Summer Slim - any top tips?

[MotherOfGodWeeFella]

Right - I have been tatting about since mid 2021 trying to lose weight. I got down to 10 and a half stone in December 2021 but have been gradually getting heavier. I've lost half a stone or a stone here and there, but now I'm 12 and half stone and enough is enough. I'm 5'4". This is the biggest I have been. I've been here 3 times now and no more.

I have 34lbs to lose and 17 weeks before the big summer holiday with family (somewhere glam) then a short break with friends (some of whom I haven't seen for a while) after that.

I'm inspired by the poster who returned to her thread over the weekend to update and has had impressive results with diet, exercise and walking.

My thinking is that I'll post my weight weekly. I'll also take my measurements.

Does anyone have any top tips?

Yes you don’t need to do anything too crazy or unsustainable. Set yourself realistic goals, do not set your calories too low.

Getting out and getting active is very good for your mindset and you can use this new habit to offset your old habits (if you are in a habit of eating in evenings watching TV)

Thank you. I've fallen out of the habit of regular walking. Shitty sleep meant I couldn't get up in the mornings, which is when I prefer to go for a walk, before work. The fact the weather's been awful has been another excuse not to get on with things.

I took my measurements earlier:
B 41"
W 35"
H 45"
This was after going to the gym - I already goes 3 times a week. I plan to take my measurements every four weeks. I've also bought a walking pad to make it as easy as possible to get my steps in. I'd rather be outside, but I've been finding it really difficult to motivate myself to get out on cold, wet mornings. I feel a lot better in myself when I'm doing more walking.

Today's weigh in: 77kg/ 169.4lb/ 12st 1lb. I was eating a lot of unnecessary rubbish and having half a bottle of wine a couple of evenings a week - usually at the weekends - before starting this.

I'm delighted - a step in the right direction. My walking pad arrived on Thursday and I got 6000 steps in. Did more on Friday and on Saturday I had an appointment in town and got about 13,500 steps in. This morning I had a coffee and walked for 25 mins before work (on the machine as it was lashing it down outside). Also got my three gym sessions in last week.

In terms of food I had a couple of blips (boredom and mindless eating tbh) but accounted for them in MFP. My TDEE is 1663 calories for maintenance. I've set my calories at 1400 with 40% protein in my macros, but if there's some slippage on the calories that's fine. I've had no alcohol and DP has been drinking stuff I don't like so as not to encourage me to want a glass. So onwards and upwards.

Here for the accountability. Weight this morning 76.9kg.

Not a great week in terms of what I ate, and drank - red wine shared with DP, so I need to get back on it. I did make the gym three times for weights. Quite a bit of walking and I spent lots of time on my feet over the weekend, when I wouldn't normally.

This morning I've just weighed in at 75kg / 165lb / 11st 11lb. I've found it much easier to stick to things this last week and feel as though I'm in the zone and won't self-sabotage. I'm away over next weekend and staying in a hotel so we'll see how that goes.

I'm a day late and my weight has gone up to 66.5kg after 4 days off plan. That was meals out, wine, hotel breakfasts and a takeaway, including erratic eating times. I did manage a hotel gym session and did lots of walking.

Anyway, I am still determined and was straight back on it yesterday.

I am going to chicken out of taking my measurements though and will do that next week instead!

Is the TDEE including your walking calories?

I stopped drinkng alcohol in January. Lost 3/4 of a stone. No other changes

No, it isn't. I think I based it on being "lightly active". I used to walk a lot, but haven't been doing more recently.

I’m just thinking, you need a deficit of 3500 calories to lose a pound therefore 7000 to lose two pounds which looks like what your goal is based on so eating 1400 calories even with the walking may still not get you the loss you’re after. No criticism here and 1400 isn’t a lot of calories I’m more just thinking it is going to take longer than you’d like.

Thanks for the downer! It's fine and I am now back on it. Slow and steady wins the race. I do three weights sessions a week and have been to the gym this evening where the trainer is supportive and knows what I'm working towards. If things plateau I'll reduce the calories and up the activity.

Spotted a typo in my update for this week: that should read 76.5kg.

I'm delighted to report that I have weighed in at 74.6kg today. I didn't have time yesterday as I was scrambling to get to work.

I'm coming back to this thread. I had a few stressful weeks followed by a health issue. Last week I saw my GP and whilst there discussed losing weight to try to reduce my blood pressure. He suggested IF with a four hour eating window. He's lost 12kg himself. I started this on Saturday and I'm happy to report I'm 75.6kg today. I don't know where I started, but I'm pretty happy and I'm finding it fairly easy. The cut off for eating is fine. So far, so good.