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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

What will be most effective over summer holidays

19 replies

housecoat1968 · 01/07/2021 16:31

I'm about to break up for 8 weeks.
I'm about 5 stone overweight and worried about my long term health.

I would really like to feel at the end of the summer that I had made a really big difference to my weight and was on the right track to continue.

I am planning to prioritise this for the next 8 weeks.

Should i be going to the gym daily and just calorie counting- I would love to go back to work in September noticeably healthier (lighter).

OP posts:
BasinHaircut · 01/07/2021 16:38

I would do the following:

  1. Find my TDEE and take off 20% for the amount of calories to eat per day (not going lower than 1,500)
  2. Get in 100g of protein every day
  3. Eat lots of fruit and veg but mainly veg.
  4. Commit to walking 10-12k steps every day
  5. Go to the gym 3-4 times per week and resistance train (if you need guidance in the gym get a few PT sessions in so you can train effectively).

Also drink lots of water and get plenty of sleep.

Good luck!

WreckTangled · 01/07/2021 16:40

Exactly what Baisin said 👏🏼

housecoat1968 · 01/07/2021 17:21

Thank you!

OP posts:
StickersStickers · 01/07/2021 18:28

Fast 800. It’s a plan by Michael Mosley. It’s 800 calories a day for up to 12 weeks. Combined with 16:8, where you fast for 16 hours and then have an 8 hour eating window. There’s a few threads on this board but there’s also a whole separate board.

hedgehogger1 · 01/07/2021 18:29

You need to aim for something realistic that you're going to be able to stick to

BewareTheBeardedDragon · 01/07/2021 18:41

Agree with what Basin said. I did similar last year and lost (and kept off) 2 stone. I've totally changed my eating habits and I feel so much better.

Menora · 01/07/2021 18:43

@BasinHaircut

I would do the following:
  1. Find my TDEE and take off 20% for the amount of calories to eat per day (not going lower than 1,500)
  2. Get in 100g of protein every day
  3. Eat lots of fruit and veg but mainly veg.
  4. Commit to walking 10-12k steps every day
  5. Go to the gym 3-4 times per week and resistance train (if you need guidance in the gym get a few PT sessions in so you can train effectively).

Also drink lots of water and get plenty of sleep.

Good luck!

I have done this and it says that mine is 2,412, so 20% off is just under 2000, exercising 30 mins 4 times a week. I feel like I will never lose anything eating 2000! I am eating 1500 or there about
WreckTangled · 01/07/2021 18:53

The very best podcast to listen to is ESG fitness. Also follow her on Instagram.

BasinHaircut · 02/07/2021 09:19

@WreckTangled yes I love Emma, and her other one the EC method is good too. Really useful to help with mindset and information about evidence based approaches to health and fitness.

@Menora if you can stick to 1,500 then great, but have you tried a 20% deficit? If I could eat 2,000 calories and lose body fat I would choose that option!

WreckTangled · 02/07/2021 11:23

Yes much better than doing a crash diet then putting it all back on again. Also debunks the myths about peoples 'low metabolism' and a million other things people talk about.

Menora · 02/07/2021 11:39

I’m going to have to eat more as I’m not really losing anything on low cal. I will weigh on Sunday then if still not much change I will increase to 1700 and see how that goes

headintheproverbial · 02/07/2021 11:42

Fast 800. Read the book.

Fast and effective initial loss and a long term plan to keep weight off in a sustainable way.

BasinHaircut · 02/07/2021 13:23

@Menora the issue with going too low calorie is adherence. If you are genuinely eating 1500 cals a day, every day, and exercising at a medium/high intensity 4 times per week then you would be losing fat as that is an almost 40% energy deficit.

Menora · 02/07/2021 13:31

Thanks. I can’t exercise high intensity, I have been not allowed or able to do anything although I can walk now so basically I was a sloth for the past 2 months and not burning anything! 😂

I am just doing a fast paced 1m walk a day when I can and not sore

I’ve looked over my cals this week and can eat a bit more at mealtimes but here is one issue I get too full! I just had a jacket potato with tuna and veg (no butter no Mayo) and I am completely full and bloated now 😂

BasinHaircut · 02/07/2021 14:59

@Menora I hope you don’t mind me saying, as I am only trying to be helpful but if you calculated your TDEE on the basis of exercising 4 times per week and all you are doing is a gentle 1 mile walk, then you have almost certainly over estimated your activity level. You should have it set at sedentary.

Menora · 02/07/2021 20:51

The calculator I found had lots of options and I chose ‘30 mins exercise 4 times a week’
It had options for sedate and also intense. I didn’t pick intense. I power walk it at least once a day sometimes twice, 7 days a week but I will reduce it if this is still too sedate I assumed this would even out as if I do 20-30 mins x 7 and I have put in 30x 4 into the TDEE this might be nearer

Kaiken · 07/07/2021 22:25

The major flaw of most calculator is that they don't use the adjusted weight. If you are overweight, a big portion of your weight is fat which doesn't perform any useful function, nor do you need maintaining.
You should put your "adjusted" weight into the calculator or even our ideal bodyweight.

By using these online calculators, people are given a daily allowance which is excessive and makes losing weight harder .

@housecoat1968 well done for planning to take your health and your weight in the right direction.

Clean your kitchen of all the wrong food. Get rid of it. Either gift or bin the sugary treats, the savoury snacks, the processed sauces, refined grains, and fill your fridge with vegetables. Have a big salad for lunch with several vegetables such as green beans, with tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, with either tuna or boiled eggs for lunch and a lovely soup for dinner with maybe a couple table spoons of quinoa. Or a spinach, arugula, quarter of avocado and a couple of slices of apples for lunch and a chicken breast with oven roasted vegetables for dinner.

As a summer read, buy the "path to longevity" by Luigi Fontana , plenty of great advice on diet.
Change the way you eat, not the quantity, go for variety, try new food, roast some asparagus in a pan and put a couple slices prosciutto on top and sliced almonds. take the challenge to eat at least 20 different vegetables every week. Every food, even vegetables have amino acids, so you don't need to eat those heavy protein 3 times a day. Keep them for either lunch or dinner. Discover new recipes.

Food is not only the sum of fat, carb and protein, but what you eat will affect your gut and your looks. By eating a lot of vegetables and staying clear of processed meats (ham, bacon, ...) and processed food even "healthy" processed food, you will get better skin (the glow) , better sleep, better gut.

It is summer , so think watermelon, cherries, strawberries.A gorgeous tomatoes salad, lovely seafood. Spend 15 min a day without sunscreen in the sun to get vitamin D and then cover or put sunscreen.

Make it about you and not your weight. Don't buy snacks, If you are starving and about to hit the shops for rubbish, throw two handfuls of frozen edamame in a pot of boiling water for 5 min, put in a bowl, add salt, shake and have these instead.

It is food first, food second, food third and then as fourth the gym, but it needs to be enjoyable. Have a walk twice a day listening to a podcast or enjoying the view or the company of a friend.
Overdoing it at the gym might backfire and actually make it harder to lose weight. Yes, do weights or a class, but be very mindful of the spike in appetite after. Have a herbal tea and not a protein shake which will ruin the effort. Green tea instead of low cal chocolate sachet and so on.

Good luck on your journey Smile

housecoat1968 · 08/07/2021 08:21

Thank you everyone for your replies and to Kaiken for such a detailed reply.
I start today and that was really motivational to wake up to.

OP posts:
BasinHaircut · 08/07/2021 13:53

Good luck @housecoat1968

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