The ‘No Specific Diet’ Weightloss thread.

[Bookaholic73]

Is anyone planning on losing weight in 2021, but without following any specific diet?

I’ve tried low carb, plant based, GI diets, sugar free...the list goes on.

But i know that for me, I just need to eat better and move more. I can’t imagine the rest of my life without rice/chocolate etc, and if my weightloss is going to be sustainable, it can’t exclude any food groups.

So my plan is to just eat less unhealthy foods, and eat more veggies.
I’m starting today, but am aware that others may want to wait till new year, that’s fine.

Anyone else want to join me?

Did a Joe Wicks workout yesterday and now my legs are protesting! I'm walking downstairs very slowly! 😁 oops!

Might have to do a more gentle form of exercise today.

@CosyAcorn protesting muscles are due to not doing enough warm-up and cool-down stretching before and after the exercise. You don't need to reduce the intensity but just do more stretching.

Can I join? I am on a general eat well, low carb, move more, less bread diet. I have at least 10lbs to loose and I have managed about 3 so far. About 1lbs a week. Its post baby weight, my youngest is 3 months, so it's a bit hard to organise eating well and walking with 2 young kids. Hoping for some motivation and support from people doing the same (losing slowly) on this thread 😊

Welcome @TwirpingBird and @Iam4500

I'm sure you're right, @KihoBebiluPute, I didn't do much of a cool down. Will be mindful of that next time.

Went on a good walk yesterday. But did stop for a cornish pasty mid way and then ate pasta really late last night, and then followed up with crisps 🙄 I was just craving all the savory food! Not the best healthy eating food but it was delicious and I am going to rebalance today.

Morning All!
I’ve been so bad with neglecting you all, sorry about that, work has been manic!

I was 12st 8lbs on Friday, so stayed the same this week.
Aiming for 1lb this week, as slow and steady wins the race! Not that it’s a race, but you know what I mean!

I’ve been doing about 7000 steps a day, and want to get this to 10,000 this week.

@CosyAcorn we did PE with Joe this morning, I think the frog jumps and duck crawls will cause me much pain tomorrow!!

Staying the same is still better than gaining @Bookaholic73 I want to up my step count too - just tricky when it's freezing outside and everywhere I go I have to take small grumbling children

I really made an effort last week and have lost 2.5lb, not spectacular but I was pleased. 2.5lb down, 47.5lb to go

I am only on 5k steps today. But the food is going ok today (in that having 2 small kids makes it hard to find time to eat). Only on about 700 calories ..... I am thinking it's not actually enough and my body is going to think its starving.

When my DTs were tiny @TwirpingBird I could often get to 3pm without having had chance to eat! It works for some people I'm sure but for me I'd then end up scoffing carbs and chocolate because I was absolutely starving!!

I keep forgetting to check in and I really should - this thread is so helpful.

Five pounds down from a start in early January, and I am sooo close to some new jeans fitting! They're burning a hole in my dresser drawer. I am sick to death of the very few things I own in my current heft. Another 3 pounds should do it - fingers crossed. Maybe 2 more weeks?

I am on around 10,000 - 13,000 steps/day, and running 3x/week. I am up to 20 minutes of running straight and really pleased with that. Even if it doesn't affect the weight loss, I certainly feel better.

@TwirpingBird 700 calories a day? Like, every day or in 5:2 kinda way?

No that was 700 calories before dinner. Dinner brought me up to about 1300. But I do find I am very hungry before dinner and then I eat more dinner than I should. Also, it tends to be carb heavy.

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl yes, it's the squats! And all the jumping!

Well done on the running, @Norwester. I did running a couple of years ago and ended up really enjoying it. Then I got out of the habit. Would love to start again but I can't seem to grab 20 minutes of dry weather + daylight to get out there. Yesterday's exercise was a dance party with my 5yo. I must have looked absolutely ridiculous but I just kept on moving as energetically as I could!

@CosyAcorn Dancing sounds more fun than running!

@TwirpingBird Ok then! 1300 is still very low, but not scary-low. Try eating a bit more and see if the weight still comes off, if slowly? I know what you mean about being ravenous by dinner - I've moved dinner from about 7.30/8 to more like 6/6.30 cuz otherwise I can't fight the snacks.

I'm so impressed with people who can fast. I need 3 (portion-controlled, calorie-limited) meals a day or I go all bingey. Sigh.

Is anyone doing non-gym weight training? I'm not, but I probably should be.

@Norwester I've been doing an online course which includes hand weights and kettlebells and it does challenge me, hopefully I can find another to do after this one. Well done on your running - I got up to 20 minutes after following C25K in the summer, it would have been unthinkable before!! I can't do it at the moment but hopefully when the schools go back... and I too am looking longingly at my less-fat clothes. I'm so sick of the small number of things I actually wear, I've promised myself they will go straight to the charity shop when I don't need them any more

The Pikachus get me every time too @CosyAcorn!! It's a good thing Joe is easy on the eye or I'd probably give it up after 5 minutes and collapse in a sweaty, sticky heap!

Could you distribute your calories more through the day @TwirpingBird? One thing that did help me was to make something simple the night before that I could pick on through the day/ stick in the oven and have for two meals: overnight oats, pasta bake, anything like that. (I'm assuming you're ok with carbs!). Then you'd have a snack to hand plus a meal that just needed heating up, which is a bit easier when you're coping with small DC and their many, many irritating habits at mealtimes...

A good day so far today. 7k steps done so far, healthy breakfast and lunch (bar avocade which is a bit heavy) and fruit for snacks. We are having chilli tonight with lean mince. I have started to use oak milk as opposed to whole cows milk. It's not bad at all taste wise when in porridge. Planning a brisk walk when DDs are in bed later. Still hungry late afternoon before dinner but not ravenous. I had to talk myself out of weighing this morning. I do it one Saturday. How is everyone doing?

Feeling really 'meh' today and have been reaching for the food to comfort. Going to do a youtube work out this evening when DH is putting DD to bed.

Maybe an early night and some good sleep would help me to refocus too.

Hope you are all having a good day.

@CosyAcorn I find when I have a bad day I wipe it off (with some chocolate fruit bites from Aldi and maybe a glass of prosecco, for good measure) and go all guns blazing the next day. I am sure tomorrow will be a better day!

I've felt rubbish today too @CosyAcorn (dinner was chips because I couldn't be bothered making anything else ) - I did PE with Joe this morning (curse you and your burpees, Joe!!) but actually couldn't leave the house because of a very heavy AF I don't think the DC minded, they had a little boogie around instead, but I quite wanted to get some fresh air.

Prosecco would have been a cracking idea @TwirpingBird, wish I'd had the chance to enjoy a glass or three!!

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl you are brilliant for managing a PE session under those circumstances well done. When AF is heavy I barely move, and find it difficult to resist just inhaling chocolate until it all subsides.

I shall kick off the friday weigh-ins.

8th Jan 77.6kg (12st 3lb)
15th Jan 76.5kg (12st 0.5lb)
22nd Jan 76.5kg (12st 0.5lb) due to accidentally having deep fried macaroni cheese as side with pizza instead of salad.
29th Jan 76.2kg (12st 0lb) but pretty sure at least 1lb of that was fluid retention due to AF
5th Feb 75.1kg (11st 11.5lb) feeling back on-track

So it's been a bit uneven but that's an average of about 1.4lb a week so I think that's ok.

Exercise in the last week:
5 runs totalling 38km
1 walk of 3.5km

I just did my weekly weigh in. I have GAINED half a pound. I honestly dont understand. I am taking in about 400cals on average less than I am burning, I am getting my 10k steps in most days. I am not cheating anywhere. I have had two pieces of chocolate all week. I am logging everything I eat. Ugh. This is the second week that I have had no loss. Maybe I am just meant to be this size. I am trying to lose the baby belly but I am only 9st 3lbs which is technically a healthy weight. I really wanted to fit back in my jeans 😔

What's your height @TwirpingBird and where are you in your monthly cycle? Half a pound gain for no good reason just as AF arrives seems fairly normal and it disappears again in a few days. Your weight does seem healthy - your tummy bulge may be just your abdomen muscles being looser due to pregnancy, in which case it's core strength exercises you need more than calorie counting (and make sure you are getting enough protein for your body to build up muscle mass where needed)

I am 5 foot and a half inch so pretty small. It's just in the healthy section for BMI. I do think I have some flab to lose around my arms and legs along with the baby belly so I am surprised nothing is happening. Maybe I need to up the exercise and go for HIIT workouts in the evenings and sit ups for muscles as opposed to power walks. My DH is very into fitness (former university rugby player) so he is helping me. The food isnt the issue. It cant be. I am eating 1400 average a day, barely any sugar, mostly fruit and veg and egg noodles, no bread, no whole milk or cheese.

Oh monthly cycle wise I am smack in the middle at the minute.

Hi, can I join? Currently using Myfitnesspal to track everything. I have at least 3.5 stone to lose. Fed up of doing sw or ww.
Lost 3lbs on first weigh in last week. This time I'm being really honest with tracking everything. Have stopped mid week drinking and I'm sleeping much better, going to still have a glass of wine at the weekend if I fancy it! All things in moderation. I have cut out bread and have reduced portion sizes. I've been using the pinch of nom book for inspiration and actually it has some great recipes.
I'm walking each day and also using my exercise bike.
My goal is to not look like a beached whale and to lose the chub rub! I WILL NOT BUY ANY NEW CLOTHES UNTIL I'VE DROPPED AT LEAST TWO DRESS SIZES! (I'm shouting to myself 🙂😉)
Reading this thread has really helped.

1st Jan: 11st1
8th Jan: 10st10
15th Jan: 10st9
22nd Jan: 10st8
29th Jan: 10st5
5th Feb: 10st5

No change this week, 10lbs overall. I was all over the place this week.

I really need to start running again as I enjoy it, just need to get a waterproof running jacket and some new trainers as mine have fallen apart.

Well done @KihoBebiluPute.

Sorry, that is frustrating @TwirpingBird. Your body might just be wanting to take things slow after giving birth. I'm sure the exercises will start to make a difference soon.