What are you doing right now that's working?! Inspiration needed

[Gemi33]

Hi All

I feel like I have tried so many approaches to losing weight but cannot manage to stick with anything. I feel exhausted and unmotivated and can't seem to get my head in the right place. I am also the heaviest I have ever been and really need to do something once and for all. I would love to hear some positive stories - what is working for you? What plan are you following? What helps you stick with it? What results have you had?

Thanks!

xx

Low carb! I lost 25kg in 6months, life changing! DO IT

Doesn't need to be complicated, just don't have the carb portion - eg now I have spag Bol without the pasta or chicken curry (full of butter and cream) but without the rice.

Cauliflower rice instead of regular rice - every little helps.

I have lost a stone of lockdown and baby weight in last 8 weeks, I stopped all snacks between meals, and started couch to 5k. Haven’t really changed meals that much, still eat pizza pasta etc with the kids. I’d like to lose most of another stone and that one will likely mean more austerity but I feel established in the no snack habit now. Before this we were eating shitloads in the evening!

I didn’t answer what helps me stick - I think being in the zone of ‘ive had enough’. It was coming for a while but I was just too tired and needed too much chocolate etc to help
Me cope with stress! So just mentally drawing a line and making it simple with just no snacks, not even fruit. So couldn’t kid myself. Still eat fruit/odd pudding with meal but give my body a rest in between and it just feels healthy so that keeps me going too. Good luck.

Intermittent Fasting!
It is working incredibly for me an truelybdoes feel like I can carry it on long term.
Before you say you can't possibly do it read Feast Fast Repeat by Gin Stephens. It explains how it works and why you don't get any where near as hungry as you do on a calorie restricted diet.
I usually eat in a 4-6 hour window. But I've just finished my first 40 hour fast and don't feel hungry in the slightest right now, to put it simply my body is perfectly happy right now using the energy from my stored fat for fuel!
If you want a change of tactic give it a try. Best of all it's free- no special foods or juicers etc.

I have lost 2 stone in 15 weeks doing 30 min daily yoga, at least 10,000 steps a day and eating at a calorie deficit, which worked out around 1700 cals a day. Didn’t cut anything out. I have a history of bad binge eating and this caused me to gain lots of weight. For the first time of my life, I haven’t binged once for the entire time. This is unprecedented as I can’t remember going longer than about a week without seriously overeating. I think lockdown and pandemic had something to do with it. I’m not complaining. It’s great and I am well on my way to being a healthy BMI which is all I want really.

I've been doing the Joe Wicks 90 day plan. The exercise is tough, but really helps my mental health. The recipes are yummy and not difficult. I had delicious pancakes for breakfast 😁
I'm about half way through and have lost a lot of inches. I'm back in clothes I haven't worn in ages and am almost in my aspirational black Zara trousers!!

I hear you. Intermittent fasting. I feel well, happier, have more energy and some skin and inflammation issues are healing. I eat within a 5-6 hour window each day. The rest of the time I drink black coffee, iced black coffee, sparkling water/water. Others drink black tea or green tea.
The science is that you are not dripping the fat storage hormone insulin into your system constantly. You would expect this to be miserable, but it's liberating. No mental argument about what to eat and telling myself off for 'bad days'. No guilt. It's free, in fact you save money on food bills. You can move your eating window around to suit your day and social occasions.
The best book is Feast Fast Repeat by Gin Stevens on Amazon. Lots of YouTube videos too, including TedTalks.
I need to incorporate more exercise, but I never want to stop feeling this good.

Lots of great suggestions and well done, you all sound like you're doing really well.

One thing that I struggle with with low carb is that I'm vegetarian and find that combination quite hard - anyone else vegetarian?

xx

16:8 combined with 1200 calories tracked in MFP and more exercise. Lost 23lb in lockdown and achieved target this morning!

Yes I’m veggie and understand what you mean - I think intermittent fasting probably better than low carb. I’ve avoided eating millions of bread like I might have in past but otherwise normal carb and still managed to lose.

I am doing metabolic balance. Basic principles are 5 hours between meals, one meal of free choice a week. Protein, veg and bread. Lots of water The initial cost isn’t cheap but it includes a certain number of appointments with your consultant. Since June 6th I’m down 4.3 kilos.

Can you tell me a bit more about 16:8? How does it work in practice?

@Gemi33 you can eat between an 8 hour window which puts your body into fasting mode for the other 16. I really don't understand the science behind it but it works for me!

16:8 is another word for intermittent fasting. 16 hours fasting, 8 hour window to eat and drink. Most people start at 14 or 16 hours fasting and after a month or so, find it easier to fast for longer. The benefits are healing the body, overcoming insulin resistance and most people report better sleep and more energy. More info can be found on Diet Doctor website and Dr Jason Fung videos or Gin Stevens podcasts.

OP look at Diet Doctor.com lots of low carb vegetarian meals and even a plan I think

I'm 47, on HRT and have been doing keto for the last 4 years, properly fat adapted now and do OMAD (one meal a day)

Thank you all! For those doing the 16:8, out of interest what times do you tend to have your 8 hour window to eat?

xx

Hi Gemi,

5/2 did it for me.

I've been overweight for around 30 years, love food.

Having two days a week when you have only 500 calories has been the best for me.

Some other tips that helped me along the way;

Make friends with hunger. Sounds weird, but your stomach only grumbles for a short time. Learn to live with it.

If you're still hungry after a meal; eat an apple then brush your teeth and get busy with something to distract yourself.

Find an exercise that you can slot into your routine - and that you enjoy.

Good luck

@Gemi33

Thank you all! For those doing the 16:8, out of interest what times do you tend to have your 8 hour window to eat?

xx

Not a huge success for me in terms of weight loss, but I know where I fail.

Usually have lunch at 12 and eat nothing after 7/8. If I have breakfast, I find I'm more hungry, so these hours just work for me.

I could do with a new eating habit. For those using intermittent fasting how good is the weight loss?

I lost 30lbs with IF(16:8) to get my BMI to 23. Regained 9 under lock down, but 2 of those gone again this week.

@Gemi33 I tend to eat roughly 9-5 because that fits in with eating a family meal with the kids at 5.

I eat between 9am and 3pm but move the hours slightly depending on my day. I get up at 6am so by 9am I'm usually ready for breakfast. Weightloss has been slow for me but it's faster for others. 40lbs to lose in total and only 8lbs lost in 2 months. Partly the stress of lockdown. I suspect my body had healing to do and that I am insulin resistant.
Some evenings I feel a little hungry, or fancy a glass of wine, but I just tell myself I can eat in the morning and the feeling fades quickly.
5:2 has similar benefits to fasting. Autophagy if nobody has mentioned the science.

Thank you. Not put on any lockdown weight as I increased exercising but now less free time and need a push to loose a few pounds. Just need to work out which “eating “ hours work best for us.

I've lost 40 lbs since February with another 20 to go.

I've walked 10-15000 steps a day, calorie counted after working it out exactly and the odd bit of peloton