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1st week weigh in and Ive dropped 5lb so im pleased with that.
Is it Friday already!!??
No, no it's not. Clearly someone plays be his own rules 🙂
Nice work.
Christ I'd kill for a quarter pounder with a zinger tower chaser.
Instead I will go for a run and eat soup.
Burgers, chips,fizzy drinks
Doing alright. Kept using myfitnesspal to keep track of calories and I’ve been exercising pretty much everyday and staying well below the calorie goal. The biggest help is my wife is on antibiotics for a week which means she can’t drink so there has been no temptation to have beer. I’ve asked her if she can stay on them until March but she doesn’t seem too keen on that.
I have had a sneaky mid week weigh in and pretty pleased with the results so far.
I've weighed in a day early as I won't be around tomorrow, as I'd hoped the absurd 11kg I put on through December seems to be falling off with a 3.4kg loss this week, makes my ridiculously unachievable 1.8kg weekly target look slightly less ridiculously unachievable.
I was 92.7kg on the 4th.
I'd set my goal at 24 hous riding a month, because last year was only 15 hours per month average. However I realised that was too easy so I've set it to 32hrs min, 40 jours for the stretch goal. It's still early but on target so far.
Following iDiet but with added wholegrain carbs when needed due to all that riding.
Done. Target met and slightly exceeded.
But a sustainable drop I think.
This week will look at continuing the 10000step and running but focus on replacing crisps and chocolate with fruit.
Yay to week 1
8lbs of Water gone 😀😂😳
Now the real work starts
Congratulations to all the losers on this last page 😀
First week in and I lost - 0lbs. Bugger, but I know why - I can't stop eating rubbish.
Has been the story of my life for 20+ years at least.
Convert - how old are you may I ask?
I'm genuinely interested in your weight loss as I tried the 5:2 when the TV show came out. Lasted a few weeks but the fast days were awful. Headaches, lack of concentration and feeling not quite with it at work made me give up relatively quickly for my own safety !
However, if this could be condensed into a week of feeling poop rather than two days a week forever (or so it feels), then it might be tolerable.
And before smart arses chip in with 'just eat less and do more' - simple it may be, some of us still struggle immensely doing it.
2.4kg
a lot but it's first week and I've been very good - 2 proper 5:2 fast days and where yesterday at work was a rush I only got chance to grab a sandwich mid afternoon so I wasn't going to bootcamp empty, and then after I managed to keep to a mushroom omelette rather than a bag of chips on the way home. So 2.75 fast days, sort of.
Another good week for me would be to do the same and maybe stabilise the loss to another kg off say (which is then 14.5st old money) which is where I was for most of last year before injuring myself in November and the exercise dropping off and the girth going on.
After that, the real work will begin.....
Things I've remembered.
Excited people aren't hungry....if being sat at your desk doing mundane stuff allows hunger to strike, go and do something more interesting for a bit. The hunger will pass.
One biscuit with morning tea (from someone's it's my birthday offering) doesn't derail your week or even that day. What derails it is saying - well that's the day gone, so I might as well derail it properly - and then having 5.
and lastly - the zen thought - it's easier towards something than away from it. So set goals that are in the future - I want to be able to wear those jeans comfortably again, I want to do my belt up on that notch, rather than just saying I don't want to be fat any more. It makes a difference to me.
And before smart arses chip in with ‘just eat less and do more’ – simple it may be, some of us still struggle immensely doing it.
I use being a lazy bastard to my advantage. Buy everything for the week online (to remove temptation). Buy lots of fruit and veg. Always have a banana on you.
My default mode is to eat the closest thing. If I have nothing a shop gets hit and disaster follows. If it's a choice between shop and fruit and veg... Veg wins.
Convert – how old are you may I ask?
I’m genuinely interested in your weight loss as I tried the 5:2 when the TV show came out. Lasted a few weeks but the fast days were awful. Headaches, lack of concentration and feeling not quite with it at work made me give up relatively quickly for my own safety !
However, if this could be condensed into a week of feeling poop rather than two days a week forever (or so it feels), then it might be tolerable.
I'm 47.
And agreed the 5:2 didn't work for me either. In hindsight the extra 200 (0r 300) cals between the two makes a big difference but the main thing was with 5:2 my body didn't get 'settled' into the routine - it felt like it was in constant crisis every week. It's worth buying the book if you are interested and having a read to see if you think you can buy into it. If it's all 100% accurate I'm not sure it matter - the important bit for me was that I had 100% conviction. I did do a relatively extreme version - I was inspired to give it a go by a friend who did it for two weeks, lost 5kg and then went on to something more moderate having done it as a kick start. He didn't give up, that was simply was always the plan. His lifestyle constantly on the road with meeting clients for dinner part of his day to day life for work made it a lot hard than mind basically working from home so I'm full of admiration for him.
Something else I forgot to say - I completely gave up foods with added sugar - just banned. It made keeping to 800 cals a day much easier but also stopped the yoyoing moods I think I have had my whole life. Everything else, and I mean everything, tastes better and sweeter once the sugar is gone. A floret of raw broccoli genuinely tasted brilliant as a treat! Now I'm in maintenance mode I'm not totally strict but have sugar very occasionally. So I won't be an arse and miss out on a birthday cake in the office (small portion) and might use a bit of maple syrup in recipes, and use sports drinks on long rides but avoid it otherwise.
Feel free to PM me for more thoughts if you want to. Keep it up and don't let one knock back stop the desire for change.
I always knew week one was going to be a bit crap due to the surplus cheese/chocolate etc so this weeks loss is a single solitary pound. Owts better than nowt though and as I have done the sum total of zero exercise I'm fine with it.
2.2kg gone- that must be why the toilet got blocked 3 times this week! Hardest part I find of early gains (water loss per Tiger above) is to think it will follow week after week. When it doesn't it can get demoralising until you think of where you started from.
I'm missing my (over filled) breakfast bowl of Aldi honey & nut clusters! Weetabix just isn't the same.
Is the chart accessible? I'm having trouble getting my data to display.
2.2kg lost here too. At this rate, I’ll weight zero by Christmas!
I’m under no illusion that the weight will continue to drop at this rate, but it’s a nice start.
I’ve lost 7lbs exactly. By Christmas I will weigh at least 7lbs more than I do now 😀
That demoralising effect of not seeing the same gains is why after the first few weeks, where you are enthusiastic and can deal with the ups and downs, I plan to go to fortnightly weigh ins. I know some like to weigh in almost daily, and see the effect of yesterday's eating but psychologically that doesn't work for me. Same as I said there about 1 biscuit doesn't ruin a day, one bad day on the scales shouldn't ruin a week but my emotional self doesn't always listen to my logical. Hence weekly or even fortnightly to give me a chance of 'only' seeing losses works for me.
I’ve really found the myfitnesspal calorie counting and also the nutritional side of it helpful. I’m actually thinking about not only the amount of food I’m eating but also the make up of those calories. They also have lots of blogs and links to some decent recipes too.
Just to point something out - your body stores carbohydrate in the form of glycogen in your muscles and liver. This storage mechanism requires water at something like 4g of water for 1g of glycogen. So if you deplete your glycogen stores (which you probably will if dieting) you could lose a kilo of mass or more without actually being dehydrated. However, as soon as you restore that muscle glycogen by eating something carb rich, you'll drink the extra water and you can gain 1kg instantly. But it's not fat!
I'm trying to ride a lot, and I've noticed that if I ride too much or too fast I get really run down so I need to re-fuel otherwise I'm screwed and I can't ride (and am very miserable). So I usually go for some healthy whole grain carbs - I did this on Wednesday and gained 0.5kg overnight.
I’ve really found the myfitnesspal calorie counting and also the nutritional side of it helpful
I was shocked when I poured out a usual portion of my favourite (but sugary) cereal then weighed out a serving per their nutrition guide. No wonder I'm a fatty.
I was shocked when I poured out a usual portion of my favourite (but sugary) cereal then weighed out a serving per their nutrition guide. No wonder I’m a fatty.
Yeah I think for me it’s definitely snacks. As posted earlier in the thread. The snickers duo having more calories than my main meal was a shock (I mean I know they’re not great but in my head I didn’t have the scale of what 450 calories was). In the past I’ve happily sat down in front of a film or box set and polished off 2 of those in an evening and I’d probably already had a few beers before that too so it’s no surprise why I’m such a fat bastard 😀
Lost 5lbs, not bad but I’ve not started eating healthy yet due to having to eat all the Christmas treats and not being well this week with a cold/bunged up etc.
Feel a little better in my body, hopefully once this cold clears up I will be eating healthy and tracking calories like I used to when I previously lost weight.
Personally I like to weigh myself twice a day. It helps me keep track of how my weight fluctuates and in a weird mental way helps me keep on track as I can’t have a cheat day and aim to make it up later in the week. Works for me but might not to others.
What scales do people have? I was talking to friends and they didn’t beleive I weighed 17st so I am wondering if there are some cheapish scales that are accurate.
Nice to see other people in my situation. Keep it up all, I know from experience it’s worth it!
I have one goal this year...
A Normal BMI
That's all I want. It will be a massive achievement and something that has eluded me since my early 20s
I spent all of 2019 in the Obese category, dipping into the Overweight for just 2 weeks
2020 has to be the year.
What scales do people have? ….. I am wondering if there are some cheapish scales that are accurate.
Does it really matter - if you use the same scales for each weigh in and you you're showing a loss that's a win, right?
Don't rely on what other people say- I think it's a symptom of a "growing" population. Chubbiness is getting normalised.
I'm 5'8" but was 13 1/2 stone at the start with the gut to go with it. It's surprising the amount of people who have said "you don't look fat" to me.
What scales do people have?
I live in hope mine are the Prince Andrew Model
Every 3 weeks I go to work in London for 3 days. Hard to get exercise and staying in a hotel means eating out.
Did pretty well with it this week other than one day where I was just hungry and definitely going over my 1800 cals. So took a long walk around the town then thought I'd get some noodles or similar. Went to wagamama and had a dry curry (chicken firestarter I think). Was only when I went to log it in my fitness Pal that I found out it's 1200 kcals! Should have just had the bag of chips I was fancying!
Hard to get exercise and staying in a hotel means eating out.
Walk, London is the perfect place for it. Wagamama is lovley but all the dishes are rice/noodle based and starch heavy. Re food that's low-carb/low GI:
Nandos - a great place to get low carb, low gi food that is good. This is a solid go-to for me
If you eat in your hotel they'll accomodate you - for example have the steak, but no chips and 'seasonal veg' or something instead.
Many burger restaurants will do naked burgers and sweet potato fries - very satisfying meal that.
Lunches can be tricky but if you have a staff canteen they'll usually have a hot meal option where you can have say chicken and you can skip the starch and just have extra cooked veg. This is my go-to option.
Eating out at lunch - Starbucks have boxes of low GI food like the one that's scrambled egg, spinach and some beans - also a pulled pork one. Also burrito places will let you swap the rice for extra beans, and often replace the tortilla with a bowl of leaves. If you are in London visit a Tortilla, it's the best one and the salad/extra beans/meat is bloody delicious. Subway also have salad boxes now and you can assemble something pretty decent from their menu.
Fast food - chicken selects and a latte/diet coke at McDs, BK now do chicken wings and if you really need it the chilli cheese bites - low carb and filling. But perhaps a bit too tasty! KFC do salads that aren't half bad cos of the spicy chicken breast.
Some of these options may not fit if you are going for low calorie rather than low carb - but most low carb options are also low calorie. Even then McDs chicken selects are only 634 cals for the box of 5 and I find them very filling and satisfying.
And before smart arses chip in with ‘just eat less and do more’ – simple it may be, some of us still struggle immensely doing it.
Amen to that. People who say that are generally people who have never been properly overweight like I have been (and am now).
It saps at your will to live. You’re overweight (maybe by 4 or 5 stone in my case) so everything is hard. Walking up stairs, getting off the sofa, any sort of exercise is not just difficult it’s excruciatingly painful. Things rub, clothes are tight.
I was getting to a point last time I was overweight where I could see signs on depression setting it from my situation. It’s like a horrible vicious circle, it’s so difficult changing the way you live so you just feel worse about yourself. So you eat more as that’s your comfort. Which makes it even worse.
I remember the first time I went running when I was last really overweight and I couldn’t jog for more than 20 seconds. I ran when it was dark at night so people wouldn’t see the tears running down my face as I cried doing it as it was so hard.
It took me a couple of months to get used to exercise and eating healthy and every day up to that point (and beyond) was a misery of feeling hungry, being in pain etc. It was only the slow reduction in weight that kept me going.
Unfortunately I’ve put the weight back on through injury and doing up a house for 3 years. In a way I know what is in front of me so that makes it hard to start again but on the other hand I know I can do it.
Every time I see a really overweight person at the gym or running or cycling it makes me happy as I know they are willing to go through hell to get their bodies in shape.
Losing a handful of KGs after a lazy winter is nothing, it’s easy. Losing a quarter of your body weight so you can live a happy life is in another planet in terms of effort required.
What scales do people have?
I went fancy and bought some Withings Wi-fi enabled ones. I weight myself everyday at the same time just after I get up and after morning piss. The best thing is the data goes into the app and from there to garmin, MyFitnessPal and zwift. My zwift avatar changed shape without me doing anything - spooky! The most useful thing (IMO) of this daily weighing approach and says storage was that it evens out the daily fluctuations which for me at least are pretty large. The Withings app gives you a best fit graph. Over time you stop focusing on the number of today’s weigh in and start to look more at the trend.
1kg here, but I think my initial weigh in was a bit heavier than expected. Id found the 10-6 eating manageable in the past and has been so far this time.
Lost 2.9kg this past week, I know its mostly water retention but I'm impressed. Haven't actually done anything either yet, just cut back on the snacking. Hoping to start doing stuff this week though.
-1.6kg this week, good solid start. Have completely cut out all booze, snacks and generally eating a more balanced diet. Definitely find a weekly meal planner helps and I have a bowl of green veg with each meal (beans/spinach/broccoli) to accompany that to ensure I am sated. Walk ~50k a week so that's helping for sure and quickly notice improvements on ascents etc. Weigh myself every morning straight after slash and record it, personally I find it satisfying/interesting to see trends. Do struggle with fatigue and sore feet (post chemo) but generally going solid. Keep it up guys.
What scales do people have? I was talking to friends and they didn’t beleive I weighed 17st so I am wondering if there are some cheapish scales that are accurate.
I've got the Anker Eufy ones which seem excellent, and for thirty odd quid a real bargain. Same here, I'm 19 stone but don't really feel it or feel think I look it, definitely need to lose a few stone though.
Right, it's either time for new scales or last week i weighed myself with my boots and coat on - according to scales lost 3.2kg in a week...which i very definitely haven't!!
2lbs heavier- get in!
Don’t know yet, as I’m in London and not at home, but hoping to have lost at least half a kilo.
Just been reading this thread, and I'm super impressed by all your efforts. It takes some doing to start a diet, and doubly so in public. Props to you all.
Crap week for me, but I'll weigh in the morning.
The short story is an unplanned week in an apartment in Aberdeen on my own. Ate a fair bit of takeaway crap, but I did do about 60km of walking.
Weigh in tomorrow then take two...
Simon Alex
During mY ham fisted, chubbythumbed effort at updating my target weight on the iPad, I managed to enter it into your target weight column. I think I fixed it back to what it was but please check.
Sorry.
Good going to all. Bare in mind you will lose a decent amount in the first week or two as this is mainly water and glycigen being burnt and not much fat. I find week three can hit you hard as the drop off flat lines or goes much slower, this is the harder part, the real fat burning stage.
My tips:
- Hugh Fernley Whittingstall's recipe for "Riballito", a fantastic vegatble stew full of goodness and very filling (in a healthy way)
- Gym twice a week for steady cardio, target 700 calories a session
- 8/16 diet, breakfast at works at 9am and last meal 5pm.
- No sugar, crisps or dairy (love Oatley currently)
- Rice, pasta and bread.... fill your boots, no issues with Carbs
Not managed a second weigh in yet as I'm travelling home at the moment, but I'm not expecting good news...yet
Well instead of 2lb down I'm 0.2lb down 😂
Home now anyway so I can crack on with no excuses. Exercise will be largely turbo and real riding whenever there's a break in the gales, plus some walking. The plan diet wise is lower carb, no sugar no grain.
48 out of 70 have updated - come on guys, get it done!
Thanks for adding me as a late entry, I’ve not lost anything this week but actually started a couple of months ago and have already lost some weight so not demoralised. I’ve had a cold/cough this week so back on it properly in the next week.
5lb down in a week, 8lb down since I made a conscious decision on 28th December that I needed to shift the weight off. Have ridden my bike a couple of time, been swimming, been to spin class etc too! Haven't even really been to careful with what I've eaten, yet... Does help I decided to drop the booze for Jan I guess, in fact had one pint on NYE but other than that haven't had a drop since 28th Dec.