Weight loss…which method??

[Mountaineer]

I'm 64. I've lost about a stone since the turn of the year by tracking and acknowledging what I eat, keeping to a sensible calorie deficit, making sure I eat enough protein, drink lots of water, cut back on sugar and alcohol and other carbs (but not eliminated them.)

I use myfitnesspal. It's free.

I've also been working out and walking and doing yoga. In addition to losing the body fat, I have gained a lot if muscle (I do a body scan once a month at the gym.)

It has been so worth it for the sake of my riding. I'm a dressage rider, with a hot, talented horse, and realized that I needed to do something radical if I wanted to move up the levels and not get myself hurt. I can't emphasize enough how much safer and more competent and confident I am in the saddle.

 

[Plattersby]

I listen to the Zoe science and nutrition podcast, at 59, my digestive system is ageing and needs more respect than I was giving it.
I use a combination of ideas gleaned from the podcast and have lost 1.5 st without calorie counting and have found a maintenance diet I can live with.
The massive bonus is I’ve gone from feeling really knackered to having lots more energy.
And my aches and pains have improved a lot so the benefits make it easier to keep on the straight and narrow.
Intermittent fasting, aiming to eat thirty different plants a week and eating fermented foods are my focus.

 

[cornbrodolly]

Its never too late!
I m now 70 , but needed to lose weight to ride again , and 18 months ago I had , at last, the incentive and determination to do so.
Diets are short term, so to make it sustainable to keep the weight off my rules are simple.
No snacks between meals. As I m always at home it s too easy to steal biscuits etc , so stopped buying them.
A good breakfast [ scrambled eggs or bacon]and cooked lunch [ eg fish and veg , chicken and veg , baked potato and something ] plus my one chocolate spoil for the day , a Mosser Roth dark chocolate bar [145 calories] Better to have a sweet thing at a mealtime , rather than as a snack - I m told! Occasional home made soda bread.
No rubbish - things made of UPF s eg bought biscuits, cakes ,bread.
I aimed for losing 1 lb a week [ by consuming approx 500 calories less per day , mostly from not having an evening meal, just eg soup , or crackers, or fruit], and mostly did so. Have maintained my weight at 1 1/2 stones less [ BMI 25 now]
It has to be a way that works for the individual - I m much too old and creaky to try fitness as a way of losing weight . Good luck with whichever way you decide.

 

[smolmaus]

I lost I think about 20-22kg with strict calorie counting and tracking exercise. Couch-5k then 4 days a week weight lifting. I also gave myself a binge eating disorder which was much harder to shift than the 20kg!!! So my advice is pick the way that doesn't give you brain worms. If you think about it too much or completely overhaul your life so you can't eat "normally" anymore, that way lies brain worms. Make it as easy as possible. If that's just portion control (I still weigh rice and pasta), swapping dense carbs for less dense carbs, cutting out takeaways, doing 3 meals, 2 meals, more snacks, less snacks do whatever is EASY for you personally and doesn't have you thinking about it all the time. Keep what works and ditch what doesn't, there is no One True Way.

 

[frankieduck]

I lost I think about 20-22kg with strict calorie counting and tracking exercise. Couch-5k then 4 days a week weight lifting. I also gave myself a binge eating disorder which was much harder to shift than the 20kg!!! So my advice is pick the way that doesn't give you brain worms. If you think about it too much or completely overhaul your life so you can't eat "normally" anymore, that way lies brain worms. Make it as easy as possible. If that's just portion control (I still weigh rice and pasta), swapping dense carbs for less dense carbs, cutting out takeaways, doing 3 meals, 2 meals, more snacks, less snacks do whatever is EASY for you personally and doesn't have you thinking about it all the time. Keep what works and ditch what doesn't, there is no One True Way.

I agree with this. Whatever you choose has to be sustainable for you, or you'll stick to it for a week or 2 and then fall off the wagon. Calorie counting doesn't work for me personally as I definitely use food as a treat and the thought of denying myself what I want makes me quite depressed! I am however, not a snacker, and can quite happily go all day living off coffee and diet coke. I've never eaten breakfast and don't get hungry until about lunchtime anyway, and can easily power through the afternoon. If I'm riding after work in the evening I will have a protein bar or something to give me an energy boost. This gives me the freedom to have a 'nice meal' to look forward to in the evening at the end of a long day, without worrying about calories too much. Of course it doesn't mean you can binge at the end of the day, but I can enjoy a big bowl of pasta and a glass of wine with my other half and still be within around 1500-1800 calories for the day which is enough for me to slowly lose weight. It's not very conventional compared to the usual advice of eating 3 meals and regular healthy snacks, but it works for me!

 

[Barton Bounty]

So i kind of hit a plateau for a couple of weeks where I didn’t gain but didn’t lose.

Im doing calorie cycling for now but no more than twice a week.

This week so far I have eaten more than normal and today lost a pound

Maybe it was my fault all along not eating enough

 

[GrassChop]

Calorie deficit. Has always worked for me. I skip breakfast as well.

I didn't actually cut out any bad food, i.e. I've still had the odd takeaway and cake etc and providing it has been within my calorie amount, I've still lost the weight. This means I still get to enjoy the food I like providing I'm balancing out the calories.

A lot of people can make the mistake of going back to their normal food once they've finished dieting and they put the weight back on but doing it this way means you're not feeling deprived, you're less likely to have cheat days and it won't be a shock to the system when you stop the diet.

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

I’ve landed on an approach, I think. Going to eat very lightly twice a week (semi fasting) and low GI/highprotein/healthy fats meals every day, no evening snacking and obviously cutting out chocolate/crisps/cake etc. and only wine at the weekend. I suspect I’m a bit insulin resistant (was diagnosed with pcos in my twenties - still had four children!). Started the day with a scrambled egg, half an avocado and a crisp bread I bought in Norway made with only seeds, plus coffee with milk. Going to cut down on the (very) milky coffees too, and the liberal amounts of butter I smear on everything. Lots of salad with some protein going forward!

I think it’s a question of restricting calories and being mindful of what those calories consist of for me. I’ll keep being active too, but I think the diet is key for me.

Thanks for all your input everyone. I’ll let you know how I get on.

 

[Bellalily]

I’m super active at the moment yet also at almost my heaviest ever (apart from pregnancies). I know it’s calories in, calories out, but also that some people like keto, fasting etc. I am mid forties and finding it hard to shift the weight, which is mainly collecting at my middle (plus hips). My horse is technically a pony and although I can’t ride her yet anyway (she’s in foal) I want to be lighter for my share horse and also just for my own wellbeing. I want to lose at least a stone, maybe a bit more.

Any success stories out there?

I had 1.5 stones to lose a few years ago. Several of us went on different diets, with a 1/12 deadline. I was the only one that achieved my goal. 5:2 diet, God bless Michael Moseley.

 

[Kirstineridesagain]

I had 1.5 stones to lose a few years ago. Several of us went on different diets, with a 1/12 deadline. I was the only one that achieved my goal. 5:2 diet, God bless Michael Moseley.

Great to hear. Well done! That’s pretty much my approach. I have a Mosley book on the 5:2 to help with inspiration.

 

[Birker2020]

I’ve landed on an approach, I think. Going to eat very lightly twice a week (semi fasting) and low GI/highprotein/healthy fats meals every day, no evening snacking and obviously cutting out chocolate/crisps/cake etc. and only wine at the weekend. I suspect I’m a bit insulin resistant (was diagnosed with pcos in my twenties - still had four children!). Started the day with a scrambled egg, half an avocado and a crisp bread I bought in Norway made with only seeds, plus coffee with milk. Going to cut down on the (very) milky coffees too, and the liberal amounts of butter I smear on everything. Lots of salad with some protein going forward!

I think it’s a question of restricting calories and being mindful of what those calories consist of for me. I’ll keep being active too, but I think the diet is key for me.

Thanks for all your input everyone. I’ll let you know how I get on.

Good luck, keep us updated x

 

[Birker2020]

So i kind of hit a plateau for a couple of weeks where I didn’t gain but didn’t lose.

Im doing calorie cycling for now but no more than twice a week.

This week so far I have eaten more than normal and today lost a pound

Maybe it was my fault all along not eating enough

I kid you not the consultant at SW said that not eating enough can actually make your metabolism sluggish and trigger a hormone that means your body stores fat. You can't win!

My vet yesterday said loads of vets/staff from her practice have started on mounjaro and reported significant weight loss. A previous vet told me that too.

 

[Birker2020]

2.5lbs off tonight and 2.5lbs to go until I'm in the next stone bracket.

Mounjaro has completely changed my life.

 

[Barton Bounty]

2.5lbs off tonight and 2.5lbs to go until I'm in the next stone bracket.

Mounjaro has completely changed my life.

Sometimes you just need a little change and a new method

 

[Gloi]

I lost Over a stone when I broke my leg but I wouldn't recommend the method.

And I lost a stone from a nasty bout of norovirus but I don't recommend that either.

 

[Jenko109]

I find telling friends your intentions helps to make sure you stay accountable, too.

We have a whatsapp group called 'Fat Club 2.0'

We share what meals we have had and what exercise we have done.

We also send each other threats now and again. This morning my friend from Spain told me she would fly over to the UK and steal my dogs, one dog per day, if I didnt get off my ass and get to the gym....I went to the gym.

 

[Birker2020]

I find telling friends your intentions helps to make sure you stay accountable, too.

We have a whatsapp group called 'Fat Club 2.0'

We share what meals we have had and what exercise we have done.

We also send each other threats now and again. This morning my friend from Spain told me she would fly over to the UK and steal my dogs, one dog per day, if I didnt get off my ass and get to the gym....I went to the gym.

Yes accountability is everything.

I worked somewhere once where we all paid £2 a week and got weighed every Friday at 10am. The person who'd lost the most after two months got the prize fund.

It was a good incentive!

 

[Birker2020]

Anyone wanting a referral code for £40 off your first order just shout.

 

[Annagain]

Between my slipped disc and then Wiggy's lameness, I've done very little for two of the last three years. Combined with peri-menopause, I piled weight on and was the heaviest I've ever been. Although not too heavy for Wig, I want to make sure he has as easy a time as possible when i get back on him, which should be in 3 weeks or so, after we've built up our in-hand walking.

I've been doing Slimming World for 6 weeks and have lost just over a stone. I need the discipline of knowing someone is checking up on me. I do the weigh-ins but never stay for the meeting, I find them a bit cringey. It's basically calorie deficit simplified and presented in a way that makes it feel like you're not missing out too much. Just because of the way I eat (I rarely eat breakfast and now try to eat a bit earlier to avoid snacking after work but before dinner) I inadvertently do intermittent fasting too. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to everyone but it suits me.

This time, I've been really good at sticking to it while eating out which has always been my downfall in the past. It does help that restaurants put calories on the menus now, I think it's made them think about providing lower calorie options as well as helping customers make educated choices. I can see how it could be triggering for some people with a different relationship with food than the one I have though.

 

[Birker2020]

Between my slipped disc and then Wiggy's lameness, I've done very little for two of the last three years. Combined with peri-menopause, I piled weight on and was the heaviest I've ever been. Although not too heavy for Wig, I want to make sure he has as easy a time as possible when i get back on him, which should be in 3 weeks or so, after we've built up our in-hand walking.

I've been doing Slimming World for 6 weeks and have lost just over a stone. I need the discipline of knowing someone is checking up on me. I do the weigh-ins but never stay for the meeting, I find them a bit cringey. It's basically calorie deficit simplified and presented in a way that makes it feel like you're not missing out too much. Just because of the way I eat (I rarely eat breakfast and now try to eat a bit earlier to avoid snacking after work but before dinner) I inadvertently do intermittent fasting too. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to everyone but it suits me.

This time, I've been really good at sticking to it while eating out which has always been my downfall in the past. It does help that restaurants put calories on the menus now, I think it's made them think about providing lower calorie options as well as helping customers make educated choices. I can see how it could be triggering for some people with a different relationship with food than the one I have though.

Well done. SW is very good but it's kind of important you stay for meetings, as much for accountability as well as tips, new foods that people have discovered, motivation and discovering facts about food. That said since I've had Lari I've only stopped for a couple of meetings, but i feel a fraud as I'm on Mounjaro. Although I'm always pointing it out when I get clapped for losing weight as we all do.

I've made a few friends along the way and we all support each other.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Congratulations @Annagain Great weight loss

I'm on SW too and lost just over 1.5 stone since March, I don't do meetings either - I haven't the time or the inclination too - so it's certainly not necessary!

Good luck on the rest of your weight loss journey