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.

I think being hard on yourself calorie wise is ok if you have a very short term goal - ie to get into a dress for a special event in 3 weeks, but longer term what a miserable life and from what I've seen from friends can lead to yo-yo dieting which isn't great either. Understanding the calorie content of various foods is an excellent way of educating ourselves how to make better choices, even if we're not calorie counting. That's my approach. But if you are counting calories and go over, just cut back a little each day over the next couple of weeks and it will balance out without really noticing. It.

Tiring day today, took children to church which is draining as I’m an introvert, then had to work from home for 5 hours. Have to say, kids were fantastic whilst I was doing it, and they were having lots of fun making dens and potions and playing schools, they even kept on top of yelling to tell me the stove needed more logs lol but I feel crap when I have to do it. Microwaved a jacket potato, tinned sardines and salad for dinner. Did 2 miles indoor walking and 30 min yoga, and having an early night.

Today's food:
B. Sausage and egg bun
L. Beef ramen
D. Falafel pitta with hummus, tzatziki and salad
Total calories: 1624
I've made some more granola today too and got soup prepared for lunch tomorrow.

@MadamTeapot I'm exhausted just reading that! Not surprised you need an early night, hope you have a good long sleeo

@Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket I like the sound of your meals - filling, heathy and varied.

I made soup today too, I had some for lunch Porridge for breakfast and a roast dinner tonight. No alcohol and no treats. I did a gym class this morning. Intended weighing myself after the class but walked out chatting to a friend and forgot!

A good day but I've a few meals out this week with 3 different groups of friends, just happens to have fallen that way so I'm being extra careful when I can be

Ooh I love a roast dinner!

I'm trying to wean myself off having something sweet at the end of meal - I know it's just habit and I don't need it. Any tips?

Right now I'm trying a fruit tea after my lunch, instead of a cup of regular tea with a biscuit.

Hi 👋🏻 I am 5ft2 and currently 10st4 which puts me into the overweight range for my height. A little horrified to be honest as I didn't think I was that bad - hopefully some of it is bloat as I'm due on any day now! Wanting to start TTC baby 2 as soon as possible but really want to be a little healthier first. A stone would be a perfect amount for me, whether I'll get there before pregnancy who knows, but I have to try something. Not wanting to delay trying much longer as DD is two and a half and I would prefer not to have much bigger than a 3-4 year gap. Today hasn't been great if I'm being honest, up half the night with poorly DD = lots of snacks and sugar today to get me through. Have a mum and toddler fitness class tomorrow so I'll use that as impetus to get me back on track. Looking forward to reading back over the thread to meet everyone else.

@Hedonism could you start by having something like Greek yoghurt or nuts, so it’s something but it’s not sweet? Then you’d find it easier with time to drop it, or keep as healthy?

@jill5676 hello 👋 we’re a lovely bunch here. I’d recommend yoga btw, great at helping your body be ready for pregnancy and helps tone/weight loss.

Today I’ve felt less tired luckily as I had to drive 80 miles for work. 1.5 hr in-person yoga class this evening. Had a bowl of homemade tomato soup, bread & soft cheese, some chicken, nuts and an apple. Too late to eat more by the time I got in but I’m not hungry tbh.

Hello, today's food
B. Yogurt berries granola
L. Celeriac soup & ham sandwich
D. Small chips 1.5 pints lager
Total calories 1786
It was a good start but then went to a lecture after work & then the pub - at least I'm under 2000!

@MadamTeapot thank you, I love yoga, just need to make the time to practice more regularly! DD has passed her cold onto me (joy!) so no mum and baby strength class today as I'm feeling awful. I think I'll aim to do a 15 mins yoga instead - better than nothing!

So far I've had natural yoghurt, homemade granola and frozen cherries and have cooked up some hard boiled eggs for the fridge for snacks. Feeling motivated 😊

I have managed to gain 1 1/2 lb, which is unexpected as I thought I had been eating in a calorie deficit for the last couple of weeks. I guess the odd glass of wine and finishing up the Christmas cake have added up. Tomorrow am off on holiday and will not be thinking about calories so will tackle this upon return.

Keep it up everyone. I will join you again in February for motivation and inspiration.

@ hedonism that is a hard habit to break, have been there myself. Even harder when there are still leftover Christmas goodies in the house. I have a little orange or a yoghurt if I'm craving something sweet

@jill5676 hi and welcome! If you've time, you might like to read tbe original thread, link in OP. Useful for meal ideas and lots of shared ideas. I think most of us find the thread useful for keeping ourselves accountable, and lots of support when we have a bad day (or few weeks in my case recently!)

@Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket my approach is to enjoy things like chips and lager and not beat myself up about it. Sometimes that helps me refocus on following days. We're in this for the long haul!

@Patagonia21 I find that the weight doesn't always drop off immediately. Definitely enjoy your holiday food and drinks. Are you going somewhere warm? I find it easier to eat sensibly when it's warm, although drink way more than I would at home

I’m going to Goa. Will try to be sensible and enjoy the food without going completely overboard. I love the wintery comfort food here so a week or so away from that may help

@Patagonia21 have a lovely time!

Started some new medication today and almost straight away bad nausea started up… I’ve an appointment with doctor tomorrow in the hope there’s something they can do to help/change the medicine. Have had some minestrone soup and sips of water but can’t bear anything else.

Wow have a great trip @Patagonia21 , Goa sounds amazing. Enjoy the trip - and the food. We'll still be here when you get back

@Patagonia21 that sounds fabulous, you will have to tell us all about the food when you get back, so that we can live vicariously through you 😁

@MadamTeapot that sounds less fabulous ☹️ I hope you get it sorted soon.

Thanks for the Greek yoghurt idea for my lunchtime 'dessert', that will help with feeling fuller for longer too, so I'll give it a try.

I thought you all might find this thread interesting.

@OMGitsnotgood you got me so intrigued lol but when I click it just says error 404 they’ve lost the page. What was it?

That's weird @MadamTeapot , I can see it when I click on it.

It's in Weight Loss chat and tbe title is 'From Obese to Healthy: what I've learnt'

Have a great time @Patagonia21 !

Food today:
B. Apple, clementine, spoon of peanut butter
L. Selection of steamed dim sum
D. Half a pizza & crudités
Total calories 1559
I weighed myself today and I'm still trending in the right direction so that's very encouraging

That's great @Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket

Can I ask a question about calories (because I've never done strict calorie counting so I am curious!) - how do you know it was 1559? That seems a really exact number, do you weigh everything?