[Closed] Need to lose some weight ... anyone else?

in the last eight months I've lost 1st 2lbs.

I've not changed my diet at all but upped the level and intensity of exercise a fair bit. I now ride, run or swim pretty much every day, sometimes twice.

That's good going! I think this is something I need to do - I used to have a good routine as there was a gym where I worked,but now I've lost that convenience. I need to get a routine!

If you need motivation how about entering a few events for a challenge and to motivate you to train. Have you done a triathlon before? Or the winter Helly Hansen adventure races (www.trailplus.com) something like that will help motivate.

thats another point. I realised unless I have a target to train for I'm shit at getting out training.

Did my first triathlon last month, another end of next month and got a few things in mind for next year.

Ive lost a stone and half in the last two months and want to lose 2 stone by my birthday and 3 by the end of the year then ill review it. Used to play rugby so am now carrying a load of bulk around that I no longer need and now use different muscles etc. Have had to change my diet for that loss though!

lost 1st 3lbs (down to 12st 3) since bristol bikefest, simply picked up the wifes weigh****chers points book and started limiting myself to 30 points a day.

Simple if not easy

I've lost in total 4 stone so far this year, but have managed to put 1.5 back on since starting my new job, hope to loose another 3 by Christmas

idave diet is what you need.

At my worst I was 16st 10lbs for a 5"11 bloke that ain't great. Now 14st but have been for months and need to drop 2st.

I'd be up for another goal, I've got Windsor Half Marathon at end of Sept & then Marin Dusk til Dawn the week after.

If I could shift a few pounds by eating better that would be great.

Could set up an email check in buddy type system

Not confident enough to try any biking events 🙁

I do agree that having a training goal helps though. OH and I were training for the OMM last year, but I had (proper) 'flu the week before and then OH started coming down with it too.

I think it's a bit late for this year now, but I might contact the organisers ...

Get your dietary intake right first, before you start exercising for 25 hours a day.

Yes, we should all exercise, but if you're consuming 3000 cals a day, you're making a rod for your own back, imo.

I took part in the iDave weight loss thing we did on here a little while ago. It works, weight comes off without having to go mad in the gym, on the bike.

This then leaves you to enjoy your cycling doing as much of it as you want to keep heart and lungs in good order, rather than to trim the waistline, or whatever.

mail me if you're interested and I'll forward the iDave doc, guide.

🙂

4 months ago I started commuting to work by bike. 25 miles a day, usually 5 days a week.

In terms of weight loss, it's very effective.

I eat okish, and also eat a lot more than I did before I started. I'm not on any diet.

This is the only period in the last 5 years where I've actually lost weight (about 7lbs). It's no effort whatsoever, and it's an awesome 2hrs cycling a day extra 😈

At Christmas I was roughly 12 stone, and felt heavy (I'm 5'8") and from around May, I started to calorie count and do a few extra miles and now I'm 10 stone 2 (trying to get to a toned 10 stone).

First stone fell off, but last part has been hard, but no crazy changes to my diet (just cut down on lager and take aways) and no crazy exercise regime.

Holiday (albeit only to Ireland) in 2 weeks, can hopefully hit my target weight before then and then try to tone up in the lead up to Christmas!

I've always been one of those who can eat anything and still stay quite slim. However, at 35, that ability seems to be fading and I'm getting more lard round my waist than I'd like and my weight has gradually crept from about 11.5st about 3 years ago to 12st 9lb at present.

I plan to increase my exercise by running most days and slightly increasing my riding. I don't think my diet needs much change, just need to avoid snacking so much.

Could set up an email check in buddy type system

I like that idea ... I think others knowing/supporting can be a bit of a motivator. OH is one of those who never puts on weight, so finds it hard to understand my battles.

I'm (apparently) not heavy enough for Weight Watchers, although in January I was edging towards 77kg and they might have welcomed me then 😳 I lost a bit in the spring, but just haven't been able to keep it going. I have no desire to be skinny, but would like to shift the "unnecessary" excess and fit into my jeans a bit better ... I've always refused to buy bigger sizes, but everything's a bit snug still.

Solo - YHM, thanks!

I've been injured this year and gained some weight so my racing season is over.

My VO2max came back at 70 but I need to shift 22kg between now and Jan!

Fat ba5tard in lycra!

There is no chocolate in my house...why are you still looking?!

Losing 1kg a week and not dieting but following a healthy normal athletic dietary intake to support my need for speed and tv.

Train 4 times a week min and fat metabolism takes ages to readjust compared to CHO and Protein.

Set yourself a realistic goal and go for it OP. You can do it girl!

Solo,

can you send me the idave doc please

Some good stories, thanks!

Will post if Tiger 6791 sets up buddy system, as it sounds like I'm not the only one who might be interested!

Might go for a walk up Moel Famau later ... feeling more motivated already (and hungry).

"I've been injured this year"

Ah yes, I'll use that one as well please.

I was actually thinking the same thing myself... Had a checkup at the doc's last week and found myself on the scales hitting 95kg with jeans and a t-shirt on. As I'm 195cm tall, this puts my BMI (yes, I know...) at just under the "lard" category, but I can see and feel the onset of my belly and moobs, and I want rid.

Even cycling every day did not make much of a difference, not did training for a 10k last year (6.5 miles, three times a week), but it did shaft my knees for me. I had a target then, so was happy to do the running.

Now though, I know I can bash out 10k in under 50 minutes, even hungover and with a singe practice run. We've no gym at work, or even nearby, so hitting the gyms for weights and other cardio stuff is out, and I'm not even sure that I am up for even more pressups thanks to olecranon bursitis in my right elbow.

iDave, you come highly recommended. I may be calling.

People who want the iDave doc.

Mail me and I'll try to sort a reply as soon as I can.

😉

Just read the guide ... it looks like good, honest advice, and for the sake of three weeks, definitely worth a try. I agree that a certain amount of effort will need to be made, but like iDave says, getting fat is easy, losing it less so. Oh, and you can have red wine ...

I'm also happy to send the guide to avoid having Solo inundated! (Email in profile).

Cheers guys 😆

5'8" and 10st seems borderline underweight to me. Unless you're made of pipecleaners 😉

I'm waaaay overweight and working on that, but my mojo "has been injured this year" 😉

Looks like a crazy fad diet to me.

Only a [i]FAD[/i] if you don't stick with it.

Crazy ?, I'd say eating stuff that makes you heavy and unheathly is [i]crazy[/i]

🙂

Don't forget the day off !.

I reckon its got to help with new comers.

Saturday is usually my day-off, but whenever you do take your day off, don't go mad and ruin your good work
😉

Also, try to dig-out the monster thread from here, about this. There are some useable recipe suggestions, which I found helped with choosing what to eat.

Theres also some typical STW arguing going on too, but just ignore that.
😉

I suppose it depends what sort of food you like, but from what I can see it looks healthy and includes lots of things I like.

I'm allergic to cream-based food and hate most dairy apart from cheese, so shouldn't be too tough.

Can I still have a curry on Friday night?

you're [b]supposed[/b] to go mad on your day off! stops your metabolism grinding to a halt

Excellent! Just checking ... I usually go "low oil" for my curry, but might shock them this week and ask for it straight 😆

iDave. yes, but if you remember, on that other thread, people were threatening to eat 6000 calories, or whatever, on their day off.

Day off is just that, no rules, but thats still only 3 squares a day for me, and a few pints.
🙂

Got to allow time for cycling too, can't spend all day with my head burried in the fridge.

tails - Member
idave diet is what you need.

Amen to that!

14lbs lost in 5 weeks. Now adding some carbs before known big rides and the weight is still falling off.

[i]Please don't just tell me to eat less, exercise more ... I know the theory). Any one want to join me? I'd like to shift the weight in the next month to six weeks, which should be realistic. I don't have a huge amount of time (- not an excuse)[/i]

Shall inject some realism into this discussion then? So you know how to get rid of the weight, and you want to shed 3kg in a month? but you don't have time for exersize and you want to carry on eating curries?

And people wonder why they can't loose weight....

Please could I get a copy of the iDave doc?

Email is in my profile. Thanks!

Alcohol. If you drink most nights knocking off all but two nights (and keeping that just a couple) will drop loads in a few weeks.

Im going to do this- blood pressure up again and I reckon I'm 2stone over my natural weight.

nickc: can I suggest you read the thread in full, especially my opening message in its entirety, and don't quote selected sections only ...

BTW it's "lose" not "loose" 😉

mtb_rossi - YHM

I lost just over a stone in about 8 weeks earlier in the year. Didn't really take much to shift it. The main thing I did was start jogging every other evening for about 20 minutes and I cut out drinking fizzy drinks with meals and had water/Robinson's squash instead.

I'm now trying to lose about another quarter/half a stone by upping the running to 30-45 minutes every other evening and eating less carbs.

SS I'm not trying to dampen your enthusiasm, really I'm not. But if you want to lose weight and keep it off there's only ONE method. Reduce your calorie intake and increase your calorie useage. Any one tells you any different is lying to you. Go into your diet with some realism. And having a curry each week ain't gonna help is it?

Have lost 5kg in the last 2 months through a bit more exercise and a lot less food. I still eat exactly what I want, just take one potato fewer etc.

A long way to go - another 15kg - but I'd rather do the slow and steady route than go for a mad no-food binge.

Point taken, nickc - I do understand the calories in / out side of things, and accept that this is the brutal part of it, but there's also the bit where you need to eat enough to function, not mess up your metabolism, get some enjoyment out of what you eat (as eating less isn't much fun), and do it manageably rather than evangelically. What niggles me is that I don't have loads to lose, but the final few pounds seemto be the worst by far (- in psychological not calorie terms).

I also appreciate that curry won't help in itself - I was happy to give that up, but iDave's plan suggests a day off. Maybe I'll stick with the "low oil" option 😉 Doesn't help that husband is a good cook too ... I must moderate portion sizes.

It's good to hear the success stories though - works for me.

Thanks SS! <3

And having a curry each week ain't gonna help is it?

I intend to have curry most evening and this will be the key to my weightloss and my secret weapon!

& SS got your email and I'll set something up

A dodgy curry would probably work wonders ... 😉

[b](Virtually) No Fat Curry[/b]

Fry 2 massive onions chopped into big(ish) pieces in as little oil (teaspoon?) as you dare. If you’ve got some garlic through that in as well, can't hurt, and when you think they are looking nice, add a bit of water to the pan. They should be sort of brown(ish) and soft.

Chuck in some tinned tomatoes, 2 or 3 tins usually does it, (depends on how tomatoey you like it).

Chop up 2 Butternut Squashes in to pieces that are a bit bigger than an oxo cube and throw them in the pot.

Slice up 3 red & 3 green chilies

Some mixed herbs and a bit of paprika go in

Peas, peppers, raisins, apple all seem to work well.

Throw in a liberal amount of curry power (half of one of those Tesco pots usually)
Simmer for about an hour to break down the squash and thicken.

And because you've made loads put into old chinese tubs and freeze. Easy dinner when your knackered and fancy a takeaway.

Tastes good, eat with brown rice add a bit chicken do what you like, no rules

[b][i]Apart from 1 teaspoon of oil and curry powder everything that goes in is just veg & very good for you [/i][/b]

I got riding twice a week (Sunday and Wednesday) and football twice a week (Monday and Thursday). Is there a recommended day I should have my 'off' day?

[i]"Not confident enough to try any biking events"[/i]

[i]"OH and I were training for the OMM last year..."[/i]

❓ You were planning on doing a two day fell running race, but you won't do a 50km mountain bike marathon ?

****, just weighed myself 13.5st, not good as a shortarse at 5'8. Looks like I need to get out on the bike more.

Target 11st! (I was only 11.5st before breaking my leg in March so def achieviable).

MidlandTrailquestsGraham: fair one, I've done mountain endurance stuffon and off over the past 15 years (on foot) but never on a bike ... I'm not sure I have the technical skills, but maybe I should try 😳 I've always regarded MTB as a bit of fun when off on my own for a day, as OH can't ride a bike properly.

OMM was going to be more of a fast shuffle/bog-trot than a run!

Frodo: you need to join our motivational club 😉

Best thing you can possibly do is look at what calories are in everything.

I know a lot of people go "Oooh, Calorie Counting" and assume you must be an anorexic for going to such lengths, but it makes a huge difference to what eat and how you lose weight. A lot of flavourless "diet" foods are no less calorific than the nice equivalent, and are far less satisfying.

Say, Special K Bar VS a 2 finger Kitkat or Blue Riband. The Spesh bar is foul, the other two seem like quite a nice treat. All contain more or less the same calories.

Tiger6791, the point isn't necessarily what's in the curry that's the issue, it's the amount on the plate. It's JUST about the calories...That's the only thing that matters when you're trying to lose weight. If you had your lovely curry (and it's does sound like a lovely curry BTW) and let's for argument say a plate with rice is 800-1000 calories*, and I have a couple of doughnuts and they're 500 calories...I'll be the one losing weight...

Losing weight is a numbers game. End of discussion.

SS you say you understand the science, but you also say you always seem to be looking to lose that last extra little bit, then the answer is: Apply your knowledge. It's empowering once you understand it IS actually about what goes in the hole between your nose and chin...

* I'm not suggesting that a plate of this would be 800-1000 calories, OK, just making the point.

while calorie counting is not the way to go about it, bear in mind the 'effort cost' of calories. Which is 'easier' - not eating a mars bar, or running for 45 mins?

Just been harvested for platelet today but was told to stop eating the delicious lard due to high visible fat in my platelet ... errmmmm ... might be high cholesterol. Made the mistake of eating some good nice poach eggs, all butter croissants and more butter bread this afternoon. Damn.

In an ideal world, I-Dave, you'd eat the mars AND run the 45 minutes....

[i]"... I'm not sure I have the technical skills..."[/i]

Don't let the constant talk of "technical skills" on this forum lead you in to believing that they make any significant difference in the real world.
Just get on yer bike and ride. When you come to the risky looking bits, get off and walk. That's what I do.

Tiger6791, the point isn't necessarily what's in the curry that's the issue, it's the amount on the plate. It's JUST about the calories...That's the only thing that matters when you're trying to lose weight. If you had your lovely curry (and it's does sound like a lovely curry BTW) and let's for argument say a plate with rice is 800-1000 calories*, and I have a couple of doughnuts and they're 500 calories...I'll be the one losing weight...

Losing weight is a numbers game. End of discussion.

SS you say you understand the science, but you also say you always seem to be looking to lose that last extra little bit, then the answer is: Apply your knowledge. It's empowering once you understand it IS actually about what goes in the hole between your nose and chin...

* I'm not suggesting that a plate of this would be 800-1000 calories, OK, just making the point.

Fair point but look at it from a common sense point of view.

Yes it's all just calories but there are good calories and bad ones. You could eat 2000 cals of lard everyday and nothing else or you could eat 2000 cals from bananas. Both will have exactly the same energy but I think it's more complex than the [i]ton of feathers or ton of bricks[/i] analogy.

The curry's bulk is butternut squash, now a kilo of this stuff is 380 cals, you try eat a kilo of it!

So yes it is down to quantity but real world is that 350g of the curry above will be about ~

curry 350g - 150 cals
rice 125g - 201 cals

so nearly half a kilo of food and your @ 351 cals with virtually none of it from fats

add in chicken 100g - 113 cals

So big fat meal with loads of veg, rice, and chicken. infact 575g worth of carbs and protien is going to fill you up be good for you and give you about 465 cals

now your dohnut will be about 75g and ~250 cals with little protien, so you could have 2 dohnuts for about the same cals

[i]There are good calories and bad ones. [/i]

Bitchin'

I'm not the one trying to lose weight.

I know the theory bit, but don't profess to know the science. Is it that simple, though? I'm sure I've read/heard somewhere that after dieting for a while you can "plateau", i.e. still taking in reduced calories & exercising the same, but the body adjusts ("starvation effect") and then weight loss can taper off.

As I say, I don't understand the actual science bit, other than in simple layman's terms, but I suspect there may be a little more than just reducing calories, in that any adjustment the body makes needs to be countered and you need to avoid losing muscle (so it's good to keep up exercise, which also means keeping up enough calorie intake to have enough energy to exercise too).

I'm sure someone will come along and correct me!

The BBC programme that did a bit to debunk calories in - calories out from last year is now on [url=

STW thread [url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-losing-weight ]here[/url].

[i]When you come to the risky looking bits, get off and walk. That's what I do[/i]

not sure I'd recommend that. I tried it once, in the wet. Ended up in hospital for a few days with this:
[img] [/img] [img] [/img]

lost 2.5 stone to date............slowed down now.
19.5 stone now. 8)

Right, just a quick question...
Before hitting a trail centre, we drink a bottle of lucosade sport...
On the iDave plan, this would have to be knocked on the head?
I was on the understanding that on a long ride, you carry a litre per hour water and a fructose/ salts based isotonic type drink.

Also what's the script on Gels, bars?
TBH, i have resisted using the energy products in my pack of late, figuring as fubard as i am, i am carrying round ample energy stored around my midriff..

Goodness me, how difficult do you want to make it ?

Just read the guide, use some CS and get on with it. Simples !.

Ton.
I think you've been following a different eating guide IIRC, but good on you for keeping with it and congrats on the weight loss.
I hope you're happy with the results so far.
😉

Hi,

Can someone please email me the iDave doc? email in profile.

Currently hovering around 18st. Shape changed a lot since doing more biking but really keen to get get shifting some blubber 🙂

Thanks in advance

Chris

I'm very healthy and marathon ready! Can't wait till the next race! I'll race you too the cake stand.

what is this idave plan all about? can someone mail me if it is a secret.

I wonder how many curries the staff in the local Indian eat per week - and they are nearly universally skinny.

Try not eating after 8pm for a start - Sumo wrestlers eat after 8pm just so they will put weight on. A rider in our group is trying this and it is helping a lot with weight loss.

Get somewhat aerobically fit - I find that this stops the grazing urge a lot.

Ensure that you are slightly hungry before each meal - if you are not start reducing the portions in the previously scheduled meal.

As a bloke I find weighing myself every morning is a good way to keep everything in check, but it probably doesn't work for a girl.

I also find eating turkey and baked potatos (even with loads of butter) works for me.

Erm I had three large helpings of homemade chicken stew last night.

I thought 'its the second night, might as well finish it off'.....and it kept on coming 😐

if anyone fancies sending me the iDave diet document i'd be really thankful!

i've been making an effort to "change my diet" rather than "go on a diet" that way after i've lost some weight i wont be going back to "normal eating" and put it back on again.. i can just carry on as i am.

my plan at present basically involves eating breakfast (first time for about 15 years) each morning, wiping out white bread and replacing it with healthy living cardboard-wholemeal type stuff, snacking on cucumber, baby tomatos and celery between meals, not eating after 6pm unless its a special occasion or a little bit of fuel on a ride. i'd say once a week i break the rules and share a curry or have a couple of slices of pizza with the other-half. the hardest thing is saying no to all the sweet stuff my housemate and other-half fill the house with!

i dont really drink alcohol.. maybe about 2 units a month on average over the year so havent had to change that.

riding has definately helped shift some weight, i'm hoping to pick up a cheap second hand exercise bike to use on the nights we cant get out on the mtb... even if its only 20 minutes it'll help boost the metabolism 🙂

i dont really eat much meat anymore, if i do then its chicken breast or a thin slice of ham (fat cut off) so hopefully i'm doing the right thing in general!

of course any hints and tips would be welcome 🙂

good luck everyone on their efforts!!

Yes it's all just calories but there are good calories and bad ones

Calories is a unit of energy, simple as that and as such there are no "good" or "bad" calories in terms of energy. Granted there are other health issues that can result in getting all your energy from lard as opposed to complex carbohydrates or fruit or veg but energy is energy.

As for debunking calories in - calories out, that's is an application of the laws of thermodynamics and these laws apply to all systems where energy is transferred. I'd love to see a diet whereby weight was lost by increasing the amount of energy consumed without a commensurate increase in phycial activity.

There are undoubtedly many mechinisms to make the whole calories in- calories out easier to achieve but in essence that is all that any successful diet will do. Although if someone can present real data to say otherwise then I'd love to read it.

gonefishin, I'd stop now if I were you chap, no one wants to hear that you have to eat less.

Never fails to amaze me the hoops that fast arsed sofa dwellers will jump through to convince themselves that if they don't have 3 squares a day plus in between snacks that they'll die horribly in some bizarre lack of food driven nightmare, and no one wants to break into a sweat, or has time for it, and they still want to have a curry or two every week, and lose 3kg by this time next Wednesday...

SS google images from the Ethiopian famine (because I can't be arsed to post them here), and try to work out if any of them have 'plateaued' yet.

Well first day proper of trying the plan, breakfast of omelette and ham instead of the usual water porridge wi salt in...

Anyone wanting the plan, drop me a mail in my profile..

In fairness I should add that I've taken on board a some of what iDave said about dieting like cutting out spuds and pasta and replacing them with beans and other pulses as I'm overweight (from too much food and not enough exercise). So far it seems to be working, although bringing in my own lunch and not eating canteen food is probably helping as well. Keeping busy in the evenings is another thing I'm trying to do, DIY gardening and the like. On it's own it won't help loose weight but if I'm not sat in front of the TV then I'm less likely to snack on food becasue it's there rather than because I need to eat.

Thats true, a lot of snacking out stems from boredom, in the evening if i cant get on the bike i just hit the weights machine in the bedroom for 10 or 20 minutes (now i can actually get near the bloody thing, it turned in to a suitcase holder when we got back off our hols in july!)

I'm not sure I have the technical skills, but maybe I should try I've always regarded MTB as a bit of fun when off on my own for a day, as OH can't ride a bike properly.

Most of the marathons I've done aren't that technically complicated - realistically, they can't be:
* you've got a public event, and you can't guarantee the technical ability of the participants
* as you get tired your technical skills get worse, and marathon events are tiring

So, OP: sign up for a marathon. Having a target is a wonderful motivator, especially as summer draws to an end and the weather gets worse!

by the way, the plan suggests three weeks but it's not a three week 'diet' - it's a case of if you're going to try it give it three weeks minimum before you decide if it's for you. i see it as a change in eating habits, full stop, not three week weight loss plan.

Cheers iDave - this is an interesting plan, and anything that encourages a healthier diet has to be good. I think that over the years I've got used to eating "well" (mostly healthy stuff), but the amount of exercise has dropped off a bit with more commuting and ... I'm getting a bit older too. Not really excuses but reasons that affect a lot of people, and before you know it you're a stone heavier and unfit with it. As my husband says, "No one wakes up fat" ... but reversing it takes a lot more effort!

Time for a rethink, but this thread has definitely helped me to get back on the right track, and hopefully one or two others too.

Day 2 ...

[i]i see it as a change in eating habits, [b]full stop[/b], not three week weight loss plan.[/i]

Same here, been on a version of it now, for around 2 months-ish.
I do not intend to stop eating the things I do now.

😉