Anyone ready to do OMAD? Join forces?

[LeatherSkirt82]

I have a massive amount of weight to lose (70lbs). This is obviously a long term project so after much thinking (read: procrastination) - I want to start OMAD.

None of the other diets worked for me (I tried Atkins, Dukan, keto, Noom, etc). I also have a 3yo and a husband who can't cook so making separate meals for myself is not something I can do as I also work full time. When I was travelling for business last year, I stumbled upon OMAD by accident (I was so busy that I genuinely didn't have time to eat more than once a day) and for the first time in what feels like forever - I felt GREAT! I had more energy, I was losing weight, I was in a good mood and I wasn't feeling hungry or guilty if I ate red meat or a piece of bread.

So I did my research, spoke with my GP and given that I don't have any medical conditions (and I am not on any meds) that would be an obstacle - I got the green light to try this.

My plan is: 1 meal per day at 6 or 7pm (so that we have one family meal), try to consume less carbs but no pressure not to consume any and once I'm below 200lbs (and body got used to the diet) - start speed walking (1h per day in the mornings).

However, what I really need is a partner - someone I can talk to, someone to hold me accountable and someone to commiserate with on bad days.

Thanks @LeatherSkirt82

Good point about doing one thing at a time.

Well, I kept my promise to up my game by starting 30 days shred - and boy, that woman means business. I thought I got myself in half decent shape with regular speed walking and cycling sessions (5/7 days) but I found even easier version of beginner level exercise exhausting. I hated every second of it but oddly that makes me more determined to endure. Day 1 of 30 done. Continuing OMAD. Readying myself to say goodbye to sweets completely next Monday (holding myself to the rule of never starting two things at once).

How is everyone else doing? @ethermint , @Aftertheharvest - still with us?

Just the thread/ people I have been looking for☺️I started doing Omad last year and went from a size 16 pushing 18 to a size 8 in 6 months. I have now stabilised on a size 10. I am only 5.2 so was big before I started Omad. I now follow Omad during the week, but eat more or less what I want during the weekend.
It works really well for me, but I do struggle a bit working out in the gym when fasting. I go to the gym after work most days and eat either a few eggs or a banana to break the fast, work out and then go home and cook a proper dinner. I do feel my energy levels at this point are a bit depleted. What does everyone else do? Exercise is a big part of my life.

Hey @Venezia22 welcome! From size 18 to size 8 - wow, you're speaking my language - my size (starting) and my goal. I started when this thread started and am now down to 'largish' 14 but I feel that my progress has been slower because I had slips several times (and by slips I don't mean a single day!).

My exercise regimen, because I was really big, started slowly - treadmill fast walking. Then I upped the speed and added incline, then I went into intervals to push myself. Once I went below 'obese' BMI I started static bike and was alternating the two with weekend rest (when I am normally more active with the family). From today I've added 30 days shred (Jillian Michaels) - doing week of just that and then seeing how I can incorporate treadmill/bike. I exercise in the morning, before work and eat at 7pm with the family.

What do you eat, if you don't mind me asking? You've achieved such an amazing result!

I’m feeling chilly today. No idea if that is fasting related.

I’m thinking about food a lot today. Trying to plan meals to look forward to rather than eat now.

I felt uncomfortably full last night. I think I ate too much but I’m sure that’ll even out.

I’ve drank some water, black coffee and ginger tea today. I’ll break my fast at dinner time which I may bring forward to 5pm if I feel hungry.

@LeatherSkirt82 , during the 6 months while I losing, I was really disciplined, but that’s because I wanted quick results which I got. No alcohol, Omad 7 days a week and very little socialising I was very single minded about it. Once I got to a size 8, I could easily have continued to a size 6, but my focus had shifted from weight loss to building a strong, healthy and toned body. I put back on some of the weight, but lost inches anyway from Strength training.

I eat a few healthy “snacks” before the gym (banana, egg, raw vegetables) and then cook when I get home. I don’t exclude any food groups and just make sure my main meal is a nutritious one. I cook vegetarian dishes, but also make sure I eat lots of fish, chicken and red meat.
I relax during the weekend, but find I don’t crave all the junk anymore and still focus on getting nutrients into my body.

My blood pressure was high and is now normal and I haven’t had as much as a cold since starting Omad. It really works for me.

Congratulations on your results so far☺️

Hi all- sorry fell off the thread. I have been hit and miss with OMAD. It is now more a sort of OMAD and a few two meal days thrown in and when really hungry 3. But I am still losing weight and am now 12 stone 2. So the general trend is down and I am thrilled. Starting weight when i decided to take myself in hand was 13 stone 8 (last August).

What is good though is that when I do fall off the OMAD wagon i am not then bingeing which has always been my main issue. (Had a hyper critical mother growing up. She was / is obsessed with weight. I saw her last week and she helpfully told me I was looking like a 'hobbit'. But apparently I am too sensitive. ).

So i am aiming to just pootle along as i am going. I am back to exercise this week as well (life got in the way). I just do swimming and spinning.

@Venezia22 you story is so inspirational!

@Venezia22 can you share with us if you followed any specific diet during those six months? Keto or vegan or just eating normal but OMAD?

@WiltingLobelia thats still amazing result. I’m now trying to motivate myself to do what Venezia did as I have a holiday in Greece coming up end of July and would love to get myself to at least smaller 12 if not 10 by then - but that’s pretty ambitious.

@LeatherSkirt82 , I didn’t follow any particular diet. I ate normal meals with my family, but made sure my meals were varied and nutritious. Excluding foods doesn’t work for me. If I go on a no carbs diet, I will be eating a massive bowl of pasta before day 1 is over. On Omad I would have pasta, but make sure I added chicken, veg etc to make it a nutritious meal.

hello everyone! I fell off the wagon massively over the easter hols, we went away and then it was chocolate egg time, plus i relaxed totally and had beer and ate normally!! So I feel like some progress has been lost. I'm still figuring out what to do to be honest. I'm not sure if I want to go back on OMAD or alternate day fasting because I really struggle with the binge / restriction cycle and so I am wondering if addressing that may help me a bit. I'm looking at intuitive eating and so on. On the plus side I've maintained some yoga routine and I think the exercise is helping.

Coming back on this thread is inspiring but I think I need to rethink my diet plan a bit as I just fall off the wagon so often. If anyone has any tips please send them my way! If I could just get one habit like never eating before 3pm ever or something that would be good. Or just stopping at one helping!!

Hello there everyone, please can I join? I've been lurking here for a few weeks and think this thread is lovely and supportive so hope you won't mind me butting in!. I've been messing about with different approaches since New Year, I've tried Keto, calorie counting etc but just keep losing and gaining back the same few pounds. I need to get serious now - I have a lot to lose [about 3 stone] but am up against it due to age and my underactive thyroid for which I am medicated. I am also very lazy and hate exercise. My motivation is the forthcoming marriage of DD3 in August. I'm hoping I'll be able to lose 2 stone at least by then as I'm dreading seeing the fat mother of the bride pics! I also have a Greek Island holiday at the end of June so hoping to have lost a stone at least by then. I started OMAD today and am also using MFP to log calories. I'm going to try to stick to around 800 calories and low carb for my one meal.
So, Week 1 Day 1 start weight 14st 11lbs
Vegetable lasagne with salad. Low fat fruits of the forest yogurt and a banana.

Hey @ethermint olease don’t beat yourself about it. I don’t know if this will help but I have a strict time for food 6.30-7.30pm

no matter what - I don’t start before and, no matter what, I don’t take anything but water and tea after - this discipline helped me with binge urges and removed a lot of stress. I also have an app which counts down to my eating window and shows me where in the fasting cycle I am - I found both to be very helpful. My crisis usually comes around 4pm and then it helps to see that count down but also that I’m in a fat burning stage of the cycle - it motivates me to push through.

I also try to plan activities that would prevent me from eating during ‘crisis’ hours - most of my meetings at work are then.

@recklessgran welcome and good luck. We’re here to support you and share pains and successes. You have an amazing goal to work towards- do you have a dress you’d like to wear? Having a visual goal may help!

Morning @LeatherSkirt82 thank you for the welcome! Yes, it's a lovely goal I have and no, I don't have anything in mind at this point. It will depend how much I can lose as to what I end up with. I'm quite traditional so I expect I'll end up somewhere like Hobbs so I'm guessing a fancy dress and fascinator - I 've never found a hat to suit me but have had a few really stunning fascinators in the past so fingers crossed. Although it's close to the wire I'll probably wait until 4 weeks before to sort it out. Wedding is on August 6th.

It will depend how much I can lose as to what I end up with. At the moment I look 6 months pregnant and am sporting a huge bread baby so looking very out of shape. Bread is carb crack to me so now I'm hoping to give it up naturally as it doesn't really fit in my OMAD plans.

Like you, I have also given myself a one hour window for eating. It will depend on work as to exactly when that will be but it will be similar or a bit later than yours. I'm past retirement age but still working as I love my job and WFH so mainly desk bound all day.
Day 1 was fine as I had strong resolve and just kept a glass of cold water on my desk - I've read that the more water you drink, the more weight you lose? I know I probably shouldn't but I had a sneaky weigh this morning and was already one and a half pounds down. Of course I know it's water weight but even so it's very psychologically encouraging after day 1. I'm finding the idea that I can more or less have what I like for my one meal quite exciting and therefore easy to plan. I don't often eat the same meal as DH as he likes "gravy" dinners whereas I prefer salads. Bless him he can eat whatever he likes and never gains weight - he's also a sugar addict - cake for lunch anyone? Have a good day and will catch up later.

Sounds very similar to my situation- even the slim husband who can eat an elephant and not gain an ounce :) I also work from home and am very desk bound! If I were you - I’d try not to be too restrictive in that one hour, at least initially until your body gets used to eating only once per day. If you immediately drop bread/some of your usual food - it can be physically and psychologically more difficult to cope and in my experience that’s when I fall off the wagon.

I discovered that OMAD naturally leads to craving healthier food and less carbs so I’d advise to pace yourself. Maybe give it a week or two before you start cutting out carbs?

Good morning @recklessgran welcome to the thread!

@LeatherSkirt82 thank you. I think coming back on this thread is a good idea as it reminds me of my overall goals again. I like your idea of a fasting window and being strict with it. Maybe that would suit me a bit better for a while. I'll give it a go, thank you! :)

Morning @ethermint I'm glad to see you back - I enjoyed reading your posts and you've already lost such a lot of weight! Hoping I'll be where you are pretty soon. Everyone here is inspiring me to believe I can do this. Hope we all have a good day.

@recklessgran thank you, really glad you're finding it inspiring. As I said upthread I've been a bit off the wagon over the hols but actually coming back on here is a massive help and reminder for me to get back on track.

I've been trying hard to do more mindful eating, enjoy the food and eat much slower (I usually just eat on the hoof because I am a single parent and so busy!). I think it's helping me tune in more to my natural fullness mechanism a bit.

Good luck for today everyone!!

Morning. So far so good.
Week 1 Day 2
Home made beef chow mein with stir fried vegetables.
sugar free jelly [made with a few frozen raspberries in.]
Packet of maltesers.
The maltesers blew my 800 calorie "budget" but I thought it was O.K. to have a little treat now and again.
In this for the long haul.
Have a good day all.

Hello everyone - using a little break to check in. Did my Day 4 of 30 Days Shred this morning - still aching all over but the muscles are definitely working and I CAN do more today than I was able to on Day 1. OMAD coming along without major hiccups. Scales showed another 2lbs down since I started the Shred so fingers crossed that all this 'suffering' pays off :)

How do you ladies feel about adding a weigh-in day? I am thinking that it may help us with accountability but obviously we shouldn't do it if you're, for any reason, uncomfortable with it?

Morning.
Week 1 Day 3
Basa fillets and green veg
Low fat black cherry yogurt
3 jelly babies from the pot on DH's desk
@LeatherSkirt82 that's awesome - no exercise going on over here yet - I think I need to do something about that as well as upping my water intake. I'd be very happy with a weigh day. I'll admit right now that I'm a daily weigher as it seems to keep me on track. No loss means must try harder and any kind of loss is encouraging.
Today as I start day 4 of OMAD I am 14st 8.5lbs so I've already lost 2.5lbs. Today is dangerous though as it's my day off and I normally go out shopping and for lunch with a friend on Fridays - eating will definitely be involved and possibly a drink at the pub. I know eating at lunch time won't work for me as my OMAD - I'll definitely need something later so I'll try to make wise choices and not get too carried away. Have a good day all.

Afternoon everyone, how are we doing today? @recklessgran I see you're on a good streak now! I was thinking maybe Monday morning weigh in? or would Fridays work better?

Doing it... a year now and 4 stone has melted away. Second nature now and I wouldn't eat processed food ever now, Looking forward to the one meal, which is a healthy but satisfying one keeps me on track. Husband has been doing for 3 months 1 stone gone... oh yes I have an eating window too so glass of wine can be fitted in nicely and I walk every day at least 5000 but usual 10,000 x

Morning
Week 1 Day 4
J.D. and coke [zero] and ham salad roll lunchtime with friend in pub]
Baked beans on wholemeal toast
Sugar free jelly and raspberries
One of those Cadburys little chocolate bars that I keep in for DGD
Not the best or healthiest eating day but it looks as though Friday will be my day off OMAD each week. I'm O.K. with that and will stick with it the rest of the week.
@LeatherSkirt82 I don't mind any day for a weigh in since I weigh daily so Monday's probably a good idea and will help me to stay focused over the weekends perhaps? 14 weeks until the wedding and ideally I'd like two and a half stone off by then. I know I'm really up against it and will have to work hard to achieve that goal. It's my own fault - I've been messing about and getting nowhere since New Year! I'll be trying to cut carbs going forward as I'm especially sensitive to those given my underactive thyroid. Hope everyone has a good weekend. Not much planned here - hairdressers this afternoon and DD4 coming for the roast beef dinner tomorrow. She will be staying over with us tomorrow night as she's off on a short break with DD1 on Monday.

Monday it is then!

I got my alarm and will do my day 6 of the exercise once I’m done with coffee. A little proud of myself for just getting up at 6.30 on a Saturday. No big plans here either - I have a manicure and coffee with a friend in the morning and taking DD swimming tomorrow morning but other than that it will be just a quiet family weekend for us. Seems that weather will be really bad so I think all our activities will be planned around that - not much you can do with a 3yo when it’s pouring rain.

Morning
Week 1 Day 5
Ploughmans platter consisting of gala pie, ham, cheese, salad, pickles and big crusty roll [spread with laughing cow light instead of butter.]
Weigh day tomorrow and after that I will be low carbing going forward. I will try to keep carbs under 50gms to see if that helps in my case. It's very quiet here at the moment so hope everyone else is plodding on and doing O.K.