'My diet two years on – keeping off the pounds' blog discussion

Former_MSE_Lee

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Read Martin's "My diet two years on - keeping off the pounds" Blog.

Please click 'post reply' to discuss below.

rrainbowdivauk

Well done for losing weight! You look great on tv by the way lol! I just didn't think men worried about their weight? xxx

Lucylastica2

Hi,

First of all I applaud you on losing and keeping off the weight.:T

Secondly, both myself and my partner have this week committed to lose weight for the sake of our health (and a trip to NYC next May - which is another good incentive!) but I am sure there is a money saving story to be had here.

I am confident that there are pounds to be saved for every pound lost...consider the cost of convenience food and 'treats' over fresh fruit and veg...maybe a healthier attitude to food will ultimately lead not only to a healthier you, but also a healthier bank balance.

We're more than willing to be guinea pigs to test that theory!

Butti

I hope you're not weighing yourself too much Martin. I'd be tempted to judge it more by your clothes than by that number on the scales (but then I am a former borderline anorexic so I do tend to run away from scales)

You always look very presentable.

B

stubbo66

I'm in the middle of doing something similar. After last Christmas I was rather shocked to find I put on 20 pounds over the winter and was up to 18 and a half stone. I decided I couldn't go on like that and set about my own plan. But rather than buying into fad diets or group hug sessions, I decided to go the statistical route.

I'm a bit of a geek, and decided all I would use to manage my diet was an excel spread sheet. I basically created a food diary, every day I enter everything I eat, take all the values from the packaging, cals, fat, sugar, salt fibre, protein etc. and then monitored my intake for a couple of weeks.

Having discovered how bad my diet was, I then decided I would set a maximum health value for each category (taking advice from all the health websites and my doctor).

What I did determine early on is that bread is bad, especially the salt content, also anything chocolate or crisps (as you did). But looking around for alternatives revealed some healthier lower fat alternatives that are just as much fun to eat.

Also, I bought a cheap cycling machine for the winter and put in an hour and a half at the weekend in front of the telly (building up over the first few weeks). Once the spring came around I started getting out on my mountain bike (that had been sitting in the garage for the last 5 years). I had a great target here as the British Heart Foundation had a big event local to me, 32 miles around the harbours of Gosport, Portsmouth and Hayling Island and I did this with my teenage son. Later in the year Sky Ride in southampton was a great event and the Orchid Cancer trust also had a ride in the new forest, it helps to have goals.

Now, I'm in week 34, I can still eat anything I want (as long as I don't blow my allowances averaged over a week). In fact I just finished eating Fish and Chips from our local chippy.

So 34 weeks on, I've lost 70 pounds (5 stone) and dropped from XL everything to medium in most all clothing and I'm feeling great. My Asthma no longer bothers me and I have so much energy I can't wait to get out on my bike either on my own or at organised events.

All I needed was the helping hand of an excel spread sheet and a bit of self-motivation, it's amazing what power a little bit of knowledge can impart.

I'm a 44 year old man, now 13.5 stone and everyone’s amazed at the transformation (though the wife wants me to stop now, I think she liked me having a bit more meat on my bones). I was a 42 inch waste and now it's 37, my shirts were 19 inch neck and now they are 16. This is the only downside of the improvement, the cost of replenishing my wardrobe.

A couple of other things I did to monitor my health, bought a cheap blood pressure monitor to ensure I stay heart healthy, tracked my health on the BHF web site as well, and read lots and lots about BMI and BMR. I also measured various body parts week by week to track the change, waist, neck, stomache, chest, wrist, thigh etc. as these can help to determine lean body mass (as I found out later on).

Key thing was not to become obsessed, if I felt hungry I ate, whatever I fancied, just ensured I moderated my meals over the next few days. Anyone can do it, it just needs a bit of planning, a bit of discipline (no cheating, you’re the only one who loses if you do) and you can shift the weight as well.

I'll be out on my bike again this weekend, I try and do 30-35 miles on and off road, but it's great cycling by the sea. Life's good.

mini

I have never seen you on tv and thought you looked old or/and fat if that helps- even on a big tv!

Well done on your healthier living too

StudentFun

It is always difficult to lose weight so good for you, you lost some pounds and you should always be grateful for any pounds that are shed.

runmichellerun

I thought fruit juice was good for you? i.e. one of your five a day. I drink a glass every morning. Should I not?

MSE_Martin

runmichellerun wrote: »

I thought fruit juice was good for you? i.e. one of your five a day. I drink a glass every morning. Should I not?

It is good for you - but often contains enormous amounts of sugar and calories. However 1 glass is good - i used to drink pints of the stuff.

de1amo

well done Martin--i started my dieting and changing my exercise routine from january of this year when i was wearing L clothes--i joined a gym and quickly got to my target weight of 11stone-Medium clothes and i now keep an eye on what i eat but cant seem to work exercise into my daily life because without out the motivation to lose weight i basically stop--the gym membership is still ticking as a monthly payment and i should as money minded person use it as much as possible.--anyone got any words to kick me into action!

camaj

Martin is right, fruit juice is really no better than drinking any other sugary drink. Okay, it's probably slighly better but not by much. In terms of weight-loss you should think about avoiding these drinks. 500ml is typically 200 calories and if you drink a couple of glasses it's probably that much. That would mean you're consuming more than 10% of your calorific intake with one drink, it might be better to avoid the drink and allow yourself a slightly bigger portion of dinner. Eating whole fruit is much better for you, you get all the fibre and nutrients at a fraction of the calories.

I have a similar experience to martin, I saw myself on video and noticed how massive I was! I'd never once thought I was overweight, partially because when your a teenager you're used to getting bigger all the time and you don't notice when you're getting bigger in the wrong way. I'd always been skinny until then but I certainly wasn't concious of that, even when my mum told me I was getting fat I thought she was just winding me up. I had been eating the same as always, I just wasn't exercising as much, or even at all! I got it under control and I've even lost some but I've got a long way to go