Re: Lose Weight 4

bindiboo

lost another 2 lbs after staying the same last week. total lost now 10 1/2 lbs.

slimming world password this week is festive

Barcode

Can only say what works for me, so take it with a pinch of salt.

I'm 24, and 5'8. At the age of 20 I was 14 stone - no excuses, I ate like it was Christmas all year. When I couldn't even run for the bus, enough was enough and I joined a gym. I'm now ten and a half stone, and could probably stand to lose the last half, but here's what has worked for me.

(i) Make *gradual* changes. If you drink five cokes in a day, switch to the diet option. O.k, it's not brilliant, but it has zero calories. It's not realistic to go on some sort of super strict dietary regime, it can be dull, boring, and come the end of the week you'll eat more than enough to eliminate any gains you have made.

(ii) I allow myself one 'cheat' day a week. I'll have say, a bagel for breakfast, pizza, some ice-cream etc.

(iii) You must do the dreaded cardio. If all you can manage is ten minutes at first then that's fine, but ideally for maximum benefits you're looking at about 30 minutes working at 70% ish max heart rate. Don't believe that staying in the 'fat burning zone' is going to bring that many benefits, you need to be aiming a bit higher.

My routine involves workouts four or five times a week for 50 minutes at a time. I keep my heart rate at about 160, and do high intensity interval training - basically getting your heart rate up to about 90% of the maximum for a minute, cooling down, doing it again, so your body thinks it is doing more than it actually is. It's painful, but it works.

(iii) If you're going to be doing some sort of routine like this - then eat MORE. Yes, MORE, or your body will start eating away at your muscles for fuel. Personally, I do strength training two or three times a week for about 40 minutes - an hour at a time. I know this must sound like I live in the gym, but a lot of things can be done at home. Get some weights, ideally, you're looking to do about eight to ten repetitions before you can't do anymore, stop, repeat, stop repeat etc. Water bottles will do. And the great thing is that for every pound of muscle added, you burn an extra 50 calories just to keep going. The fat will come off a lot faster if you can find some way to incorporate some sort of strength training into your routine.

(iv) It does matter where your calories come from - it's pointless sticking to a 1500 limit if most of those come from fatty foods. You'll just feel lethargic and be in poor health.

(v) I try to eat six small meals spaced out every three hours during the day - it keeps my metabolism ticking over. A small meal before bed is no bad thing. If I'm hungry in between, I reach for a glass of water. Most of the time, the hunger goes away after drinking a glass.

(vi) Don't buy into the 'low fat' labels on foods. Most of the time, these foods are full of sugars. I'd rather eat something a bit more balanced than something which has a buzz word on us designed to make us feel better about eating it.

(vii) You need to see the change in diet as more of a lifestyle change. I can't imagine going back to eating pizza every other day, having a kebab after a night out, downing several pints and so on. The thought makes me feel quite ill, yet this is what I used to do.

Well, I expect all of this has probably been covered - right now, my goal is to build a bit more muscle, then the fat-loss will take care of itself.

Alfietinker

Lost my 2lb I wanted! Under 11 stone for the first time since I started this job - nearly 4 years ago :J

Decided for Christmas I won't be upset if I don't lose anything, as long as I don't gain anything. I want to enjoy a couple of Christmas dos, so I'll eat sensbibly but without feeling to restrained.

solitaire310

Happy New Year to all MSE's
This is my first post, hope it is in the right place

I paln to lose weight this year, my first target is to lose 21 pounds by April.
I am hoping that being a part of this Lose Weight thread will give me the encouragement I need to reach my target.

nearlyrich

I didn't know this thread was here, I am doing Slimming world, have lost 10 and a half pounds since 26/10 and only put half back on over Christmas. I have a crazy job which involves lots of nights in hotels and lunches and dinners with clients. SW fits in with my lifestyle, I keep mini Babybel light and a bag of fruit and veg in the car at all times. I don' eat much bread or potatoes anymore, I get heartburn with fresh bread, I love it but it's not doing me any good, when I do eat bread it's wholmeal now. If I buy a sandwich out it's prawns, no butter no sauce on a wholemeal roll with lettuce etc . If I am in at lunchtime I eat eggs, ommlettes are great you feel like you have had a good meal and if you just put veg in ( peppers, tomatoes etc) it's completely free.

I used to be addicted to sweets and chocs, I would always have some in the car, we opened a tin of celebrations on Christmas day, I have eaten just 6 all week and the fact that they are there within reaching distance does not make me want one ( or a handful) Funny the rest of the family aren't eating them either LOL.

I get weighed again on Wednesday, hopefully I will have lost the half plus a bit more, I want to lose another stone before 24th Feb when we go to New Zealand.

Good luck to all working on their weight, it's hard when you are going it alone, my sister and I joined together and if we don't weigh in together we text encouragement to each other. ( I sometimes go to a meeting near where I stay for work).

Becles

Just noticed this thread!

Aiming to lose some weight this year. Got weighed this morning and I'm 11st 2lb _pale_

Hoping to lose 3lb by next week, as 10st something sounds better than 11st :rudolf:

loracan1

I'm weighing in now at just under 11 stones, was 12st 4 back in September, I've tried dieting twice in my life and it doesn't work for me. I just made some changes.

I eat a decent breakfast, bacon and mushroom on wholemeal toast or ciabatta.
I don't eat after 7.00pm. unless I'm eating out - which doesn't happen often.

Started exercising, but most of the weight came off before I started going to the gym.
Weight loss has slowed down now but things are definitely shaping up!

Aiming for between 10 - 101/2 stone.

thriftlady_2

:j Just found this thread and its what I need.I'd like to lose 4 stone.I've lost a lot of weight in the past-17 years ago by calorie counting.But I find it really difficult now I'm cooking for 5.

All the frugal things I do like baking,saving meat drippings for cooking and
eating last night's leftovers for lunch don't seem to help my diet.

I've tried Weight Watchers At Home but I find it is aimed at people who buy a lot of convenience food.I make everything from scratch which means you have to work out the points for everything and i find that a real pain.I always forget to weigh my serving of pasta,rice or whatever.

Can anyone give me some tips on how to lose weight and still cook for my family and not have to perform methematical calculations before every meal,oh, and that don't cost much?

I already know the obvious one-eat less easier said than done.

Sam_26

:snow_laug :xmassmile Try lipotrim via your pharmacy. Its a total food replacement diet and has great results.

See http://www.lipotrim.demon.co.uk/ for details of participating pharmacies in our area.

thriftlady_2

Thanks for your suggestion Sam, but Meal replacements are not for me I like food too much.