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.

Hi everyone! I’ve decided I’m going to join as i have done this in the past and found it really helped.

back in 2023 I lost a stone. After a trip to Italy I fell off and never managed to get back on. I gained all the weight back during 2024. In November I decided to try and lose a bit before Xmas. I lost 5lbs but have of course put that back on plus more.

I am trying to keep my calories to 1,500 as I have a sedentary job and a back injury which stops me doing certain exercises. Walking and swimming are ok, but it’s bloody freezing so don’t really feel like going out atm.

I thought I had 1,400 calories yesterday. But I had 4 or 5 haribo sweets and didn’t realise there’s SO MANY calories in just one sweet! So didnt do as well as I thought 😔 ah well. Today is a new day.

@Mrsredlipstick I’m sorry you’re in pain, it’s very draining isn’t it.
My lentil soup recipe is a really hearty one, I’m from the Highlands and we all seem to survive on this and porridge 😂. Half a bag of lentils (250g ish), 4 carrots, couple of good sized spuds, an onion, ham or chicken or veg stock, some mixed herbs. Chop it all up, rustic is fine, add to pan with plenty of stock, boil for 10 min then simmer for an hour. Add extra water/stock during simmer if needed as lentils absorb a lot of water. Blitz at end if wanted or leave chunky.
I was gobsmacked the first time I had “polite” cafe/shop lentil soup…so much thinner…we always have it so thick you can stand your spoon up in it but it’s filling, tasty and cheap. 😆😆

@Evangelineee really? I wish sweets producers had to make their nutritional value info far clearer. And they are so moreish, it’s difficult to have just a couple.

Can I join?

Heaviest ever 14 stone in Aug 2023, when I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes and fatty liver.

12 stone 2 in Feb 2024, no longer pre-diabetic and liver markers normal 😀

Lowest weight 11 stone 8 in July 2024, but sadly now back to just over 12 stone and have a big wobbly belly.

I'd like to lose half a stone and keep it off. A whole stone would get me into the not overweight bracket.

@Loseit2025your stats are similar to mine. I'm 5'3, CW 10st 5lb, TW 9st 7lb.

I lost 3 stone a few years ago just by cutting out any eating between meals and increasing my exercise. It stayed off for about three years and then a stone has snuck back on whilst I wasn't paying attention. Rude.

Well I finally did my post Christmas weigh in, and I’m actually 2lbs down from my pre Christmas weight so that’s a good start!

That puts me at 11 st 9 so the next big goal is getting below the half stone mark.

No breakfast, no snacks, loads of water and two normal meals a day is working well for me because it’s manageable.

Need to do better on the water though.

@Jabtastic i can’t read the article but I’m a huge believer in calories in calories out! I’m not saying it’s everything but I think it’s the most part and most other diets are just that in disguise.

@Evangelineee i know the feeling of not being able to get back on it after a holiday! I was smashing it right up until the day I went away last year then that was that.

A good couple of days for me. Both have just been two meals and a small ‘treat’ snack.

Yes very similar stats!

I put on weight in my early 20s but then like you lost about 3 stone and was around 9-9.5 stone for over a decade.

Yes weight can definitely creep on very fast when you’re not monitoring it and unfortunately it often takes longer to lose it than it does to gain it.

I ordered a walking pad at the beginning of the month and it arrived today…walked a mile whilst watching telly (pouring outside) and it was really smooth and quiet. This is going to make a big difference to me I think!

Which one did you buy? I was thinking about getting one as being housebound is really bad for my walking and the weather has been horrible.

@Jabtastic I got £80 off Ergonomist one in the sales. Very impressed.

Do you have a link at all?

Quick check in, so apologies for not responding to all individually as still away. As lovely as it is to catch up with multiple groups of friends/family, they are all preparing lovely food as only with each for one/two nights. Fabulous fish pie last night with lots of veg and a fresh fruit salad dessert (friend also trying to lose weight), although we did manage more wine than we should have. And we had mince pies from her freezer mid afternoon. Oh well!

I noticed a 'calories in/calories out' comment below. I totally believe in this too. There was a thread on MN a few months ago trying to discredit it, but it works for me so will carry on believing in it til experience proves otherwise.

That said, I don't want to live a life of counting calories but the only 'diet' I ever did decades ago (pre wedding) was calorie controlled. No internet or apps back then, bought a book that listed calorific content of both generic and specific foods. The lessons learned from that have stayed with me, especially knowing that I can eat a massive plate of lower calorie foods rather than a small portion of higher calorie - and since hunger is my enemy, it works for me. Or at least it does when I have my head in the right place! I also know I have lost weight, or at least maintained it, whilst eating well if I have exercised a lot, ie burned off calories. It's common sense really.

Any chance of a link madam teapot?

Morning all! I totally agree re calories in Vs calories out. The only thing I will say is that exercise definitely makes me hungrier! So then it circles back to sensible choices.

I have made a big batch of vegetable chilli to have for lunches next week, hopefully having that ready will stop me from reaching for the quick snacks when I suddenly realise that it's nearly 2pm and I'm starving 🙈

Agree with you both re calories. Have noticed that others are able to precisely calculate their intake whereas mine is a guesstimate with home baked foods.

@Loseit2025 &@Hedonism my stats are similar. Just under 5’6’. Current weight 10st 7lb and aiming for 9 st 9. Have been 9 st 4 for most of my life but it has crept on.

Does anyone else find the evening the hardest time? I find I start the day strong but by dinner time I'm often very fatigued and just eating for energy. I think one of the reasons I over-ate was because I had undiagnosed autoimmune disease so my body was carb hunting as it gave me an energy boost. And of course as I gained weight it increased tiredness on top of fatigue so it became a vicious circle.

I'm trying to be mindful about this and also building a rest period into the day. I definitely need to up my water too.

Update: DH quite likes the vegetable chilli I made.... 'Ooh yes, I'll have some of that too'... Meaning that it won't last all week after all! Will make something he doesn't like next time 😝

@Jabtastic yes I definitely start strong and then find late afternoon hardest, my energy levels are flagging by then so i often use sugar as a boost. When my DC were tiny and didn't sleep through / got up very early (both) I relied far too much on sugar all day long. It wasn't until I was getting enough sleep that I managed to gain any sort of control over my eating. I've let the good habits slip over the last 18 months, but this time my DC are now teenagers and need me to wake them in the mornings so I can't really blame them any more.

Hi all,
I used to find snacking in the evening to be my worst thing but somehow managed to get out of the habit by prioritizing not snacking, so I might have a bigger dinner for example or a small pudding after dinner, but nothing after that.
I have a big cup of herbal tea or a non alcoholic beer if I want something later on.
My worst thing I think for diets now is getting back on it after even quite a short break. This weekend I was away with friends and I had Friday and Saturday 'off' - and it was so hard to get back on it today. I'm not sure why so if anyone had good tips lmk!!
Today's food:
B. Mushrooms on toast & half a mango
L. Pret ham & pickle sandwich, apple, bircher muesli
D. Chicken goujons, sweet potato fries, peas & sweetcorn
Total calories 1553

I have completely failed at today, not helped by reading some really depressing threads on here today and stress eating a packet of crisps after them!

Tomorrow is another day.

@Jabtastic and @Mrsredlipstick it was this one, it rolls easily under my bed, is pretty quiet to my mind and simple to work.

https://www.ergonomist.co.uk/products/treadmill-pad-running-walking-under-desk-exercise-machine?srsltid=AfmBOorFVqKOznF8Jyg7s4SpR5V6lFNdKKA34Ir1l6NRCRsoLpIdSXWD

I’ve lost 2lbs this last week but it’s my anaemia and stress from having to sadly, and pretty suddenly, have my dog PTS. I feel very drained so am going to try and eat really well nutritionally and be kind to myself this week.

Very sorry about your dog @MadamTeapot ❤️

Today's food:
B. Bagel, bacon, mushrooms
S. 2 choc biscuits
L. Leon chicken salad
D. Lamb stew, mashed potato, peas
Total calories 1623

What recipe did you use for your chilli please?

Not a great week for me! 1lb gain but totally expected after a birthday afternoon tea, a takeaway and a fair bit of chocolate. I am confident I can get that and more off this week though so am not too worried and that’s what this is all about, taking your time and still being able to enjoy things like birthdays. Even if they aren’t your own

Anyone else on here 5’7? If so what sort of weight are you aiming for? I’m apparently already in the healthy range at 10.12 but definitely want to be 10 or under. Just have no idea what I should be aiming for!

Found out I’m anaemic, no wonder I’m tired all the time! Does mean by the Spring I should be feeling a lot brighter, I’m looking forward to that. Yoga class yesterday, I do yoga daily but it’s nice when I get to do it in-person, and I walked a couple of brisk miles today. Chicken stir fry later, and then making chilli overnight in the slow cooker for tomorrow.