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?

Welcome! Loads of us asking if you can join - yes of course!!! Accountability helps I think whether that’s daily weekly whatever. Why not post a simple habit or two that you’ll like to maintain and check in when you can? If that helps! :)

For me it was day 3 yesterday of no evening snacking and no pasta/rice/potatoes.

Today day 4 much harder potentially as we are hosting a kids birthday party with a mahoosive cake. We shall see! Plus it’s a weekend so….

anyway let’s try! Good luck everyone !

Joining this thread! I keep calorie counting, getting down to about 9st 5lbs and then getting bored of calorie counting and drifting back to to about 9st 11lbs, and I’m 5’6 - I would be happy being 9st. My biggest gripe is my stomach fat - I don’t like how it looks since I’ve had two C-sections, it has such a defined overhang! So I want to lose weight to minimise that as much a possible really. Also I’m having a really positive start to January goals, doing well with dry Jan and also 30 Days of Yoga so going to try and shift this stone that’s been doing my head in for ages and make 2024 a proactive year! I’ve been drinking lots of herbal tea in the evening @froidIci and enjoying it as part of dry Jan so I think that’s a great thing to keep going! I also know I’ve fallen back into bad habits of snacking on chocolate and eating too many crumpets 😂😂🙈 so going to make my aims for the day 1) no more chocolate (I’ve already eaten about five mini eggs from the cupboard while making the kids’ breakfast 🤦🏻‍♀️) and 2) no crumpets/toast/sandwiches - I always find cutting out bread really helps me shift some weight!

Checking in, I can see the effect of reducing alcohol and carbs, I'm far less bloated. Danger zone next week as I'm working away, eating out, office biscuits, event buffets, drinks with colleagues...

Checking in! Faced the scale this morning - almost 12 stone bah. I have a bad habit of avoiding the scale when I know it will show a 'bad' number. But I'm reading a book called chasing cupcakes by Susan benton which is helping my mindset- she says it's really important close the gap between what you know and what you're actually doing and to strive for consistency (as opposed to big pushes of effort/starvation diets). I know weighing every day and tracking calories on mfp keeps me on track so I'm going to commit to doing these even if its been a 'bad' day. She also said that when she was obese "I felt like I would do anything to lose weight. Anything except actually do the work of losing it". I related to that so much!
Last night I resisted my dh's very tempting suggestion of takeaway. And went to a fitness class (just yoga but it was quite challenging!)
Good luck to you all today

I have bad scales. I was 9:9 this morning but a day ago I was 9:12. I do 4-5 measurements where I move it around to see and it's consistent. I can't see losing 3 lbs overnight. It does this all the time. The problem is I get happy, then eat to celebrate because I realize how 'easy' it is to lose. Then next day it'll be up 4lbs. So frustrating! And if I only weigh once a week then forget about the entire thing and eat badly.

Wow, there’s so many of us now! Really well done everyone on identifying what the specific little things are, that is so individual to each of us. For some, it’s chocolate for some its particular times of the day, for some it is particular emotions or events for others it is a lifelong love of salty carbs like me!

I’m finding that it is proving somewhat easier for me to think of it as habits rather than goalposts. Goalposts are easily missed and then feeling this out and I tend to fall off the wagon. Where is habits are things that are more day today if you see what I mean? And somehow framing it as a habit. Takes the pressure off in some weird way and keeps me focused on one day at a time. Almost like I’m trying to set up a habit!

So with that in mind, some YES habits for me that I’m trying to start are -

1. Drinking plenty water
2. Learning a craft (either crochet or sewing ) befor my 40th at end of the year

the longer list of NO habits are -

1. No evening snacking
2. No to the golden trio (pasta-pots-rice)
3. Postponing craved foods (as in delay the cupcake till X o clock/Till after Y)

weekends are much harder because there’s always some kind of birthday party do either attend or host or some event et cetera. This includes a massive fourth birthday cake sitting in our house today for our own daughters party later! But let’s see :)

well done to everyone coming and joining the thread. I think if you set up your own little accountability, Goals target or habits and check in periodically, it will help you get the most out of it.

Could I please join you? This sounds like it could be a good thread for me and you all sound lovely, supportive and like you are trying to make realistic (not crazy 'fad diet') changes.

I'm really struggling - I have slowly gained around a stone over the last year and can't seem to lose it. I'm currently 8 stone 6 but I am very short. I definitely feel and look better around 7st10 (possibly even a few pounds less).

I'm just not sure what to do! It's just not moving. I'm short, so my daily calorie requirements are already quite low. I track calories, don't eat hardly any UPF, eat low carb and walk at least 15,000 steps a day. Does anyone have any thoughts?

I’m looking forward to Lent to give up chocolate. It really helps because I can’t have a bad day where I end up reaching for it - which then becomes me eating chocolate, cake, biscuits, chips etc! It’s my favourite treat and nothing else compares so if I can’t have that, I’m not so bothered about the other stuff so it keeps me on track with eating well.

Has anyone done intermittent fasting while breastfeeding? IF worked wonders for me for many years to keep my weight down pre- kids. I've really struggled to lose the last stone of baby weight without it. Baby is eating 3 solid meals a day now and also taking a bottle or two of formula- I can only get him to bf before naps and at night so I'm not too worried about my supply anymore.

@Cherryblossom81 have you kept a food diary? Like a super honest one? Or can you list every single thing you ate over the last week or so to see if there are specific patterns or themes emerging ? Maybe folks on thjs thread will spot something that you have not tried?

Re intermittent fasting - I never eat breakfast and automatically fall into 16:8 without trying. I realised it is possibly about shocking and re setting your system a bit so for someone who’s been 16/8 default it makes no difference but maybe for someone else something a bit more radical might? Having said that if you have not done IF at all then 16/8 will reset you enough. Not sure about the BF though….. I didn’t do it when I was BF either of my two I think…

Can I join in?
No alcohol, no lunch and no treats since Jan 3rd and I've lost 1lb!! I feel totally demotivated

I met up with some old work friends last night but was pretty restrained and only had 3 gins!

Wasn't sure whether to go to the gym this morning but I went and feel so much better for it. Such a cliche but it really does improve my mood and I find when I've exercised I'm more motivated to eat healthily too. Hope everybody has a great weekend

Hmmm I’ve tried this (having a tiny lunch, not skipping entirely) and I pretty much always made up for the lower calories much later in the day. It’d be quite subtle like a larger portion for dinner or having extra bread and butter when I could say no if I had lunch. Honestly, I’ve been more successful with regular meals. It seems to regulate my metabolism. When my metabolism was as its best (hardly ever gaining even after indulgent weekends away) it was when I was eating three square meals a day and healthy snacks (like a banana and nuts) in between. IF has never worked for me personally but I know many swear by it.

I'm joining too! Scales have crept up to 9stone, 11.5lbs, not helped by spraining my ankle in the Summer and reducing my exercise over the past 6 months.

I'm aiming for 9 stone and already lost 2.5lbs. Dry January (will likely do 90 days +), lots of water, healthier food and back to the gym. I've got a new insulated water bottle with a straw (not a Stanley!) and find I'm easily drinking 2l per day, it's stopping me eating so much too!!!

I need to get drinking more water too, helps to remember to just have a glass of water if I feel hungry between meals 👍🏻👍🏻 also extending Dry Jan is probably a good idea, I think I’ll aim to just have one or two evenings a week where I have one drink after Dry Jan has finished!

Birthday done. Had a slice of cake. Which is okay, and dinner tonight has no pasta rice or potatoes. Welcome one and all :)

Oh OP, I was actually wondering if you’d regret not having a slice when looking back on photos of the birthday. Glad you had a piece! I would have! It’s all about balance and life is still to be lived.

I know! I think one of the reason “diets” stumble is because of the absolute rules where one mustn’t do anything ever but of course life happens right ?! So going crazy on the cake isn’t okay but one slice of it at little ones big moment is okay!! ❤️

Also glad you had the cake, birthday cake is definitely essential 😊👍🏻 I’ve resumed calorie counting today, finding it hard not to snack! But doing okay!

I'd love to join. 5'6" and currently 10st and a bit. I'm never 10 st anything and 5 months ago I was 9 st 3lb. Life threw me a few curve balls and I feel like I'm still in the healing phase so having treats. Also I just want to eat when I'm cold which is often atm. I'm feeling inspired by you all so going to make a cup of tea when actually I'd like a snack x

Checking in. Exactly the same weight as yesterday which was slightly demoralising- but at least I haven't gained! Starting intermittent fasting today. Hope you all can stay motivated today

I think weight fluctuates massively day by day so whilst ok to weigh daily I think “benchmarking” properly needs to be weekly or monthly even… I find I fall off the habits wagon if I get demoralised so chin up!!

I've managed to loose 2lb since Thursday and that's with a pick and mix at the cinema on Friday! Have been good, especially yesterday, so going to keep going. Next week going to try to drink more water.

Hi! I'd like to join! I'm 11.2 and got back on it last Monday starting weight of 11.6, so I've lost 4lb which is great but 6 months ago I was 10stone so not so great! My goal is back to 10stone then maybe down to 9.7 as a second longer term goal. I've been religiously calorie counting and getting 10k steps in a day! Going to go back to the gym next week (hopefully- if I don't talk myself out of it!)

Getting back into intermittent fasting, but not being too militant about it: only food between 12:00 and 18:00, but I've been having a cup of tea in the morning.
Also very low carbs.
I love this, it puts the preoccupation with food to sleep in my body. It's like 'out of sight, out of mind'; if my body doesn't get carbs, it soon forgets about wanting them. It's restful.
My trickiest 'small change' is trying to fit in a 30 minute brisk constitutional walk after the DC have gone to bed. That's normally when I do my planning and marking, so a walk means I have to work later, which is another problem in terms of weightloss: I already work well past midnight on weeknights, so it looks like my new bedtime is going to be around 1am 😭