huge steaming bowl fulls with full fat milk, just a small amount). Things like special K and those Kelloggs cereals are still full of sugar. If you do have milk try to get used to skimmed (it does get easier after a while). If you're eating things like this in moderation and you're still not losing weight then just do a fruit salad.

Lunch - wrap with salad/tuna/chicken & fruit for afters

Dinner - steamed veg with chicken or jacket potato with low fat cheese/beans and salad.

Snacks in between (try to eat 5 times per day) - handful of nuts/dried fruit or a satsuama/grapes - etc

If you eat this way 5 times a day you shouldn't get hungry but should lose weight well, especially if combined with cardio and resistance training.

Oh you were talking about the
Wendie Plan

Thanks for all the advice. I have good news!

Thanks to my eating earlier and trying to restrict the naughty stuff to after lunch treat rather than supper time scoff, I have lost 2lbs!

It is working!!

that is brill.....

what is milionaries shortbread?

Oh yes, sorry!

Millionaires shortbread is (and you're going to be disppointed now ) shortbread with caramel and then choc on top. Verrrry naughty but I buy the Thorntons packets of squares that are about 3cm by 3cm in size so is okay. Of course.

that is a very small lunch?

Small but a bit norty.

I have been having proper lunch though and had prawns in pitta today after my morning muesli. Have pre period carb craving now though which isn't much help!