Anyone else on a diet and struggling?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

A pound a week isn't a bad rate to average. The 2lb thing is the maximum safe for conventional 'diets', which don't work in the longterm for most people anyway.

Plus, there are times when it slows down and times when it speeds up. Or you get bored. It's not the end of the world unless you allow this to mean you give up and inhale a billion calories a week for six months. And even then, all that means is its just going to have to take a bit longer.


Are your portions appropriately sized? For example, when you have pizza, can you or do you have a quarter of it because that's all you need, or do you eat the whole thing because that's what you're allowed, irrespective of whether you're actually that hungry or not?

Are you focusing on 'I can eat anything I want' but forgetting that, whilst technically you can, if you pick all calorie dense foods, you are probably going to feel hard done by come 9.30 PM?



You know there's no magic pill or food or combinations. And you know it takes time. Just find ways of getting on with your life and do things whilst time does its thing. Keep busy. Go out. Meet people. Take courses that mean you're not in the flat all the time.

DKLS

How about an easier if somewhat more gruesome dieting option: The http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/public_health/Still-cant-lose-weight-Theres-always-the-tapeworm-diet.html"]tapeworm diet used to be quite pretty popular and not surprisingly you can find the eggs on the internet!

paulineb_2

I don't count calories. When I needed to lose weight last year I reduced my portion sizes. I upped the amount of veg I was eating and reduced junk food to the occasional treat. If you are counting calories where are you getting the number of calories you are consuming from. You need to work out your total daily energy expenditure. The heavier someone is to start with the more calories they need to maintain their body weight.

I know people who have gone on diets and pulled a random figure like 1500 cals out of thin air. Yes they've lost weight, but they could have eaten more and still lost weight. Do you exercise?

If you eat healthily 80 per cent of the time, the other 20 per cent you can have a treat or two.

My advice would be avoid foods marked low fat like the plague, ones that save you a few cals but really aren't healthily. Cook as much as you can from scratch. Eat veg. Don't cut out good fats. And get moving, find exercise that you like and incorporate that into your routine.

If you think lifestyle change and not diet, you are more likely to succeed.

quidsinquentin

Anyone else on a diet and struggling?

No. Liar liar pants on fire!

MrSmartprice

torbrex wrote: »

Hey look guys, Tinks is on a diet and posting on MSE about it :rotfl:

What's next, not having sex with her live-in boyfriend, getting a taxi to the chemist to get painkillers for her sore head, not having enough money to pay for said taxi so asking for help from the dole etc etc

MSE's own version of Groundhog Day. Same old slippery slope, I'm afraid.:doh:

tommix

I'm on a Water only diet..I've lost 6 Litres in 3 Weeks and have reached my Goal weight of 15 Gallons and 4 Pints.:beer:

pablakeman

I am not dieting as such, but am trying to lose weight. I am sticking to 1700 calories a day (+ exercise, which means I normally intake anything from 2000-2500 calories a day because I am an active person) and am trying to get down to 180lbs (was 217lbs a year ago, was 207lbs in January, now 193lbs) but I am finding it difficult. My willpower isn't very strong so I will do well for a few days then go over. Also in the last 3 weeks I have had two nights out so Alcohol + Hangover food (normally for 2 days because I am getting old!) = lots and lots of calories! Also, I am a final year uni student currently living in the library, so boredom sometimes leads to eating a bit more.

However overall I am still losing weight and I have a relatively cheap/healthy diet -

Breakfast - Porridge (with golden syrup/honey/jam)
Lunch - Potatoes (I prefer to pasta) with tuna/chicken and sweetcorn
Dinner - whatever I fancy! Normally a spag bol (overloaded on mushrooms/onions/tomatoes) or something with potato wedges (so easy to make - cut up potatoes, spray (rather than pour) with oil, season and stick in oven for 25 mins etc...)
Snacks - fruit, yoghurt, 4-6 eggs a day, snack bar (mcvities medley are a recent favourite as in poundland)

I could do with any tips/advice/moral support! I am starting a grad job in September/October with KPMG so want to be at my ideal weight for when I have to invest in stupidly expensive suits. And I want to look good in them!!

Queen81

amistupid wrote: »

That's exactly what I do. Last year I lost almost 3 stone and have kept the weight of by watching my daily calorie intake and exercising.

Losing weight and maintaining your target weight is not easy, it takes a lot of will power, but is well worth it.

I appreciate it's worked for you, and well done, however OP was stuck in a bit of a rut so I was suggesting another idea that might help her kickstart her diet again

[Deleted User]

Tink2 wrote: »

Been on a diet since 6th jan, first four weeks I lost 6lbs, next four weeks I lost 9lbs and the last four weeks I lost 0.8lb so it's a total of 15.8lbs which I'm so pleased about but for the last few weeks I'm struggled, using any excuse to not count calories

I wouldn't care but I'm not cutting anything out I'm just trying to be sensible, I don't get why I'm struggling so much, I really want this because I'm miserable being fat

I'm hoping this will help or someone will give me a kick up the !!!! or something

The reason you're finding it so hard is because you're being far too impatient. If you're trying to lose 15lb of fat in 8 weeks that's a calorie defecit of 950kcal/day! All the comments on the subject I've seen from dietitians in the media seem to be recommending a defecit of 250kcal/day, which equates to about 0.5lb/week.

Tink2

mrcow wrote: »

Do you use a food diary?

Use one and stick to it. Use it as inspiration to show how well you are doing.

Diets can be very boring if you get stuck in a rut. Why don't you have a search and find some different/interesting meals that still fit your diet plan? Make it a goal this week that you will try something different every day.

I do use a food diary, eating something new every day sounds like a good idea, we bought some of the jus-Rol pastry, could be time for the tuna pesto tart

Queen81 wrote: »

Don't count calories. That's restricting your food intake which will make you miserable (if you love food like me ha). Try doing slimming worlds plan, I eat loads and still manage to lose weight

I really am against paying to join a group to lose weight (I get it works for some) it just isn't for me

onlyroz wrote: »

I think you said that you'd tried the 5:2 but didn't get on with it. Instead of going for the full 500 kal fast how about aim for 2-3 days a week on 1000 kcals then 3-4 days on the "normal" 2000 kcals, leaving one day a week as an "anything goes" day?

I think that the biggest problem with "diets" is that they're so boring and so you just end up thoroughly miserable which leads to slips and binges. Whereas if you alternate low calorie and normal calorie days, giving yourself the odd day where it doesn't matter what you eat it gives you reprieves from the tedium.

I did do the 5:2 yes

That sounds like a good idea!