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?

Morning! Time for me to get back on program after a weekend of eating and lounging. Going to get a run in this morning and stop snacking again...and drinking.

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl sorry about the job. Can understand waiting till you have some peace and quiet before starting the next round of hunting.

Weighed myself this morning and have put 1/2 a lb on which I guess isn’t surprising when I have eaten 5 brownies over the past 3 days. Trying to find some motivation today, haven’t been for a run yet as have just got back from the shops and it is bitterly cold outside so going to wait and hope it warms up later this afternoon. I am doing a degree through the open uni and really need to crack on with my next assignment whilst I have some extra time at home this week but finding it hard to fight the need to slob out and watch mindless tv

I would love to join you all here if that's ok. I have alot of weight to lose (about 30kg), but hoping to make it sustainable by not being too rigid. I'm aiming for a bit of calorie counting (loosely) and exercising more so this thread looks about right. I'd definitely rather have smaller portions of something nice than ban the nice things altogether. I remember my mum cooking us a normal meal then sitting down with a plate of tomatoes which just seemed miserable - for us as well as her, and it didn't work either! I'm trying to keep family dinners fairly normal and to cut calories through breakfast / lunch, portion control and no snacks.

I started using the NHS app 4 weeks ago after getting a new exercise bike (and jumping on the scales for the first time in years). I've been managing to use the bike almost every day, and so far, I've lost 3 kg which I'm pretty happy with. I could do with somewhere to be accountable and keep my motivation going though - it's going to be a long haul!

Welcome @JeanGabin - please do join us. I would offer you a carrot stick or some popcorn or something by way of being hospitable. Sounds like a good plan. I recognise what you describe about your mum. Mine would have a rivita cracker with salad while we were having a "normal meal" too. We do eat different things to DC but that's because of DC ridiculously fussy restrictive food issues limited to such bland and simple substances that DH & I would die of boredom. So tonight DH & I had a delicious massaman rice dish (based on a HelloFresh recipe with veg doubled and rice halved) while DC had plain pasta with peas and cheddar cheese.

Not sure if I am back on track yet. On the plus side, I did a 10km run this morning (first run since last Thursday) and also a 5km walk with my mum in the afternoon. On the minus side my mum gave me lunch before the walk and cake after the walk which was in no way calorie controlled. I had 2 slices of cake. She has certainly got over her days of rivita but she was keen to ensure I tried both the cakes she had made (though only had the one slice herself). Ah well. Eventually the various temptations will be all finished up and it will be easier to eat more abstemiously.

@KihoBebiluPute I would go loopy if I had to eat what DS1 eats, he is dairy-free and just ridiculously fussy (probably due to his ASD, but still, very frustrating!). Plain pasta, chicken nuggets, cream crackers... aarrggghh. DS2 is a bit better and will at least try most things, but meal times are often no fun!

Welcome @JeanGabin my DM was a serial dieter too, until after the birth of my youngest sibling, when I think she just gave up! It really scares me actually both that she makes zero effort and that I could see me going down the same road - she has such bad health problems now and they were (if not preventable) then certainly didn't have to be as bad as they are, if she'd lost some weight, done some exercise and generally looked after herself a bit better. Obviously I haven't said any of this to her, but I have to admit it does motivate me to eat better and keep going with the Joe Wicks workouts even when I don't feel like it, which is quite often sorry Joe

@CosyAcorn I'm hoping to catch up on my job hunting tomorrow whilst the DC are at sports club, but DS1 had a bit of a temperature this evening, and of course he can't go if that doesn't go down. Fingers crossed he feels better by the morning!

@ClaraTheImpossibleGirl hope DS is feeling better this morning.

I also couldn't eat the same as DD. She's fairly good with vegetables but she doesn't like any meals that involve a sauce - bolognese, curry, stew, pie fillings... The exception is creamy pasta but as that's made with cream I can understand why she likes that one!

I went for a little run this morning and got back just in time for DH to hand me a bacon sandwich. 😅 Going to try and do some wallpaper stripping today so I'm justifying it as I'll need the energy boost today!

DS1 seemed fine this morning thanks @CosyAcorn so they have gone to sports club. I did their COVID tests this morning too and both DC were clear thank goodness. They are full of snot though, how delightful!

Half a pound off for me this week. I know, I know, don't all rush at once for the secrets of my slimming success but I'm ok with it given the large amount of chocolate I ate during AF week last week.

DS1 hates all sauces too BTW. Really hoping he becomes less fussy as he gets older...!

Hello, well no news here, I managed not to go mad over the Easter weekend. It wasn't easy though as I love chocolate! I did eat two mini flake bars though to satisfy my choc craving.

Well done for your 1/2lb loss @ClaraTheImpossibleGirl it's going in the right direction and that's what counts!

@CosyAcorn that sandwich sound delicious! You've put me in mind to make my own Blt now 😅

Hello @JeanGabin 👋 I'm new too. I had lots to lose at one point and it's taken years. I logged into my fitness pal and exactly 7 years ago I was 18.2 1/2 - now I'm 12.12 1/2 some years I've gained and lost and some years I've stayed the same, I'm trying to have a final push and get down to a bmi of 25 before I'm 50 next January, it'd be the first time since I was 18/19. Good luck !

@KihoBebiluPute it must be a generational thing as my Mum is a salad and ryvita kind of lady too 😬 oh and cup a soup and cake - not the healthiest but she's fussy.

Not a good day for me today, I’ve basically spent it sat on my backside playing games with the kids, I put my meals into mfp this morning and as I’m making lasagna for tea which is very high in calories if left me with nothing left over for snacks but I have still eaten an apple with peanut butter and half an Easter egg. I’m a little annoyed at myself as should have stopped after the apple but couldn’t resist the chocolate. It’s freezing cold and snowing on and off here and I couldn’t have gone for a run until dp is home from work so I’m going to skip it today. Determined to make tomorrow a better day as would like to see even a small loss come Friday. It’s hard work trying to be healthy

Sorry to hear that @Wejustdontknow - it's difficult isn't it especially when there are yummy snacks around.

I'm saving my cals for steak chips and salad for dinner, I also got a delivery from 'the skinny bakery' and I'm going to eat a whole pack of the red velvet pearls for pudding 🥰 I'm excited! I'll let you know what they are like 👍🏻

Weigh day on Friday, I'm hoping for between 1.5 and 2lb loss this week although the way I'm having problems with constipation isn't helping that cause much 😬.

Hope you are all having a good day - I'm fed up with being so cold 🥶

Ps sorry for the excessive emoji's!

.... I’m off to google skinny bakery, although being coeliac means I probably can’t have anything they sell 😞
I weighed myself this mornings and I’m the same weight as last fridays weigh-in so at least I haven’t gained so far.
I’m finding it hard to fit in exercise with the kids being at home, I can’t go out for a run until 5:30 and by then I just don’t fancy it.
I’ve been good so far today, just breakfast and lunch but I am feeling hungry and it’s a while until tea yet. We are having burgers for tea tonight but I won’t be having bread, and will have plenty of salad and some sweet potato fries and I have enough calories left for a small snack if I want one

You can never have too many emojis 🙂

Oh my goodness... they have a gluten free skinny bakery section 😮😮😮

Ha! Yes and vegan alternatives. Well ... i bought quite a few ( £32 ) and tbh they really do hit the spot! Ok they aren't as good as Waitrose cake but not much is tbh. I think they are worth a go, I like that they taste suitably cake-ey and are moist like they should be. The children liked them too!

Hey no gain is good! I've been pretty good all week but it's crashingly dull, I've given up wine for the duration and I miss that a lot.

Hmm now you've put me in mind for a burger too, I love burgers, funnily enough without the bread. If ever I had a takeaway burger I'd always leave the bun. Chips are my bloody downfall 🤦‍♀️

I've done no exercise at all, I'm not proud but tbh it's just cold out and usually I'd ride 3/4 times a week but I've been lazy and getting my daughter and her friend to exercise our horses, not that they give a shiny shit (the horses ) as they are bone idle and would spend the day in their field in front of the living room eating grass if they could!

Well, the bad news is that I ate all of my Easter chocolate, the good news is that it's no longer in the house to tempt me.

So much for being focused this week! But today is a new day.

Oh and on the plus side, I've nearly finished stripping the wallpaper in the hall stairs and landing, so my arms have had a big workout this week!

Yesterday I carried out an experiment to find out whether eating about 60g of easter chocolate immediately before going out for a run might give me an energy boost for a successful run.

Results were mixed. Yes I was quite speedy for the first few km which might be attributable to the higher blood sugar level, but after 30 mins of running I began to feel really tired and although I struggled on for a bit I ended up curtailing the run after only 7km having hoped to do 12.

I think the remaining easter chocolate should be kept for post-run rewards rather than pre-run fuel.

I think the remaining easter chocolate should be kept for post-run rewards rather than pre-run fuel
That's a slippery slope, sometimes it's easier to overeat after the training session because your mind tricks you into thinking you can let yourself eat a bit more since you deserved that. At least that's what used to happen to me quite often so I prefer to use sweet treats as a fuel and not as a reward

You are quite right that that's a danger @Sweetener12 but I'm not convinced that the simple sugars of chocolate make a good fuel either because of the post-sugar-high crash which seemed to hit me mid-run on Wednesday.

Anyhow I managed a longer run yesterday which was fuelled by a mushroom and spinach crepe for breakfast rather than Hotel Chocolat truffles.

Friday weigh-in:
8th Jan 77.6kg (12st 3lb)
15th Jan 76.5kg (12st 0.5lb)
22nd Jan 76.5kg (12st 0.5lb)
29th Jan 76.2kg (12st 0lb)
5th Feb 75.1kg (11st 11.5lb)
12th Feb 74.9kg (11st 11lb)
19th Feb 74.5kg (11st 10.25lb)
26th Feb 73.6kg (11st 8.25lb)
5th Mar 73.3kg (11st 7.5lb)
12th Mar 74.4kg (11st 10lb)
19th Mar 73.0kg (11st 7lb)
26th Mar 72.1kg (11st 5lb)
2nd Apr 72.3kg (11st 5.5lb)
9th Apr 72.2kg (11st 5.25lb)

So not much progress but the scales said 72.6 at one point earlier in the week and I have been trying hard to ensure that was gone by today's weigh-in so I am glad I managed that.

Exercise 3 runs totalling 30km and 2 walks totalling 10km. There is still quite a lot of cake and chocolate in the house. Plus the prospect of pub visits next week. I am learning slowly how to balance allowing myself all these nice things in moderation with plenty of exercise and lower-calorie choices at other meals so that the indulgences don't end up piling on pounds. It has been difficult to get out for runs this week as the bitter cold wind has made me want to whimper and hide under my duvet instead.

1st Jan: 11st1
8th Jan: 10st10
15th Jan: 10st9
22nd Jan: 10st8
29th Jan: 10st5
5th Feb: 10st5
12th Feb: 10st4
19th Feb: 10st5
26th Feb: 10st4
5th Mar: 10st2
12th Mar: 10st1
19 Mar: 10st2
26th Mar: 10st
2nd Apr: 9st12
9th Apr: 9st13

1lb gain this week, 1 stone 2lbs lost overall.
Easter chocolate + kid at home + cold weather is not a good mix for me losing weight. Plus my friend came to the garden with bags of baked goodies from lidl. Yum yums and muffins!

But on the whole I've been really pleased with the steady loss so I'm not going to let a wobbly week throw me. Going to get back to daily runs, no snacks, no pop and veg heavy meals.

That's the plan!

Can I join?

I need to lose about 1 stone (maybe a few pounds more) to get down to a slightly better weight after having my baby a year ago

I know that all I need to do is eat better (less junk, more fruit/veg and smaller portions) and exercise more but with 2 under 3 years old I’m struggling to find the time and motivation to exercise and then sticking to the diet I’m finding hard when I’m constantly being pulled in all directions

Think I just need to find my motivation from somewhere and actually do it

Going to try and commit to 1 Pilates class a week, 1 walk a day with the kids (so doesn’t really count when it’s at a snails pace) and 1 round of exercises that I’ve got designed to help with postpartum issues. At the moment I can’t do a lot more strenuous exercise as need to fix my pelvic floor and diastasis rectis first

Welcome @Willow4987

With 2 kids under 3 just getting through each day feels like a marathon doesn't it. Don't be too hard on yourself on the less successful days. You will be ok and things will get easier. I wasn't even trying to lose weight when DC that age but I remember that as well as walking being at snails pace, meals also took absolutely ages and it was easy to overeat by having second and third helpings just to have something to do while DC gradually got through the modest plate of food.

Morning :-)

Hello and welcome @Willow4987 I'm new here too!

Well that's 1.5lb off this week - I'll take that :-) so in total 9.1/4 lbs off in two weeks. I knew it'd be slower each week after the first initial loss and that's ok 👌🏻

I'm hungry on 1200 quite often but it is as it is, I won't lose otherwise due to my age (49) and I do want to get to 10.5 stone by the Autumn.

@CosyAcorn Well done that's brilliant - I can't wait to get to my first stone it will really feel like I'm getting somewhere then.

Hi @Willow4987 welcome to the thread, I don’t know how you manage with 2 under 3, you deserve a medal for that alone 🏅

Well done to everyone else for this week, whether it’s a loss or not the fact that you have kept coming back to the thread and not given up is really motivating to me 🙂

Friday weigh-in
29/03 11stone 6lbs
2/04 11stone 4 3/4lbs
9/04 11 stone 2 1/2lbs

That’s 3 1/2lbs overall and 2 1/4lbs in the past week, I actually feel like I can stick to what I have been doing rather than giving up after a few days. I’m still having the odd treat but I’m making much better decisions. I would think nothing a couple of weeks ago of eating a whole pack of cherry bake wells and a share bar of chocolate as an after work snack whereas now if I really need a treat I will have a curly wurly as they are only 97 calories and suck it slowly to make it last and I am enjoying couch to 5k although it’s hard to get out during the school holidays as much as I do during term time

Welcome @Willow4987!

Congrats to you all on progress made this week.

Yesterday I took DD for a treat trip to McDonalds so still was not disciplined with food yesterday.

But this morning I was out of the door at 7am and did a 5 mile walk with my Dad. That felt good and I'm gearing up to crack on with the decorating. Feel like an active today to make up for yesterday!

Wow 5 mile walk at 7am 😬 don’t think I could be that dedicated although I have been up since 4 as I started work at 5 this morning. I’ve just got home and I am now off until next Saturday. I am going to go for a run tomorrow whilst dp takes youngest to football as I can’t go watch at the minute whilst it’s limited to 1 parent per child, we are then going to visit in-laws as it was mother in laws birthday yesterday and it’s dp’s on Tuesday, we were going to do a bbq at ours but sil is isolating after someone at her work tested positive for covid and the weather doesn’t look great so we are just going to go have a quicker lunch in in-laws garden. I have stayed on plan today and after inputting all my meals still have just under 500 calories left for if I fancy a drink or treat tonight 😊
Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone x