cheery
Full Member
Hello all. I used to be a member here a few years ago but didn't post much and don't really know anyone!
In the last six years, I've done the following diets:
- 2007 Atkins
Stuck it for a couple of weeks, lost a few pounds, went straight back on when I ate carbs again.
- 2009 Lipotrim
Lost 10 lbs in a week, then gave up as I just couldn't hack it. Went straight onto...
- 2009 Slimming World
Lost three stone in four months, stuck to the plan (almost) religiously, stopped going when I hit target. Felt amazing! Promptly put two of the three stone back on over the next year.
- 2010-2011 Cambridge
Lost one and a half stone. Put it back on over a year. Started again. Lost two stone. Put it back on over six months.
- early 2012 Weight Watchers
Lost a stone. Put it back on.
- late 2012 Exante
Lost two stone. Put it back on over six months.
Six years later, at the beginning of this year, I weighed almost exactly the same as when I started dieting! Although some of the diets I did were sustainable (WW, SW), I never stuck to them once I'd lost the weight. I'm thankful that I managed to nip it in the bud at the various points over the years that I did, and so I've never gone over more than four stone higher than I need to be. Although four stone is way too much, I see people on this site who yo-yo with 6, 8 even 10 stone and I can't imagine how difficult that would be.
When I think of all the trauma, money, hunger and drama I've endured over the last six years, I've come to the point where I really think I need to be sensibly making small changes and sticking to them. The timeless advice (calories in vs calories out, make small, long term, sustainable changes, don't go crazy when you've lost the weight) is something I've heard over and over again, but perhaps never really taken heed of. As a result, I've signed up to MFP and am calorie counting. I think I'm in it for the long haul! I lost 10lbs in a week and a half, though I know most of that will be water.
So, after all of those experiences, I'm sticking to the following three simple rules. They are:
- 11,000 calories per week, never less than 1200 calories a day, never more than 2000 a day.
I find it easier to have a weekly calorie target than a daily one, to allow for some give and take. This target is based on 1500 calories a day with a 500 calorie treat if I need a night out or a meal. When I lose two stone, I shall drop it to 1400 per day, worked out weekly. When I've lost all I need to, I'll hopefully maintain by adding 200 per day until my weight stabilises.
- 3 of my 5 a day, every day
Although I sometimes hit 5, I find it unrealistic. 3 is manageable, though not always easy, and sustainable.
- Walk for 15 minutes a day
I know, I know, I need to join a gym and do proper cardio and build up some muscle, but this isn't realistically going to happen or be sustained, whereas I'm sure I can walk on my lunch hour for a little while!
I know that following these rules will mean that I'll lose the four stone over six months or so rather than the four months it'd take me on WW/SW or two months on a VLCD, but I think it's achievable and I'm determined to stick to it this time (oh, if I had a pound for every time I'd said that before!).
So, I'm interested to hear if you've had similar experiences - done all the diets under the sun and settled on calorie counting? Managed to maintain on calorie counting after doing a different diet? Any inspiration gratefully received!
In the last six years, I've done the following diets:
- 2007 Atkins
Stuck it for a couple of weeks, lost a few pounds, went straight back on when I ate carbs again.
- 2009 Lipotrim
Lost 10 lbs in a week, then gave up as I just couldn't hack it. Went straight onto...
- 2009 Slimming World
Lost three stone in four months, stuck to the plan (almost) religiously, stopped going when I hit target. Felt amazing! Promptly put two of the three stone back on over the next year.
- 2010-2011 Cambridge
Lost one and a half stone. Put it back on over a year. Started again. Lost two stone. Put it back on over six months.
- early 2012 Weight Watchers
Lost a stone. Put it back on.
- late 2012 Exante
Lost two stone. Put it back on over six months.
Six years later, at the beginning of this year, I weighed almost exactly the same as when I started dieting! Although some of the diets I did were sustainable (WW, SW), I never stuck to them once I'd lost the weight. I'm thankful that I managed to nip it in the bud at the various points over the years that I did, and so I've never gone over more than four stone higher than I need to be. Although four stone is way too much, I see people on this site who yo-yo with 6, 8 even 10 stone and I can't imagine how difficult that would be.
When I think of all the trauma, money, hunger and drama I've endured over the last six years, I've come to the point where I really think I need to be sensibly making small changes and sticking to them. The timeless advice (calories in vs calories out, make small, long term, sustainable changes, don't go crazy when you've lost the weight) is something I've heard over and over again, but perhaps never really taken heed of. As a result, I've signed up to MFP and am calorie counting. I think I'm in it for the long haul! I lost 10lbs in a week and a half, though I know most of that will be water.
So, after all of those experiences, I'm sticking to the following three simple rules. They are:
- 11,000 calories per week, never less than 1200 calories a day, never more than 2000 a day.
I find it easier to have a weekly calorie target than a daily one, to allow for some give and take. This target is based on 1500 calories a day with a 500 calorie treat if I need a night out or a meal. When I lose two stone, I shall drop it to 1400 per day, worked out weekly. When I've lost all I need to, I'll hopefully maintain by adding 200 per day until my weight stabilises.
- 3 of my 5 a day, every day
Although I sometimes hit 5, I find it unrealistic. 3 is manageable, though not always easy, and sustainable.
- Walk for 15 minutes a day
I know, I know, I need to join a gym and do proper cardio and build up some muscle, but this isn't realistically going to happen or be sustained, whereas I'm sure I can walk on my lunch hour for a little while!
I know that following these rules will mean that I'll lose the four stone over six months or so rather than the four months it'd take me on WW/SW or two months on a VLCD, but I think it's achievable and I'm determined to stick to it this time (oh, if I had a pound for every time I'd said that before!).
So, I'm interested to hear if you've had similar experiences - done all the diets under the sun and settled on calorie counting? Managed to maintain on calorie counting after doing a different diet? Any inspiration gratefully received!