To not want to make my new years resolution a diet?

[shipgig]

One of my new years resolution for 2021 was to lose weight by my birthday (October) and I am pleased to say, I did lose 3 stone 7 pounds (49pounds). I am 5ft 7 and was 13st7 and got down to 10stone exactly.

Since my birthday, I have fallen off the wagon and have not been watching what I eat/exercising and I know that I have piled some back on. I am not sure how much (too afraid to get on the scales) especially with all of the christmas eating too!!.

I do know that clothes aren't fitting me. Lets just say jeans won't button and I've not dared to try anything else on.

Would you lose the gained weight as a 2022 resolution, to get back in shape? or would you not bother? (given how stressful life is at the moment)

I would try and sort it out now, as it’ll be much easier to do it now than 6 months down the line.

Having said that though, I think that the problem with resolutions along the lines of losing 2 stone in a year is that once you meet that goal, it becomes tempting to think “well I’ve done that now, I can go back to what I used to do”. I’d aim for making more general changes to your life style instead - do more exercise, improve your diet, reduce alcohol, have fewer snacks, or only eat treats on certain days.

You may not lose the weight as fast, but it will be more sustainable.

Thank you. I need to brave the scales.

I wouldn’t make it a diet but a life style change. Then you should be able to maintain it. You can’t stay on a diet forever, but you can maintain a life style change. That way you might not gain it back,

I lost it through calorie counting. I need to get back to it!

Could you make your new year's resolution something slightly different... It could be doing couch 2 5k so you can run 5k, or it could be to go swimming twice a week, or to go out for a daily walk every lunch time, or to get off your bus 2 stops earlier and walk home, whatever.

@CliveThighs I did do a lot of walking, but when it started getting dark early, I stopped going.

I fully understand your sentiments @shipgig. Continued talk of diets is boring.

Also I am here because as well as some weight to lose I need to build up fitness from a low level. The effect of surgery which was Covid delayed for 14 months.

It is difficult to devise a routine. I read that it takes a few weeks to instil new good habits so they become instinctive.
Even going up and down stairs at home more than twice was difficult for me. But I can do it now!!!
I will come back and we can compare routines.

@Politics4me apparently it takes 21 days for it to become a habit

Make getting fitter/stronger your choice for this year?

Don't go on a diet as such, just change your eating habits to be more healthy. No processed food, no refined grain products, no sugar (or as little as possible). Try fasting occasionally. And invest in a good frontal lamp and get out walking in the dark!

@samthebordercollie I think if I did cut all those out, I would give up.

I'm in a similar boat. I aim to get back in control of my eating in January.

@Stiffcondomhat good luck. I hope you achieve what you want to. I'm finding I am eating anything and everything!

Thanks and you! I've just had to take a ring off as it's uncomfortable pfft .

@shipgig regardless, you did amazing to lose the weight last year so please don't forget that you did that. A lot of us didn't

@TwinkleToesStrikesAgain thanks so much. I am sure lots of you will achieve in 2022!!

I was obviously committed to losing it. I never gave up. However, after my birthday, I just never bothered carrying on. I do regret it, but what's done is done!!

I'm sort of in the same boat. I've piled it on in lockdown and over the Christmas period and feel horrible and most clothes don't fit but I'm also sick of going on diets that I invariably don't stick to.

So, for January I'm going to just aim to eat better, fast (I'm fine on two meals and a coffee in the morning), up the protein, limit the white carbs and sugar and do dry January as wine has been my downfall. Also no takeaways for January.

I'm not going to weigh myself as I get frustrated even though I know weight loss isn't linear. I'm going to go by my clothes. I might start tracking weight properly come February but I just want to debloat myself how now and not feel sluggish!

1st4 (18 pounds) on. I braved the scales