Lose 3 stone over the summer?

[Fatgirlslim35]

I know this is a lot but I have 6-7 stone to lose so I'm hoping it will come off quickly if I'm very focused. I work in a school so I have the next 6 weeks off and I want to make a huge difference to my weight by the time I go back in September.

Is this a crazy amount to set as a goal, or doable at my current size? Any tips?

I'm thinking of a pretty monotonous approach so I don't have to think about it too much, maybe replacing one meal with a slim fast shake, salad with something like tuna or chicken every day for dinner, healthy breakfast (something like special k or porridge made with water), snack on apples and other low calorie fruits like berries if I'm hungry.

I don't know if I'll feel much like exercising but I'm going to try to walk and swim lots. At the moment I'm not walking much because I'm so uncomfortable and my fitness has spiralled to a point where I feel like an amorphous blob, so it's a case of starting with what I can manage and building from there.

If anyone has any success stories to share or wants to join me, please do!

I have the opposite problem. I’m a teacher in Scotland and so am at the end of my third week of holidays. It all goes out the window for me in the holidays.

I wanted to lose three stone a few years ago, so really hammered in a strict school routine which keeps me in great shape. It took about a year to lose three stone and several months to get into good habits and build up stamina, but it’s now stuck. I cycle my commute (20km round trip), do a weekly food shop, meal prep, stopped buying lunches from the lovely local bakeries and cook from scratch every week night. I rarely sit down all day at school, and I do a HIIT workout three evenings a week. I eat whatever I feel like at weekends but DH and I also spend a large majority of weekends running, biking or hiking.

Over the last three weeks of summer, I’ve kept up a modest chunk of the exercise, but I’ve been a bit ‘busy’ sitting around with friends, drinking cocktails and eating three course meals. I could get up and do a HIIT session now, but I’m lying in bed with a coffee and have a new book on my bedside table… I can’t snack when I’m teaching, but in the holidays, I’m constantly thinking about food.

OP, you should use the holidays to start instilling healthy habits, but look at how you can make them manageable for term time so you can continue when you return. Can you find some easy recipes, meal prep. How can you work exercise into your day?

The thought of this makes me want to cry!

I mean sure you'd lose a ton but it would be miserable!

Morning- - hope everyone has a good day today. I've been to the supermarket and as well as fruit veg etc have treated myself to a bottle of low alcohol gin to help me kick the wine habit which has contributed hugely to my weight gain. Planning to gym again and up my step count today as well as planning sensible meals. I'm meeting a friend haven't seen for a while in 4 weeks so using that as a first target and motivator.

First day of holiday, not really hungry yet (which is unusual for me) so just picking at bits of melon atm.

I wanted to lose three stone a few years ago, so really hammered in a strict school routine which keeps me in great shape. It took about a year to lose three stone and several months to get into good habits and build up stamina, but it’s now stuck. I cycle my commute (20km round trip), do a weekly food shop, meal prep, stopped buying lunches from the lovely local bakeries and cook from scratch every week night. I rarely sit down all day at school, and I do a HIIT workout three evenings a week. I eat whatever I feel like at weekends but DH and I also spend a large majority of weekends running, biking or hiking.

This is amazing. I'm so far away from this kind of lifestyle but it's very inspiring! Definitely could do more of the batch cooking.

One of my difficulties is actually my partner - he loves food and cooking in a slightly obsessive way, thinks low fat foods are the work of the devil and is a total stranger to portion control. Whereas I snack throughout the day and can happily go without (large) meals, which isn't healthy either but my weight issues have definitely been compounded by constantly being tempted by lovely cooking and feeling guilty if I don't tuck in! 😩

@Fatgirlslim35 , if your DP hates low fat foods, can you convince him to prepare low carb dishes? They are often absolutely delicious, contain sufficient protein, and if you eat them with green/salad veg instead of pasta/rice/mash you lose weight too!

Yes, he's a big believer in keto/ high fat low carb but I don't get on so well with all the heavy cream and butter. I prefer lighter food really but I think we should be able to come up with some meals that suit both of us. Will have to get my thinking cap on. 🤔

Are there any good visual aids on portion size? I know I've read and seen things in the past but can't really remember the specifics. I think it would shock him how much we go 'over'. He just doesn't seem to realise he can't eat like a sporty, active 20 year old as a not particularly active 40+. We both need to lose weight but have such different ideas about it.

Went to join my first SW class and the leader has covid!
We are off on holiday for a week from tomorrow so I guess I will join on our return.
Only a uk break and self catering so I'm going to make good food choices and hopefully do ok but it wont be a good diet week!

Oh no, that's so frustrating. Don't let it put you off... Week 1 of the healthy you! SW encourage basically loads of fruit and salad as 'speed' or free food so try and up your intake of that to start with and have the odd treat too. 😇

I’d like to lose at least a stone over the 6 weeks so I’ll join this thread too please. Good luck everyone!

Morning everyone
Last day in school for me apart from 2 days without the children next week. I am actually feeling excited to start on Monday. I am going to take some time over the weekend to meal plan and make a corresponding shopping list with limited treats. Being organised is key for me. Good luck everyone.

I started off a million miles from this routine so I know how you’re feeling. It took a long time before I had the stamina to pedal my ass home. Sometimes I pushed my bike up the hills (and often I just took the car because it was easier), but now I easily do the commute in all weathers without even thinking about it. Getting into a good cardio routine is what motivated me to eat better and just made the weight fall off. Not only that, your shape completely changes when you exercise.

You could use the summer hols to try and build up some stamina for cardio - do something every day that brings your heart rate up and makes you sweat. Maybe set yourself a challenge (such as running a set distance over 6 weeks) and tell everyone so that you’re accountable. I used to absolutely hate activities like running and someone pointed out that I hated it because it was hard, and it was hard because it had a massive effect - and they were right. The hardest day is the first day and it will get easier. When I do lots of cardio, my body naturally craves more water and healthier foods.

My DH is also a bit of an issue, if he wasn’t around, I’d probably make a salad, but our evening meal is something we usually eat together. I do the majority of the cooking and I don’t do diet or ‘low fat’ either. Instead, I cook using lots of veg and grains. I just calorie count and give myself a smaller portion of the really high calorie parts (like cheese) and a bigger portion of veg. A recipe book I’m loving at the moment is called ‘The Green Roasting Tin’. It’s not a diet cookbook and is a veggie book, (but there is a meat version available) basically, everything gets shoved in a roasting tin and put in the oven. It’s tasty, easy and reasonably healthy. Remember, you want to build sustainable habits that you can live with, not a quick fix. I’d try and get out of the habit of snacking as it’s too easy to overeat that way.

Not a sensible approach. Anything that can cause you to lose 7lb a week is probably pretty unsustainable and as soon as you change it, will just come back again.

Use it to change and build new habits that you can continue and gradually, permanently make a lifestyle change

Day 2 at slimming world 🙊

Yes. Great idea.

How is everyone getting on? I've done a week of Slimming World which I'm finding OK - never done before and have got 5 pounds off. I know it will slow down now but nice to get a kick start. Biggest shift for me is no booze at all. Replaced with 0% gin which gives that placebo effect for no calories. Feel better in myself but still cross with myself for letting myself get to this point. Also doing lots of exercise which boosts my mood.

Well today is start day. No walk for the dog at 8am as it was raining, but is brightening up now so just a couple of hours late. Big shop planned for later and a yoga you tube video too. Feeling quite good about it all 😀

wonderfullife123, that's a great loss, well done. I started last Thursday and am 2lbs down. I'm due to start my period tomorrow and would normally be stuffing myself, so am pleased. Hope everyone else is doing well.

Well I was 7lb down for my first week and an extra 0.5lb down half way through week 2 (so that was definitely a one-off!)

Had friends round for dinner at the weekend and had an enjoyable meal without completely hitting the fuckit button

I'm in a bit of a holding pattern at the mo....away on a uk break with my girls in a cottage. So I'm not actively dieting this week but also not going crazy either. We've shopped an are having a few meals out but mostly self catering so we dont go too crazy.

Joining slimming world on the thurs next week where the leader should be back post-covid.

It feels good getting started @Cornishmaiden ! Well done @rongon @BeastOfBODMAS on losses. I'm expecting the same won't have any more big losses but still it's nice to get something off. Enjoy your break @DrMadelineMaxwell

Thanks! My best discovery so far has been baked large flat mushrooms, no need for oil as it cooks in its own juices so about 25cals for something satisfying that takes up 1/4 of the plate. The baby has just developed a taste for mushrooms too so we’re in cahoots

Well I am one week in and the scales have gone down by 2 pounds. I am quietly pleased with this loss as it was a tricky week with eating out etc.
How is everyone else doing?

I have joined up to my local fitness class centre and went to my first class there in 3 years today. Didn't die, which was a bonus.

I have been going to zumba instead, which I really like. Lots of older ladies. Lots of different shapes. And not the hardest of classes.

The new place has a full wall of MIRRORS and I was def one of the top 3 heaviest people in the room. That is a huge motivation to get my bum in gear!

I put on 1lb on my holiday. Which is going to come straight off now I'm back. With more to follow once I get myself to SW on Thurs am. :)

Well done @Cornishmaiden

I've also been doing fitness classes @DrMadelineMaxwell but have zero coordination so sticking to spin. Done Slimming World for 2 weeks and pleasantly surprised with nearly 7 lbs off. Feeling motivated but have nearly 2 stone more to lose so need to keep going. I've been alcohol free for over 2 weeks which is helping my motivation too. Have a good week everyone !