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?

@socks1107 that's a brilliant achievement so far! Do you have any favourite 'lower calorie whilst filling you up' meal recommendations?

Not really I'm just trying all sorts! I've cut back on bread and I don't evening snack anymore.
I also try and eat lunch as late as I can so I don't get the afternoon munchies and if I do I have a protein shake.

I love that there's so many of us on this thread now! My weekend was an absolute s show - was so so good and then went to friends last night to watch the football, one bottle of wine and a kebab later (shared with my fiance). I am so determined this week but have a lot of social events coming up, so back to the gym and more steps it is!

I agree with you @OMGitsnotgood , it's so good to not do anything too extreme so that it's sustainable and doesn't turn into a yo yo diet - i've noticed my mental health deals a lot better when I can enjoy my self still at social situations, but i reign it back elsewhere (i.e if I go out with some friends in the evening, i make sure to get my 5 a day in, plenty of water, a few more steps) and I feel no where near as guilty, and haven't had to starve myself!

I've got plenty of fruit and yogurt for work today, with some granola to go alongside so hoping that keeps me going till dinner tonight! (i never normally eat breakfast so just lunch for me at work) and a 2 litre bottle of sparkling water.

Wishing us all a good week 🤍

@tiredbridetobe you're being hard on yourself - sounds like you were good for lots of the weekend. I hope you enjoyed your kebab and wine and that it helps you refocus again today.

Can I join please? I have another stone to lose and I am struggling as I have hypothyroidism. I am also peri/menopausal and currently 11 stone /5foot 4 . It has took me over two years to get to that from 13 stone 7lbs! Would love to be 10stone! And want to do more in general as tend to be a bit of a slob!

Hi @Eatyerselffitter , all welcome, no need to ask to join! Well done on what you have achieved so far. Any tips to share from that journey?

What will you be focussing on to help with the last stone?

I’m 54, 5’ 3” and 11 stone. I really don’t mind if it takes me a year to lose a stone - I just don’t want to keep losing and then regaining the same few pounds 😂. As well as giving up the booze this month, I’m going to intermittent fast 18:6 and meal plan. Hope you’ve all had a good day!

I totally forgot about this and was bloody useless today.
B- PB & J toast
L- museli, crisps,pretzels, jelly sweets seems like a random binge but had just spent four hours ‘quality time’ with my mother so also slightly understandable.
D - chilli con carne

Might still do some weights, got another 2000 steps to hit target.

Monday was a good day for me, not a single solitary drop of wine and 12627 steps.
Breakfast Boiled Egg and Toast
Lunch Pate, salad, bread. Fruit and yoghurt
Dinner Spicey Soup with bread.

Gosh - typing that out makes me realise just how much bread there was! Total was 1062 calories which is very low for me, usually around 1300. Onwards to Tuesday.

Two days here. 1600 calories, I walk at least 15k steps a day at work and I've squeezed in a swim.
I have so many areas to audit at work today I think I'll be hitting the 20k today which is a plus

I've had a reasonable couple of days. We had a takeaway on Sunday as we'd been out all day and wanted to eat while watching the football. I had chicken chow mein but only ate half, which is progress and 2 glasses of wine. Finished the takeaway for lunch yesterday, so spread what I'd normally have eaten in one sitting over two meals.
No alcohol yesterday, am trying to keep that to the weekend only, if not out doing something special.

I'm finding this thread is stopping me reaching for more food/wine and if that continues it will have served its purpose! But it's lovely to have the company of other people who want to adopt the same sort of approach, so thank you.

Oh and I weighed myself at the gym for the first time in a couple of weeks and had lost 2lbs. I know some of that will have 'come off easily' as I'd had a very caloric few weeks before that for a combination of reasons, but still, if I can continue to lose a little each week without a hugely restrictive diet I'll be very happy.

Kept me on track for this morning. Got straight on the static bike before work and did some weights. I find that exercise first thing helps me remember why I’m not eating rubbish! Will get on the walkpad after the next meeting, only trying to get 7000 steps daily and I did manage that last night in the end 😁

Haven’t weighed in though, I know it’s bad because my clothes don’t fit. Might do it tomorrow but keep it in kg because I don’t really understand them so it doesn’t stress me out like stones do!

I’d like to join. I’m 5’4” and 9st 6lb. I’ve put on a stone in the last year and I want to lose it. I’m using intermittent fasting as I find it easier than calorie counting as I have a two year old DD and six year old DS. I’m not exercising anywhere near enough.

I did a few months of WW but found it too easy to eat badly and not record all my snacks. We don’t have any local groups do personal accountability is very welcome!

I am also an emotional eater and have got into the habit of snacking on the children’s leftovers.

Edited to say my clothes don’t fit and it’s really depressing.

I’m doing 18:6 and have also just given up booze. Can’t keep putting on weight!

@Silviasilvertoes it's awful when clothes don't fit. I'm not allowing myself to buy any new clothes until I've lost a bit as I have bags of clothes a size down that I'd love to get back into

Hello, can I join you please? I love the idea of a September target, it will keep me focussed during the summer holidays when my hollow legged DC are eating snacks every 30 minutes 🙂

I am 5'3", 66kg - target 60kg. I need to stop snacking and cut back on the wine as well. My plan is to eat three balanced meals per day, and allow myself the occasional slice of cake or glass of wine (rather than daily 😳).

I'd like to join if I may!

I am 5 ft 2, aged 51 and currently 12 stone on the button. I have lost 1 stone 8 pounds in the past 18 months - not through dieting, not sure how really although I was ill for a good 4 months with an autoimmune disease which is now controlled.

I am planning on doing 16:8 and cutting down on booze in the first instance and will weigh in every Monday.

Oh to add- my 'happy weight' where I don't have to starve and suffer is around 10 and a half stone.

“Starve and suffer” Exactly!!! I just can’t face being hungry and fed up daily. And I’m not going without cake or the occasional glass of wine.

Tuesday almost over for me and another good day.
Breakfast Boiled egg and toast
Lunch Pate, Salad, 2 slices of bread, fruit and yoghurt
Dinner Shepherd's Pie, Carrot, green beans and cauli
Calories 1065 which is again, like yesterday, very low for me.

Just drinking one measure of Single Malt and have done 11650 steps.😁

Hello all. Good day for me yesterday I stuck to my plan. todays plan:
B - Greek yoghurt with mango and blueberries
L - Cous Cous salad with a pitta bread and watermelong
T - mushroom stroganoff followed by strawberries.

Ex - have done a 4.5k run with the dog.

other incentive for getting back on track is the grocery budget. Mine hit a horrendous £700 in June and that has to come down for me!!!

How is everyone getting on?

I’m going to join. I’m in in a vicious cycle of eating healthy then eating rubbish, especially at that time of the month. I am going to try lose it slowly and hopefully keep it off.

It's difficult isn't it @Itdjgsurchg? I'm hoping that the healthier, rather than full on diet, will be more successful in the long term, and if I have a bad day, refocus the next day.

Enjoying reading what people have to eat, and great for ideas.

So far today I have had:
B: 2 weetabix, with banana and blueberries
L: watermelon and feta
Tonight we're going to have a substantial salad using up various things in the fridge and some baby new potatoes. I've been to an aerobics class today so am on track for a good day.

Morning all, how’s it going? Weird day for me today as I’ve woken up with some weird dizziness so am ensconced on the sofa now. Managed a slice of toast this morning. If I feel better it’ll be cous cous salad for lunch and aubergine chilli for tea. It may turn into a McDonald’s depending on how things go though!!

3 days with no snacking in the evening and I already feel healthier, more in control and a flatter tummy!

Sorry to hear that @WhitegreeNcandle, hope you feel better soon. 3 nights without snacking is great, well done. I think sometimes we do things out of habit - eg have a cup of tea and a biscuit: crisps with a sandwich; something sweet after meal;
cheese & crackers in front of the telly etc.
not easy habits to break!