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.

@Aftertheharvest this is a good idea, I think there's a big part of me that's too scared to measure my waist at the moment!! I might measure in a couple of weeks when I feel less blobby. I tend to shy away from the vital statistics as I am too embarrassed which I know is silly. Once I feel a little more comfy I will pluck up the courage.

Congratulations on your achievements so far, that's amazing! Keep up the good work... :)

I'm going to try to be good again today. Yesterday was Omad except I had milky coffee during the day. It's back on the black again today! I do feel I'm making progress though overall.

1lbs since yesterday - I'm going to count that as success :) 4.5 in the first week - with one day breaking OMAD and no exercise.

I'm finding it easier and easier as it goes and I'm also finding that I'm naturally craving more protein/fibre than carbs than before so hope it continues. Still not able to zip the February jeans but if this continues to go well - I am optimistic about being able to do so by the end of month.

Keep up the great work everyone - it is easier with this thread to come to when having doubts/moments of weaknesses so thank you for being here!

Hello all

@LeatherSkirt82 wow you're doing amazing, keep up the good work!

I had a bad day or two last week which I fear undid my good work but am back on the wagon again the last few days.

Does anyone have any tips on limiting portion sizes or not over-eating for the meals we can have? I have a problem with my stop button once I've started. I think that's my main issue. I wonder if it is just a bad habit and I can retrain. Unfortunately for me food is associated with a lot of issues historically. As a single parent as well there's no joy as we rarely eat together (I know I need to sort this out) and my kid is super fussy, so preparing and eating is generally pretty joyless! Which I think in turn upsets me and makes me over-eat.

Need to do exercise again as had two days off. The weekend is always good for that as no school run or other exhausting stuff to deal with so have a bit more energy for exercise.

Keep up the good work everyone!

anyone still going? I managed to lose 2kg so far but suspect it's water weight mostly, as I weighed after an extended fast of 40hrs. Am keeping at it. I figure if there are some bumps in the road that's ok as long as I am generally on course. My hunger levels seem to have lowered quite a bit so far, which is good! Planning another fast in the next day or so, maybe after tonight's meal.

Good luck everyone.

@ethermint, very much still going - another 1.5kg lost here but I think its more of a loss in terms of circumference than weight (not that I measured). Didn't have time to post as very intense days at work but I now have a good routine: I drink one larger black coffee when I get up, one small one when I start working, then its one large cup of green/matcha tea (Pukka is great!!!) and then another large of turmeric tea (also Pukka). Eat dinner with family between 6 and 7. I'm trying to apply the 'metabolic confusion' concept where I eat no-carb one day and then high-carb the next.

congratulations @LeatherSkirt82

the pukka tea sounds good, must check it out!

and agree about the metabolic confusion thing, I think this is important. And importantly, it means we can have some carby things if we want to, bonus.

I've noticed my face looking a little slimmer, so I feel I've made progress visually a little.

What I don't want to end up doing is reverting back to normal eating, because in the past when this has happened I tend to put on even more weight than before I lost it! I guess it has to be a way of life, at least OMAD a few days a week, but I can prob relax a little once I've reached a target weight.

Oh god... the target weight - it is unimaginable for me... I'm such a long way from that :( I calculated and I'd need to lose 10x as many lbs I've lost by now to be there - can't think about it. Step by step!

@LeatherSkirt82 Yes at this stage just focus on process not goals. And celebrate the small wins. We will get there sooner than we think!

Just on another 40hr fast, I might stretch it out a little longer if I can wait until this eve.

It's getting much easier now, I think my body is adapting.

Well done!!! 40h is amazing - I still didn't brave a longer fast, too terrified to mess up OMAD now that I got used to it. My major challenge starts tomorrow - travelling with family for a week to an area famous for good food (and I'll be in PMS) but I'm determined not to let me stray away!

@LeatherSkirt82 sounds like fun! I guess you can try to find ways you can enjoy socialising with everyone without the food - maybe a posh sparkling water or black coffee or something while everyone digs in - and you'll have evening meals to look forwards to! (Also just think of the money you will save!).

I've got relatives coming at the weekend here which is always a temptation. Eek! I'll do OMAD but may allow myself a glass of wine or something. Hopefully it will be ok.

anyone still going? I have yoyo'd a little due to a few bad days here and there but am really in the swing of it now. I've lost about a stone! A kilo or so seems to come back if I have an eating day or bad day or so. But on the whole on a downward trajectory. I think it's resetting my internal relationship with food quite a lot. I'm doing some longer fasts with electrolyte supplementation because I am finding the OMAD regimen more difficult. For some reason not eating for longer is much easier for me than doing OMAD. Although I am mixing it up a lot. I calculate that I can be at my target weight by around June although obviously this depends on if I keep losing at current weight, keep fasting etc.

Hope you're all doing ok. If you've fallen off there's never a better time to get back on.

@ethermint - I'm still going and lost a total of 7kg since starting!!! However, what's even more noticeable is the difference in my face and stomach circumference (I did not measure but I fit not only my February 'goal' but my March one as well). It was difficult while we were on vacation but after the first day or two, I discovered I actually feel better when I keep to OMAD so it was easy to go back to that routine.

Stone is an amazing result - I hope you're feeling better as well! :)

@LeatherSkirt82 congrats, 7kg what an amazing result!!! and great to visually see and feel the difference in clothes etc. I am starting to see / feel that as well although it's frustrating as I realise how much weight I have to lose overall and I just want to be at my GW already!! My face and waist definitely feel and look slimmer. But I still have a spare tyre to lose lol.

I am also feeling less heavy walking up stairs etc. But I need to keep at it. The exercise has gone down the pan, but I think once I am a bit lighter it will be easier to get going again. I do feel a bit guilty about that.

I keep thinking about the silver sparkly dress I want to buy when I am slim again. Seems a long way off but if we keep going we will get there!!

Keep up the amazing work!!!

I did my first closet 'clearance' this Sunday after I discovered I dropped a size. It is incredibly good feeling and one that keeps me going!

Love the idea of silvery sparkling dress - you'll get there sooner than you think! We may still have a long way to go but today we're already better than a week ago and next week we'll be better than today adn that much closer to our goals!

@LeatherSkirt82 that closet clearance is a great idea! And you reached your march goal already which is really amazing!

I would do a closet clear but I hardly have any clothes at the moment. Just the "comfy" ones that I've tended to buy because of being overweight so if I get rid of these I won't really have many left (until the smaller ones fit lol). I'd love to buy some new ones but there doesn't seem much point until I'm further down the line TBH, it would be a waste of money! But I'm looking forward to the day that I go on a big shopping trip!!

Good luck for the rest of the week ahead. 😊😊

I am ashamed to admit that I never got rid of my smaller clothes in hope I'd fit them again... so right now its pretty much like Christmas - I am fitting clothes I almost forgot I have - no shopping needed. That's what I mean by the weight loss being weird - scale is showing only 7kg but I am fitting things 1-1.5 size smaller.

Promised myself that I'll donate everything I shrink from so that's exactly what I am doing now. Packing up 'fat clothes' to prevent myself from having 'backup' and also to celebrate/hopefully help someone with these.

May I Join?

Looking to lose 1.5 stone with OMAD + fasting one day a week (so no meals on Wednesday).

Thanks for this thread!

@SpaceOpera - absolutely! Welcome and good luck - let us know how it is going for you.

@LeatherSkirt82 I too have old clothes I'd like to fit back into but they are a few sizes too small. I will celebrate the day they fit again!!! Shame it's taken so long since I bought them! Donating is a great idea.

@SpaceOpera welcome! good luck with your fasting journey. Sounds like you'll be well on your way soon!!

Thank you for the welcome! I carry all my fat in my belly, my dad is the same and he had a huge belly and a heart attack a couple of years ago, so…I need to stave off all the associated increased risks of diabetes, heart attack, cancers that we hear about as nauseam…

Today is Wednesday, so lots of green & black tea. Just going out for a run now too. Don’t want to at all but…I know I’ll feel better for it.

Thanks @ethermint!

By the way, I’m convinced that if the NHS had pushed my dad to get rid of his central obesity and up his cardio health, rather than just putting him on statins for years prior to that, the risk of heart attack would have been low enough that he wouldn’t have had it.

Lesson learnt!

I’ve been maintaining my weight for years with OMAD.. well before it had a name. It just felt right to me, but I felt self conscious about it and never spoke openly about it. I remember a model or actress admitting she only ate one meal a day and people were horrified.

I only eat one meal though, usually dinner, I don’t eat through a defined window, which is intermittent fasting, and to me there’s a difference.

I don’t scoff myself, it just means I can eat a decent size satisfying meal, even if it’s the only food I eat in a day. I can go out to dinner, etc and don’t feel I’m breaking my diet.

its not for everyone though, I don’t have problems with hunger.

Hi! Can I join you all too? I've been doing OMAD for 20 days now and have lost 4kg so far. I'm finding it much easier than I thought I would. I still need to lose 3 ish stone but I'm feeling hopeful 🙂

@sausage767 I think there is a lot of fear around fasting, probably because some people have eating disorders etc. Also there are so many myths e.g. you'll lose muscle mass etc which have been proven wrong. But you are right in many ways it is easier to just keep quiet about it rather than invoke the inevitable "so dangerous" spiel that people seem to say when you mention it. I do realise it's not always safe for everyone especially if they have eating disorders, but I think for the vast majority of overweight people it's the key and so simple to follow! And super healthy if you do it right.

@Panpig welcome to the party! we are about the same in terms of what we need to lose. I've calculated it will take about 4 months at my current rate as I am doing slightly longer fasts than just OMAD but of course I could get some slipups so no guarantees. Good luck and well done on doing so well so far. I think it makes a big difference to have people to check in with!

@SpaceOpera you're doing the right thing! Abdominal weight so dangerous, so I am sure this will be the right course for you!! Congrats on taking the first steps!!

Hi all, hope its ok to join in too! I have been doing time-restricted eating / IF off and on for a while but feel the need to be a bit more disciplined about it now. I have a big birthday coming up in July and would really like to have dropped at least a stone by then - not sure if that's realistic but I'm going to give it a try.

I have a tendency to do really well during the day, just sticking to water / black coffee / green tea, but possibly I'm still eating a bit too much in the evening. I do like a couple of glasses of wine / some chocolate after dinner etc and I think it's just got a wee bit too indulgent recently. Plus, dh loves to eat / snack (never puts on weight, grrrr!) and so we'll often have brunch out, or grab coffee and a cake together during the day at weekends etc. As a mildly lazy perimenopausal woman I can't just carry on matching the eating habits of my younger, army-fit husband 😂