Best way to lose a stone

[ChillWith]

Hi everyone, my weight has been creeping up and I would love to lose a stone. Happy to do this sustainably and not in a rush. Just wondering what has worked for you to do this? I have tried Slimfast and Slimming World in the past. Slimfast seemed to help with short term and SW was more sustainable but couldn't believe some healthy foods were regarded as syns. I'm also not someone who obsesses over food so again couldn't really buy into the whole SW food everywhere messaging!

Well I've just lost 7 lbs in 3 weeks doing low carb. It really works IF you stick to it religiously. It's much easier to do this time of year as you can have lots of salad. There's lots of recipes in the low carb section of MN too.

Thanks @Appalonia That's really impressive. Will try that and check out the low carb chat too

I've lost two stone since January basically through going low-ish carb (not super strict but swapped breakfast toast for yoghurt, lunchtime sandwich for salad, etc), drinking more water, upping my steps a bit, and keeping a food diary so I'm forced to write down every time I fancy a piece of chocolate. Keeps me honest about how much I'm actually eating each day!

Half hour on treadmill a day and count calories - don't go above say1500 (would have to work out what works for you).. I lose quarter of pound a day if I do this... It really is that simple

Work out your TDEE & then knock off 500 cals a day. Track all food, honestly. Walk lots. Strength train if possible. Then repeat, forever!! Go ‘back to normal’ & it’ll creep back on… good luck!

Fasting one 24 hour period per week and also removing added sugar from my diet.

Depends on your age though. Other things worked when I was younger that don't work for me now.

Calorie count. I use Nutracheck as it’s so simple. I’ve lost just over a stone since Feb sticking to the calorie goal they calculated for me. No forbidden foods, missing meals etc. so realistic and sustainable.

This.

I have rejoined SW this morning week and they have made some changes which make more sense. You are now allowed avocado and olives 🎉

For me calorie counting and increasing step count, walking will do. Check how many calories you need on TDEE calculator, and 500 a day deficit. I lost 24lbs in lockdown through this method.

Nutracheck,low carb,16/8 will powders keto creamer,keeps you full till about 1 in the afternoon.

I think losing just a stone can be quite painless: cut out alcohol, no sugar, no empty carbs, up your exercise. Should do the trick. I think rice is an exceptionally bad and unhealthy carb and never understood why it’s unlimited on Slimming World.

SW have done away with Syns now , they have Swips and healthy oils are included as healthy extras - much more user friendly

I loosely follow SW, I lost and am maintaining. Obviously 3 years down the line Im not fanatical about following it to the letter as I am maintaining , but the general base is drummed in now - third of a plate of veg, high fibre, more protein, keep the processed foods to a minimum, home cook etc

Recently Ive gained, 4lb in two months, and whilst Ive not been eating more or eating all the pies, mum died, and Ive been turning to quick, CBA meals , using jars and ready made and the veggies have become scarce and the meals more carb heavy

Slowly coming out of the fog and getting more days on track

Thank you everyone. Some great ideas there. @suki1964 I'm so sorry for your loss

No bread, rice, pasta, potatoes. No breakfast every other day. Halve the snacking. That’s it. Lost two stone, although it took a year.

Thankyou @ChillWith

I dont deny I do SW, I like the support ( and of course being target I rarely pay ) I usually keep on target , off target at the moment so Im back focussing

I do totally get where you are coming from with what seem to be weird rules. End of the day they follow NHS advice, more protein and fibre, as many veg and fruit you can handle and cut the carbs - dont delete, just cut them

Pasta and rice being free, works at the start of a journey. We are over eaters, we are used to 3x the size portions. Tell someone that they can only have 50g dried weight of pasta , they are going to go to bed hungry, and find the biscuits

So you are told, eat the pasta and rice - but only eat till you are full , and walk away.

I was that person who could demolish half a pack of pasta in one sitting. But then as I lost, my portion sizes naturally got smaller. Even if I cooked a portion I was used too, Id be having left overs for lunch the following day

Then as you get to the 10% body weight loss, and getting closer to goal, weight loss slows. So then the voice is - carry on with the pasta and rice, or reduce it and add more veg to fill you - that's when most people cave - they cant cut the carbs

Its the same with the fats, they arent off limits, but as you get closer to target, you naturally have to cut them back to keep the loss going, It slows and you train yourself to start choosing healthier choices.

I dont buy into the SW range of food. What I use is the support that's there , the accountability , being amongst others who struggle to keep the weight down when life is raining down

I eat 99% without a syn or a SWIP and dont feel hard done by, you are allowed 15 on top off what's called free foods and healthy extras - your bread, oils, and dairy. I never use a "syn " for day to day eating , cos I like to have a drink so I save them for that.

Sounds like Im evangelical about the plan - Im not. I use the basic rules - veg, fibre and protein and it works for me

Like AA, I take what I want/ need and leave the rest behind

Never yet frozen a grape nor made a crustless quiche :)

This has been really encouraging

ive lost a stone in the last 4 months. Low carb always used to work for me but not now I’m in Peru - just staying low calories and only eating twice a day at 11am and 5pm works for me. I have half a stone to go. Have a sandwich or similar for lunch, something with protein and fibre and salad (if a Tesco sandwich I go for chicken salad 380ish cals) - and a small portion of normal dinner which is prob 700cal. Maybe 250 cals of milk in tea/coffee and a small snack (not every day) I aim for 1200 cals. Haven’t been hungry, I have rice cakes to stave off hunger and trying to drink loads of water. I WILL wear the bikini this summer hol!

lol peri not Peru

Fast 800 worked for me. I lost a stone in a month.

I was wondering how you got hold of Tesco sandwiches in Peru 😂

Lol, I was laughing at that myself :)

Like you, during peri, I got used to just eating twice a day, I eat when Im hungry which on a day I work is around 2pm ish and again in the evening, and a day like today, I ate at 6pm and that will do me

Sure I might feel hungry between my meals but I always think, can I hold off or do I have capacity to eat a meal now and then again later, because Im not using a biscuit, I will do scrambled egg or an open sandwich - snacks dont need to be junk

Thank you everyone. So many great ideas here. Yes, also in Peru 😉 and it has become more of a struggle with fat around the middle just staying there. I couldn't get by without breakfast. Tried it this morning but had proper tummy rumbles and feeling nauseous by 9.15am. I try to just eat an omelette or scrambled eggs most lunchtimes (at home just now) and my evening meal around 6pm and generally don't snack. It's so frustrating! Am going back to gym this week so will see if that makes a difference too.

peri is so difficult. Before I could basically eat anything and just cut back a bit for it to fall off.
Now low carb, high protein, fermented foods. Careful not to drink calories.
make sure you still get fiber. I started using psyllium husk - a bag of it, nothing fancy.

No booze or sugar. Low carb.
Intermittent fasting a few days a week, so no breakfast. And stick to it even if you have a blip.
It took me 3 months with a few weeks off added in.