Old Style Weight Loss Challenge- 3rd Quarter 2026

Ainsty

Please may I join again? I've sorted out my health problems and put on a few pounds, so I would like to STS and not add any more. Thanks

Brambling

Welcome back guys, it's good to see you again Frith. Penny no need to ask of course you're always welcome 🙂

I braved the scales yesterday and have gone back to menu planning and meal prep today in the hope of getting back on track. The problem will be the hot weather as I lose the desire to cook and eat properly.

Good luck everyone

diminua

I'm in again please Brambling, but without a target this time. Starting on 10st 10lbs so any reduction will be a plus.

katejo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82056900#Comment_82056900

If I could get back down to 10 st 10lbs I would be happy. I am still stuck on 11 st 12. The lowest I have reached since joining this group has been 11 st 9.5 but I was ill that week.

Brambling

welcome back Diminua 👋

diminua

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82057848#Comment_82057848

I'm only 4ft 11 tall so I'd really like to get under 10 stone - I was bigger (especially just after the Covid lockdown), and it's the last bit that just does not want to shift.

Brie

Hey @Brambling !!

I'm back!!! And I need some advice. Before going off on holiday before the end of the last quarter I posted that I was at the 9.8 pound mark which meant I'd exceeded that quarter's target. (yeah me!!)

So off I trotted on holiday with little expectation of maintaining that loss knowing that the all inclusive food and drink was likely to take its toll. That was on 25th June. Got home on 2nd July and weighed up at less than the zero from that stone. So effectively I'd lost 10 pounds while on holiday!!! And it's not like it was an active holiday either. Yes there was swimming in the pool and in the sea but not vigorously. And as I formerly was an excellent speed swimmer and level 2 synchroniser I know about vigorous and this was so very not - just bobbing about in a lazy fashion.

So first question for you - does this count as an amazing end to last quarter or is it an amazing start to this quarter? Either way I'd like to get down to the next half stone mark so that's 7 to be lost but do you log this as me wanting to lose 17 and having already achieved 10? Let me know what you think is fair - the point I'm aiming at for the end of this quarter is the same either way.

Second question - how did I manage this? I've been thinking about this very hard. It's not like I was being overly cautious about what I ate or drank.

Breakfast was fruit, yoghurt, a small roll with butter, cheese, sometimes meats, sometimes bacon, sometimes fried or boiled eggs and always ending with the small fried donuts dipped in honey and rolled in sesame seeds. Sometimes I had a bit of juice as it was nicely watered down with ice so not going to bother my tum. I didn't have my normal coffee (too strong) or tea in part because the milk was UHT and I don't like that.

Lunch was excessive - I don't normally lunch when at home but when you have freshly cooked fish, steak, belly pork, pizza available it's hard to resist. Always with tzatziki. A glass of fruit water - very light grapefruit, cucumber (which I normally hate) and mint.

Dinner again was excessive - a selection of small starters, then fresh grilled fish/beef/pork/chicken with some salad or veg, tomatoes. Followed by an array of baklava (about 20 varieties available) and things like chocolate mousse, panna cotta, etc.

Open bar - some people were happy to have beer or wine with breakfast but that's not my thing. I had a few cocktails but generally they were too sweet for my liking so I stuck to (vast quantities of) wine.

So I shouldn't have lost any weight. Maybe it will all rebound once I'm back to my regular routine.

What was definitely different is I wasn't eating bread other than the small roll at breakfast and very few other carbs - there weren't things like boiled new potatoes so only a small amount of butter was consumed. The fruit available at breakfast was mostly tinned - so pears, pineapple or apricots rather than the various berries we have here. I have heard that pears are very good for one.

On the definite plus side there was water available non stop. And because it was reasonably warm I was drinking a lot of it - much much more than I do at home. 4 - 5 litres a day perhaps? And this felt really good too - it's highlighted the fact that I need to push myself to drink more water starting right at breakfast and all the way to midnight and beyond. So third question - how does one achieve this effectively? Of course that has the obvious effect but I expect it was a good cleansing for my body. The only other thing that might have a small effect was twice having a good massage courtesy of the spa.

Happy to get any feedback on this that might help me on my downward journey!!

Brambling

Wow @Brie were you eating much between meals? I know I can gain weight if I eat bread which tends to go once I stop it's possible that's the cause. Hopefully it wouldn't bounce too much if any, if it does may me worth trying to see what you cut out and if that helps.

It's your journey (sorry 😁) you choose what you want to do, most was lost last quarter however any bounce will appear in this! I'll add you with 7 and can up to 17 if you want me to

IzzyBee

well believe it or not I can’t I’ve been weighed this morning I have lost 4 pounds it’s not surprising really the amount of ice cream I’ve stuffed in my mouth the last fortnight I just hope it’s not all I lose this quarter determined to stick with it this month and hubby is healthy eating as well which helps no snacks in the house

katejo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82057898#Comment_82057898

So frustrating isn't it? 10 st 10 would be fine for me. I am 5ft 6 so a lot taller than you.