Piglet to Gazelle - My weight loss journey

purpleshoes_2

If you have spotify, look up bootcamp download/tabata

You will get music with the work and rest timings given.

First_Trouble

Friday food & exercise

B: Greek yoghurt medley minus almonds and coffee
L: soy glazed cod with half pack tesco crunchy veg stir fry
wrap base pizza with spinach, red onion and prosciutto
S: Cherry bakewell nakd bar
E: Walked 2,534 miles 5200ft, burned 1583, ate 1701cals (est), carbs 105g, 10 mins housework, 1 min push ups, homemade HIIT as above

tesuhoha

Hi

I hope you don't mind me saying this to you. I've been reading your diary.

Firstly I think you have amazing self discipline and determination and a wonderful positive attitude. Because of this I would like to see you succeed in your goal.

Your diet and exercise programme sounds like tremendous hard work and takes up a lot of your time. Your life seems to be quite food orientated. Have you thought about trying something easier and at the same time more effective? Certainly you have so much willpower that you could easily do the 5:2 diet and I have heard that people with a thyroid condition are able to do it.

I'll tell you from personal experience that the 5:2 is the easiest and most effective diet ever. There are only the most basic rules and it means that you can relax around food. Also there are many health benefits to enjoy with this way of eating.

Basically what you do is choose 2 days a week (i.e Monday and Thursday or Tuesday and Friday) and on those days you eat no more than 500 calories. On those days you should drink lots of water and eat healthy food. The other days you can eat whatever you like. No rules, no calorie counting.

I'm not sure why it works but it does. Personally I have never been able to lose weight by dieting but a couple of years ago I decided that I really needed to do something. I watched the Michael Mosley Horizon programme and thought I would try the 5:2.

I was aged 62 at the time and over about 5 months I lost over a stone in weight and the roll of fat around my stomach. Sometimes it was slow going, only losing 1lb a week. Other times it plateaued and stayed the same for weeks but I kept the faith and the weight gradually fell off. I went from 10st 2lb to 8st 6lb. My weight has now stabilised at 9st 3lb but I think I might lose a few pounds again for the summer. It is that easy.

I think you might find some relief in doing this as I read about that binge day you had a while ago. Its very difficult to keep to a diet and really instead of dieting you should find a way of eating for life. With the 5:2 once you lose the weight you can maintain the weight loss by doing 6:1. I didn't do that hence the slight gain but I would add that I now don't diet at all and eat whatever I want without calorie counting. I just weigh myself now and again and if I have put a few pounds on I go back to fasting.

Anyway, fasting 2 days a week is surprisingly easier than dieting 7 days a week and the effect is still an overall calorie deficit and more effective weight loss. I think maybe the non fasting days kick start the metabolism. What you don't do on those days is count calories so it stops you obsessing about food. What with fasting and not counting calories I quite often find myself forgetting to eat!

I am not suggesting for one moment that you do this immediately. I'm just wondering if you have thought about it or would give it some thought? Perhaps you could do a bit of research on it. Its just that I get the feeling that you are trying so very hard and you are not getting a lot of reward for your huge efforts. Incidentally I hate exercise and I lost weight without doing much more than a bit of zumba and then I had to stop that when I injured myself.

I know the hour is strange but I'm being kept awake by a party next door.

pmlindyloo

I have also been reading your diary and my heart goes out to you.

Like Tesuhoha I would like to add some comments as I have to agree with a lot of her post.

First of all, I also have an underactive thyroid and have struggled with my weight all of my life. I have been a typical yo yo dieter - take some off, put some back and never reach my goal - until now.

I swear to God that my genes mean that I have some sort of craving for sweet and fatty food - I am one of those people who cannot eat one biscuit but needs to eat a packet!

I hate exercising and never see the point of people who go to the gym or spend time lifting weights/whatever. A walk is the most exercise that I do.

6 weeks ago I signed up to Diet Chef and during those 6 weeks have lost one and a half stones. I have gone for walks but have not upped my exercise in any way.

So why am I suggesting this? What has being on Diet Chef taught me?

The main thing is that my portion sizes have always been far too large. When I saw the size of the portions I was given I was amazed. They are tiny (well to me they are)

You get a breakfast, a lunch, a dinner and a snack. You add your 5 portions of veg and fruit and your dairy allowance.

The meals are not wonderful but perfectly OK. The best thing is that I do not have to calorie count, think about what to eat, only buy fruit, veg and milk, and they take minutes to prepare and are filling.

You work a very long day. If you started Diet Chef you might be able to leave later in the morning after having breakfast and you can literally get home, pop on your veg (buy prepacked and peeled) and hey presto it is ready.

My husband kindly agreed to do it with me but only has the evening meal with me and has his own breakfast and lunch. He has lost 7 pounds without even trying!

Before I started I got rid of all my naughty things from the fridge and larder (so I wasn't tempted) Since your day is long you should have a piece of fruit when feeling hungry as you are going a long time in between meals.

The best thing about it is that you will lose weight at a steady rate and see an immediate effect. This gave me the impetus to continue week after week.

My husband is amazed that I no longer 'crave' those naughty foods (well I do a little bit!) but the weight loss has out weighed the cravings.

Although I know that many people can do fasting , this is just not for me because I would have to calorie count for my two fasting days. I am not good at calorie counting - I tend to ignore the dollop of mayonnaise, the little extra butter and so on.

I can honestly say that Diet Chef has not been difficult like other diets I have tried. It is not for everyone I am sure but for anyone who needs someone else to sort it for them it is excellent.

Give yourself a break. Stop the exercising (keep up the walking) and give it a try. Get hubby on board (at least for your evening meal).

Lastly, but also importantly, if you want to continue with your present regime, get your doctor to check you are on the right dosage of medication for your thyroid problem. If you are only eating what you say you are eating and doing that amount of exercising then you should be losing weight.

Good luck!

purpleshoes_2

I wouldn't stop the exercising. Walking aside I don't think the op is doing enough exercise.

I agree about portion sizes. I personally think the op is struggling because she doesn't know what she wants to do food wise.

Her diet was low carb, then it wasn't. Some days it looks like she's not eating enough. However calorie wise, she could be underestimating what she's eating every day and if there are blow out cheat days happening at the weekend it's not surprising she's not losing weight.

I also agree about getting medication levels checked. The thyroid issue might make it harder to lose weight but it shouldn't be impossible.

There are many people who work long hours and still find time to train. 2-3 hours of hiit, plus eating clean plus the occasional treat should see the weight moving.

I know it's tough. I was 15 stones 10 20 months ago. I've battled with my weight since my 20s. I've had a horrible relationship with food in the past and my self esteem has been in my shoes.

When I was really big last time round, I knew. But there was still part of me that was in denial. Even if I was eating healthily my portions were still way too big.

I have done classes that have had me crawling off the floor at the end and it's that plus a clean diet that's got me results.

purpleshoes_2

I would also say this to anyone I was working with re food. Do not separate food into good food and bad food. Food is just food. If you want a cake have the cake but don't go cake = bad= guilt= feeling bad about myself.

Have the cake and then get back on with it. It's also easy to do the it's not fair. I'm a curvy person in a slim family. Are there times I wish I could eat all the crap of the day and it wouldn't show on the scales? Yes.

Do I want to be 15 stones 10 again? No. Not ever.

purpleshoes_2

I appreciate that the gym isn't for everyone. I like walking and I walk a lot. But there are many benefits health wise if you lift weights and its something more women should do.

Westvleteren

First_Trouble wrote: »

Homemade HIIT
https://www.dumbbell-exercises.com/exercises

1 min jumping jacks
20 rep bench press
20 reps bicep curl
20 reps bent over one arm deltoid raise
35 reps weighted crunch
1 min Plank
1 min skipping
20 reps lying fly
20 reps shoulder press
10 reps front raise
10 reps straight arm pull over
35 reps weighted crunch
20 reps dumbbell side bend
1 min shadow boxing
20 reps lateral raise
10 reps straight arm deltoid raise
20 reps two arm tricep extension
25 reps weighted crunch
20 reps bicycle kicks

Another one who has been following you since your first post for various reasons. An observation if I may The bigger the muscle the bigger the calorie burn. A lot of the above seems to focus on the smaller muscles in the arms shoulders or core, I think you need give more focus to your legs as that is where our big muscles are to get a bigger calorie burn. I'm also in favour of body weight exercises rather than !!!!ing about with 5kg dumbbells or whatever. Bodyweight exercises with good form and range of motion is the key I think.

Secondly, your walk to work could be done using the principles of HIIT. Walk really fast and I mean you'll really have to give it some and then a slower pace for a time then go again. I tend to average under 12 mins per mile. I tend to think if your just ambling along it doesn't really do anything.

purpleshoes has offered some really good advice all the way along - I have listened and implemented into my life. Some times you need people poking holes in what you do - they do that to help, so that you can learn and make progress.

First_Trouble

Saturday food & exercise

B: Greek yoghurt medley and coffee
L: wrap base pizza with spinach, red onion and prosciutto
Jacket potato with tuna & spring onion, cheese & beetroot
S: Hot cross bun, coffee
E: Walked 1,498 miles 2989ft, burned 1690, ate 1810cals (est), carbs 98g, exercise as below

30 seconds burpees, 10 seconds rest
30 seconds plank, rest time as before
30 seconds press ups
30 seconds squats
30 seconds sumo hold
30 seconds pommel jumps/jack planks (same thing)
30 seconds toe touches
30 seconds squat jumps
30 seconds mountain climbers
30 seconds elbow to hand plank
30 seconds tuck jumps
1 min rest

First_Trouble

Sunday food & exercise

B: Greek yoghurt medley and coffee
L: Jacket potato with tuna & spring onion, cheese & beetroot
Wrap pizza
S: 1/3 of a Baileys Easter Egg
E: Walked 1,603 miles 3199ft, burned 1692, ate 1774cals (est), carbs 118g, exercise as below


Quite proud of myself I really wanted a takeaway to the point I could taste it. It didn't help that the chilli I was supposed to be having, the mince hadn't fully defrosted. So I whipped up a quick healthy pizza to fill the hunger before I could order. I knew I hadn't earned it and I have already had my treats for the month so I would not be holding myself accountable to what I was eating if I had eaten KFC.