Weight Loss the Old Style Way! Part 7. Please read posts 1 and 2 before posting.

Rose_Wood

Afternoon everyone,

I've just been answering a message I got asking me how I lost the 3 and a half stone I've already lost and thought I might post my answer here too in case it helps anyone. Sorry it's so long.

I’m afraid I can’t offer a special secret or a quick fix – in fact I’ve been the same weight for the last 3 or 4 months, despite wanting to lose another 5 or 6lbs. I lost the 3 and a half stone by calorie counting and upping my exercise.
I’d been getting heavier and heavier for quite a few years, despite having a reasonable amount of exercise such as walking every day and I ate quite healthily. My incentive came when DH bet me £100 to lose 2 and 1/2stone in a fixed time period ready for a family wedding after me deciding yet again to go on a diet. However, he also said that should I not lose that much then I would have to pay him £100 and to be honest once I’d accepted that spurred me on even more. The time scale was a sensible one which meant I could achieve it on a steady loss of 2lb a week and we put in a 10% leeway in case I was only 1lb or something off on the day.
I stuck to between 1,000 and 1,100 calories per day but kept eating the more or less the same sort of food I always have eaten, just in smaller quantities. So I still have cream, butter, the odd piece of chocolate etc and so don’t feel deprived. I also increased the amount of exercise I was doing. I bought a DVD (30 Day Shred) and did it every day in addition to my normal walks. It took me a month to move from Level One to Level Two though rather than 10 days. I also started going to an exercise class once a week, although I found myself enjoying it so much I started going more often after a few weeks.
Some of the things I have found helped are as follows.
Switching to a smaller plate. I serve my meals on a side plate rather than a dinner plate. I also eat muesli, puddings etc with a teaspoon. I love milky coffee so have that in a tiny cup with skimmed milk rather than missing out on it.
Eating less fruit but more vegetables so that my 5 a day are mainly vegetable based. I started growing my own and that encouraged me to eat far more salads and vegetarian dishes than I used to.
Being inefficient! If I need to go into the village to the PO and then get home and realise I needed to go to the shop for something I go again. I also walk everywhere I can and turn down lifts etc.
Changing the type of exercise I do every now and then – eg I walk, swim, cycle, go to exercise classes. I used the library to try out lots of different exercise DVDs so that I didn’t get bored or used to just one. I really rate all of Jillian Michaels DVDs and have most of them now. I did a DVD as soon as I got up every day unless I was going to an exercise class and before I went for a walk. I haven’t done that for a while now – but am sure if I did the stubborn last half a stone wouldn’t be hanging on.
Every time any of my clothes got too big for me I gave them away! I’ve completely revamped my wardrobe several times this year – but all from charity shops so it hasn’t actually cost me very much.
I wrote down my calories every day and weighed things for a while. I use the internet to find out calorie values but always round up to the nearest ten so that not only is it easier to add up but I am over estimating if anything. I've never gone below 1,000 calories though as I don't want my body getting used to too little. I cut back on carbs if I seem to start gaining again.
I do get weighed every day as that helps for me and I can see where I am doing well or not but I recorded it just once a week, plus taking measurements.
I drink lots and lots, sometimes plain water but mainly very weak sugar free squash. I find I definitely lose less when I forget to have 5 or 6 glasses a day.

I made the bet and then continued to lose some more. I decided to aim for 9st but once I'd got there I felt I could still lost another half a stone - which is what I am doing now. I'm only 5ft and in my 20's weighed less than 8 stone so I don't feel I am going too far - my BMI is still up towards the higher end of normal.

Hope all that helps.
Rose

Rose_Wood

I forgot to write today's meals in the massive screed above.

B: Muesli with extra sultanas
L: Poached egg on toast. Half a small bar of chocolate
T: HM carrot soup with HM granary bread. Apple.

Exercise: 1 1/2 hours of exercise class - circuits with cardio, weights and ab work. Walk to class and to work and back this afternoon so about 2 1/4 miles.

ETA: Still hungry after tea so had a slice of HM bread with cheese, tomato and garlic all toasted.

Then made some scones for DH and ended up having one with butter - oh dear!!!

slowlyfading

food today:
b - cheerios with skimmed milk - 143.5 cals
s - apple (60) 10 almonds (63) - 123 cals
l - ham and salad wrap, (232) 5 cherry toms (25) LF toffee yogurt (88) almond cookie (200) - 545 cals
t - chicken in a tomato sauce (275) slice of bread (150) salad (30) pineapple (42) jaffa cake (42) - 539 cals
Total: 1350.5 calories.

Meh

LittleMoog

Morning all
Managed to get to the gym early and do my upper body weights workout (30 minutes) before step class, so felt very virtuous last night :cool: I must be getting used to the increased exercise I've been doing, as I have less aches and pains etc after classes. Rest day from gym today, but I do have pilates later.

Meals:
Breakfast: greek yoghurt fruit corner, satsuma
Lunch: shepherds pie, peas, apple, satsumas
Dinner: sweet potato soup (NCG), ciabatta, angel delight

May also add a snack before I go to pilates, last week my tummy rumbled through the whole thing! (dried apricots and a glass of milk)

eta: we had these for our tea last night with a noodle salad, and they were really yummy. we've been trying to eat more oily fish, but struggling a bit, but we'll be having these again There's a pink peppercorn and herb flavour too.

sparrer

Morning all

B - dry-fried egg and 2 rashers back bacon on 1 x plain hm toast
L - slim soup, crispbread
D - pasta, veg sauce, swirl ff plain yogurt on top
Snacks - plums, satsumas, pear, melon

Exercise - got up early this morning determined to do something about the cream/fawn/tan rug in the lounge, so my main exercise of the day was 40 mins on my hands and knees scrubbing the grubby thing. I would do it more often but it's not just a little rug, takes up most of the space in the lounge

Enjoy your day

GreenSaints

Hi all,

Well I started off my healthy eating plan again yesterday (for the millionth time!) I'm easing myself into it, so I don't relapse and fall off the wagon in a big way!

So yesterday I had:

B: coco pops and semi skimmed milk
L: chicken mayo salad (lettuce, cucumber, carrots, onion and sweetcorn)
gluten free sausages, pasta, mushrooms, peppers and half fat creme fraiche
S: 2 clementines, low fat yogurt, 2 treat size chocolate bars, packet of wotsits

I also started 30 Day Shred (which was hard) in the morning and then went for a four mile run with my friend in the evening. I was pretty drenched when I got back thanks to the rain, but it did keep me cool!

On the same note, do you have any alternative to creme fraiche? I've only just started using it and its lovely, but as with everything is laden with calories!

LittleMoog

GreenSaints wrote: »

Hi all,

Well I started off my healthy eating plan again yesterday (for the millionth time!) I'm easing myself into it, so I don't relapse and fall off the wagon in a big way!

So yesterday I had:

B: coco pops and semi skimmed milk
L: chicken mayo salad (lettuce, cucumber, carrots, onion and sweetcorn)
gluten free sausages, pasta, mushrooms, peppers and half fat creme fraiche
S: 2 clementines, low fat yogurt, 2 treat size chocolate bars, packet of wotsits

I also started 30 Day Shred (which was hard) in the morning and then went for a four mile run with my friend in the evening. I was pretty drenched when I got back thanks to the rain, but it did keep me cool!

On the same note, do you have any alternative to creme fraiche? I've only just started using it and its lovely, but as with everything is laden with calories!

virtually FF fromage frais makes a reasonable compromise, but tends to split if heated, so stir in at the end. We use it in fajitas etc in place of sour cream. It's also nice for pudding with a dollop of stewed fruit or jam

bramble1

Hello all

feeling motivated again after my failed attempt earlier this year. I am still 1stone lighter now than i was this time last year, so thats not bad - another stone and bit to get back to my happy weight.

Have lost 5lbs since restarting on the 31st. So am pleased and it's motivating me to keep it up.

I do have to weigh everyday. I know it's bad, but i need to do it to keep on track.


So

Today

B - 2 x apples and a WW crumble bar - 209 cals
L - 1/2 tin of Heinz Minestrone soup - 65 cals
D - Will be Fish, Chips (or potato of some form) and peas - about 600 ishhhh

No exercise as i'm easing my way back in!

Trying to plan a healthy meal for tomorrow involving a scotch pie (if possible!!) Fruit and veg for lunch will be the only way to combat the dinner calories i think!

GreenSaints

LittleMoog wrote: »

virtually FF fromage frais makes a reasonable compromise, but tends to split if heated, so stir in at the end. We use it in fajitas etc in place of sour cream. It's also nice for pudding with a dollop of stewed fruit or jam

Thank you very much

I usually stir in the creme fraiche in at the end. I just use it with two pasta dishes (which I love) so it's nice to know there is a healthier substitute

Lazy_Liz

GreenSaints, reduced fat creme fraiche is available, yogurt is a good subsitute but also splits like fromage frais.

Had a good day so far, stayed the same on the scales, huge sigh of relief. This evening have a school govenors meeting so that will reduce bored nibbling opportunites and already been out on the fell with Harry (have to go a lunch time, as its dark by five)