4 weeks to lose weight - any tips - I'm getting married you see.....

Nicki

How much weight do you think you need to use, or do you just not like bits of your body?

If you are talking several stone, then it is unlikely that you can make a huge amount of impact whatever you do. However any weight loss will be noticed by you, and will make you feel better on the day.

If we are talking less than a stone, then you can definitely make a big difference by exercise and diet, and this will be reflected in the photos.

If you are mainly worried about your waistline, you might want to check out the Monica Grenfell flat stomach in five days programme (check on Amazon). This combine cutting out foods which are known to bloat with some heavy duty exercising to improve your shape radically in a short time. If you also need to lose a few pounds, you could do a standard low cal/low fat or low carb diet for a few weeks to lose the weight then try the MG one for the last week. You can lose loads on Atkins in a very short period of time, but the downside is once you start eating normally it piles back on.

Most brides naturally lose some weight in the run up to the big day anyway due to nerves and stress so this is probably the easiest time in your life to lose weight.

Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a fabulous day

grownupgirly

Hiya,

I have been on Slimming World for the past 3 weeks. In that time I have lost 5 and a half pounds and its been really really easy. And you can eat loads. I would HIGHLY recommend it. As others have said, its all about food combining: you can eat as much meat, veggies (but not peas or potatoes or parsnips!) and fruit as you like on the 'Original Days' (red days), and on 'Green days' you can have unlimited potatoes/pasta/rice and fruit and veggies etc. On both days, keep your bread strictly limited, if at all. If you're interested in finding out more, I'd be more than happy to give you more info. (you have to have a certain amount of calcium-rich products per day etc etc).

Oh and as everyone else has said, lots of exercise, and drink plenty of water, particularly in the morning - flushes out your system.

Grownupgirly.xx

Steel_2

In the run up to my wedding I did a few things to make sure I lost those last few pounds and felt a bit more energetic.

1. I cut out all bread and potatoes - these are a killer for me and I suffer from bloating from water retention when I eat them.
2. I upped the amount of water I drank - that helped fill me up a little so I didn't overeat at meal times and also improved my skin.
3. I cut out all caffiene and switched to decaff - I didn't realise how much caffiene could stimulate my appetite until I read about it. It stimulates the release of insulin, which your body would naturally do in response to you eating something. When you drink caffiene you end up with loads of insulin floating round so you body starts screaming for you to fill your stomach up so the insulin has got something to do.
4. I upped the amount of veggies I ate and slightly reduced the amount of meat. I also ate a lot more fruit, but was careful about fruits like bananas which contain a lot of starchy sugars and calories.
5. I increased the amount of excercise to 30 - 60 minutes a day. But then I was doing a an exercise programme anyway so I had a level of fitness I could boost. If you don't take any exercise, be careful about doing this much as you may hurt yourself. Alternatively do something low impact but effective like fast walking.
6. I got Rosemary Conley's book The Hip and Thigh diet as used the recipes as a guide to cooking non-fat meals. Simple things like using pan spray or stock to fry things in and browning mince and pouring off the released fat before cooking were big ones for me. Even my husband lost weight after I started doing this and he's whippet thin and 9.5 stone. I was worried I'd lose him between the cracks in the pavement!

If you decide you want to have a go at calorie counting, there's a fantastic website http://www.nutracheck.co.uk/ that is an calorie diary. You pay about £8 a month and it has a database of foods from the major supermarkets that you can pick from either by searching or by barcode. It even has the number of calories burned for all the major exercise activites and you can also add your own recipes etc. When you join it works out for you the amount of calories you must eat and the amount you must burn every day to achieve your goal by a certain time. It's all mostly point and click - dead easy to get the hang off and a permanent record of everything you eat.

Good luck!

belfastgirl23

I'd say definitely get down to the gym and do some weights work. This helps build a bit of muscle which does make a difference to your shape. The results are usually seen pretty fast. I like using free weights but make sure you get an induction and get help in technique etc as you can do yourself real damage otherwise.

I'm back at my heaviest weight again alas after having made real efforts to slim over the last few years. But because I'm still doing weights and going to the gym I don't look as overweight as I did last time. Your thread is inspiring me to do something about it!

jackomdj

Hello,

Depending upon how much you have to lose you could try the Cambridge diet. I lost 5 1/2 stone in just over 4 months, I actually trained to become a counsellor as it is so good. The diet is very low calorie, however it is 100% nutritionally complete. You have to see a counsellor face to face & see your doctor if you have any medical conditions that need signing off.

Have a look on their web site www.cambridge-diet.com they have a list of counsellors on the web site, however not all counsellors are listed so give them a call on 0800 161412 & they will give you the details of someone close to you.

Good luck

Nicky

kgarcia

Thanks everyone. I really have found some good ideas. I am looking for a natural way to lose weight really.

I will keep you all posted. I have just paid for a weightloss management system today, so I'll have to see how it goes. My friend recommended it.

My main ideas are:-

• Lower calories - healthy diet
• More exercise - try and get in as much as possible
• Getting down the gym more - 2-3 times a week; weights would work well - heard that through a friend
• Body wrap sounds excellent!!

My dress has always fitted ok, but I just want to look as nice as possible. I am having the final fitting this weekend, so I suppose I just want to look very toned on the big day.

Anyway, big thanks everyone.
:T

Angel777

Hi Kgarcia, what is in the proactol? how does it work?

thanks i need to lose for sept too!

good luck

plumpmouse

I've lost 1/2 a stone in a week and half.

I've cut out snacks completely. I have cereal for breakfast and lunch and then a healthy balanced tea.

Hope you have a fab day

maypole

Just cut out all the rubbish food like crisps and biscuits etc and walk briskly every day for at least 30 to 40 minutes. Worked for me before my holiday, but you have to be determined.

beedeedee

Practice how to stand for the camera on the day - it'll take pounds off you ! Always turn slightly - never straight on. Boobs out, tummy in, place one leg slightly in front of the other , chin up (hide those double chins). Get someone to take loads of digital photo's of you, so that you can practice your best "shot". When you have found it, do it time and time again....models have spent years perfecting their best look for the camera.
You'll look stunning if you've practised !