Sustainable and not overly ambitious weight loss 2025: 1 stone by June - anyone care to join?

[OMGitsnotgood]

Happy New Year!
I started this thread back in June in an attempt to lose a stone by the end of September. I wanted to do this through making better food choices and exercising more, rather than following a rigid diet. (Read the old OP for more details). Posting made me feel more accountable and made me rethink my eating after a calorific day (or week! )
I didn’t lose a stone but did continue to lose weight slowly, gaining some weeks but overall a reasonable loss.

Time to refocus after the excesses of December, and it would be great to have some company.

Welcome back to those who kept me motivated on the old thread and welcome to anyone new - you don’t need to ask to join, just introduce yourself and tell us what you are trying to achieve, and hopefully the encouragement and support we can give each other will help us all.

This is my info, feel free to post whatever helps you to keep track and use this thread as you see fit.

Height: 5’4
Heaviest ever: c 13st 4
Weight June 24:: 12st 8
Lightest since June 24: 11 st 11
Current weight: 12 stone 1/2lb - which is hardly surprising, i didn’t watch what I ate or drank for most of December. I think some of that will come off easily when I refocus. Going to have a few days away visiting various friends so expect that won’t help but I don’t want to be able to enjoy those times, and be extra careful at home .

My short term goal is to get back under 12 stone by the end of January..

My dream would be a stone by June. I'm not optimistic but a reasonable goal to aim for.

Today eating 12-7
L. Cornish pasty from an NT cafe
D. Pasta homemade tom sauce, dressed salad, bit of homemade cake
S. 3 ginger biscuits
Total: 1750

Morning all, a combination of a 24 hour tummy bug last week and lots of gardening in the sunshine over the weekend has produced a 1kg loss on the scales this morning. Very happy with that, although I don't recommend the tummy bug.

This week I am going to concentrate on not snacking, and eating fruit after my meals.

Busy fun weekend of grazing at family parties. So back today trying to be good.

But its another family birthday

B: Scotch pancakes with Bischoff spread
L: Probably a bagel thin with low fat cream cheese
D: BBQ Chicken Pizza, crudités and dips, pasta salad, Eaton mess

If I get the portion sizes right I reckon I can get all that in at 1500 calories. Not the healthiest day but quite a treat for not too much damage.

Then ALL the vegetables for the rest of the week!

Sorry about your tummy bug @Hedonism but good loss!
Today I did eating 12-7:30
L. Omelette & toast
D. Chicken goujons chips and peas. Fruit & yoghurt for pudding
1500 calories

Hope you all don't mind me reporting my food here. It helps me feel accountable
Eating 10-8:30
B. Shakshuka
S. Instant hot chocolate
D. Franco manca pizza & a lucky saint
Total calories 1600

Not at all @Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket , people should use this thread however it helps them. I'd be ashamed to record this last week's food and drink intake on here.
Struggling to make better choices at the moment.

@Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket food diaries can be really beneficial.

@OMGitsnotgood do you think focusing on something else like exercise might help a little? I’ve upped my exercise just a bit and now make a point of a walk, swim or gym every day and I have my daily yoga practice…there’s almost no time for eating hahaha, no but seriously I’m not focusing on food much at all.
Today I had steak, air fryer wedges and vegetables, and a protein yoghurt. Yesterday I had scrambled egg on rye toast with garlic cheese spread on the toast & cucumber, then lunch was chicken with chilli dressed baby beetroot and raspberries and 3 corn cakes.

I like seeing other people's food diaries!

Mine for yesterday was:
B - muesli with chopped mango
L - pulled pork and pilaf rice, stewed apple (leftovers)
T - spag bol, small glass of wine

No idea on the calories (probably not the lowest of days), but I achieved my aim of no snacks and some fruit, so I'm happy with that.

I'll join the food report for yesterday I had
B: Shredded wheats
L: Bagel thin and cream cheese
D: Meatballs and pasta with a huge salad
S: Block of cheese, nuts, seafood sticks, three posh chocolates!

Still had a 0.4kg loss on the scales this morning, think its water loss.

Today I plan
B: Shredded wheat
L: Bagel thin and cream cheese
D: Cottage pie and lots of veg
S: Lets see how the day takes me!

@MadamTeapot good point re exercise - I do 4 or 5 gym classes a week and tend to walk somewhere the other days, usually average 9-10k steps a day and upping my activity levels has played a huge part in my weight loss journey so far. I think possibly in the last few weeks I've not been focusing on food enough or should I say not focussing on 'making better choices' - for example we were at a party last week and I ate far more pork pie and crisps than makes sense for anyone trying to lose weight! Sheer gluttony! As a one off that is fine but that is in the midst of a couple of weeks with lots of meals out/ having visitors. But I am reminding myself that I don't want to lose weight quickly, just in a sustainable way without denying myself decent food or enjoying meals out.
That said , I have had healthy breakfasts and lunches most days and have exercised so hopefully will get myself back on track this week.

I also love reading what people have eaten, so in return, mine for yesterday:

B: 2 weetabix, banana, blueberries
L: smoked mackerel, tomato. cucumber
D: tuna pasta bake, salad, garlic bread

Garlic bread wasn't planned but one of the DC phoned to say they were going to be nearby, could they come for tea if there was enough. Found out it was a pasta bake so turned up with garlic bread. I can resist buying or making it but can't resist eating it when it's in front of me!

I love the food diaries too! But I can barely remember what I ate ever (that is the problem!!)

yesterday -

b: oat latte
l: 2 eggs, banana and cinnamon pancake, 1-cal spray (5 sprays), handful of blueberries on the side
d: baby potatoes and beans, Benecol low cal spread instead of butter

snacks: Belvita choc chip breakfast cookies (eaten late afternoon), banana

i stay under 1200 calories

I lost another 2.2lbs this week, which is encouraging after all my whingeing about airport food and struggling with the canteen in our office. I’m glad I didn’t buck and kept going, however unsatisfactorily it felt.

I'm now down 15lbs, I’m a bit in awe of that… on the last thread it pains me to see how I struggled to ever lose more than 2lbs and keep it off.

That is great @twoforj0y , both this week and your overall loss.

@OMGitsnotgood thank you - and I am absolutely overjoyed although i don’t sound it, that’s just my apprehension - is this real / is it sustainable? I’m almost back to the size I was for about 25 years so I should believe this IS my weight!

@twoforj0y that is amazing! I think part of making it sustainable is understanding what led to the weight gain in the first place and watching out for bad habits creeping back in. That's not to say we can't let go every now and then. I have a friend who is permanently on a diet, others who lose a lot on a strict diet then put it all back on and more. Neither are for me, I enjoy my food and wine too much, but I know I need to moderate both. Hold on to that overjoyed feeling! You've reminded me of the joy I feel when fitting back into clothes I've kept. I wrote recently about two lovely summer dresses that are still a little tight but getting back into them by the summer is a realistic aim, maybe that's the thing I hold on to when I am overindulging unnecessarily

@OMGitsnotgood yes! That’s it exactly, I have no interest in living my life on a diet. And I think I’ve alluded to the shocker I keep experiencing now I’m acknowledging just how bad I’ve been eating. I don’t think I ever really ate meals - I just grazed and snacked continually which can look very innocuous, but in reality it was so bad! I was so reactive - feel distracted - eat! A tad hungry - eat, now! Officially relaxing - eat! In the car running errands - snack! Travelling - coffee and a snack etc…

Right now, I “know” how bad they all are and I wouldn’t do them. And I hope I don’t get back to that.

I always like a biscuit, even now I have rice crackers with low-cal cheese or whatever and it feels like nice snack, not a substitute, poor version of a snack.

you’ll get into those dresses I’m sure of it - the excitement I’m feeling going through the wardrobe is great! Now that’s the feeling to coin - even knowing that in our future those clothes WILL fit again is great inspiration!

That's fabulous @twoforj0y 🙌🏼

Today's menu consisted of...
Muesli and mango
Chicken and avocado bagel, handful of pretzels, pear
French onion soup, mini naan

I broke my no snacking rule, as I was WFH and DH had left half a packet of jelly beans on the desk. If it had been a full unopened pack I would have been fine, but they were just too tempting during a particularly dull teams meeting 🙈

@Hedonism my kids keep putting open packets of M&Ms back in the fridge, it’s a killer!

Haha, there's noone in my house who wouldn't finish a packet of sweets.
Yesterday's food 12:30-8:30
L. Falafel wrap
D. Beef chilli with jacket potato, guacamole sour cream and salad
S. A tiny cheats bit of date cake
I think about 1500 calories
I feel quite hungry this morning but I think I'll stick with the IF.
I might weigh myself tomorrow and see if I've lost what I put on in February.

You’re doing great @twoforj0y!

I’ve been keeping on keeping on, quite tired as did a fair bit of heavy gardening this morning, had a quick horse ride and then this evening had 2.5hrs of yoga. I didn’t eat enough - a bowl of bean chilli and wholemeal toast plus a couple of rice cakes with garlic soft cheese…I was too tired to prep anything tbh. However, TOTM has now started and feel a bit brighter than earlier so tomorrow I will be more sensible.

Good morning, I have had a really disrupted week with work and lots going on. But have not compensated by using my food crutch. So that's a win.

I'm here to look at all your food diaries today as I haven't figured out what to have for dinner tonight and need inspiration.

I'm slightly down on the scales again today, although there was some wonderful home baking in the office yesterday so I'm fully expecting that to catch up with me in a couple of days!

It was a tough week at work, so I'm pleased it's the weekend. I'm not going to reward myself with cake or chocolate though, I'm going to treat myself some posh shampoo and conditioner instead.

@Hedonism ooh what shampoo/conditioner did you get? I’d love some Aveda cherry almond but simply can’t warrant it…I’ve got loads of Cowboy Magic and it’s amazing stuff so I don’t really know why I want something different 😂

I’ve lost 1lb this week, very happy as TOTM. Looking at my stats I’ve lost just under 4lbs in the last month which is a nice steady amount…I’ve lost 1 stone 2lbs since the beginning of the year. I’d like to lose another 6lbs slowly but I’m happy even if I just maintain here now. My bmi is 23.1.

Today’s food:

Scrambled eggs with spinach, tomatoes, red onion
Chicken, sweet potato, broccoli, and garlicky green beans with Parmesan.

@MadamTeapotwow that is excellent.

@Hedonism - sorry you’ve had a tough week, but I’m impressed that you’re not reaching for food treats, I would be. The shampoo / conditioner is a great idea, a treat that can be enjoyed for longer than chocolate.

@Hoolahoophopsounds like you’ve had a rough week too so well done for not using food as a crutch. I need to get past that one, we’ve a lot going on at the moment and it’s telling on my waistline! I’m booked on a few gym classes this week and we’re going for a walk later so hopefully will offset some of my food intake.

@MadamTeapot that aveda stuff looks divine! I got the Body Shop Jamaican black castor oil conditioner, it smells lovely and I'm hoping it will help my curls.

Yesterday I had:
Muesli with blueberries
Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and rocket, thin seeded bagel
Pear and satsuma
Steak with salad and grilled tomatoes, half a portion of chips.

My willpower victory was going to a coffee shop and having a fruit tea instead of a latte.

@OMGitsnotgood I'm trying to retrain the rewards section of my brain! Which gym classes do you do? I like spinning - well, I hate it at the time but it does give a good buzz once it's over 😅