The 2023 weight loss thread - all welcome
Discussion
CoolHands said:
I think I’ll be leaving this thread., I reached my target weight and wish the rest of you well. Without lecturing, after most of my life really believing the calories story, (ie the number of calories is what’s important) I now understand it is bulls
t. You may disagree and I can understand that reluctance, just as I did.
Ie what you eat does make a difference - most carbs are going to have the effect of making you gain weight.
I’ve lost my weight mostly by doing keto / some days just low carb, and lately started getting into fasting. It’s quite interesting topic and also it does of course work. If some of you aren’t making progress I would advocate looking into it, what have you got to lose.
Counting calories has always worked for me in the past. Surely fasting is just a form of calorie restriction anyway? t. You may disagree and I can understand that reluctance, just as I did.Ie what you eat does make a difference - most carbs are going to have the effect of making you gain weight.
I’ve lost my weight mostly by doing keto / some days just low carb, and lately started getting into fasting. It’s quite interesting topic and also it does of course work. If some of you aren’t making progress I would advocate looking into it, what have you got to lose.
Hard-Drive said:
New to this thread, good to find it.
I sat on a bar stool on New Year's Eve in what was my favourite shirt and realised I was pretty close to popping some buttons. I'm 48 and getting married in July and thought that was as good a reason as any to lose some weight and get fitter. I'm doing a bit of karting with friends to, and PWR makes a big difference obviously! I am a cyclist but a not very serious one, I could do a 50 mile club ride with a bit of huffing and puffing but would likely then immediately negate any gains through the mediums of ale and pork scratchings. So I was starting from an OK place, but had lots of room for improvement!
I have been using the "myfitnesspal" app to track calories and exercise. I did dry January successfully (even into Feb) but realised how "bad" snacks are and how easy it is to tip into the red on calories in/out with just a few nibbles here and there, and for me if there's any treats, there's got to be exercise to counter it! I did a lot of Zwift (indoor cycling) over the winter with real world riding and running in the better weather, obviously that's going to be the norm now the clocks have gone forward.
Anyway since NYE I have gone from 90.5kg to 83kg so that's 1.2 stone lost in old money, and I'm looking totally different with a thinner face and I am in need of a new wardrobe which is both satisfying and bloody annoying in equal measure! I will be doing a 10k/6mile road running race in July and I've been running the course once a week and have got my time down to just under 50 minutes which I'm happy with for a middle aged git. Amusingly as a cyclist, obsessed over the latest carbon fibre this or titanium that to shave a few grams, losing almost the entire weight of the bike, but out of the rider, has made a huge difference to times/climbing ability.
I still have some way to go, and I'd really like to try and get rid of the belly blubber without my arms and legs etc getting thinner, any tips gratefully accepted!
Get on the weightsI sat on a bar stool on New Year's Eve in what was my favourite shirt and realised I was pretty close to popping some buttons. I'm 48 and getting married in July and thought that was as good a reason as any to lose some weight and get fitter. I'm doing a bit of karting with friends to, and PWR makes a big difference obviously! I am a cyclist but a not very serious one, I could do a 50 mile club ride with a bit of huffing and puffing but would likely then immediately negate any gains through the mediums of ale and pork scratchings. So I was starting from an OK place, but had lots of room for improvement!
I have been using the "myfitnesspal" app to track calories and exercise. I did dry January successfully (even into Feb) but realised how "bad" snacks are and how easy it is to tip into the red on calories in/out with just a few nibbles here and there, and for me if there's any treats, there's got to be exercise to counter it! I did a lot of Zwift (indoor cycling) over the winter with real world riding and running in the better weather, obviously that's going to be the norm now the clocks have gone forward.
Anyway since NYE I have gone from 90.5kg to 83kg so that's 1.2 stone lost in old money, and I'm looking totally different with a thinner face and I am in need of a new wardrobe which is both satisfying and bloody annoying in equal measure! I will be doing a 10k/6mile road running race in July and I've been running the course once a week and have got my time down to just under 50 minutes which I'm happy with for a middle aged git. Amusingly as a cyclist, obsessed over the latest carbon fibre this or titanium that to shave a few grams, losing almost the entire weight of the bike, but out of the rider, has made a huge difference to times/climbing ability.
I still have some way to go, and I'd really like to try and get rid of the belly blubber without my arms and legs etc getting thinner, any tips gratefully accepted!
Hard-Drive said:
New to this thread, good to find it.
I sat on a bar stool on New Year's Eve in what was my favourite shirt and realised I was pretty close to popping some buttons. I'm 48 and getting married in July and thought that was as good a reason as any to lose some weight and get fitter. I'm doing a bit of karting with friends to, and PWR makes a big difference obviously! I am a cyclist but a not very serious one, I could do a 50 mile club ride with a bit of huffing and puffing but would likely then immediately negate any gains through the mediums of ale and pork scratchings. So I was starting from an OK place, but had lots of room for improvement!
I have been using the "myfitnesspal" app to track calories and exercise. I did dry January successfully (even into Feb) but realised how "bad" snacks are and how easy it is to tip into the red on calories in/out with just a few nibbles here and there, and for me if there's any treats, there's got to be exercise to counter it! I did a lot of Zwift (indoor cycling) over the winter with real world riding and running in the better weather, obviously that's going to be the norm now the clocks have gone forward.
Anyway since NYE I have gone from 90.5kg to 83kg so that's 1.2 stone lost in old money, and I'm looking totally different with a thinner face and I am in need of a new wardrobe which is both satisfying and bloody annoying in equal measure! I will be doing a 10k/6mile road running race in July and I've been running the course once a week and have got my time down to just under 50 minutes which I'm happy with for a middle aged git. Amusingly as a cyclist, obsessed over the latest carbon fibre this or titanium that to shave a few grams, losing almost the entire weight of the bike, but out of the rider, has made a huge difference to times/climbing ability.
I still have some way to go, and I'd really like to try and get rid of the belly blubber without my arms and legs etc getting thinner, any tips gratefully accepted!
It looks like you're doing most of the right things, so not much I can add.I sat on a bar stool on New Year's Eve in what was my favourite shirt and realised I was pretty close to popping some buttons. I'm 48 and getting married in July and thought that was as good a reason as any to lose some weight and get fitter. I'm doing a bit of karting with friends to, and PWR makes a big difference obviously! I am a cyclist but a not very serious one, I could do a 50 mile club ride with a bit of huffing and puffing but would likely then immediately negate any gains through the mediums of ale and pork scratchings. So I was starting from an OK place, but had lots of room for improvement!
I have been using the "myfitnesspal" app to track calories and exercise. I did dry January successfully (even into Feb) but realised how "bad" snacks are and how easy it is to tip into the red on calories in/out with just a few nibbles here and there, and for me if there's any treats, there's got to be exercise to counter it! I did a lot of Zwift (indoor cycling) over the winter with real world riding and running in the better weather, obviously that's going to be the norm now the clocks have gone forward.
Anyway since NYE I have gone from 90.5kg to 83kg so that's 1.2 stone lost in old money, and I'm looking totally different with a thinner face and I am in need of a new wardrobe which is both satisfying and bloody annoying in equal measure! I will be doing a 10k/6mile road running race in July and I've been running the course once a week and have got my time down to just under 50 minutes which I'm happy with for a middle aged git. Amusingly as a cyclist, obsessed over the latest carbon fibre this or titanium that to shave a few grams, losing almost the entire weight of the bike, but out of the rider, has made a huge difference to times/climbing ability.
I still have some way to go, and I'd really like to try and get rid of the belly blubber without my arms and legs etc getting thinner, any tips gratefully accepted!
I was in a similar position and have lost about the same since xmas, but the loss has seemed to slow down/stop, despite exercising and eating the same. Like you, I cycle, and try to get an hour or so's ride in most days, but usually that's at a fairly casual pace. One thing I've started is to do a more intensive cycling session three times a week. By that I mean I cycle normally for about 10 mins to warm up, then go flat out for around 30 seconds, followed by a minute or so of slower riding to catch my breath, then another 30 seconds flat out, and repeat this 6 to 8 times. I also try to minimise carbs by mostly restricting them to the days I do the more intensive bike rides. This seems to have resulted in kick starting the weight loss again.
Since starting my journey on Sunday, my trainer also recommended me to use the myfitnesspal app, I have no idea if I'm using it correctly, finding it hard to judge in terms of weight/portion what to put in, especially for like dinner, I can't measure mash potato by the cup it makes no sense. My target is 1700 calories a day, and yesterday I was under by 100 or so, today its 80 calories under, and that's with me scanning in the barcodes I can and eyeballing the rest.
75Black said:
Since starting my journey on Sunday, my trainer also recommended me to use the myfitnesspal app, I have no idea if I'm using it correctly, finding it hard to judge in terms of weight/portion what to put in, especially for like dinner, I can't measure mash potato by the cup it makes no sense. My target is 1700 calories a day, and yesterday I was under by 100 or so, today its 80 calories under, and that's with me scanning in the barcodes I can and eyeballing the rest.
Nice one for making a start. MyFitnessPal also has entries for weights as well as cups.
Some digital kitchen scales will help you measure until you get into a groove.
Hard-Drive said:
I still have some way to go, and I'd really like to try and get rid of the belly blubber without my arms and legs etc getting thinner, any tips gratefully accepted!
Any kind of upper body work outs will do. Even just body weight stuff - like pressure. I do about 30 minutes of 5-15kg dumbbells based work outs using Peloton programs x3 per week. It's made a massive difference to my upper body and core. Key bit for me is not to over do it and get Injuryed.
.end of month, wednesday weigh-in
Down to 73.1kg another kg gone. Progress has slowed as expected with relaxing my eating habits back to normal and the weather/general life meaning no running.
The best news for me is that my wife has taken up the challenge and has lost half a stone herself. We're walking the dog for longer and more regularly so he's happy and we get to converse, outside rather than sat on the sofa while she snacks.
Down to 73.1kg another kg gone. Progress has slowed as expected with relaxing my eating habits back to normal and the weather/general life meaning no running.
The best news for me is that my wife has taken up the challenge and has lost half a stone herself. We're walking the dog for longer and more regularly so he's happy and we get to converse, outside rather than sat on the sofa while she snacks.
gangzoom said:
Hard-Drive said:
I still have some way to go, and I'd really like to try and get rid of the belly blubber without my arms and legs etc getting thinner, any tips gratefully accepted!
Any kind of upper body work outs will do. Even just body weight stuff - like pressure. I do about 30 minutes of 5-15kg dumbbells based work outs using Peloton programs x3 per week. It's made a massive difference to my upper body and core. Key bit for me is not to over do it and get Injuryed.six wheels said:
75Black said:
Since starting my journey on Sunday, my trainer also recommended me to use the myfitnesspal app, I have no idea if I'm using it correctly, finding it hard to judge in terms of weight/portion what to put in, especially for like dinner, I can't measure mash potato by the cup it makes no sense. My target is 1700 calories a day, and yesterday I was under by 100 or so, today its 80 calories under, and that's with me scanning in the barcodes I can and eyeballing the rest.
Nice one for making a start. MyFitnessPal also has entries for weights as well as cups.
Some digital kitchen scales will help you measure until you get into a groove.
Hard-Drive said:
I will be doing a 10k/6mile road running race in July and I've been running the course once a week and have got my time down to just under 50 minutes which I'm happy with for a middle aged git.
I still have some way to go, and I'd really like to try and get rid of the belly blubber without my arms and legs etc getting thinner, any tips gratefully accepted!
Take this as a compliment but I just don't get how you are saying you're still overweight and "blubbery" to use your expression yet manage a 10k in under 50 minutes.I still have some way to go, and I'd really like to try and get rid of the belly blubber without my arms and legs etc getting thinner, any tips gratefully accepted!
A lot of people aspire to that and are seemingly in better shape.
That's very impressive considering you've still got further losses to go and will probably get quicker
Ben Carpenter's book is well worth a read, too - the guy really knows his stuff and presents studies and meta-analyses in a very accessible way.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Fat-Loss-Defin...
I'm somehow only up 0.1kg after a week of drinking and eating well in the Alps, will definitely take that!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Fat-Loss-Defin...
I'm somehow only up 0.1kg after a week of drinking and eating well in the Alps, will definitely take that!
redrabbit29 said:
Hard-Drive said:
I will be doing a 10k/6mile road running race in July and I've been running the course once a week and have got my time down to just under 50 minutes which I'm happy with for a middle aged git.
I still have some way to go, and I'd really like to try and get rid of the belly blubber without my arms and legs etc getting thinner, any tips gratefully accepted!
Take this as a compliment but I just don't get how you are saying you're still overweight and "blubbery" to use your expression yet manage a 10k in under 50 minutes.I still have some way to go, and I'd really like to try and get rid of the belly blubber without my arms and legs etc getting thinner, any tips gratefully accepted!
A lot of people aspire to that and are seemingly in better shape.
That's very impressive considering you've still got further losses to go and will probably get quicker
Also, re that 10k time, I'd not realised that 10k is not 6 miles. I'm running 6 miles which is only 9.6 km so there needs to be another couple of minutes on there for a true 10k time.
I also have a secret weapon...new trainers! I've never really been into trainers and never wear them as casual wear, and have been running in an old pair of New Balances that I've head for years. I went into a Nike outlet the other week and bought a pair of Air Zoom Pegasus half price (£49), they have these massive long very thick bouncy soles with a point at the heel end, and are very minimalist and light. They almost feel too bouncy to walk around in, but when running they are spot on and do an amazing job of reducing shock (I've had two rounds of lumbar decompression spinal surgery, mainly due to a sedentary lifestyle in my 30s) so this is important to me and I can run pretty much pain free, and it really does feel you are bouncing from one stride to the next. I genuinely think they are probably giving me a couple of minutes across 6 miles.
biggbn said:
Struggled yesterday with diet, went over calories by a fair amount, entirely my own fault, no self control...back on today, 3 mile walk at 05.45am and fruit during day, baked spud later, all pre prepped so no excuses. Hope to have dropped another pound or so by Saturday morning
It's a marathon, not a sprint! Sounds like you're back on it so don't beat yourself up!Sohee Lee Carpenter has some good views on this: "Did you know eating ice cream is sometimes the healthiest thing you can do?” She believes that panicking over the unhealthiness of food can often be more unhealthy than the food itself. “Stressing out over the pizza is worse for you than just eating the pizza and moving on.”
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