Weight Loss Club, 17/10 update.
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I know many people struggle with their weight and this week I have had a dire warning from my doctor as my sugar levels have zoomed up due to bad eating habits. I am not obese just a couple of stone overweight but i need to seriously sort out my diet.
I have devised my own eating plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner and 4 days in am doing well. Apart from a headache the first two days I feel ok now and already not so sluggish.
Obviously I hope to lose weight too and if anyone would like to join me so we can encourage and help each other that would be great. No need to put your starting weight just come back each Wednesday and let me know if you have lost a pound or two, I will do same. We can give each other tips too. No need to explain if you don't lose anything or put some on, we're all friends here
Hi Everyone, just to let you know I reached a milestone points total yesterday so will be having a break from LD for a while, I spend far too much time on here and not getting other things done. However, I will log on every wednesday to see how we are all doing.
I haven't done as well as I expected and have probably lost only 5lbs (those wavering scales make it hard to be accurate, must get new set). Considering I was more than a week into this before starting the topic that is not good. I won't know sugar levels until next blood test.
Anyway hope you are all doing better. For me it is the carbs as I love potatoes and bread, rice and pasta and find it really hard to cook meals without any of it. I now buy granary bread all the time as it seems to have best traffic light system and overall am eating less. I can't face food until around 11am but then it is hard to stop! But mostly I manage until evening meal around 6pm. It is after that I really crave something sweet but as I no longer keep anything sweet in the house I manage to get through.
Will update next week and see how you're doing.
Lynibis you will be missed on the chat threads but happy you will still be joining in with this one. 5lbs is a great amount to have lost. Might not be as much as you had hoped but I think it's a great amount. It has been a mixed week for me as it was my mums birthday so went our for dinner and had cake. I have however been doing more exercise so hopefully that will stop me gaining even if I haven't lost. I do feel that my belly bump is smaller. Still a long way to go but think I have lot a lb or 2. Will find out when I next weigh myself.
Lynibis 5lbs is fantastic weight loss. I get some great initial starting a diet weight losses but I'd be happy with 1kg a week when I'm actually into the diet properly. It's fantastic when you get a huge weight loss but you must be realistic and even a pound a week is fantastic, that represents a calorie deficit of about 8,000-10,000 calories for a normal weight person which is over 1,000 calorie deficit per day which is like halving their calories per day which is normally 2000-2500 calories. 99% of weight loss is eating less calories and trying to switch to complex carbs rather than simple carbs (processed food) as the body is far less efficient at getting calories from complex carbs. Exercise is great for health, living longer and making you feel good both physically and mentally but sadly it has minimal effect on weight loss according to more recent science which is annoying. However being larger and having more muscle mass can speed up weight loss but the exercise itself doesn't so much. There is a video here that explains it. So a top athlete might consume 10-15,000 calories a day but that is because of large muscle mass and a body optimised to perform well through rigorous training. However light exercise doesn't really achieve a lot if you aren't increasing your muscle mass etc.
Lynibis I'm not going on the scales this week, it's not been a good weight week with 3 birthdays in 4 days - you can't say no to birthday cake 
lilyflower I did read somewhere that birthday cake has no calories, not sure if itโs true or its just your own birthday cake!
Lynibis Well done you, Iโm still trying but avoiding the scales for a few days. Enjoy your break from LD and make time for yourself.
I'd love to join but losing weight has been difficult, it's mostly medication weight, steroids for a bad chest, it's hard to shift, I was 19 stone but now at 16 stone 7 can't seem to get it any lower it's been this for a while
Wednesday again and Iโm doing ok. I have stopped eating cereal and have a meal replacement drink every morning. So far so good. It keeps me full until lunchtime.
eyeballkerry I must have been writing my book below
while you commented. Glad to hear you are doing well. I would never mock meal replacement drinks as I lost loads of weight decades ago using Slimfast. Well done, keep it up
Hi Everyone, hope you've had a good week. I am having less cravings for naughty food and I have lost a total of 8lbs since I seriously began this current diet.
I am not counting calories, just cutting out sugar be it in biscuits, cake, sweets etc. I have never been able to eat much before 11am so have extended that to noon when I mostly have a bowl of thick soup, usually home made mushroom, sprinkled with garlic and black pepper granules. My evening meal is around 6pm and as potatoes are my weakness I do have some either mashed, roast or even a small portion of chips, with veg and either steamed salmon, omelette, sausages (but not often as trying to steer clear of processed food). I do sometimes need a snack later as I don't go to bed until nearly midnight. Usually mashed banana on ryvita, babybel or a few walnuts apparently the king of nuts healthwise. Same for Kiwi which I have read about this week, they are probably best fruit as rammed full of nutrients and only 44 calories. Eating the skin, yes you can but I choose not to, will double the nutrient intake.
Before I sign off I hope some of my food choices may help you but the times I eat are a personal choice and I am aware that some say you shouldn't skip breakfast, however it works for me.
I will look in during the day to see how you are getting on and if you have any tips or weight loss successes.
Lynibis I am not a fan of potatoes. I canโt mash potatoes as it makes me heave. This started when I was pregnant and never went away.
eyeballkerry oh dear, that's not good. I am cutting down on mashed potatoes as they look a bit sad with the skin on and they are healthier with it on.
I just had some mashed swede with my dinner with chicken, fine beans and my first naughty thing for ages, some roast potatoes.
I will check in tomorrow my weight. I have come off the rails a bit but at other times have been very sensible and done a bit of fasting so we will see what happens. I can definitely do more with regard dieting though so even if the weight loss is low or non-existent I'm gradually improving what I'm eating. I've seriously cut down on the rubbish I used to eat, whether the replacement food is much lower in calories is another thing. It's coming up to my birthday and I'm registered with a lot of shops so keep getting offered free stuff normally around my birthday and it will probably be the same this year. I have no resistance to free or very cheap food.
BonzoBanana if you are improving what you eat it will certainly help healthwise even if no weight loss to show for it at the moment.
I can see it would be hard to refuse freebies, would any be suitable to put away as small Xmas presents? I doubt it as they are usually things like cup of coffee, slice of cake etc.
Lynibis Knowing that food exists in the house even if meant for Christmas would mean it wouldn't last to Christmas. Much of my strategy for not eating as much is not having the food in the house and as I'm pretty lazy the chances of me walking to the shop when I get hungry is pretty low and typically I wouldn't use my car for short journeys. It's not really stuff you can put back to Christmas. Every week I have my free Octoplus Gregg's Mocha. It's a lovely drink that I really look forward to but even without adding any extra sugar you can see the sugar resting in the bottom of the cup at the end of the drink. The first time I had one I put in extra sugar without checking and it was ultra sweet, never again.
That's ok I am not the weight watcher police, but if I were, just a caution this week lol
According to my mums scales I have lost 3lbs. I've been trying to eat less and move more. Been doing some exercise videos on YouTube when I get home from work and walking to collect our son from school. Trying to walk as much as possible at work too. I try not to eat after 8pm and trying not to snack after dinner.
I absolutely love the Ryvita salt and vinegar thins, I have them with some reduced fat cream cheese. The Ryvitas were on offer in Tesco so I stocked up. I have them at lunchtime.
Lynibis yes they are expensive for what they are but I do love the salt and vinegar ones. I've always walked to pick up our son, unless it is pouring down rain, but trying to take the longer way and walk faster. Pupils probably wonder what I'm up to at work as I will go the long way round to get where I'm going to get my steps in. We are all lazy at times, I know I certainly am.
I've weighed myself this morning and have lost a further 1.8kg so just under a 1kg a week. My overall weight loss since starting this diet is 1 stone just over. However really with this weigh in is actually the weight I thought I was before starting the diet. I've cheated a lot these 2 weeks. I will try to ramp it up a bit for this week and aim to lose a further 2kg. I was going to try to do 3 fasting days but in the end did 1 fasting day in the last week. I'll try to at least increase it to 2 this week but aim for 3. If I could lose 2.3kg+ this week that would take me under a unit of 10 (for want of a better description) which is always nice to see. I've cheated so much this week that quite pleased with the overall weight loss but know I can do a lot better.
BonzoBanana would a meal planner help? Just write down each days food and shop for those ingredients only. You can include fasting days and then attach to fridge with a magnet.
Lynibis I always shop by price, special offers, short life reductions etc. So my diet is depended on what I can find cheap. However many of my meals are salads; lettuce, cucumber, a bit of onion, sliced peppers, tomatoes, olives, sourcrout, olive oil, lemon juice, cider vinegar, nutritional yeast and cheese plus whatever is the main ingredient mainly tuna or chicken. I guess I have about 3 salads a week, plus sandwiches occasionally with a lot of salad stuff. Roasts on sunday and a curry normally on friday. So part of my week is organised for meals but most is a bit random.
Well, it has been a pretty good week for me. It's about 3 weeks since I touched a cake, biscuit or sweet etc and the scales are wavering just over 14 stone, started at 15 stone.
Am finding it relatively easy now as I only eat twice a day, beans and small omelette for breakfast or slice of toast with marmite, or mashed banana on ryvita. Then a sensible evening meal, quite substantial, one coffee per day and plenty of water.
How you all doing?
It's not been a good nor sensible week. Shall we just stay the scales are not in my favour.
lilyflower I think it is easier for those, like me, living alone. I just don't buy or order what I shouldn't eat and don't have to think of what others may want.
Lynibis This week has been all about running after MIL and BIL combined with hospital/GP visits, therefore grabbing as and when - not a good idea. I'll be back on track after holidays. I have a New Year target 
It's been an OK week for me. Don't think I've lost anything but as long as I haven't gained it's OK. Our son has decided if he is having cereal for breakfast then Mummy has to have cereal too. I could have done better this week but not disastrous.
Morning all. Well I finally cracked the 14st mark but I did start my diet a week or so before posting this topic.
It was my birthday last week so that was a challenge as my son had me round for pressies, Indian takeaway and birthday cake, I had a tiny sliver just to show willing but I can honestly say I didn't want more.
I have also cracked the no sugar in tea/coffee after 71 years which means I can have more hot drinks this winter without the guilts!
I had a nutritionist app last week and learned an awful lot. Will go more into that if anyone is interested.
I can see this being 'a rest of my life diet' as I haven't felt hungry (I prepare my food as soon as I feel hungry), and have lost the sweet cravings I used to get, I hope it lasts.
I had brain fog and headaches at beginning but then googled cutting out sugar and found they are symptoms, gone now and feeling much better.
Hope you are all well. I will come back next week but maybe end it there if there is nothing new to add. Don't be put off by setbacks, keep up the good work, it really is worth it.
Well done and Happy Birthday for last week. By the way I heard birthday cake does not contain calories! I have cut out snacking inbetween meals and stop eating anything after 6pm.
eyeballkerry thanks!
I have read about the 6pm rule but I reckon everyone's bedtime is different, mine is around 11.30 to midnight, I find I mostly eat around 7pm and if I get peckish during evening it's a piece of fruit. I don't eat much during the day though.
I currently have a chicken stew in the slow cooker and am now going to use the rest of the veg for a soup.
Lynibis You look very organised. I do like leeks but the downside is i make a leek gratin and I love caramelised onions at the moment.
eyeballkerry I only had two large leeks but half of one was enough for the stew so i put the rest in the soup which I have just liquidised. I will keep a couple of servings in fridge then freeze the rest. Just had the stew and really enjoyed, the chicken very tender and the veg was not really discernable as it was very soft but very flavoursome with the herbs, garlic, Worcester sauce, seasoning etc. The soup had a hint of chilli too.
I didn't say what the pic contained but it was obviously leeks and onions, swede, parsnips and carrots, ran out of potatoes as i used what I had in the stew.
I feel really good that I had a really healthy meal but it was delicious too.
EDIT: I love caramelised onions but high sugar so they are off the menu now lol.
Lynibis When I made caramelised I donโt use a lot of sugar. I did make a very nice pie the other night, if I say so myself. Plus the family enjoyed it as well.
eyeballkerry sou d's yummy, can't beat a nice pie.
My son is a very ex chef and for Christmas I have got him an electric pie maker. They are just the job on cold winter nights. I have just finished off my stew for lunch 
We were on holiday for the last 5 days but I've watched what I have been eating and there has been a lot of walking involved. Not sure if I've lost anything but as long as I haven't gained then I will be happy.
As I feared my birthday has meant a lot of treats and free offers from retailers etc. However will be back on the diet next week. I was just writing to mention as we move to winter the lower you can set your house temperature the more the body will burn through its fat. The cut off point seems to be about 18 degrees so at 17 or below the body has to work to maintain its core temperature. So a house heating system set to 16 degrees with light bedding might cause weight loss overnight and also can help you sleep better if you get the temperature right as the blood flow to the brain reduces as the temperature reduces. Its all about getting the temperature just right for you and can of course also mean huge energy cost savings. As ever the body adapts slowly so if not used to this make the change slowly so the body adapts easily. Low temperature can be more effective at weight loss than exercise strangely.
I am trying things I haven't eaten before. Breakfast this morning was an activia walnut and oats yoghurt with a chopped kiwi mixed in, it was yummy.
Well I completely forgot yesterday was Wednesday as I was so busy. We have been away a lot recently and whilst I've tried to be good with my diet and still do lots of walking I think a pound or 2 might have creeped back on. Never mind, will just start again.
Late birthday pressies from son, set of digital scales for as I have previously mentioned old mechanical ones wavered around a lot. Having gone from 15 to nearly 14 stone I was chuffed to bits but next morning stepped on new scales to find I had put on 12lbs overnight!
Obviously the old ones still showed a loss but mentally I feel I am starting again from 14st 12lbs. Oh well that was Sunday but pleased to say have gone down to 14st 10lbs since then.
Enjoying Activia yoghurt with kiwi for breakfast, soup for lunch and evening meal high in veg content or nice chicken stew. Making cottage pie tomorrow with potato and Swede mash on top. Hope you're all doing well but I won't comment again unless someone has something to add.
Still not taking sugar in coffee and am now not craving sugar any more. Have proved it is harder to eat healthy than not but after a few weeks it is lots easier and I am pretty sure I can stick to this now, can't believe it's taken me all these years.
Lynibis I tested my cheap digital scales with some exercise weights to see how accurate the scales were and the modern digital scales seem more accurate than the old mechanical scales for me. However the exercise weights were not the same weight as me of course much lighter so not really a test for higher weights i.e. real people.
eyeballkerry BonzoBanana MrsCraig lilyflower
Just a few tips before signing off on this topic:
If you are finding it hard to cut down on carbs eat plenty of fibre with them so as not to sugar spike, i.e. Eat the skins on potatoes, eat seeded or granary bread.
Grate cheese (easier with food processor) you will be surprised at how much further it goes. A matchbox size chunk, no more per day, looks far more when grated.
Don't butter your bread if filling is sloppy, i.e. Egg or tuna mayonnaise.
Homemade soup and stews are healthy and filling, make enough to last a few days.
Just don't eat cakes, biscuits, sweets etc and cut sugar down or out in tea/coffee.
Drink plenty of water, preferably filtered, aim for 4 pints per day.
Walnuts and Brazils are good and healthy to snack on but not in large quantities as high in fat.
Have a gut healthy yoghurt with fruit chopped into it (kiwi or blueberries are good) daily as breakfast or dessert.
If you eat more than one portion of fruit per day eat apart throughout day, not all at once.
That's it off top of head but do add your own tips. I think this has run it's course now but good luck. Don't look at it as going without but rather living longer and healthier...and don't forget some oily fish!
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