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?

@ColouringPencils

Oops, I meant 10,000 steps not km!

I did think you were being a tad over ambitious

I started doing yoga (again) a few weeks back, but I am only aiming for twice a week. It does make my back feel loads better. I might make it to every day eventually!

DH bought me a Fitbit for Xmas, so I now can track 10k steps/day, but I reckon that's only maybe 2k more than a normal day for me. I am commiting to running three times/week.

Good morning everyone,

Today's weight is 11st. 1lbs down since yesterday.

I managed not to snack on Christmas goodies all day but did have a little prosecco with cranberry juice because the bottle is open and I don't want the bubbles to go flat. 😅

We had a lovely walk by the river yesterday and saw a kingfisher which was a real treat.

I'd love to try yoga again. I'm really inflexible and have awful coordination so I'm very bad at yoga but it's probably very good for me.

Morning all, just had breakfast, measured out 20g of oats, topped with lemon juice then a few sultanas, Greek yogurt and walnuts.

I am off in a moment for 5 mile walk but watching Joe Wicks on Breakfast TV. He's saying exercise for fun....I would very much avoid the squats my knees don't like it!

I would like to introduce some strength exercises but I lose motivation - bearing in mind that really good article posted earlier I need to figure out a way to make it a habit.

Cosyacorn your walk sounds brilliant, love Kingfishers.

Norwester I find my Fitbit really useful also measures heart rate and I have a graph on the app which tracks movement

Bookaholic I am ok after the fall I suspect it may have looked funny Miranda style! I need my car back for work by Wednesday they will look at it on Monday fingers x'd

Good morning All.
I’m starting to seriously cut out bread and sugar today.
I normally have toast for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch, so this will be a big change for me!

I made quinoa porridge for breakfast the other day, and although it was delicious, I was hungry after an hour!

@Norwester I’m really looking forward to my Fitbit arriving, I hope it’s easy to use!

@CosyAcorn I really want to try yoga again too. Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube has good reviews, so I’ll try that. But I’ll have to wait until the kids go back to school as I can’t get a moments peace here at the moment!

@LightandAiry a 5 mile hike is very impressive! I think I’ll take the dogs out for an hour today, that’s some exercise at least.

Morning everyone!

Second run of the year done! Scales showed 0.6of a lb off this morning so I'm happy.

Just about to have a shower then take woof for her proper walk.

Fasting until lunch then turkey and brie salad and chicken risotto for tea.

@Bookaholic73 I log everything on my Fitbit app, I really like having it all in one place.

What is everyone up to today? I have some paperwork to do as I reopen my childminding setting on Monday after 2 weeks off. Walk the dog, bit of batch cooking I think and set up my playroom so I can just relax tomorrow!

So far, the Fitbit for me is an expensive step counter! I used the sleep tracking app for a few nights, but the thrill wore off and I'm not comfortable with Google owning my biometics. Or with wearing a watch overnight.

I think the heartrate monitor will be useful.

There is no way I am logging my food. Respect to those who have the patience!

Yoga with Adrienne is great - did a session this morning and my sore neck is cured. Temporarily.

@Bookaholic73- do you like regular porridge? I find it very filling, I have 40-50g of oats made with water , which is 150-180 cals (then milk, banana etc). Otherwise eggs/Greek yogurt are quite filling

I’m also trying to cut down/out bread, it’s so easy to overeat (and I tend to pair it with cheese). Have found some sweet potato wraps that are only 93 cals so will see how they are for a lunchtime wrap a couple of times a week

I am doing Yoga with Adriene too. She started a new 30 day series today. She does one each January. Yesterday's was the intro session, only 5 mins and no yoga involved, so you could do that before kids go back to school. I have started her 30 days a few times, but never finished it yet. One year I got to Day 28 and then stopped... What is wrong with me?! Hoping to stick it out this time around.

I also eat far too much bread. I love it. I could happily eat bread for every meal. I honestly think if I stopped eating bread and cheese I would lose the weight, but I can't bear to! Although I haven't had any yet today as DH forgot to buy some from the shop.

Hello everyone, please could I join?
This sounds right up my street as I don't like following diets religiously but prefer to do something more intuitively.
I lost about 3kg earlier in lockdown by finally sticking religiously to logging everything in MFP including at the weekend (by which I mean logging it all religiously rather than religiously only eating certain things) as opposed to previously I was disciplined Mon - Fri midday then blow it all Fri evening to Sunday. Anyhow just general demotivation with lockdown plus Christmas royally blew that out the water so I am starting again on 4th Jan when start new job.
I need to be pretty strict initially as would like to lose about 2-2.5 stone overall by my wedding in Sept, so am going to aim for very strict for first couple of months including no alcohol and sugar, and then try for a more sustainable approach with the odd treat. I think for me it's about portion control portion control portion control, generally less carbs and plenty of protein, and I'm hoping but cutting sugar and alcohol for a few months it will give me a kickstart.

I like exercising and have been following a combination of the Sweat app, a few run/walks and we just got Apple Fitness. For me though, being short, 38 and doing a sedentary job I think the sad realisation is I just don't really 'need' that many calories per day, so going to try and think of it as

1. controlling the amount of food I'm eating for the weight loss aspect, with
2. exercise for strength, fitness and enjoyment.

@peachgreen I'm so sorry for your loss 
@Bookaholic73 thank you for starting this thread.

Good luck everyone!

14h fast and then had porridge. Had to go to the pharmacy and the walk has totally floored me, I’m so sleepy! It’s not even a long walk but it seems I get unconditioned very quickly and the lack of exercise since self isolating has clearly had an effect!

Ugh, I already have a sugar withdrawal headache. I’m SUCH a sugar addict, this always happens when I cut it out.

Still not left the house, but am waiting for DH to get home and we will walk the dogs for an hour.

How often are you all weighing? I’m weighing every Friday at the moment, since I started yesterday I may as well continue the Friday theme.
How does everyone feel about doing weekly weigh ins on Fridays here?

@10kaDay I do like regular porridge, but find that I almost fall asleep once I’ve eaten it. It’s always made me incredibly drowsy and I don’t know why!

@Glenthebattleostrich that salad sounds delicious!

@Norwester yeah I’m not into logging my food either. I just to lose weight in a slow steady pace, and logging my food would be too focused and rigid for me.

@ColouringPencils I didn’t know she had started a new 30 day challenge. I’m off to have a look now. I think I might have to fit in some yoga time before the kids go back, as I want to start ASAP.

@Lemonyfuckit hi, welcome! Yes, please do join in! Sounds like you’ve got a great plan, congrats on the wedding!

@SingToTheSky you aren’t the only one! I used to walk for 2-3 hours and still had energy. These days an hours walk wipes me out. I’m looking forward to building my stamina and strength back up!

So glad that I’m also surrounded by bread fans that are cutting back on it! I just have to try and forget about the cranberry and pumpkin seed bread from Morrison’s.

Friday weigh-ins sound good.

I didn't know about the Yoga challenge - thanks! I shall try to do it.

A Friday weigh in sounds good!! Will give me motivation!
I thought I was doing well and then a Lindt chocolate bear jumped out at me and I had to eat him 🤷🏼‍♀️ I mean, I did share him with the kids but still, I was trying to reduce my sugar. Damn bear!!!

@Coconuttygirl oh those darn bears, nothing but trouble aren’t they!

I have just done Day 1 of Yoga with Adriene. It felt quite long, but I think they are normally around 20-30 mins

Taking deep breaths.
DH is sat next to me eating a pile of cheese and crackers.
I’ve been good and just had an apple, but I could literally murder him right now

@ColouringPencils how was it? I’ll have a look at it tomorrow I think.

@Bookaholic73 mine is tucking into the wine

Just been for a walk in the freezing rain to get my steps up. Quite enjoyed it actually, and wouldn't have done it if I hadn't told myself I had to.

This evening I am regretting setting my fast timer.

I know I do better fasting longer in the evening though, compared to the morning

DH ate a million crackers, half a bag of peanuts and then had the cheek to turn around and say how ‘this eating healthy malarkey isn’t that difficult, is it?’

I really need to get a move on with the exercise. Not so much for weight loss (I’m not convinced it actually helps) but for overall health and well-being.
So, starting tomorrow, I’m going to move my body every day. Even if I stay home and work all day (I work from home), I can do a quick k 30 min workout on YouTube.

Please kick me up the bum if I make any more excuses!

@SingToTheSky are there specific advantages to fasting? How does it help you? I can’t remember if you’ve said if you do IF for a certain number of hours a day?

I don’t know a huge amount tbh (the obesity code book is on my to read list!) but basically it’s to do with not spiking your blood sugar more often by snacking etc and giving it a chance to settle for longer. I’ve found it helps me but I wouldn’t want to stick to it religiously (hence being on this thread :o) - basically I’m looking on it as a useful tool because I know my blood sugar can be on the high side, so I try and leave it longer between dinner and breakfast. I am absolutely awful for evening snacking and that always makes me feel worse in the morning (because of the blood sugar crash, I think) so it’s helping me to think “the kitchen is closed” from about 7pm onwards. It takes the thinking and guilt out of the equation.

I’ve been studying this evening with chocolate right in front of me and watched some family TV while the others at popcorn. I definitely would have eaten both normally. But I can have either during the day tomorrow if I want.

I don’t think of that as a diet though so I hope it’s ok to be here still 😳 I found 16h too much anyway (headaches, couldn’t focus) so I’m just aiming for about 14 when I can. But otherwise a minimum of 12. I know if I said to myself “I’m doing 16:8” I’d feel like a failure the first time I didn’t do 16h, and give up!

Sorry I’ve waffled. 😳

Ha, waffle as much as you like @SingToTheSky, it’s really interesting to me!
I guess I’m kind of fasting, I’m a strange kind of way.

So my chocolate and wine habit is 90% of the time, after dinner. So by cutting that stuff out, I naturally finish eating at about 6 or 7pm and then eat breakfast at around 9am.

Im definitely starting to feel hungrier in the mornings when I wake up though!

‘In a strange kind of way’ not I’m a strange kind of way’

Morning all

I also have the blood sugar problem - I was supposed to make an appointment before Christmas to have a blood test to check it - on one of those over 40s health checks they picked up that blood sugar is too high.

I've decided to leave it a month before weighing in. Weekly weigh ins make me relax too much if they show a loss.

I did my 5 mile walk yesterday, hoping to drag the family out with me today. A lack of enthusiasm from DH so far though!

Sing I will have a look for The Obesity Code - anything to give me more light bulb moments! Also I totallyget the telling ourselves the plan we're doing then feeling bleugh when it goed astray!