Determined to lose 1.5 stone by July!

[Getfits]

Enough is enough..I need to lose 1.5 stone and to keep it off! My goal is to look and feel better, and to be fitter too.

So I’m only 5ft 2 and have been 9 stone for most of my adult life but after constant takeaways, home baking, lack of sleep and inactivity during lockdown, my weight crept up close to 13 stone / 83kg by the summer of 2021 and my body fat percentage was close to 40% which put me in the obese category.

I managed to lose a fair bit of weight using various methods (SW, 1:1, running,
walking, calorie counting, IF) and I was down to 11 stone /70Kg by late 2023. But over the last year it’s been hovering around 11 stone with not much change which has been frustrating.

The past month or so my weight’s actually been creeping up, the latest is I’ve just came back from a 2 week holiday and weighed myself - I’m 11 stone 8!

This is the heaviest I’ve been in over a year I think and I could see it in my holiday pics :/

I want to nip this in the bud by actively starting to get my weight down
towards 10 stone instead of continuing to head back in the direction to 13 stone.

I’m going to post at least every Monday setting out my intentions for diet and exercise and posting my weight/measurements update. Anyone in?

Will also be a good space to share fitness videos and simple healthy recipes!

@cherryblossom81 and @Netcam You ladies really inspire me! I'm very conscious that over the winter I put on the lbs so going to give myself a bit a a push(after reading your updates) and loose a bit more just so I've a bit of a buffer.

@TakingTheHorseToFrance What's your target weight for your push to lose a bit more? Do you fancy buddying up to check-in with each other as I'd also like to have a really big push to get under 8st?

What's your strategy? Keen to pick up any tips! Do you know how many calories you aim for each day?

@TakingTheHorseToFrance, @Cherryblossom81, the things that have made a difference to me are:

Thinking of the changes I made to diet and exercise being long term lifestyle decisions rather than something short term to lose weight.

If offered cake or biscuits, simply telling people I've given up sugar and feel better for it so don't want to get into the habit of eating it again. And also telling myself I just don't eat that kind of thing anymore, I make different choices.

Buying and making alternative other food I really like. For example, I have some 90% chocolate, medjool dates and different types of nuts im the cupboard for when I want a treat.

Realising that I actually like being slim more than I like that 5 or 10 minutes of eating a biscuit or some cake.

Realising that I manage perfectly well with slightly smaller meals, particularly in the evening when all I'm doing is going to bed. I tend to have a decent breakfast too, which keeps me going until lunchtime.

Thank you @Netcam. That's all really helpful.

I think I'm really conscious that in the past I have a tendency to get through the cold dark days with a glass of wine in the evenings, cheese, bread, tea and bars. I'm so afraid of repeating that behavior. I have a lot of birthdays coming up so if I lost a bit more I'd have a buffer. I feel so comfortable at 8st 3ish.

So that's my motivation the maybe get down another 3lbs...

@TakingTheHorseToFrance, I totally understand that winter is difficult.

I tend to want chocolate, so I've stocked up on Lindt 90% which I'll try and restrict myself to 1 or 2 squares a day of. And I allow myself a small glass of wine once a week now, although since I've been drinking less I am not so bothered about it every week.

But I really don't want to get back to the 9 1/2 stone I was a year ago and need to keep reminding myself how long it took to lose the weight and how quickly I could put it all back on again!

@Netcam and @TakingTheHorseToFrance I am freshly motivated by both of your posts to try to have a real push to get under 8st. I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to do it, as I think I've been eating well for the last few months and not losing, but if you can both do it, then I'm sure I can!

I feel like I might have asked both of you this before (but I've just tried to have a scan through the thread and can't find it)... what exercise do you do each day/week?

For me I train with a personal trainer twice a week. I was walking a lot and doing a mid week home work out. My motivation is lacking lately plus kids activities have started back so I'm not getting out walking as much.

Four mornings a week before work I do 1/2 an hour areobic exercise on my rebounder.

I also make sure I go for a 20 minute lunchtime walk since I mostly WFH.

At the weekend I always do one or two long walks, a couple of hours or so. I often meet a friend on a Saturday for a long walk and chat and then go for a long walk with DH on Sunday.

Hi @Netcam and @TakingTheHorseToFrance (and anyone else still here?!). I just wondered how you are getting on?

I have gained 4 pounds this month and I've no idea why! I track my calories (max 1400 per day), walk 20,000 steps and do Caroline Girvan workouts.

I just thought I'd post on here, as it's the only thread I've found with some people in a similar position to me. I had been around 8st4ish for a number of months and was trying to get to 8st(ish) but I'm now 8st8! The only thing I can think that has changed is I've tried to increase my protein (but still not going over 1400 calories).

Hi @Cherryblossom81 I was thinking of you guys too. Very very surprisingly I am at 8st 1 lb some days I might see 8stone 2 on 3 lbs . I'm not working out as much as you but still doing 2 gym sessions a week, though not getting the walks in.

It was my birthday this week and I got celebrations and Toblerone but I didn't touch a thing! So that is a major change for me. I'm not tracking my food but I'm not over eating I'd say I'm in or around 1400 cals.

I would like to do a 2 week period of high protein and see what it does to my shape. I have very little tummy fat now (it is wobbly under the bellybutton from having 4 kids) but I would like to see would I start seeing more definition.

I would not get too freaked out over the 4lb gain. I'd give it another 2 weeks and see what your shape looks like. I've realised this is a long long process.

Thank you so much for replying @TakingTheHorseToFrance

Well done! Sounds like you are doing great. Let me know how you get on with increasing your protein. Hope you enjoyed your birthday.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm just so confused (and a bit discouraged)!by the weight gain!

Hi @Cherryblossom81 and @TakingTheHorseToFrance, I was also thinking of you both and wondering how you are getting on.

I am continuing to eat the same and maintain the exercise as when I was losing weight and it finally seems to have plateaued at 7st 9 or 10.

Exercise continues to be 30 mins on the rebounder 4 mornings a week before work, a 20 minute lunchtime walk and a long walk or two (around 2 hours) at weekends.

Now I need to get through the long, cold winter without putting it back on.

@Netcam I've said it before I find your posts really inspiring. Even just have the chat here is making me feel very inspired. I'm going to sit down and write out a bit of a plan to increase exercise and track my food for 2 weeks and I'll report back

It's great to hear how both of you are doing @TakingTheHorseToFrance and @Netcam

Is the rebounder exercise mainly cardio? I'm wondering if a couple of cardio workouts are what I'm missing? I walk around 20,000 steps and do Caroline Girvan workouts but I don't do any other cardio?

Also, do both of you eat 3 meals a day (any snacks?)? I had been doing 16:8 intermittent fasting, but have been having breakfast for the last couple of months as I usually do a CG workout around 6am, so eat after this. That's the only other thing that I think could have caused my weight gain (but I'm not eating any more calories over the day).

@Cherryblossom81, the rebounder is cardio. I don't follow a video or anything, just do my own thing, but it's all jumping type stuff like star jumps etc.

I eat 3 meals a day and 1 snack.

Breakfast is either kefir or porridge made with skimmed milk, with nuts/ seeds and one piece of fruit. At the weekend I sometimes have a boiled egg and sourdough toast with a piece of fruit instead.

Lunch is usually a big salad with something like cucumber, tomato and avocado with protein like egg/tinned sardines/nuts/seeds/smoked mackerel/hummus/goats cheese. And one piece of fruit. Very occasionally a slice of sourdough bread.

Afternoon snack is uduslly a square of 90% chocolate, one medjool date and some nuts. Or sometimes some kefir with nuts and cacao powder if I had porridge for breakfast.

Dinner is usually a protein based dish like baked fish, lean beef chilli, veg curry, bean stew etc with a big pile of veg. Only occasionally I have a little pasta/rice/potato with it but generally not.

I don't really eat dessert/cake/biscuits and have a small (100ml) glass of wine maybe a couple of times a month. I've really tried to cut down on saturated fat, don't have butter or margarine and eat very little cheese.

I don't feel hungry or like I'm starving myself. I don't count calories and try and eat to appetite. If I genuinely feel hungry I will eat something else. I generally eat all meals between about 8.00am and 8.00pm.

Thank you @Netcam I eat very similar types of meals to what you eat. I think I maybe need to add in some cardio to my exercise routine.

@TakingTheHorseToFrance Have you come up with your plan for the next 2 weeks? Shall we check-in with each other in 2 weeks?

I'm going to try to add in some cardio and track my calories on Nutracheck (to particularly keep track of protein and fibre).

@Cherryblossom81 and @Netcam Did a weigh in this morning and am 7lbs 13. I know that will fluctuate but nice to see it. Unfortunately it's not the result of more exercise/better eating but rather on 2 days of the week i bring one of my kids to an activity straight after work which means I miss dinner. So 2 days of the week I'm eating about 1000 cals. But I eat good on the other days. It's not long term as I'm going back part time next month

@TakingTheHorseToFrance, you must have been pleased to see the 7 there. Do you feel any different?

I've been 7st 10 all week, this definitely seems to be my plateau I've hit which is fine.

I also got some small weights a couple of weeks ago and have started added them to my exercise regime. Mainly using them on the rebounder for part of my morning exercise, although I've had a go at some other exercise just with the weights too.

So busy with a full time job and one teen at 6th form, by the evening I just don't feel like I have anything left in me to do much. Was hoping to do 10 or 15 mins of weights after work some days, but it hasn't happened yet!

@Netcam yes I feel a bit different it's odd to not have rolls around my tummy. I still have lots of energy but would like to be eating more filling nourishing food.

On the subject of weights my PT said that a brilliant work out is holding light kettlebells/dumbells and go up and down your stairs .

7st 10 is unbelievable. Well done

Thanks for the updates @TakingTheHorseToFrance and @Netcam It's so motivating to hear how you are both getting on.

@TakingTheHorseToFrance How many calories do you think you are eating on the days you are not having 1000 calories?

@cherryblossom81 I'd say I'm staying 1200 to 1400. I must track one of the days. I'm sitting down having a large portion of home made lasange today. But still wouldn't have went over 1400

@Cherryblossom81 and @TakingTheHorseToFrance, a Christmas hello from me and a check in here.

Despite a bit of Christmas excess, including Christmas eve chocolate cake and a Christmas day glass of wine and ice cream, I was pleasantly surprised to find I was 7 stone 9 this morning.

Now back to being healthy again. I think the sugar and alcohol affected my sleep and I definitely feel better without it.

Well done you. Yesterday for me was a yes day. Yes to anything I wanted but i didnt eat any crap chocolate such as celebrations/ roses . Today I'm having wine and cheese at the moment but reigning myself in.

I weighed in with my PT last week and I'm 7st 13lbs. So I've lost 20lbs since Feb 23. My body fat has gone from 29% to 23%.

For the next 12 months we've decided I will not track weight not focus insted on getting the body fat down to 20%. I plan to put a post it note over the weight display. I think I'm going to struggle with this as I really focus on the number but this is now about changing my body shape rather than getting lighter. It's really odd I've went from 9stone 5lbs to 7st 13 and no one has noticed. No one has said it to me. I think it's baffling.

@TakingTheHorseToFrance, that's really interesting. I think we are a similar height and I've pretty much lost the same amount of weight as you.

I would say almost everyone has noticed and commented. But I also tend to tell people about the effort I've been making. DH says it is very noticeable. Do you think you look different?

I've had to replace all of my trousers as they were too big. Tops are dresses are OK, but trousers with a structured waist are now unwearable.

Wondering if you had to replace any clothes?

And I'm interested in how you measure your body fat.