Spill the beans... on cheap ways to get in shape this "summer"

izzyh_2

Join gwenmccreadie.com, this is a wonderful Healthy Eatin Plan, and I lost almost 3 stones on this last year, within 7 months. Totally healthy food, never hungry, and have stayed at the same weight since last September. I feel the best I have felt in 30 years. I also walk a lot which gives me the exercise I need. If you live in the Tayside/Pethshire/Fife/Aberdeenshire areas in Scotland you can visit a local class for £4 per week. Great fun and 100% support. Or you can join online for £3.50 per week and get the same commitment of support. Fantastic for a great healthy eating regime, try it !

SBarratt

Number one rule is to keep a food diary. You will be less likely to eat that chocolate bar or (nutritionally useless) packet of crisps if you have to write it down afterwards.

There are plenty of websites out there & apps that you can do the above on. It will count your calories against your BMI and track your progress (myfitnesspal for example). You don't even have to write!!

Drink your water people. There is nothing better, nothing. Avoid ALL fizzy drinks. Anyone watch Panorama around 2 weeks ago about supplement drinks - lucozade is useless unless B.Wiggins is reading this post - he can probably afford to drink it. Drinking water AIDS weight loss - drink it!! If you MUST then get 'zero added sugar' juice drinks.

Like the first poster stated, start walking. Sounds obvious? It is but people just don't do it.

No processed foods. No time to cook? You are lying. Can't cook? Lying. Eating healthy is easy. I invested in a veg/rice steamer and use it every day + meat on the foreman. Meals take 15 minutes and are top notch.

Slimming World is excellent. If you stick by their regime they actively emplore you to eat, as long as it's 'super free'. Get full on veg and lose weight. Learn a few meals (my gf makes their quiche < food of the Gods). She has had fantastic results

FINALLY the DADDY of all weight loss ideas. Got 90 days? P90X. You may have seen the infomericals. I did this and just WOW. It is HARD WORK. You WILL struggle. I just asked myself "What's 90 days out of the rest of my life". A fully structured diet plan and you work out 6 days a week for ... dum dum dum ... 1 hour a day. All I can say is that it works but this is only for those who are dedicated. Oh and the best thing? All from home.

There's also 'insanity' which lasts 60 days.

MissFusspot

I would recommend the website/app 'MyfitnessPal'. It doesn't cost a penny and adds up calories for you. You just need to calculate your basic requirement of calories and set it on the app as a daily limit. Takes motivation and self control to abstain from overeating- especially if you are used to eating more. However, it works if you follow it.

I used in since November 2011 and lost 14 kilograms. I used the app and just added foods to the diary through the day. Initially, it was tough and I felt hunger pangs at times but the body soon adapts. Now, I find it difficult to overeat and have a much better idea as to healthy portion sizes. I had difficulty with this before, though I think it is more natural for some people to know when to stop eating.

Hughjass

MAGANN wrote: »

I'm very interested in what you have to say about this. A.D.F is something which has recently caught my attention.
First time I have used this part of Martins site,don't know if I'm doing everything correctly. Thanks in anticipation

Hi, I'm no expert but you can check out my reply on this thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4115289 for more info, I'm happy to answer any other questions directly on the forum, I would suggest you remove your email address.

There was a very interesting program on BBC the other night that showed the health benefits of alternate day fasting and intermittent fasting, not just for weight loss but for brain health and a whole host of other benefits, some googling would probably provide all the information needed to make a properly informed decision as to whether this way of eating would be right for an individual:).

rachelleigh73

Eat less, move more - it works for me! Stodge eating couch potato in the winter months, outdoorsy nibbler in the summer months - spot the difference! I find summer slimming easy. I play the yo-yo game nearly every year, but the basis equation holds - eat less, move more. It really is that simple - I just need to work a whole lot harder at 'behaving myself' when the nights draw in!

Rachel

dustxs

I find that I can't stop myself from snacking - but at least I can do in healthily and on the cheap!

My favourite is to cut up some large carrots or celery into sticks, bag in food bags/Tupperware and bring to work with low-fat houmous. Go easy on the houmous as it can add up if you eat spoonfuls of the stuff. An even lower-fat alternative is to bring jarred salsa for the dip, which keeps outside the fridge if unopened.

Also I find porridge oats a simple, satisfying and cheap way of filling up for breakfast. A pot of porridge (made with milk) - same size as a small soup pot from those sandwich chains - with 2 tsp maple syrup and 1 level tbs raisins is a great warmer for this "summer" and comes in under 300 calories (good way to keep to a 1200-1500 calorie/day diet - a sensible and sustainable level for me).

While we're on the subject of breakfast - it's good to indulge once in a while and a breakfast pastry once every couple of weeks works well (avoid muffins though they are very calorie-dense). A small Danish comes in under 300cals and it makes you feel like you've already had something naughty even before lunch - great for helping keep the motivation (guilt??) up the rest of the day.

katie1812

YouTube cardio and workout videos. There are loads! And you can do them in your living room! Or out some music on for a bit and dance crazily in your lounge. Nobody will see you and you'll be burning calories!

TomSmall

check out parkrun.com IT'S FREE!!!
walk, trot, jog or run from new borns in buggies to how old?
0900 hours EVERY Saturday morning somewhere near you is a parkrun. It's free.
after 10 runs juniors get a free technical tee. Aged 15 and above get a free tee shirt after 50 runs.
Next Saturday, 18th August we are trying to achieve a world record for the number of participants taking part at the same moment. Remember please that you can walk, trot, jog or run with the family. There is a cafe / coffee shop at most parkruns for post run goodies. See you there? you will love it and start to tell anyone who will listen.:T

EccentricRavenJewellery

Hiya,

I don't know where you are, but several of our council-run gyms (Birmingham) have arm-cycle machines, which are really good. You can sit or lie, and pump your arms around.
The council sites will also be able to give you a personalised induction and introduce you to some of the equipment which would be most suitable for you.
Hopefully your own council would be able to help in a similar way.
You may also find that there are some free sessions at your local swimming pool- all should now have hoists if you are unable or not confident to use the steps safely.
Does your physio give you 'homework' to do throughout the week between sessions?

pauliboo wrote: »

Does anyone know anything that a physically disabled person can do?

I go to physio every week, but the exercises aren't going to lose me any weight.

I have arthritis in my hip and lower back so walking is out of the question.

stphnstevey

1) IGNORE FAD DIETS - if you find it hard to stick to for one day, your not going to stick to it for life are you!

You have additional weight because you eat more calories than your body needs - except and understand this

lower calorie intake, substitute unhealthy foods for alternatives, lower portion size, cut out SNACKS! - you can then eat what you normally eat (or similiar), just smaller amounts and healthy alternatives

2) track calories and exercise (you can't just guess!)www.myfitnesspal.com - can make friends like on facebook for motivation.

3) Know what's in your food - READ THE LABEL! it tells you everything you need to know

4) Track exercise - cardio burns off calories - www.endomondo.com tracks exercise and even maps via gps - gives nice reports etc

5) Buy cheap weights - ebay, gumtree, bootsales etc - women too! Resistance training (weight training) is the best form of weight loss, tones and don't worry ladies, you'd have to work for years before you look anything like those weight lifting women

Love idea YouTube exercise videos!