Weight loss help

[Sunnydaysarethebestdays]

I’m hoping for some help and tips
I’ve got about 2 stone to loose but am really struggling. I’m 5ft 1 and currently 11.5 stone.
I’ve done slimmingworld, weight watchers, calorie counting and fasting in the past which work at the time but don’t change habits.
I think I need to stop thinking of going on a diet and just think of eating a balanced diet and being healthy which will naturally result in weight loss because my diet is so bad at the moment.
The problem is that I’ve lost sight of what a good healthy balanced diet looks like.
Can you give me some tips on what a healthy diet looks like and what to eat to loose weight?
What does a typical day look like food wise?
Meals, snacks, drinks etc.
I have a very very sweet tooth and once I start eating sweet things I can’t stop!
I really want to loose weight but each time I start a new diet I give up because it’s a diet I have to stick to and I fall off the wagon and eat too many calories, syns, points etc whereas if I can just plan to eat better rather than feeling like I’ve failed then I’m hoping my habits will change as a lifestyle and I wont feel like I’ve got to go on a diet.
Sorry for the long post.

My goodness you sound EXACTLY like me. I could have written your post.

I'm 5ft 2 and 11st 12
Tried most diets and I end up in a worse situation. I feel so very low and I dread getting dressed each day as nothing looks nice.

The one thing I keep reading that is successful is Fast 800 which I'm tempted to try. I need to do something now.
I'm a little nervous about low carb though as I've tried Atkins in the past which made me feel awful.

I too have forgotten how to eat healthily and kid myself each day

Thought I'd message to say you're not alone OP

X

Thank you so much for messaging, it’s good to know I’m not alone.
I’ve looked into fast 800 and everyone seems to really rave about and there seems to be so many benefits but feel like I need to keep away from any kind of diet and try and just develop a healthy way of eating eating rather than restricting food which then leads to failure plus 800 calories doesn’t sound a lot and I want something that works for the family too. X

I think I need to stop thinking of going on a diet and just think of eating a balanced diet and being healthy which will naturally result in weight loss because my diet is so bad at the moment.

That’s the way I eat now-base meals around veg and lean protein with measured carbs. You might also want to do a week or two of measuring everything to make sure you’re not totally out of balance on your portion sizes and you’re vaguely aware of what’s high calorie and what isn’t. It might be a much slower way to lose weight than checking you’re definitely eating under a certain number of calories etc but personally I prefer that.

What do you enjoy eating? Do you want to eat three meals a day in a traditional pattern or not? That’s really important because long term you need to be able to stick to it.

I’m veggie. Today’s meal plan is:
Breakfast: avocado on toast
Mid morning snack (after a workout) of squeaky bean pastrami or similar tofu based thing
Lunch: homemade vegetable soup with harissa and toasted flaked almonds (made big vat on Sunday-very easy)
Dinner: Thai vegetable curry (bought paste, coconut milk, tofu, courgette, spring onion, broccoli, etc depending on what’s in the fridge)
Possibly a crumpet at 10pm

Drinks are all black coffee or orange squash.

I would cut out all the sweet stuff that you find binge worthy and choose to have a fancy piece of cake once a week at a coffee shop where you can’t go back for more. That’s what I do with crisps which are my problem food (apart from those baked ones which are a bit boring to be a trigger!). Snacking is my downfall so I try to eat more filling healthy things at meal times, especially in the evening.

There’s not one way that works to lose weight healthily, it’s what fits best for you. Some swear by low carb but I just couldn’t do that happily. Good luck!

Purpledaisies
Thank you for your tips, that all mages sense. You’re right I need to cut out sweet stuff and have 1 nice thing a week and not have the food in the house.

For lots of people it's simply portions. I eat healthy fiet before and got fat on it because I just eat too much of it. I got fat on famous "huge salads" ha.

Have a look at your portions, google or check packaging and see what's recommended size. You might get quite a shock with some things. It helps build up good habits for future. Try to switch some things for nice veg. Full fat yogurt is always handy and good for the belly. Fish is great light protein and if you have skin on one even a collagen source.

I agree with @PurpleDaisies about a lot she sais and about the sweet stuff. My problem are crisps as well. I can now have bag at home without eating it, but it took a while.

Don't see foods as good or bad too much. I look at them more like often and rarely foods. I would have cake rarely, I would have veg often. It helps helps to get rid of the "guilt" people give themselves by eating "bad" food. We need everything. Even the cake sometimes 😁 But not every day.

That’s really good points you make especially how we view food.
My portions have gradually crept up over the years and I eat the same amazing as my husband which I never used to and he probably eats bigger portion now too.
Great tips, thank you

Amounts not amazing

Hi, I have lost this amount of weight and am now the lightest I've been on as long as I care to remember. It took hard work, plenty of exercise and really looking at my food. I use My Fitness Pal app religiously and set my daily calorie intake to 1200 calories. This works for me. Maybe not for others. I also don't count my exercise as calories allowable on the app. I just so my exercise regardless.

Changes I have made:

1. Realising it takes several weeks for the scales to really shift. Not just the first or second or third. Stick with it, and one day, the change will come, so don't be disheartened at the start.

1. Be positive that any small change is a good change, and something more positive you have done, that you didn't do yesterday.

1. Drink drink drink water! Get a beaker and just keep at it throughout the day.

1. It's hard to tell someone to start eating loads of veg and nuts etc if it's a million miles away from what they are used to eating. Make small changes.

1. Porridge, sprinkled with flaxseed (aldi/Lidl sell mixes that are milled) tiny drop of honey and milk. If you don't like porridge, weetabix or something like that. Start measuring your portions and counting. 30g porridge isnt a lot, but you get used to it.

1. Sweet stuff - I think it's a sure way to fail if you say you are never gong to eat chocolate again etc etc, totally depriving yourself. I snack on Aldi Harvest Morn Tropical granola for a sugar hit, just a tablespoon or so. Or anGo ahead bar which is low enough in calories.

1. Really look at a bar, and say is it worth the 300/ 400 calories...thats 45 minutes of hard cardio...is it worth it.

1. Make changes like no sugar in coffee...unused to take 2 spoons in every coffee...if I was at a coffee morning, 3 coffees later and I'm 8 teaspoons of sugar in. Not good!

1. Move more. I joined a gym, but also discovered walking, cycling and spinning in particular.

10. Watch portion size, measure everything out, and no way could I ever eat like a man....it just work for me, I would lash on the weight.

11. Try and plan your shopping so you have good stuff to hand. Make soup, poached eggs on toast with avocados etc for lunch.

12. Try and pinpoint your bad habits or your weak times during the day. See how you can distract yourself. You know the saying, if you don't buy it, you can't eat it.

Good luck

It's worth a look. My pasta and rice portions were shoooocking. Shocking🙈 Same. It crept up.
My favourite salad was 800 or 900 cal. Not lying. I make lighter version still with same flavours and filling for 270cal now!

I hope it all goes well for you! I am sure it will!

You need to eat for health not weight loss.
Think about all the delicious things you can eat, not the things you can't.
It's all about eating lots of veg and experimenting.

Have you thought about a portion plate? Saves weighing but gives visual idea of what a portion should be. I think maharani and next sell them.

MATALAN !

😂 my first thought was "Maharani plate sounds expensive"😂

Thank you, there are some brilliant tips there especially the 12 you’ve listed Corkina, thank you. It all makes perfect sense and just a few mindset tweeks will definitely help.