Need to lose 1 stone? Gather around....

[froidIci]

Not sure if this will get any clicks, but I wondered if there are folks who need to lose about a stone or a bit this way or that who might want some accountability?

BTW When I say "need to lose a stone" this means basically a stone to get to your own, individual target (which could be a random number, a random BMI point, just anything).

For me - 1 stone off takes me to weight before conceiving Baby 1, and 1.2 stone off takes me to my lightest adult weight and a very comfy size 10-12 as opposed to a size 12-14. I have added motivation that a 40th birthday tails off 2024 for me, so I've got a deadline.

My downfall? Carbs. Salty carbs. My body absolutely magically loses if I cut out rice, pasta and potatoes. And yet, alas - it specifically is those that I crave.

Anyone want a loose accountability thread?

The thing is @bendmeoverbackwards there's nothing bad or wrong with eating ice cream, we're just conditioned to think that way. Factoring in the things you love into an overall balanced diet is the only way to make weight loss sustainable IMO, if you restrict too much the wheels come off eventually. So what I'm getting at is, please don't feel guilty for enjoying some ice cream with your husband

I feel like my losses have stalled this week, although my weekly average is down half a pound which is better than nothing. I've set Sunday as an "easier day" on Nutracheck so I've been having 1330 cals through the week then tomorrow I have 1860, rather than 1400 every day. I've been craving cake this week so definitely factoring that in tomorrow! This is the first time I've tried the uneven split of calories so I'm intrigued to see how it feels.

Just scrolled through and see that in 27.01.24 I was 12.6 and today I am also 12.6.

I am delighted as feared I had put on most of what I had lost. There has been no exercise and a short holiday and many meals out. Actually as someone who can lose and then pile back on habitually I hope it hints at a better mindset underneath. I have made better choices alongside the less ideal.

Now for 7 weeks of focus and getting close to 11.6 which sneaks me into my BMI.

Well done to everyone.

I am failing miserably. I’m the same weight. Valentines chocolates didn’t help.
I’m thinking of trying three days at 1000 calories each week, or doing 5:2 again, though it didn’t seem to work last time I tried it. Anyone doing this?

Really great idea, I reckon. And I think your approach of thinking about what you’ve been craving to ‘spend’ your extra calories on is a good idea too. I will try this. Thank you. I know this has been debunked (apparently) but I’m convinced more calories one day a week kick starts something like my metabolism. I had this really weird 0.6kg loss (from the day before!) after a few days of not losing much recently, after eating a massive roast the evening before. Even if I’m talking nonsense (probably), the change in routine and more leeway one or two days a week definitely keeps things interesting and keeps me on track the rest of the time which really makes the difference anyway.

This is amazing, especially that your mindset is shifting. We’re going out for dinner tonight and it’s going to be a shift for me not having three courses and a couple of sides and a bread basket with loads of salted butter. I’m still having a rich main and a dessert. But you know what makes me more miserable than not being able to fully pig out tonight? Feeling like I’m overweight and self conscious in my clothes. So I’m telling myself it’s short term annoyance for long term happiness when I reach my target.

Ah we all stall and even gain occasionally. It usually balances out over time as you’ll probably have a good loss next week. I told my husband no chocs but if he got me some, I’d have definitely had some and enjoyed them. I did have some nice pancakes though with choc and stuff the day before.

I've stalled again - school holidays, visitors and family birthdays, we've eaten out loads and I've had less opportunity for exercise. Back on it tomorrow as we'll be back to normal routine, I don't think I want to know if I've gained anything so I'll weigh myself in another week or so. Hopefully anything gained from this week will be lost by then and I'll be back to 66kg flat.

Well I hope very much you enjoy your meal Philippa7. Hmmm I love salted butter but I think the idea of the bigger value of the long term goal plus the treat of some nice things is a good perspective. now to get back to running.

@Passthepickle this is fantastic! Well
done.

@Twoshoesnewshoes I've never tried this but I know some people really like 5:2. There's a fasting board on MN that might be a good place to get some ideas to start with?

@Philippa7 I hope you enjoyed your meal out!

I was feeling a little deflated this morning but I'm still down 0.5lb on my weekly average and also today I'm my lowest weight so far during this diet, so I really shouldn't be complaining. Very very nearly at 8lb down.

SW - 10st
CW - 9st6.25lb
(Initial) GW - 9st

Back on it this morning - out for a 7k run. Hoping to see some gains next week!

@popplego that still sounds very good to me, please don't let it get you down! It's a long game and there will definitely be wobbles along the way.

My weight can fluctuate up and down by 2lbs, so I'm actually up this morning, but mid week I achieved a new low off 11stone 1.2lbs, so I'm recording that and will try to reach a lower 'low' this week. According to the app I'd lost 1.2lbs. It's a start!

Weighed a day early down to 10 stone 11.5 so a 1.5lb loss but that's taken 2 weeks (was period this week and 10 days of I'll toddler). I've definitely slowed down but reminding myself that I'm 23lb down since November and have 16lb to go so over half way!

I'm definitely not drinking enough water so that's my mission for this week!

How's everyone doing today? I wore my Fitbit to my toddler's little sports group he goes to today and it turns out that racks up a lot of steps chasing him around 😂

@Scottishskifun wow 23lb since November is amazing! What an achievement. I'm slipping on the water front too so need to make a bigger effort with that this week.

@TheDogdidGood well done! I like the "new low" idea, I might borrow that when I get frustrated that I keep going up and down this same 1lb over and over!

@Swearwolf hats off to you running 7k! I have thought about trying C25k but wonder A) when would I fit it in around current routine of weight training at the gym and B) would it make me ravenous??

Hi @popplego , meal out was nice thanks but tiny portions! Which is probably a good thing atm. 😂 I’m doing the daily weigh in now and noticed I’m up 0.6kg from my Saturday weight though and I’m dying to cave in for the day. Hopefully it’s salt but I really didn’t have much in the meal, I don’t think, and just had a tiny dinner and tiny dessert and cut right back all day leading up to it so I actually think I wasn’t far out of my daily calories. I Googled about the menstrual cycle again to see that progesterone and estrogen (to a lesser extent than around ovulation) peak around now for me (about a week until my period) so I wonder if that’s causing another bloat. According to Dr Google, both these hormones cause water retention. Anyone else not only bloat just before their period or at ovulation?

Really like the idea of a low weight! Tbf, given we need an excess of 3,500 calories (or 500 a day for 7 days) to gain a pound, it’s pretty accurate as any weight gain should be water… Well done on the 8lbs gone! Btw, we have really similar weights and goals. 9.7lbs atm and aiming for 9. 8.7lb would be my pre baby weight though - let’s see how I feel at 9 stone first…

Well done! Ah it’s harder to get the last bit off - you should take encouragement from the fact that it’s harder as you don’t have much left to lose. 😁

@popplego I'm not a super fast runner but find it keeps me active enough. I combine it with yoga and that seems to work. I did a c25k course a few years ago which was amazing as I now have a little network of running friends to force me out and keep me going. I'm more of a gym class person really, but running is free and can be done whenever you get a moment, so it works best right now. As I work from home, I can go on my lunch break, or tack it on to the school run and just finish a bit later.

I’m feeling back on track. Asda delivery on its way with lots of protein yoghurts, protein snacks such as quorn cocktail sausages and cottage cheese, and mini bags of salted popcorn!
I know that I can only cut down if I
a) don’t get too hungry and
b) don’t have to think too hard about what to eat!

Thanks I can't exercise much due to long covid I manage what I can with gentle walks a few times a week but have to be careful as it causes a fatigue crash basically (it's called PEM).
It does mean that I have to be pretty strict on calories and for me that's quite low of less then 1200 in order to lose weight.

My aim is off by end of June which is 1lb a week so is slow but hopefully achievable for me.

@Philippa7 oh that's funny we're weight twins 😆 I would absolutely love to reach 8st7lb but I haven't been that weight in about 7 years so I'm not sure if that's setting the goal posts too high for me. I'll be really pleased if I get down to 9st initially then see how I feel from there (8'13 would be even better psychologically to get back into the 8s 😂)

@Swearwolf I WFH too and live quite close to a gym so I do the same, nip out on my lunch break. I do often think to myself how much harder getting the exercise in would be if I still had my old office job, early mornings and evenings are tricky around childcare so lunch time works really well.

@Scottishskifun 1lb a week is a great target, I'd be really chuffed if I managed that 

@Twoshoesnewshoes Loving the positivity! I think that's half the battle isn't it, being prepared food wise so you have plenty of healthy options available.

Massively bloated again for no hormonal reason. I am beginning to realise that an entire array of foods is causing this - mainly high FODMAP foods. I avoid grains because they cause me instant difficulties but alas it seems succumbing to even the odd pizza has an instant effect. Plus beans, legumes, and my beloved onion and garlic.

Such a shame :/

And by bloated I mean - 1/2 kilo gain and belly/ waist 6 inches bigger than just 2 days ago.

Yesterday’s foods included - a cauliflower soup (cauliflower!), roasted chickpeas (legumes!), roasted broccoli (cruciforms veg!), dinner was chilli (kidney beans! Onion garlic spices tomatoes!) and yoghurts (sweetners!)

im paying for it today

Solidarity OP! Any chance you’re in your luteal phase of your cycle? Have a look at my comment above. Apparently rising progesterone between ovulation and menstruation may be to blame. And it causes relaxation in the gut causing constipation. (Sorry all!) I have a week until my period but up 2lbs. I’ve stuck to my pretty low (as in low calories because I’m short) deficit bar a meal out which would have only been about 300 over (Japanese restaurant with teeny portions), no where the 7000 calories over to gain 2lb! Trust the process! Easier said than done I know. I think I need a few days away from the scales and tracking everything so I don’t start doubting myself about weight gain (I always do though!) - and loads of water. Then I’ll check again maybe after my period. It’s so annoying. Daily tracking has really made me realise just how much we fluctuate. Mind you, to be positive, it feels good to be in tune with my cycle and learning about how it affects my body and mood.

And chickpeas make me instantly five months pregnant btw- in response to your comment about diet affecting bloating! I wonder if some are just more prone to bloating, cycle and diet related..?