I want to go from size 14-12 in next 2 months or so. What's my plan?

[KatDubs261]

When lockdown started I downloaded MFP and tracked calories every day. Since March I've gone from 12 st 10.9lbs to about 12st 4 (hovers above when I've had dinners out etc but more or less stays there).

I cut out all biscuits and stopped binge eating. 1 or 2 alcoholic drinks per week, usually low cal gin. Coffee with no milk or sugar. Cut out bread and pasta.

I have to admit a big part of my reasoning is sex related. My lower tummy is flabby with stretch marks - I otherwise have quite a nice hourglass figure i think, but the thought of being intimate at the moment seems impossible.

I lift weights once or twice per week and occasionally hike but otherwise not doing so much. Tbh I stopped trying to lose weight because it seemed like I just wasnt losing anything more

What should I do exactly ?

Meal plans and resources also welcome

I would look at intermittent fasting and low carb. Diet doctor has meal plans and I'd read Dr Fung's the complete guide to fasting. It explains why losing weight on a calorie controlled diet stops working. It explains why you can't lose weight while raising insulin through eating carbohydrates. It's really effective and you shouldn't feel hungry.

Check out fat girl getting fit, it's absolutely brilliant. Meal plans, workouts, meditations, a great friendly Facebook group. I love it!!

I've tried intermittent fasting but I ended up feeling too hangry and unable to focus at work. At least now I dont eat when I first get up. I wait until late morning and eat something light, which is progress for me anyway.

Fat girl getting fit website doesnt work for me. I'll try Facebook group but would prefer others dont see I'm on it?!

Try fat fasting first. So eat eggs, bacon, olives, avocado. This gets you fat adapted. You then should be able to fast. Start by doing 12 hours, then 16, then 20 etc.

I started lockdown at 11.5 stone and I’m now 10st (I’m only 5’1) so this is about right for my height/frame. I found that using my fitness pal for tracking food was hugely important, but also weighing food as well. I never realised but it o had a portion of oven chips I was normally eating 2.5 portions because I wasn’t measuring them!. I found about 10.4 stone the weight was a bit more stubborn and wouldn’t shift with just walking etc. I’ve rejoined the gym/started running and got a fitness plan from the gym (our council run gym do them for free) and he’s got me doing 3 days a week for 50 mins and it include 1 day of weights, 1 of HIIT and 1 of core which is helping to shape my stomach and saggy arse. It’s also allowed me to loose the last of the stubborn pounds. I also feel so much better in myself and don’t get me wrong I’m dying at the end, but i do enjoy it!

If your not able to do the gym, I used couch to 5k which I can’t recommend enough (you don’t need any fancy equipment) and I used 30 day shred which is basically 25 min work out and you do it every day. It cost me £5 from YouTube and it’s really effective (she does do a bit with weights.... I used 2 litre bottles of water 👍) You can do beginner bits and more advanced bits as you get fitter. YouTube had lots of workout videos on their and you can get trails for free from most of them, just have a look around. Diet will only get you so far, you will need to tone/exercise to help your body develop the shape you want.

Good luck OP

Just to add I’ve tried low carb and intermittent fasting and found that low carb wasn’t much fun long term, cooking separate meals for me and dp, really difficult to stick to the plan when eating out without massively changing menus etc. Also found that the meal options were limited and it felt a lot more expensive than My normal food choices. Intermittent fasting was fine, but I found I was snacking loads on an afternoon, it works for some, just not for me.

Agree that tracking calories and weighing food is a great way to go. Swapping rice and pasta for broccoli has also worked well for me. Avoiding choc, but having some of you really fancy it. If I’m going out to eat, I’ll look at the menu and decide what I’m going to have the night before when I’m full, this has stopped me making unhealthy decisions when I’m hungry.
I’ve been doing all the above for 3 weeks and have gone from 10stone 5 to 9 stone 12. I’m only 5’3 so I’ve got about another 12 pounds to lose but feeling quite excited that it feels really doable.

That's amazing progress @Jeffers5.

I have cut out pasta and rice for the most part (although rice less if I'm honest. Could probably reduce that more). Have also switched to dark chocolate and got used to the taste.

Tbh I thought I'd have lost more than half a stone having made quite a few positive changes. Wfh 9-5 all week at the desk likely doesnt help.

I dont have scales at the moment to weigh portion sizes. Maybe I'll order that this weekend.

Weighing and logging everything is essential tbh.

How many calories are you eating and how tall are you?

Thank you @KatDubs261, I’m really pleased. I’ve spent years eating like I’m 15 (everything in sight!) and it’s caught up with me and I’ve been overweight for the last 5 years. Weighing food has made such a big difference, my cereal portion for example was 4x the recommended!!!

I've lost nearly 2 stone during covid by replacing bread with rice crackers, cheddar with mozerella cheese, only having chocolate at night and running 5k every other day.

Keto

I've been doing my Fit Bit challenge with a colleague - over 10, 000 steps today. I try to do at least a 45 minute walk most days as working from home means I'm so much more stationery than I was.

I'm trying to go low carb but it's not easy - really miss bread!
I've decided not to log all my food as it drives me bonkers and I don't want to become obsessed and boring.

I'm looking to lose about a stone and a half.

At the moment I'd usually be having chocolate and wine - I'm going to have a bath and drink lots of water instead.
But I am trying to eat healthily in the week - various salads - it just seems to go to pot at weekends and I've had some Birthday meals out recently.

@RandomMess i am.5 foot 5 and when measuring every day I was averaging 1400 cals, sometimes less and usually slightly more at weekend. Diet varies. Example lately would be:

Breakfast - 1 medium egg of alpro plain yoghurt with some fruit
Lunch - asparagus soup (maybe a couple pieces of falafel if still hungry)
Dinner - salmon fillet, broccoli and wholegrain rice. I am having pizza tonight though!

Not sure how much it all comes to. I dont think I eat a lot of calories each day. I generally dont snack but might have a boiled egg if really hungry.

I meant egg OR yoghurt