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?

Up and down is better than up and up @Hedonism ! I think it helps if you know why it's gone up and know what you can do to regain control. We're in for a calorific few days for a combination of reasons , I will need a very sensible meal plan next week.

Hi all

Well, I knew it would be a tough week with incoming period and the unrelenting salt cravings (crisps, crackers etc). I was a bit more self aware but can't say that stopped me, but maybe I was less "freefall" than I usually am! I am up .8lb which I'm quite relieved by. Damage control! I think I have 3lb that just comes and goes every month so this feels a bit different.

I also ran a 5k on Sunday, my first in years. Great buzz at the event!

Am hopeful if I stay on track this week I'll see some real loss next Monday.

I need to be held accountable so I'm joining you all!
I lost two stone in 9 months and have 8lbs left to go. I've had 8lbs to lose for over two months and it's just not shifting.

My biggest vices are red wine and chocolate. I've reduced the amount I'm drinking hugely which made a big difference to my weight loss but am loathed to cut it out completely. I'm also vegetarian which makes things tricky and don't have cows milk. I've been having oat milk in tea and coffee but am wondering if it's too calorific which is why the weight isn't shifting further. (I drink a lot of tea!)
Also the chocolate isn't helping but I have cut back. A lot!

I do a lot of hiking and am starting to run again and I feel a lot fitter but can't commit to anymore exercise as I'm a single mum with little support and work full time so childcare is an issue.

I don't have a time frame in mind. I just want to lose the weight and learn how much to eat to maintain it.

That's a very good point! It has been helpful that I've been more mindful of what I've been eating, and so I know where I need to cut back.

It's difficult when you aren't fully in control of what's on your plate, isn't it. If you say you are watching what you eat then it can get a bit awkward.... 'I'm not feeling very hungry at the moment' can be a really useful phrase / excuse though.

@Elizabeth110100 that's great going! How did you lose the 2 stone, were you calorie counting?

@twoforj0y it's normal for weight to fluctuate anyway isn't it, especially around your period time. Thankfully my periods are way behind me, as is menopause so I don't have that excuse! Whilst I weigh myself once a week, I am trying to take a monthly view as some weeks I can gain some due to over socialising and then lose some of that the following week.
Well done on your 5k. More activity is good and I am being quite disciplined about going to gym classes, although we've been away a lot since I started this thread, so have missed a few which doesn't help.

Yes calorie counting mainly. And moving a lot more. The fitter I got, the better I wanted to eat. I think cutting the alcohol helped as well. There's a lot of calories in red wine unfortunately 😕.
I have cut out bread, white pasta and white rice as well. They made me bloated all the time anyway and since cutting them out, the bloating disappeared. I also feel less sluggish. I went out to dinner the other day and had curry with rice and I felt awful afterwards. It's definitely put me off eating it again!

@Hedonism yeah it is difficult when others are serving up, I do ask for smaller portions though, especially of pudding!

Congratulations @Elizabeth110100 that is fantastic. I can imagine that the next 8lbs will be more difficult.
I'm in awe that you find time to exercise at all being a single Mum and working full time. What about some work out routines you can do at home, would they appeal to you?

That's impressive @Elizabeth110100 ! I think even just leveling out after a loss of 2 stone is great.
As I'm being accountable here, here's yesterday's food:
B. Bit of apple cake, greek yogurt, sour berries, sprinkle of homemade granola
L. Leftover spag bol, 2 nectarines
D. Chicken salad sandwich
Drinks: lots of water, a smelly apple juice, a pint of peroni
I managed not to eat late or snack which feels like progress. Cake for breakfast was probably a slight fail, but in my defence I've got hundreds of apples to use up😂 . My excuse for the pint is I was at an amateur comedy night and very thirsty 😁
Hope everyone has a good day!

Small apple juice not smelly 😅

😂 smelly apply juice!

I sometimes have a breakfast like that, I call it a breakfast trifle 😁 homemade cake is full of good nutrients, and apple cake sounds delicious.

I had leftover damson and apple crumble for breakfast today, with some plain yoghurt. Most of the crumble topping was eaten yesterday though, by my DC!, and I didn't add any sugar to the fruit when I cooked it, only the crumble. So it was just stewed fruit and yoghurt really. I'm sat at my desk working today but I went for a 20 min walk around the block before I started and will go again at lunchtime. I feel like it's the small changes will that add up into big changes.

I tend to walk/run when my daughter has her sports activities. They're an hour each soni can squeeze in two a week and then try and get out at the weekend either with my daughter (not fun) or a friend watches her. Most of my friends are hitting 40 and training for marathons and hiking for fun now so we all help each other out with childcare. It's quite useful and we hold each other accountable!

As for being held accountable

B: protein bar, banana and soya yoghurt.
L: vegan sushi and some edamame
For dinner I'll have tomato and basil soup with a tin of sweet corn poured in. Maybe some carrot, cucumber and hummus.

I also had a chocolate bar before I went on my run just now which was silly because the lactic acid build up wasn't pleasant.

Also need to increase water intake. I'm rubbish at drinking water.

So, yesterday was not too good as we had dinner in the pub, but it was less bad than if I had not been making an effort.
B. Piece of apple cake, yoghurt, blueberries
L. Grilled chicken salad
D. Small Fish and chips
Drinks, non alcoholic beer, elderflower drink, coffee, water
I avoided snacking and eating late so that's the win
Also did a yoga class & today I'm putting in fence posts which is good exercise.

Damson and apple compote sounds lovely @Hedonism . We've only got apples at the moment and I'm a bit sick of thinking what to do with them - tonight's project is to make apple jelly, mainly because you don't have to peel or core them.
I've spent most of the day digging holes in clay/concrete so I feel exercised. Will tot up what I've had to eat later.

B. Yoghurt, blueberries homemade granola
L. Starbucks cheese and ham toastie, half a bag of crisps, coffee frappe
D. Salmon, lots of garlicky green beans, new potatoes with lemon butter dressing. Strawberries, blueberries & kiwi fruit
Drinks. Lots of water, diet coke (yuk, but it was very hot), non alcoholic beer, coffee

Not bad I reckon aside from the crisps.

I am visiting a friend and have truly over indulged these past few days. I won't post what we've eaten & drunk! We have walked a bit, but expect the scales to be up when I next weigh myself. But we need to live a little too. Will be good next week!

Today's my weigh in day and I am still at the same weight. Very annoying.

Well it’s September and I haven’t managed the stone.
However, I have lost 8.5lbs since I started this thread and given how much of that time I’ve been away; how many parties/barbecues/dinners etc we’ve been to, I am very happy with that, especially as I’ve not been following a strict diet.
I’m happy to keep this thread going on the run up to Christmas, just to keep myself focused. Would be great to have some company if anyone else wants to carry on.

that's still a great loss. Well done you.
Celebrate every pound, it's still a win.

I'm happy to carry on.

I've got a loss of 3lbs this morning so I'm happy with that. I seem to keep the weight on me for a few weeks, then suddenly lose a few pounds.

Well done you too @Elizabeth110100 . Very happy you want to carry on with me.

I have 2 short trips away in September, and I don't want to skimp on food or drink on either. Neither will involve exercise or walking very far unfortunately.

My plan is to continue to attend a few gym classes a week when I'm home, and walk rather than take the car when it makes sense.

To compensate for the trips away, I want to remind myself to make sensible choices re what I eat and how much.

If I could lose 2lbs during September I'd be happy.

Does anyone else have goals for this month?

8.5lbs is great especially over summer when it can be really hard not to totally over indulge.
I'm happy to carry on! I'm going to weight myself tomorrow morning and the aim to loose at least 2kg by Christmas

That's great, @OMGitsnotgood ! Well done. Walking more is a good plan. My DC take themselves to school now and I miss the school run! Need to replace the steps somehow.

My plan for September is:
Food - get back on top of the meal planning and stop going to the supermarket every other day 😖, prep some healthy options and freeze for busy evenings (I will use the batch lady recipes)
Exercise - start a new Caroline girvan programme, and add in some walking or running on arm days.

So I'll carry on here too please!

Making a plan is a good idea. I think it helps reinforce what you want to do and why you're doing it.
I want to sustain the 3x running a week. I always start and then find an excuse. Especially when it gets darker and colder. I think doing some yoga or something like that at home would be a good idea too. I need to find something on YouTube if anyone has any recommendations?

I don't have any YouTube recommendations but sometimes I just put on some of my favourite music and have a bop!!