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?

Fasting fascinates me. I see it can give amazing results but I just can't seem to manage it. I think it's the not being able to have milk in my coffee in the morning that does it for me 😂. Well done though, that's an incredible loss!

Sorry didn't mean to quote your whole message!
My friend uses NutraCheck and loves it. It sounds like you've got a good plan.
Drinking water is something I struggle with. I don't particularly like drinking water and then realize I've not had any all day and gulp a pint of it down before bed and then need to wee all night. I should get into a better routine with it.
Welcome, anyway. It's nice to see new people on here 🙂

This covid has ruined me.
I can't run without my chest burning and I am so tired. I have the week off work (I'm a teacher and it's half term) so I'm incredibly grateful for that.
I'm trying to increase protein as I think that'll help but as a veggie (and verging on vegan) it's something I struggle with.

@Elizabeth110100 fellow teacher and veggie here (ex-vegan!) Have similar struggles with protein...

I'm sorry you're struggling with Covid especially if you enjoy running 😔 make sure you rest A LOT and take 1 more day of rest when you're recovered to consolidate it.

@Elizabeth110100 that must be so frustrating, and teaching can't be easy post covid. I hope you manage to get some rest this week.

I think when you've been ill you just have to be kind to your body. Back to my nourishment theory! I hope you feel better soon.

We've been away for a few days = lots of eating out. Then we have birthdays and Halloween and bonfire parties coming up the rest of this week. I am too scared to step on the scales 😳

Thanks all. I'm hoping taking it easier this week will help before going back to work on Monday.

@hedonism ditto! I've a few things on this week too which will involve food & drink & missing gym classes. But I've made a big pan of vegetable soup today so at least my lunches will be healthy. Breakfast is usually healthy anyway as long as I have cereal and not toast with lashings of butter!

@OMGitsnotgood I'm making soup today too, from the pumpkin insides and the sad veg in the bottom of the fridge (mmmm, sounds delicious 😅).

Let's power on through this week making 'not terrible choices', and then get back on it properly for November. Would be good to at least start December with a bit of wriggle room!

Yes Hedonism let's do that! Even when out for a drink/meal/at a party there are some choices that are better than others. I just need to remind myself of that at the time!

My scales finally arrived and they show I've lost 6lbs since my last weigh-in (which was 5 months ago...) but that means technically my starting weight is in fact 12st2lb.

So, 3 stone to lose, rather than 3.5!

6lbs is great @EqualityDuck. I only weigh myself once a week, sometimes less frequently. If I've gained, it helps me refocus and if I've lost, it spurs me on. Hopefully having the scales will help you too.

I use the scales at the gym, so always the same time of day and wearing the same kit, without my trainers. I suddenly thought that actually I was a bit lighter given the clothes, so excitedly weighed my kit with the luggage scales and it's only half a pound. Never mind!

@OMGitsnotgood still... half a pound is better than nothing! How are you doing? I'm feeling really quite impatient today - it's been less than a week! I just want this weight gone 😩

@EqualityDuck this week has not been great food wise for a variety of reasons (all good this time). I did order sparkling mineral water along with wine when we went out for a meal for a friend's birthday. I also chose a salad based dish with dressing on the side so it wasn't soaked in it. Whilst everyone was tucking into the most amazing looking fish and chips or steak and ale pie and chips ((my favourite). So I was proud of myself for that at least Then I had coffee at a friend's and she'd made a cake. I had a small slice and refused seconds, which was hard because it was gorgeous. Will try to weigh myself over the weekend sometime.

Once you get used to it it gets quite easy, try smaller windows and then do bigger ones . You will see results quicker than other diets and it's something you can do all your life too

@OMGitsnotgood that's really good you opted for the salad! I find going out so difficult as I get major food envy of everyone else. Went to a fireworks display yesterday and they had NO candyfloss/toffee apples/sweets anywhere to be found! I was annoyed at the time, but grateful this morning as it helped me stay on track.

Good morning! I've braved the scales, after avoiding them for a couple of weeks 😳 and although I haven't lost anything, I haven't gained either. I'm back on it today, my plan is to stick to 3 healthy meals and no snacks.

Muesli and fruit for breakfast, and I'm planning soup for lunch, and stir fry for tea.

I hope everyone else has a good week!

@Hedonism well that's better than gaining! That's a good meal plan for today

Well having felt very virtuous for choosing a salad, the rest of my week took a nose dive food and drink wise. All my will power went out of the window. I've given myself a good talking to. November was meant to be the month of losing weight to balance out December's excesses.

This week's plan to get back on track:
Weetabix,, muesli or porridge for breakfasts; soup, omelette or salads for lunches; veg heavy evening meals with chicken or fish/prawns

If anyone else is struggling, please post. I find admitting it, even to complete strangers, makes me feel better! .

I also fee better chatting to strangers about it! My partner also regularly comments on him needing to lose weight (but does nothing about it). I am fully aware that fasting isn't complete fasting if you have milk etc but I found what works for me is several coffees throughout the morning, means I'm caffeinated and I can go to 12-2pm without needing food. I then have a meal, followed by a meal with the kids at about 5.30/6 and that's it until the next day. Halloween sweets and chocolate around is making this harder, however! 6ish weeks until Christmas everyone, I'm confident we can manage to lose a few lbs before the excesses set in!

We can do this! Just think how much more we will enjoy those Christmas treats if we've had a virtuous November 😇

Finally ventured on the scales and as expected have gained a bit, had a very naughty couple of weeks!
Need to get my head back into the right place re food and drink as I want to be able to enjoy all the December festivities (not just Christmas related).

So I'm taking stock of where I am:
Heaviest ever weight: 13st 4 (June 2023)
Weight when I started this thread: 12st 8 (June 27th 2024)
Weight yesterday: 11st 13 1/2

I'm still 8.5 lbs down from June this year which is an OK result given that I'm not 'on a diet' , but I'd like a bit more off before December to compensate for the weight I know if will put on then.

I'm really going to try this week, though struggling a bit with will power. I should be able to go to more gym classes than I've been making recently so that should help a bit.

@OMGitsnotgood really good you've lost over half a stone from your start weight, without being "on a diet"! And you're in the 11 stone bracket, which is great- always nice to be in the next bracket down.

How's it going so far this week?

Thank you @EqualityDuck. Yes I am thrilled to be under 12 stone for the first time in many years. I hovered around 12st2 for a long time . It really has been due to increasing exercise and being smarter with food choices.

Today has been good so far - Weetabix and banana for breakfast; a small portion of leftovers from last night's fish pie for lunch; and I've a chicken and veg traybake in the oven. Plan to blitz the leftover veg with stock to make soup for the rest of the week. I also went to a gym class this morning.

I think a day at a time is the way to go, start afresh each day, otherwise it's too easy for one less-controlled day to lead to another.

How are you doing today?

Would also love to hear how others are doing, whether well or struggling.

@OMGitsnotgood yes agreed on the One Day Diet thing! So much easier to just think one day at a time.

I am stuck on 12st2lb - feeling annoyed today as I weighed and haven't lost anything since I started this time last week! Even though my calories eaten average per day has been 1600 and my exercise calories at least -200 each day 😔 I don't understand my body at all! However I am pleased that I stayed on track and made good choices today - before, if I haven't lost weight each week, it has triggered a big binge and a "f*ck it" attitude. So mindset wise - I'm doing better at least!

@EqualityDuck well done at sticking at it, it's so easy to give up when you aren't seeing the results. But I sometimes find for me that it takes more than a week to see the weight loss so do stay strong! (Conversely weight gain can take a while catch up on me after a calorific week so might be in for a shock next week! )