Losing weight?

[Vicki34]

Hey everyone,hope you are all enjoying the sun! I just wanted to ask those of you who have been on this for a while, if you have lost any/lot of weight? I'm doing it to get active but to also lose weight. I've also started dieting, watching every calorie I eat. I'm really hoping to see a difference in a few weeks. Thanks xx

[MarciePower Graduate]

In the 5 weeks since I started I have lost over a kilo. I have been spin biking too at the gym, but I haven’t even tried to eat less. My appetite for food is bigger than ever! I do eat more fruit and veg than I used to though.

[Vicki34 in reply to MarciePower]

I must admit I am struggling eating to 1200 calories a day. I used to skip breakfast but now eating 3 meals a day but really hungry all the time and really tired. I think I might give myself a bit of a break with food to begin with, just eat healthily and concentrate on the runs and workouts that I do

[MarciePower Graduate in reply to Vicki34]

Tbh, and I’m not a dietitian or owt, but I think calorie counting is too depressing for words. If you’re hungry, eat! Just eat healthy food rather than processed stuff. Fruit and veg. As much as you can stomach. You’ll get to like it. After a while, heavily processed food can lose its appeal.

[mfamilias Graduate]

Well done for your determination! It's generally a winning combo. Some people don't notice much weight loss as such, but shrink nevertheless as their bodies firm up. I'd look at it in terms of eating properly rather than dieting - even the word "diet" makes me feel sad. Look after your body as if it were an expensive car - put in the right fuel without additives and take it for regular outings - and you'll see the results in no time at all I lost 2 stone after starting running, then fell into the trap of presuming I could feed my face because I'd run 10k and put half of it back on again with wine, beer and peanut 'rewards'. Mfam is daft. Be smart, don't be like Mfam.

[notarunneryet]

I started this because I needed to lose some weight. So far I've lost 18lbs in 4 months through a combination of running twice a week, playing squash once a week and cutting out eating junk.

I plan for 3 meals and 1 snack and I generally stick to it. This leaves me with days when I allow myself a treat (a takeaway, some chocolate etc) so I don't fixate on what I'm not getting to eat.

I think that's one of the dangers of counting calories is that you fixate on how little you're eating and end up wanting food all the time. It's a disaster for willpower.

That being said, I think that planning what you intend to eat (assuming it's enough to get by on) and sticking to it helps curb those impulses.

[Vicki34]

Brilliant advice, thank you. I am going to relax with the calorie counting a bit, as I am making myself miserable. As u all say, just stick to healthy, low fat don't over indulge and then give myself a treat once a week! 😊

[YoureDoingGreatPet in reply to Vicki34]

Don’t worry too much right now about loosing weight, don’t forget muscle is denser than fat, so if you put a little muscle on your calves from running you could have actually lost some fat from your middle and still weigh the same. If you really need to keep a track maybe try taking measurements of key areas instead.

[Adam657]

I'd say don't cut calories so much, and keep with the programme as you say. Aerobic exercise burns calories whilst you are doing it, whereas strength building exercise burns afterwards, as more muscle increases your metabolism.

However if you are doing this programme, as you become fitter you'll find yourself being more active over all, without even noticing. Taking stairs, walking places etc so you'll burn even more!

If at the moment you are cutting so much, you'll probably feel drained and tired, your metabolism will drop and you'll just laze around, not ideal for trying to lose weight!

Stick with the exercise, don't cut calories TOO much and weight loss will come. Plus your overall shape will look leaner. Some women on here say they drop dress sizes but haven't even lost that much.

[Vicki34]

I am so glad I joined here, the support everyone gives is brilliant and is really helpful when u r just starting out like me. Thank you so much 😊

[BlondeAmbition72 Graduate]

I was hoping to lose some weight as I’m being careful with what I eat as well as the running but at my first weigh-in I’d actually put 2lbs on!! I feel ‘tighter’ though and my clothes fit better so I’m guessing it’s because muscle weighs heavier than fat?

[Vicki34 in reply to BlondeAmbition72]

I weighed myself today and I've put the same on! It must be muscle because I'm being so careful. I'm giving myself a break from the scales now and just continuing what I'm doing and then weigh myself after 2 weeks. Xx

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to BlondeAmbition72]

Apparently when you first start, those aches on your legs are tiny tears. They fill up with water so you have water retention for a week or so. Then weight shifts. This happened to me and I think it’s quite common.

[BlondeAmbition72 Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

Wow, thanks for that. So hopefully in a week or two I should see a loss 🤞🏻

[BlondeAmbition72 Graduate]

Yes, I may do the same. Tomorrow should be weigh-day but I might leave it another week too 👍

[Vicki34 in reply to BlondeAmbition72]

I know it's knocking my confidence, so scales are going in the cupboard lol. I feel so much better with what I'm doing, weight loss or not, so I'm not going to let it get me down x

[BlondeAmbition72 Graduate in reply to Vicki34]

I feel exactly the same 😊. If I didn’t feel like my body was changing I’d be a little concerned, but it is, so my weight doesn’t bother me too much x

[Vicki34]

I took measurements of my waist when I first started out last week. I've been told that's where u will see the difference first. So I'm going to do weigh and waist in 2 weeks from today! Xx

[Grimreaper]

Dear Vicki

I m No dietician. I went overweight due to thyroid. But lost 6 kg with my control but healthy diet . here are my opinion on losing weight

1. Eat your meal at exactly same time (I did 8 am breakfast, 1pm lunch and dinner at 8 pm sharp )

2. Have very light dinner ( I cut one bread and some rice from my dinner)

Keep ur breakfast and lunch as it is , u may cut oil replace with salad / vegetable but eat enough to keep u r hunger out .

3. Remember You don’t want to starve yourself. Your body needs sufficient energy to keep working properly. Especially when u r trying to become active

4. Most important u lose ur weight when u burn more calories than u eat . So balance both do not over emphasise on only diet .

5. You are not running a short term race to become slim in 2 months or so .. u need to maintain that weight for life long .

6 . So stick to a plan which is doable on long term . I.e cut ur calories around 200 kcal a day , increase ur activity by 300 kcal a day . U lose around 3500 kcal i.e one pound a week . Eat more of protein less of fat and average carbohydrates.

Hope this is helpful to you

[Vicki34 in reply to Grimreaper]

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate your reply xx

[MsFickle]

I Started this program last year primarily to lose weight and become fitter - but each week I stood on the scales I was gutted so disappointed and I even managed to gain couple of pounds 😢but my clothes were much looser and people commented I looked smaller and my body definitely felt different I persevered and once I completed C25K and continued with longer runs my weight on the scales dropped - 8 months later I’m nearly stone lighter and feel so healthy - like the lovely people on the forum say measure the inches- stick with it 😁😁😁

[Vicki34 in reply to MsFickle]

I am so glad to read this. Thank you, I felt so dis heartened but reading this I know I just need to give it time. Thank you so much xxx

[MsFickle in reply to Vicki34]

Yes give it time you will notice your body changing , you will feel different, and after a run hopefully you will feel real pleased with yourself that you have completed it and you won’t want to fill your body with unhealthy food (well some of the time ) I always have one eve a week of indulging x

[Hidden]

I'm doing it to get fit again and lose the weight I've put on since I gave up exercising a year ago. I'm on W4R3 & I have lost 3lbs so far. I've been watching what I eat too - following the Slimming World plan. I'm sure it's achievable. Good luck.

[Vicki34 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you very much! Xx

[gwrunner18 Graduate]

I have lost about 3-4kg since I started and am on week 5. I haven’t actively changed what I eat but have been eating breakfast which I rarely did before and don’t think I snack so much anymore during the day as don’t feel hungry.

I think everyone is different though and judging by some of the other comments other people have had the opposite effect with appetite I’d be weary of counting calories and starting running as don’t want to starve your body when you are starting out.

I also tend to run in the morning which I have heard burns fat etc but I am no expert so that may be an old wife’s tale

[Melo_smiles Graduate]

I’ve been going to SlimmingWorld and had lost 1 stone before starting C25K but over the past 16wks I’ve lost another 2 stone 😁

[das_vikas Graduate]

I’m in the same boat. I’m a bit overweight so doing this to loose some weight.

I’m now in week 4 and have lost around 3kg since I started, but haven’t changed what I’m eating or how much I’m eating. I feel hungrier at lunch and some days eat a bit more than usual but still loosing weight. I guess it is to do with the better metabolism.