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.

@Uol2022 welcome! I started this thread precisely because I don't want the restrictions of following any kind of diet plan - which means it will take longer to lose weight but should be sustainable.

That said I've just reminded myself that my main approach is to make better choices. So eat things that are filling but healthy too and lower calorie where possible. But I bought a packet of crumpets the other day and have had them for lunch tbe last couple of days with lime marmalade. Not great nutritionally and I was snacking mid afternoon. Going to make a vat of vegetable soup today.

I think I am learning from you @OMGitsnotgood to make it sustainable its all about making good choices consistently. That means actively choosing the cake sometimes and enjoying it guilt free. Which so long as it is not a daily addition is a good a choice as choosing more regularly the highly nutritious filling but less fatty, calorific stuff.

Today I chose a perfectly ripe white nectarine for my snack. It was delicious and I feel virtuous as its fruit.

Tonight I will choose a smaller portion of rice, so that I can enjoy a posh chocolate in the evening.

Todays food will be

B: Raisin Wheats
L: Home made noodle pot
D: Turkey and sweet potato curry with rice
S: Nectarine and Chocolate

Unfortunately I do need to keep an eye on calories as I am under 5ft so keeping to maintenance calories can be tricky in a family who have a much higher maintenance allowance. Today should be about 1500. Not too bad.

I do need to find time to fit in some strength training. I keep asking for advice, getting loads, and still not starting. It wont be perfect. I just need to start!

@OMGitsnotgood thanks for the pat on my back, I needed that actually 😊. Crumpets with melted cheese on are much more filling, a more complex eat than the (delicious) marmalade.

@Hoolahoophop it sounds like your sustainablity is going well, appreciating what we do have rather than feeling in denial is vital I think…I can almost taste your perfect nectarine lol.

Ended up eating a quick butter bean stir fry as tired, and did 40 min of yoga so feel much more alive and refreshed than I have been doing.

I had a treat today (McDonald’s chicken nuggets 🙈) but I think I’m still under 1700 for the day. Not sure if that will be low enough to lose weight, feel like I’m still finding the balance of restrictive enough to get the benefit and enjoyable enough to maintain long term. DH made some fresh bread tonight and it is taking everything I have to not chomp my way through 3 or 4 thick buttery slices.

Hi will join - do find these type of thread helpful for me and want to go slow as only thing that works

5’5
heaviest 13 2’
current 12st 8

I think I am learning from you @OMGitsnotgood to make it sustainable it’s all about making good choices consistently.

I agree with that @Hoolahoophop

Unfortunately I’m struggling to make better choices a bit at the moment so am hoping being on this thread will help get me back on track, thank you for your comment, it'll carry it with me through the day. Overall though I’m a lot lighter than I was a year ago and although I’m not losing much at the moment, I’m keeping it off and that is the whole point of this approach.

@Uol2022 I honestly think the occasional treat actually helps weight loss in the longer term, as it’s easier to eat healthily the rest of the time My only rule then is that you enjoy your treat, guilt free.

I love home made bread too, especially when it’s warm. I’d be equally struggling not to eat lots. Eating something like that very slowly and savouring every mouthful sometimes helps me.

I’ve only ever once ‘been on a diet’ and at 1500 calories a day was losing 2lb a week, so I shouldn’t worry about 1700.

@ThisCharmingteacher welcome! I was 12 st 8 when I started the previous thread last summer ( link in OP ) and am now just under 12 without following a restrictive diet, so it works! I have also increased my activity level. Much of my social life exists around eating and drinking so the exercise is much needed!

Thanks for your encouragement 😊 I’ve only just started and trying to create a couple of good habits to set me on the right track - drink more water, smaller portions of carbs, one meal a day is salad.

The only way I’ve ever lost weight before is when my anxiety took me over to the point that I could barely eat. Very effective - I lost about 1.5 stone in a few weeks - but not at all pleasant or healthy.

Hi all,
I had a bad somewhat self sabotaging day yesterday, I'm not sure why.
B. Yogurt granola berries
L. Celeriac soup & toast with butter, an orange & a square of dark chocolate
D. Beef & ale pie with broccoli......aaand a third of a tub of Ben and Jerry's
Total calories 1809

On reflection I think I let myself get a bit too hungry at lunchtime - not much of the soup had defrosted so it was a very small portion, then I'd already promised myself ice cream in my head while I was at work.
Generally I'd be fine about the treat but in this case I wasn't that hungry by the time I'd eaten my pie and I didn't fully enjoy it. Oh well, onwards and upwards. I'm off work this morning so going to go to the gym, have a go on the incline machine and then go for a swim, and work on my masters for a bit, all of which will make me feel better

I'm very much looking forward to my food today.

B: Porridge
L: broccoli and stilton soup, with a Warburton's thins, never eaten one before but DH picked them up for me confusing them with a pitta.
D: The last of Sundays roasted rolled breast of lamb made into a kind of lamb fried rice.

Might have to skip the snacks with that lot.

Tonight will be calorie heavy. But I am also looking forward to using up the

Hello all. I'm feeling very fed up at the moment. I am trying to fast until at least 11 - 12.30 most days then eat lunch but I'm just tired at the minute and not really preparing food the way I should. I ended up eating crisps for breakfast which was not the plan. January is lasting forever this year and I'm working too much.

The scales are just endlessly hovering within the same 3lbs it's infuriating. I lost 9lbs before Christmas on Mountjaro but it made me so ill and miserable I said no more. My weight plateaued even on MJ and just keeps stuck. I have never managed to lose weight since I started HRT but I can't face stopping it, not least as it can be helpful for managing my autoimmune disease.

@Jabtastic sorry you're fed up. If it makes you feel any better, I will confess to having had crisps for breakfast on more than one occasion over Christmas. Precisely why I don't have them in the house the rest of the time.

Could it be that fasting isn't for you, especially at the moment when you are so tired? I know it works for a lot of people but not something I've ever fancied.

I am no good when I am hungry- I think if I missed breakfast I'd be tempted to over eat or eat the wrong things at lunch time. Also when tired I'm more likely to grab something not very healthy for lunch.

I try to have weetabix or porridge for breakfast because they tend to keep me going til lunch time, unlike other cereal or toast.

Hi all, checking in. Was feeling very disheartened at the start of the week because after a couple of weeks of being mostly good, the scales hadn't changed. But then this morning, lo and behold, I'm 2 lbs down! Very proud of myself for not sabotaging my efforts earlier this week as I usually do when I don't see a change. I actually think I'm starting to feel better for eating better which is keeping me motivated. Plus the fact that my fertile week is fast approaching is spurring me on! Ideally I would be half a stone lighter before falling pregnant but we have decided we need to crack on with trying as who knows how long it will take and our toddler is already 2 and 8 months so we want to keep the age gap between 3 and 4 years if we can. Will keep up the healthy eating alongside and just see what happens!

Yay, @jill5676 you've had a whoosh!

My weight has totally plateaued. It went down a bit before Christmas, then up a bit over Christmas and now I'm just stuck. Maybe I need to be a bit more ambitious! This week I have been trying really hard to let myself be hungry sometimes, and to have a cup of tea before I reach for a snack. I'll weigh myself at the weekend and see what difference that has made.

@Hedonism this has been my plan as well. Though I feel quite hungry now, and I wont eat dinner until 8.30 this evening so I may have to give in to a snack, or I will be awash with tea!

@Hoolahoophop if I have too much caffeine I end up feeling like I need something nice and carby to mop it all up with 🤦🏼‍♀️ so I'm on the redbush tea this afternoon. But I agree, 8.30 does sound a long way off...

I’m actually too tired to make cups of tea at the minute, always a sign I’m really run down as I love it. I’ve felt all day as if my pmt has hit in, but my period only stopped a few days ago so it can’t be.
Had chicken and vegetable soup with toast, and a brunch bar, for lunch and cooking lentil daal now.

Had to bin two freezers full of food due to the storm, which is gutting as I’d slowly filled them with lots of reduced protein. Ach well.

Well done @jill5676 !
I agree that fasting is not for everyone - I can't miss breakfast when I'm on a calorie deficit without ending up eating something mad later. It's easier to miss lunch, but only if there is a good dinner plan in place.
Today's food:
B. Avocado and fried egg on toast with cherry tomatoes
L. Grilled vegetables and cheese sandwich, apple
D. Chicken teriyaki bao buns
Total calories 1419
I also did a decent amount of exercise.

@MadamTeapot that sounds tough. I'd be gutted as well to loose all that food. I do a lot of batch cooking so it wouldn't just be the cost but the time as well. I'll keep my fingers crossed for some good reduced price protein hauls for you to build it back up.

@Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket I love the sound of all your meals yesterday. Avocado on toast has always been a favorite. How do you do your grilled vegetable and cheese sandwich, what veg? Is it like a toastie, are they pre-cooked? This is something i could get into. I am trying to increase my 5 a day. And you teriyaki Bayo buns sound delicious as well.

Today is a busy day, not a culinary day.

B: Raisin wheats, bought for the kids and I am loving them!
L: Soup and toast.
D: Fish fingers and waffles!

S: The last gorgeous nectarine, and something after dinner. I will try to make it an orange rather than chocolate.

Not much more than 1000 Cals, but so long as I am not hungry I'll stick with that as I struggle to keep to good choices at the weekend!

Oh @MadamTeapot so sorry about the food wastage. So frustrating and expensive Also wishing you some food bargains next time you shop.

I've done ok so far today. Weetabix and banana for breakfast, & home made soup for lunch - a big bowl so no bread.
We have some turkey mince chilli in the freezer so planning that with rice for tea.

Did my monthly weigh in, lost 6lbs in January which is great especially as I’ve gained muscle mass. February focuses are: a little more yoga each day, upping steps and flights, and more water or herbal tea.
Today’s food will be a feta, walnut and pomegranate salad for lunch and salmon and vegetables for dinner. Yoghurt at some point.

Wow that's a great achievement @MadamTeapot, well done!

@MadamTeapot amazing, well done. That's a huge amount.

Thank you. I think the power cut/storm stress played a part…I’d rather February is far calmer even if I lose far less!
A non scale victory - I went riding today, I haven’t been for a very long time as was too heavy.