Sustainable and not overly ambitious weight loss: 1 stone by September- anyone care to join?

[OMGitsnotgood]

I’m 5’4 and 12 stone 8lbs.
I exercise regularly now, and am slowly losing weight ( almost a stone over a year), I now need to reduce my calorie intake to increase the weight loss. I enjoy my food and drink, so a very restrictive diet isn’t going to work for me, plus I want it to be sustainable.

I want to try to lose a stone by September. In itself that shouldn’t be too much of a challenge but that time period includes a holiday and lots of social activities which will involve food and drink.

The approach I want to take is making healthier or at least lower calorie choices.
So for example, Weetabix and fruit for breakfast instead of toast and lashings of butter; soup or salad for lunch, with the occasional sandwich rather than sandwiches every day (and always tempted to have crisps with sandwiches); evenings have a ‘normal’ meal but consider the calorie content when meal planning or when eating out. Gin & slimline tonic instead of wine etc
I don’t want to be counting calories but am aware of what foods/cooking methods are higher in calories than others.
I’m good at not making or buying cakes/biscuits/ puddings - but if on offer will eat them - and want to be able to within reason.

I don’t want to join a group such as Slimming World, but know the weekly weigh ins have helped friends stay focused and accountable, so thought I’d give it a go on here to see if there are any other reluctant dieters who would find this gentler approach in the company of others helpful.

Anyone want to join in?

How's everyone getting on?

I struggled to sleep last night, had a bunch of wine, a late snack, including a biscuit. I'm 4 pounds down from when I started, if I balance on the scales juuuuust right, but I know I will be wanting to eat all day because of the wine. And what I really want is a PB&J. I made one a few weeks ago after seeing it referenced on a tv show and it was delicious. Why don't we do them here?

Post wine snacking is a killer @dudsville

We're away for a few days and diet well and truly out of the window, although we're putting a n a fair few steps. Might balance out 1% of the calorie consumption ....

Not bad. Have been doing more exercise and cutting down the sweets

Hi all. I will do a weight post when I’m back, I’ve been very irregular with food etc because of work travel and now a family holiday. This trip (7 days) I got a bit of a shock in mirrored hotel bathrooms, I could really see the 1 1/2 stone I’ve gained. The second night I felt disgusted by it all, eating and hating myself for it, so I just stopped. I have not been tucking into goodies and treats since. But I’ve eaten plenty - hotel breakfasts and all that… and I kept running - I’m doing couch 2 5k and I did my three runs on hols this week. Go me! I then went out to an Indian restaurant!!
Much as I am unhappy with how I look, I feel good because I’m doing something about it, rather than that helpless ‘I’m a lost cause’ feeling.

love reading all your updates. You’re inspiring me.

How are you all?
Well, no hiding from this.

Todays weigh in: 12st 5lb

Can I ask - lattes, what do you all think? I don't really drink alcohol, and I'm looking at what I can cut out. I snack at night like a demon, thst has to stop, and I drink far far too many lattes. Skinny cows milk, or regular oat. I am wondering if oat is a culprit.

I seem to grab a coffee any chance I get.

I’m stuck on the same weight but today I seem to have a stomach bug so who knows. I literally hate the idea of all food. Silver linings…

You post really resonated with me @twoforj0y. I seem to walk around thinking everything is okish, then get a glimpse in the mirror.

Sorry you're ill @ItsBinDayToday, hope you feel better soon (and benefit from it!).

I've been afraid to step on the scales, which is silly as whether I do or not, it's not as if i don't know! I get on then without my glasses on and step off quickly. Anyone else as childish in their use of scales?

I’m reporting a 2lb gain this week :(. We had birthday celebrations at the weekend and I caved in. Am back on it this morning and aiming for better next Monday

@twoforj0y I think best to cut out the lattes and swap them for Americanos if you can face that. A few lattes can easily add up to a meal in calories. You are doing so well with your running and your holiday weight will probably drop off quickly

@dudsville am also childish in my use of the scales, getting on them with my eyes covered and hoping for a good result

Monday weigh in, one day late.... I've lost 0.1kg since last Monday. We've been away for a few days and had some lovely meals (and ice creams) so that's a big win 😁

@dudsville I am dreadful with the scales too, I get on like this 🫣

@twoforj0y I agree that lattes sneak the calories on. I've weaned myself across to Americanos. If I do have a latte now, it makes me feel really full!

@Hedonism that's a fantastic result after being away, well done. I am dreading weighing myself after our trip but don't have scales at home so will have to wait til I can get to the gym

@twoforj0y yeah I think you will need to cut down on the lattes unfortunately. Try it for a couple of weeks and see how it goes?

So 0.3kg off and I think maybe I’m back to normal, but not keen to eat that much. Wjn!

After about 2 weeks of stopping snacking in the day and the eveing before bed, I had two nights in a row of having a pre bed snack that's high calorie. It's not that it's bad food, a LOT of nuts one night and bowl of porrige the other, but I'm not eating because I'm hungry. That was annoying, so last night I made a healthy dinner thinking it would stave off that bed tie snack. I wasn't hungry, but I ate a lot. I can't seem to find a way of managing this part of my day. I even had the thought of giving up again, but I wold like instead to find a way of managing this. I've enjoyed the 16:8 in the past, and for me the window was best at the start of the day, like a 9:30 to 5:30, maybe I should go back to that.

That's a tough one @dudsville because snacking is such a hard habit to break. Also with things like nuts they are so moreosh and hard to stop once you start.

I've started having strawberries or grapes in the evening, an hour or so after dinner. I'd happily munch my way through a huge packet of crisps or several biscuits but I've jstopped buying them to take temptation away.

I'm delighted that in spite of being away for a few days, eating out and a few drinks each evening, I have managed to lose 1.5lbs in the last 10 days. We walked a lot and didn't snack at all, and I did try to order healthier options off menus, eg rice instead of chips and mainly avoided puddings.
I'm not on track to lose a stone by September as I'd hoped - not the start of the month anyway, but definitely half a stone which given the time we've had away and various social activities over the summer, I'll be happy with. Especially as I've not been 'on a diet' as such.
I've had a few periods since I started this thread where I've gained weight - don't be disheartened if that happens, just use it as a motivator to focus harder.

@dudsville I find the evenings extremely hard too, it reminds me of decades ago when I smoked - that was all about breaking the habit of a cigarette goes alongside an alcoholic drink, and I find my night time snacking is the same. My head thinks "I've been there for everyone all day, now it's my time" so I eat what I want when everyone is in bed. And nobody going oh, what's that, can I have some... keep going, you are doing so well!

I've cut back on snacking since Monday, trying to hold strong. I'm travelling for work again, I am cutting down on the lattes (only had a small one this morning!) and I went to the gym and did 30 mins on the treadmill before heading to the office, phoar me this is unheard of behaviour!

@OMGitsnotgood oh wow that's so good, well done!!!

@OMGitsnotgood that's amazing, well done! 👏🏼

Thanks both of you, maybe instead of hoping to not have something, I will plan to eat something, but identify it in advance, like your fruit @OMGitsnotgood , and congratulations on your loss, I can't imagine LOSING weight on a holiday!!!!!! And @Hedonism too! That gives me hope for my next holiday.

And well done to @twoforj0y, that latte reduction is impressive and that plus the gym has to count for something!

Glad you're feeling better @ItsBinDayToday, and your steady loss is admirable. My scales are jumping all over the place.

We were only away for a long weekend @dudsville and I was really sensible before we went bur I didn't expect to lose anything. That said, sometimes I think it can take a while for weight to come off, that's when it's easy to give up.

I got really horribly bloated with my period which just started and I'm off my food now. So hopefully lose some water weight

Happy weekend everyone!

We're out for a meal tonight, with a few drinks but will try to be sensible.
Need to do my meal planning for the week, am aiming for lower calorie but tasty meals.

I like the look of these:

Spanish style chicken bake

pork bulgogi (never heard of bulgogi before!)

Thought I'd share in case they appeal to anyone else.

Anyone got any favourite heathy, low(ish) calorie recipes to share?

That chicken dish looks delicious! I might give it a go.

This is one of my favourite lunches:

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/spinach-dhal-harissa-yogurt

This is the base recipe for it:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/basic-lentils

(It sounds complicated to have two recipes but really you just make the basic lentils and add spinach).

So I’m away tomorrow, I lost 6ibs in 6 weeks. Stomach bug hasn’t gone and it keeps making me bloated. Back at it when I come back….

Thanks @hedonism, I like the idea but can't see the recipes as I haven't subscribed to the app. I thought £24.99 per year seems a bit steep?

That's a great weight loss @ItsBinDayToday, tho I'm sure you'd rather not have a stomach bug. Hope it doesn't spoil your time away.