Has anyone ever successfully lost weight by just eating a bit less and moving a bit more?

[moonshinepoursthroughmywindow]

I'm not morbidly obese, I suspect I weigh about 13½ stone at the moment. I don't have a means of weighing myself other than going to Boots (which I'm happy to do, I just haven't done it recently). I've just left a job where I had less time to spare for exercise, ate more to compensate for the fact that I was permanently knackered, and was generally too stressed out to spend much time thinking about self-care. Based on the fit of my clothes alone I've gone up nearly a whole size from what I was before I worked there - and I didn't stay that long.

I lose weight very quickly when I do the Whole30, which involves giving up all grains, dairy products and sugar, but it is hard to sustain those eating habits permanently and interferes a lot with doing anything spontaneous or sociable. I've also lost weight on a calorie counting diet in the past but no longer like the idea of the constant counting and weighing. I'd really like to lose a bit of weight by just making small, sustainable changes. My new job will mean walking more - well over 10000 steps a day - and probably feeling less in need of quick fix snacks. I've been there a week and have certainly snacked a lot less so far and I'm trying to eat more protein and a bit less carbs. I'll also have time to run more and do another sport I like.

So does anyone believe I could benefit from these changes alone, or am I going to have to go on a more rigid "diet" to see results? I don't want to be super skinny, I have been happy and healthy at about 12 stone (at which I'm about a size 14).

The bad news is that it's way harder beyond the age of 50 😒

Cut out all processed foods. Buy nuts, grains, legumes, pulses, tubers, veg, roots and fruits. It'll fall off.

Has anyone got any tips for 'moving a bit more' in the winter?

I walk and run all the year round (just not as much as usual recently and that is already changing), in fact I enjoy them more when it's not hot. If you don't currently walk much at all, just get suitably bundled up and get out there, maybe in the countryside if you have access to it. For running, you might need an extra layer or too, a head torch if it's very dark, or trail shoes if it's likely to be slippery (although trail shoes are not as "springy" as normal trainers so you might find them more comfortable with good quality gel insoles).

Develop a terrible phobia of lifts and escalators. Especially helpful if your office is on the tenth floor.

This.

I struggled until I learned about insulin resistance and processed foods.

I only eat (unprocessed) meat, vegetables, salad, full fat greek yogurt, lentils, coconut oil, olive oil, nuts, sea salt. I make excellent curries and really tasty food.

Changed my life and 10 stone down in 4 years (with a pregnancy in that time), and feel amazing.

I don’t exercise and this isn’t a diet, it’s just my life now.

Ive lost two stone - very very slowly - taken me since May - through upping my movement and looking at my diet - Im post menopause

I dont run but I walk, I go park run every Saturday - I walk. I do around 6 or 7 miles a day , but I have to be honest here and say Im also lunch time waitress now 4 days a week which helps with the steps

Diet wise, Ive upped the veg, I include fruit and veg in every meal, a bacon butty is now a BLT. Ive cut out bread other then the odd slice of wholemeal, which also means my butter intake has really reduced. I choose lean meat, even if thats mince its 5%.I bulk that out with lentils for the extra protein. Bacon is medallions or all visible fat removed. The chip pan is redundant , the air fryer is my new best friend

I do still have a drink, I do still have the odd "not so healthy choice" but those are rare, I thought I didnt eat it that often but in reality I did, a sausage roll, a KFC, a Chinese takeaway, a cake or biscuits here and there, crisps daily, over the week its a lot, so now its a cake a week or a Chinese or a KFC or a packet of crisps , not every thing :)

I think also getting a fit watch really makes me aware of how much Im doing - or not. I dont use all the functions, I dont calorie count, but it shows me how many calories Ive burned in a day and as long as I keep that to around the 2500 mark, Ill loose weight. its 3000 calories to gain or lose a pound, so I aim. for that every week. Some weeks I lose just 1/2lb, other weeks 2lb, like I say I dont calorie count, just chose healthier options and keep the high calorie foods down, not out, just down. I dont miss out, but as Ive moved forwards I find I dont want those foods so much and a smaller amount suffices when I do

Its been slow but I dont want to yo yo diet. Years ago I lost a lot with WW, kept it off till my late 40s and slowly added to it in my 50's. Im now back to a healthy BMI and Im aiming to loose another 7lb and at the same time get these new habits firmly entrenched.

I too live rural with unlit no pavement roads. Head torch, reflective vest and reflectors keep me safe from the cars, the rain, just have to suck it up