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?

I’ve been trying to build my exercise up and I did 20 minutes on the bike today and a few weights. I’m destroyed! Ha.

My weight is back to where I started, hopefully water weight. But my bras are fitting better.

Good morning. How was everyone’s weekend?
It was a busy one for us so I didn’t make my gym classes. We ate out with friends on Saturday, and went to friends to watch the football last night. I did exercise some restraint (fewer drinks than I might have had both evenings , and swapped the chips for extra salad while out), but I did have a lot of buffet food watching the footie. At least I consumed less than I would have done previously.
A few other events this week involving food and drink, so I am going to try to stick to very healthy options for the meals I am having at home.

Hello! Just done my Monday weigh in, spotted this thread and thought it looked a good fit. I have put on a lot of weight with peri and medication this last year and I would like to lose it sensibly and permanently. I have been a gym member for that whole time and going a couple of times a week but it’s either not made a difference or stopped things being even worse!

I have more than a stone to lose but 7kg off by, say, mid sept would be amazing.

I live with a tall, energetic DH and two teenage boys so portion control is one to watch for sure - must remember to give myself less than them!

My main tip (and I know not everyone eats breakfast) is some kind of protein with breakfast - even if it’s just peanut butter! It helps stop mid morning snacking for me

Hi @SheilaFentiman, hope you find this thread helpful. I appreciate the tip re protein for breakfast. Dropping that mid morning snack will make a difference over time, especially if like me that snack was a couple of slices of buttered toast!

I think portion control is so important. I struggle with that because I love my food and often eat more just because I am enjoying it.

We've always included vegetables in every meal, but I'm increasing the volume of veg/side salad now, so I have more veg and reduce the amount of carbs.

I’ve been starving all weekend, but I think being home so much isn’t helping. Period weight has gone and I’ve lost another 0.3kg.
i did a 10 minute boxercise video yesterday. Might concentrate on a big walk today instead if it’s dry.

Thank you @OMGitsnotgood - lots of veggies is a good tip and may be the way to balance the family cooking (they get more of the rice, I get more of the peas or whatever)

@ItsBinDayToday well done on the weight loss. I can't cope with being hungry at all!

It's good to get out while the weather is good, it's so wet for July. Nice here today, am going to do some gardening which is also good exercise.

Hello @SheilaFentiman 👋🏼 I also have a tall husband with a fast metabolism, and a sporty teenage boy who is definitely having a growth spurt. DD is also eating like it's going out of fashion (but is slim)... I totally agree re portion control.

Watching with interest for anti-snacking tips, especially in the evenings. I am terrible for snacking once both little kids are in bed. I think in my mind I've associated being able to sit down for a quiet snack with relaxation 😮I need to find something else very very easy to do, which would help break the association....

Ooh I wonder if I could get some nice low calorie hot chocolate style drink, like highlights maybe, and have that slowly in the evening once they are down instead? 🤔

Mind you it's still a snack/drink...but possibly better than some other things....

Well it sounds better than a bar of chocolate @Callernumber7 !

I often have a yoghurt or strawberries which are gorgeous at the moment. We always have a decaffeinated coffee in the evening. I don't buy biscuits unless we're having visitors, otherwise it would be too easy to dunk a few while watching telly!

Would be interested in healthy snack ideas from others

I'm 5ft5, 10st, exercise a lot. Would like to be 9st to get rid of some wobbly bits.

I'm trying to lose the last of my baby weight which is 7lbs but I'd prefer to lose a stone as think I'd finally see my abs again. I haven't really tried so far but it came off quickly in the first 4 months then stopped. I've been breastfeeding though and I literally eat what I want most of the time.

I got approached on Instagram by a free weight loss & exercise program - 6 weeks lose 20lbs or 6% body fat (currently 26%). Don't want to lose that much and worried 6% is too much to lose so quickly while Breastfeeding? You have to put £500 down and you don't get it back if you're not successful so bit of a risk!

Anyway would be nice to be 9st by my baby's 1st birthday in September!

Weigh in ---
1st July 10st 9.2lbs Start
15th July 10st 7.0lbs

Target 9.12 by 27th August, 6 weeks to go and 9.0lbs to go.

I am doing really well Monday to Friday evening but not well Friday night to Sunday night. Cannot blame anyone else sadly, definitely all down to me!

Have a good week everyone😁

@Bunny44 that Instagram thing sounds a bit dodgy.

It's a long time since my breastfeeding days so I don't know what the current advice is but in my day we were encouraged not to get too hung up on losing weight. I think it's more important to focus on a nutrient rich diet - which almost by definition is going to be a healthier one. I seem to recall the weight falling off once I was running around after them when they started walking!

@FiveShelties at least you're heading in the right direction, and that without denying yourself at weekends. Are there any small changes you can make to your weekend splurges that might make a difference over time? For example I am trying to drink water alongside wine, even one less glass at a time will mount up over the weeks/months.

I thought so too but actually went to their gym (it's a small local chain) and met them and checked out their reviews. They do it as they want a good review from you showing your weightloss and then many people then stay on at their gym so that's how they make their money but I was worried about losing that money! I'm still considering it. Partly out of curiosity.

@OMGitsnotgood thank you.

I start off the week-end with the best of intentions and then the wheels fall off. I am trying to get out of the mentality of 'well that's blown in, might as well have another' which is just so stupid. 😁

Kids are on school holiday now so I took them for a pizza lunch.

Soooo much food! But the good thing was that we brought enough home for dinner as well. Better a huge meal over two meals than one!

So I’ve been at this 2 weeks. Not really loosing any weight, but, everything is fitting so much better.

I still need to lose a lot of weight though.

Well done @ItsBinDayToday

I've dropped my calories down as I've lost three stone and need to focus on the last stone now.
I am struggling! 1600 feels hard right now

Wow that's amazing @socks1107, well done. What are your top tips to help the rest of us? I can imagine the last stone will be more difficult, are you able to increase your activity at all ?

Went to the gym today and did 11k steps yesterday. I did break my no pudding “rule” though!

I've counted every single thing I eat. Even if my calories go over some days it's counted.
I always walk over 15k steps a day, mostly more, that's easy in my job though and I have a treat every day. A milky way or similar. I don't eat a lot of carbs mid week but I do enjoy toast on a Saturday! This last stone will be hard and I don't want to slip and put weight on so it's a balance now

How's everyone doing? I've had a very overindulgent week, lots of social activities involving food & drink. I have tried to 'make better choices' - no pastry or chips when eating out, but failed with wine and beer. Dreading weighing myself!

I've a couple of meals out next week, am going to be very focused on healthy eating at home. Going to make a big pan of veg soup for lunches for a few days. Haven't planned main meals yet. What are your favourite heathy but filling meals?

I’m concentrating on hitting all my goals on my Fitbit and logging my food. Weight is coming off so slowly though, another 0.1 of a kilo today. I thought at the start I would drop a few easily.