Moderate March

Hello again everyone. I'm afraid I fell off the wagon somewhat in February due to being on hols till 7th then too much eating out when we returned home.

It is no hardship for me to forgo breakfast and not eat till lunchtime. So I don't think I've put any weight on, just not actually lost any. This spell of bad weather is putting paid to eating out for this week anyway. I'm thinking that will give me a head start for Moderate March.

Hey Ho!

I have also started calorie counting although I need to have fewer than 1500 calories to lose weight, probably caused by years of dieting and different diets. I have found this easier to do by writing everything I eat and drink down and it is easier to work out the calories nowadays as most things have the calories on them and there are also lots of resources on line to help you work out the calories of other foods.

I have recently stopped having breakfast and drink only black coffee until midday when I have my first meal of the day. I try to have my main meal by 6pm and drink only water or tea with a small amount of skimmed milk before bed time. If I limit my calorie intake to approximately 1300 calories a day and am honest about writing everything down I am able to lose one pound a week, sometimes more by these measures.

Of course I have occasional lapses but try to get back to counting calories as soon as possible. I have lost 16 Pounds over about 12 months which may not seem much but I do feel better and will continue until I have a BMI Of around 25.

A lot of people say that you should always have breakfast but the fasting method I use has been tried and tested by Doctor Michael Moseley and this method works best for me.

BarmyOldBat, my husband has a very sweet tooth and is also very slim with just a little excess fat round his middle. I am always gently cautioning him about his eating habits and when he saw the doctor this week about something else the doctor said his urine looked as if he may have some diabetes so he has to go for a blood test as soon as he can get to the hospital. Hopefully if he is diabetic or pre-diabetic it can be remedied by a more careful diet. We stopped buying sweets, cakes and biscuits years ago but has recently got in the habit of buying cakes far too often. I’m sure your idea to limit cake and biscuits will pay dividends and nip things in the bud for you both.

Wow and welcome to all younewcomers and the ‘dropped off the wagoners’ ?

My ploy re sweet things....only eat what you bake/make yourself. This works because I’m not a natural baker, I don’t much enjoy it, so when I have made a batch (usually biscuits) I eek them out. I also give some away. If I feel like a snack at night I don’t resort to chocolate.

And finally I know exactly what’s gone into them.

Sounds odd that I’ve started baking to lose weight but works for me.

Hello OM and thank you for this. Happily I've jogged along nicely and am continuing to lose a nice 1lb a week. As you so rightly say it's a total change in attitude to eating. I don't do much by way of breakfast but always eat a few walnuts to make sure the metabolism kicks in and doesn't go into conservation mode. I also feel so many of us try to lose too much too quickly and this often ends up in disappointment and a huge feeling of deprivation. I moved into the 8:16 recommended by Jane10 a while ago and I haven't looked back. As everyone so rightly says it's a case of finding out what works out best for you both mentally and physically. After that success can only be the result but undoubtedly never ending vigilance is the name of the game. My eating habits are now unrecognisable to a couple of years ago but, hand on heart, I'm missing nothing. I'm also appreciating many of the obvious health benefits. I'm not even remotely smug just very, very grateful. Go for it ladies.

Hi All! I have just found this thread and would also like to join. I am 'vertically challenged' (4 foot 11 inches) so every single pound is noticeable, usually on my chubby little face.
After drinking a few beers every single day for years, I gave that up, and after 6 months, I lost a total of 4 pounds. (Did not make me go back to drinking, lol.) I know exercise is the only thing that will shift it for me but I am the most sedentary person on the planet.
Looking forward to following this thread.

Hi Schnackie. Not sure I agree with you re exercise being the only way to shift the weight. Have you seen Michael Mosley (Trust Me, I'm a Doctor) at all? His advice is to exercise little and regularly in short, sharp bouts.

For me, it's doing the Twist to Let's Twist Again by Chubby Checker, three or four times a day. At 70, I'm knackered after each three or four minute session.

When I think, at 17, I could' twist' all evening.

Ah, me.

Tegan, what is the’Plank” exercise? Also someone mentioned a Stepper they got from ASDA. Was that you?
What is that please?

I was very pleased to have lost some weight but have been rather self-indulgent of late. When I went out and braved the blessed snow I rewarded myself with a mandarin trifle. Today I had to go out again and along with the essentials I treated myself with some white chocolate shortbread. Oh dear. Will I ever learn? Some serious self discipline is required.

Tegan2 Please Miss, What are "plank exercises?"

(Is is as scary as it sounds?)

schnackie "I am the most sedentary person on the planet." You say? NO you're not! It's me!

Please may I join? I've been 'trying' since January and have made zero progress, so perhaps I must try harder!! I would be happy if I lost 1lb per week, but not the same pound every week iyswim !!
Thank you

Kim19 When you said how your eating habits had changed and mentioned walnuts (yum yum) I thought I'd ask you for some help please!

Do you have any diets or recipes or whatever to get me started? I am mobility limited (disabled) so weight loss really is governed by food intake for me. I do not like eating meat but can substitute it in recipes quite easily.

Thanks for your post. It inspired me!

you can google the Plank. Nothing to do with pirates....

Blinko I'm impressed!!
I can do the twist right down to the floor but no way can I get up again

I tried to keep to my 5:2 diet during February; the 2 days fasting went well but I ate (and drank) too much on the other 5! Lost half a pound, but at least I didn't put any on. I don't know that March will be much better, with Mothering Sunday and my DH's birthday to celebrate. But maybe by the end of the month the weather will improve and I will be able to get out for more exercise.

Hello luzdoh. ''fraid I'm going to disappoint you in that I have no clever or helpful recipes. Fact is there is nothing that I don't eat. I've simply changed my quantities overall. Other than eating out, which I do with regularity, I seldom have a meal. I tend to snack. This is a combination of laziness and not finding a meal alone all that big a deal. I also eat anything and everything I want for only 8 hours. The other 16 are a definite no go area. I have not found this difficult. At first I used to kind of 'bulk up' towards the end of my 8. No such action nowadays. Think my stomach must have done the proverbial shrink. That is definitely internal!! When I have lunch out - usually 2 courses and occasionally 3 - I find I have no desire to eat at all for the remainder of that day; just a coffee. As I said, it is working for me and I would certainly recommend you give it a try. Wish I could help you more constructively. Best of luck.

Sorry...... to encourage you perhaps I should say I have lost 3 and half stones. Feels good.......

Thanks OM. I lost 2lbs in February.
Fingers crossed for shifting another 2 in March.
Trying to cut out evening snacking!
I walk 10,000 + steps with my dog every day and go to aquafit with my GD on Saturday morning.

This might not be the best explanation but "The Plank" is where you balance on your hands and feet - imagine lying down on the floor then pushing up from your hands and feet so your body is now in a straight line only off the floor. Hands should be under your shoulders. The idea is to hold it for a minimum of one minute to begin with. Me, personally, can manage about 20 seconds (on a good day). It is important to not arch your back and sucking your tummy in helps maintain the correct position. Re steppers I don't know which one was referred to but I have a reebok stepper where you simply step up on to it then step down - you can do this by walking up and down the first step on your staircase. The advantage (!) of an actual stepper is that you can watch dvd or youtube for "step exercises'. The alternative is to buy a different stepper where you step up and down on two pedals - one up one down as if you were walking: these can be bought at most fitness stores. Hope this helps.

Please can I join I have been lurking for quite some time I really need to lose some weight my clothes are getting tight
I will be sixty five this year never was very slim but never as heavy as I am now looking forward to any tips and suggestions.

megbelle all are welcome.

No cause to be overly impressed, cavewoman. I can't get up again either unless I give a short push off with my hand. So I don't go all the way down....

Have just posted on Frugal Feb. Not done well in Feb, only 2 lbs so hoping for a svelte new me for my significant birthday at the end of the month.

GrannyBettie; thanks for explaining the plank [I've been out all day and couldn't reply and would have found it difficult to explain anyway]. Have spent the day looking after DGD and am worn out even though I haven't used up much energy [other than pretending to be pirates for 5 hours!]. I think this lack of exercise and not being able to go out much is getting to me and the weight is going to pile back on. Have also ate bread for the past few days, albeit not much. Think I'm going to have an early night and start again tomorrow. Good that so many people are joining in with this .