The 2023 weight loss thread - all welcome

[LJF_97]

OMITN said:

LJF_97 said:

Ambleton said:

LJF_97

I'm sorry. I wasn't meaning to be harsh or to alienate anyone. Lots of people react differently to different inputs.

So apologies if I stepped over the line.

I wrongly assume everyone needs kicking into shape, others do not. I'm a stubborn bar steward so if I say I'll do something, and someone says "I don't believe you", I feel the need to prove them wrong. I react to a "good kicking".

This thread is for support and all I really want to do is get people on board and the point of the thread is to get people to lose weight and be healthier.

So....

Welcome aboard!

What's your plans, long term goals and preferred methods to get there?!

Water under the bridge mate.

I do appreciate what you are saying, but last night I had agreed to help my technophobe mum to set up her new phone, which took till 9pm. I did have a lean tea though so that's an improvement over recent habits.

My long-term goal is to get to 100kg and lose body fat, currently sat at high 120's so I need to weight in and track my loss.

Diet wise I have tried loads of different ones, the only common theme was they failed after about 2 months, hopefully this intermittent fasting combined with the reduction of 'bad' foods will lead to a more organised situation that is easier to stick to. Apparently allowing one 'cheat' meal per week, note - not an entire day, means you still get to experience the foods you like whilst not destroying the good works you've been doing all week.

Tonight I'm going to the gym and jumping on a bike as I'm trying to re-build my leg strength a little before I try to take the road bike out as it has been ages since I have been on a bike. I also need to plan my push/pull/leg gym routine around what days work best and when the gym is quiet.

Sounds like a variation of what I’ve been doing since the New Year:
16/8 fasting each day
No refined sugar (I haven’t gone no sugar as fruit has benefits - esp at this time of year)
I have just started no bread for Lent.

As at my last weigh-in I had lost 6.1kg since the start of the year. Another 18kg to go.

My “secret” - so far at any rate - is not to think beyond today. As in “today I’m going to eat better”. It’s the one day at a time approach, but it’s easier to get my head around one day - or even just the next hour or two - than thinking about long term goals.

When this method stops working, I’ll try something else.

How are you finding it so far?

I'm also trying to stop the refined sugars too, as well as the massively-processed foods.

I haven't completely given up carbohydrates, but I'm vastly reducing my intake of them.

The day-by-day approach is a good one.

[OMITN]

LJF_97 said:

How are you finding it so far?

I'm also trying to stop the refined sugars too, as well as the massively-processed foods.

I haven't completely given up carbohydrates, but I'm vastly reducing my intake of them.

The day-by-day approach is a good one.

To be honest, ok. Yesterday evening (Sunday) I was watching some trash TV (Endeavour?) to avoid thinking about work and I could happily have eaten some chocolate, but I was able to prevent myself.

And it’s now about to turn midday on Monday I’m really hungry. I know from yesterday a can of soup will do the trick. Just need to zip out and buy one….

One day - sometimes just a couple of hours - at a time feels achieveable and therefore seems to be working.

As for dietary changes, I’m eating normal food in the evenings and haven’t especially cut back carbs. Saturday night was steak, potatoes, veg. I went a little easier on the potatoes than I would have done, but otherwise no change. Last night was salmon, veg and potatoes. Did the same. Dessert on both occasions was some Greek yoghurt.

I suspect this will work for a period of time and then the losses will slow. I’ll change up the diet at that point, but the day to day approach will remain.

What might prove useful is to set some broad milestones: Easter, large family gathering later in April, summer holiday, my birthday, Christmas.

[OMITN]

LJF_97 said:

Well, first weekend done on my new routine.

Back doing strength & cardio training tonight after work.

I do feel a lot better already, not sure if that's the placebo affect or not......

Only gripe is due to not being able to eat after 8pm I do feel a little hungry going to bed, just have to suck it up at the minute I guess. Anyone else on 8-16 fasting have any tips?

Awesome! Well done for making a start.

On the 16/8 front, I haven’t been super precise. Though I tend to delay lunch until 1-ish just to give some flex later.

[SlidingSideways]

LJF_97 said:

Only gripe is due to not being able to eat after 8pm I do feel a little hungry going to bed, just have to suck it up at the minute I guess. Anyone else on 8-16 fasting have any tips?

From what I’ve read, it’s beneficial to have your last meal 2-3 hours before bed, so if you’re ending up with longer than this, it might be worth tweaking your schedule to close the gap up.
The other way of sorting that is to go to bed earlier as you can’t eat while asleep

I avoid starchy and sugary stuff in the evening too as you get the blood sugar crash that makes you think you’re hungry.

Are you drinking plenty of water? Staying hydrated really helps too (although not too much later on).

[CAH706]

Done an extra end of month weigh in

Total loss this month = 0kg which means a little over 2kg total this year. Last year in 2 months I lost 7kg so a different approach this year.

So positives;

I’m losing fat - my waist size is decreasing and I look better
I’m getting loads stronger in the gym - loads of extra muscle particularly legs and back
Loads of walking
My diet is really healthy
Ive not been drinking alcohol so have given the body a good rest

My weight will be skewed a little as I started taking creatine which always adds a little water weight

I’m going to stick with the same principles in March with a slight calorie reduction to hopefully shift a little fat

Overall I’m pleased with my progress, health and fitness. I’m 51 so it’s all a bit harder than a few years ago.

[FamousPheasant]

After no change last week I've dropped another 1.3kg in the past 7 days, which I'm pretty happy with. Holiday is on Sunday and I had targeted 93kg by then, so only a baw hair away.

[andburg]

I'm still wrapping myself in a blanket and blowing my (now red) nose constantly. As a result I've not eaten brilliantly, the wife has supplied a mcdonalds and we're now out of fresh meat and veg.

Will weigh in and update the wiki if there is any change at some point today so Ambleton can chart February's progress **Nudge for everybody else**

edit: scales say no change

Edited by andburg on Tuesday 28th February 09:22

[redrabbit29]

Two mornings in a row I've got up earlier than normal to do things:

Yesterday: Swimming
Today: Went for a 2.5mile walk with my morning coffee (5300 steps)

[Baldinho]

LJF_97 said:

Well, first weekend done on my new routine.

Back doing strength & cardio training tonight after work.

I do feel a lot better already, not sure if that's the placebo affect or not......

Only gripe is due to not being able to eat after 8pm I do feel a little hungry going to bed, just have to suck it up at the minute I guess. Anyone else on 8-16 fasting have any tips?

I've found drinking water suppresses the hunger but might mean a wake up call in the night for a pee! Other than that I just tell myself that anything I eat will prolong the time it's going to take to get to my target weight. You do actually get used to feeling hungry at times and it becomes more manageable mentally.

[Roderick Spode]

I had set myself a psychological setpoint of 125kg at the start of 2023, when I was 132kg. Keto diet, plenty of walking and regular exercise (gym/swim) seems to be doing the trick, with intermittent fasting thrown in to mix things up and push ketosis progress. Finally this morning dropped below 125kg at 124.5kg. Happy with progress, clothes are much looser, stomach fat is noticeably reduced, and feeling a little more positive about myself and body image. I'm probably never going to be a skinny malink size zero - I've always followed the prop forward build model - but if I could get down to a comfortable 100kg I'd be over the moon. Next target 120kg - might reward myself with a glass of wine tonight when I'm cooking.

[LJF_97]

SlidingSideways said:

LJF_97 said:

Only gripe is due to not being able to eat after 8pm I do feel a little hungry going to bed, just have to suck it up at the minute I guess. Anyone else on 8-16 fasting have any tips?

From what I’ve read, it’s beneficial to have your last meal 2-3 hours before bed, so if you’re ending up with longer than this, it might be worth tweaking your schedule to close the gap up.
The other way of sorting that is to go to bed earlier as you can’t eat while asleep

I avoid starchy and sugary stuff in the evening too as you get the blood sugar crash that makes you think you’re hungry.

Are you drinking plenty of water? Staying hydrated really helps too (although not too much later on).

Yes, I think I will try to avoid fruit as a dessert at tea time to stop the insulin spikes, hopefully this will mean less hunger.

I have started drinking more water and it does help.

[LJF_97]

Baldinho said:

LJF_97 said:

Well, first weekend done on my new routine.

Back doing strength & cardio training tonight after work.

I do feel a lot better already, not sure if that's the placebo affect or not......

Only gripe is due to not being able to eat after 8pm I do feel a little hungry going to bed, just have to suck it up at the minute I guess. Anyone else on 8-16 fasting have any tips?

I've found drinking water suppresses the hunger but might mean a wake up call in the night for a pee! Other than that I just tell myself that anything I eat will prolong the time it's going to take to get to my target weight. You do actually get used to feeling hungry at times and it becomes more manageable mentally.

Cheers for the tips

[Ceeejay]

5 days in to an all inclusive week away in t’Egypt… food is really good, plenty of choice and decent quality…

Most of the day spent lying around the pool getting a tan… this can only go one way

Sooo…

It’s been a 5k run every morning along the beach front before breakfast… decent breakfast with plenty of fresh fruit… we’re skipping lunch as we are getting snacks provided round the pool… and there’s the other opportunity with a half hour swim at lunch to avoid the heat….

Thankfully I don’t drink, so there’s no temptation from the free flowing booze all day…

It’s been a great break so far winding down from work for a while and having plenty of time and decent weather to get some exercise in. Even threw some weights around in the gym this evening, which was totally empty so enjoyable…

Weigh in at the weekend will be interesting

[Ambleton]

I was a bad egg last night. Had a takeaway pizza.

Jebus do I feel rough today. So lathargic and feeling really heavy. Feel so bloated and greasy and I didn't sleep well either. Woke up in the night with a mouth like an old leather boot and was really hot and bothered.

I had half a pizza but then gluttony kicked in and I polished it off.... Should've just stayed at half....

Doubt I'll eat anything much today as I feel like a barrel lol.

[TameRacingDriver]

Ambleton said:

I was a bad egg last night. Had a takeaway pizza.

Jebus do I feel rough today. So lathargic and feeling really heavy. Feel so bloated and greasy and I didn't sleep well either. Woke up in the night with a mouth like an old leather boot and was really hot and bothered.

I had half a pizza but then gluttony kicked in and I polished it off.... Should've just stayed at half....

Doubt I'll eat anything much today as I feel like a barrel lol.

Pizzas really seem to play havoc with me too unless I stick to a couple of slices. Never feel right the day after.

[lenny007]

Well, back here after a few weeks away as life seems to have intervened in the diet.

Wembley last weekend and a 50th in the lakes this was not conducive to weight loss but apparently this is called life and is the reason i'm trying to lose the weight! Who knew!

Anyway, weight is there or thereabouts what i was at the last weigh in and i managed not to be an absolute pig with the junk food this weekend just gone and went straight back on the diet which i was pretty happy with.

Upcoming is the last pretty heavy weekend for a long time so hopefully get through that without too much pain and will be able to post ever decreasing numbers going forward!

[TameRacingDriver]

lenny007 said:

Well, back here after a few weeks away as life seems to have intervened in the diet.

Wembley last weekend and a 50th in the lakes this was not conducive to weight loss but apparently this is called life and is the reason i'm trying to lose the weight! Who knew!

Anyway, weight is there or thereabouts what i was at the last weigh in and i managed not to be an absolute pig with the junk food this weekend just gone and went straight back on the diet which i was pretty happy with.

Upcoming is the last pretty heavy weekend for a long time so hopefully get through that without too much pain and will be able to post ever decreasing numbers going forward!

I feel like we're in the same place here.

I admit I've been pretty rubbish this first couple of months.

I regularly have nights out at the weekends, I'm sure this doesn't help.

The worst thing though is I really seem to struggle to control my drinking through the week. That's really holding me back.

I've had some health issues and stress which hasn't helped. Most of it I'm sure caused by drinking every night.

I'm really going to try harder from today. New month, new start.

[andburg]

TameRacingDriver said:

I feel like we're in the same place here.

I admit I've been pretty rubbish this first couple of months.

I regularly have nights out at the weekends, I'm sure this doesn't help.

The worst thing though is I really seem to struggle to control my drinking through the week. That's really holding me back.

I've had some health issues and stress which hasn't helped. Most of it I'm sure caused by drinking every night.

I'm really going to try harder from today. New month, new start.

Remember, there are some very good low alcohol beers out there now, they're not all ghastly like Becks Blue.

[LJF_97]

Ambleton said:

Jebus do I feel rough today. So lathargic and feeling really heavy. Feel so bloated and greasy and I didn't sleep well either. Woke up in the night with a mouth like an old leather boot and was really hot and bothered.

Pizza writes me off too. Especially Dominoes, god knows what the put in the dough there but if I'm not on the toilet I'm in bed sweating

[OMITN]

TameRacingDriver said:

I feel like we're in the same place here.

I admit I've been pretty rubbish this first couple of months.

I regularly have nights out at the weekends, I'm sure this doesn't help.

The worst thing though is I really seem to struggle to control my drinking through the week. That's really holding me back.

I've had some health issues and stress which hasn't helped. Most of it I'm sure caused by drinking every night.

I'm really going to try harder from today. New month, new start.

Do it. It’s just one day. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Just worry about today. In fact, don’t even worry about this evening. Just focus on the next couple of hours. And then the next two hours. And then…you get the idea.

When tomorrow arrives, do the same. Don’t let an inanimate object (food in the cupboard) beat you. You can do it - two hours at a time!

Edited by OMITN on Wednesday 1st March 11:57