Weight loss first day

[Mocatz]

Morning all, this is my first day of trying to lose weight (again). It's only 8.10am and I am feeling hungry already, any tips on how to get through to 10am and what do you suggest to eat for coffee break at work that will take me through to lunch?

[Zest Healthy BMI]

Hi Mocatz,

I am wondering if you've had any breakfast. Often it can be good to have a good breakfast - something like porridge can be really good for being 'slow-burning' and can help to last all morning before lunch, but if you want to have a snack at 10am, then how about an apple or an oat cake, or some plain yoghurt (try to get the one with the lowest amount of sugar in it).

Hope you manage to cope with the day and good luck with your weight loss goals.

Lowcal

[Mocatz in reply to Zest]

Hi, I didn't have breakfast yesterday as it was day one and only decided the day before I was going to give it a go. I have had toast and low fat spread this morning, thanks. I am doing a proper shop at lunchtime today so will be more prepared. Thanks for input.

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to Mocatz]

Hi Mocatz,

Glad to hear you've had some breakfast today, and hope you have a great first week.

Lowcal

[Knotty]

(love the photo)

Have you had breakfast? Porridge (even in this weather) can make a good start - especialy made with water only. I used to add a boiled egg for some protein. (the boiled egg was a separate item, not an addition to the porridge!)

At coffee break - avoid full fat milk. Rich tea biscuits are relatively low in calories (about 35) and it looks as though you are participating without breaking the calorie bank. Two of those is probably better than one choc digestive.

I would look on the coffee break as just giving a little comforting top-up and not something to keep me going: I'd rely on breakfast for that.

[Mocatz in reply to Knotty]

Hi, I didn't have breakfast yesterday as it was day one and only decided the day before I was going to give it a go. I have had toast and low fat spread this morning, thanks. I am doing a proper shop at lunchtime today so will be more prepared. Thanks for input.

[Diana]

Protein is the best thing! I normally have eggs, poached one on toast, fruit beforehand, works well for me, then snack around 10.30 to 11

[Mocatz in reply to Diana]

Hi, I didn't have breakfast yesterday as it was day one and only decided the day before I was going to give it a go. I have had toast and low fat spread this morning, thanks. I am doing a proper shop at lunchtime today so will be more prepared. Thanks for input.

[gingernut49]

Hunger goes in waves and doesn't get worse - so just have a drink and keep busy and it will pass. I lost three stone in six months on the 5:2 Diet - up to 500 calories on two non-consecutive days a week - and now maintain by fasting one day a week. I thought it would be difficult but you absolutely get used to it and I find it easier not to eat breakfast as it makes me more hungry. Some eat a small breakfast and then an evening meal but I just save my 500 calories for my evening meal.

Download the free MyFitnessPal app which is excellent and I'd suggest you get Kate Harrison's book The 5:2 Diet. I'm 64 and have tried and failed with all diets in the past but I've been at my goal weight, and a size 10, since April 2013.

[Rachyroo in reply to gingernut49]

Hi Gingernut, just read about your success with the 5.2 diet and was thinking about trying it myself. How many calories do you eat on the other five days and what do you drink on the two 500 calorie days? well done for maintaining your weight and for losing the amount you did in the first place, hope i can do the same.

[gingernut49 in reply to Rachyroo]

Officially you try to stick to under 2,000 calories a day, but at my age that was too much for me. I worked out my TDEE thefastdiet.co.uk/how-many-... and that gave me about 1400 calories on my non-fasting days and I used MyFitnessPal all the time I was actively trying to lose weight and made sure I logged everything.

As for drinks, I'm a coffee drinker so just started to drink mine black and I also have developed a taste for herbal teas. In this warmer weather I mostly drink 'no sugar added' squash or water. Diet fizzy drinks in moderation are fine. I don't drink much alcohol nowadays so that saves on calories - and I also find that if I have a glass of wine it gives me the 'munchies' so best avoided (except for wine club once a month where we get nibbles!)

It really is so worth being a bit strict with yourself as it's the most effective diet I've ever tried - and it's so easy to maintain afterwards!

[Diana in reply to gingernut49]

I could never do this, I seem to have been over eating a bit by 200 cals so back to celery and water based veg, of peppers and cucumber as well as celery!!

[gingernut49 in reply to Diana]

I have willpower! Good for you for eating veg rather than fruit.

[Diana in reply to gingernut49]

I have just got lazy, dinner now of chicken, with honey, soy sauce peas, and rice, I'll get there!!

[gingernut49 in reply to Diana]

I find low-cal ready meals very useful on fasting days, and M&S ones are especially tasty. I'll have them with a huge pile of veg on the side - yum!

[Diana in reply to gingernut49]

Doikng blood type (not as madly as some out there) I tend to cook a lot from scratch, also ready meals are quite expensive too, never mind what they contain!

[gingernut49 in reply to Diana]

The advantage of (good quality) ready meals is that it teaches you portion control. I know in the past I looked at them and thought, "Is that all?" but that is the size portion we should be aiming at. I cook my own food most of the time but I now know that a casserole that used to do me two meals I can now split into four!

I buy ready meals at Asda for £1 each - such as Admirals Pie which is delicious - and that's much cheaper than I could make a fish pie for.

[Diana in reply to gingernut49]

Along with menopasaual food cravings. ( I now know wgere they come from) it's tough!

I'm sure this has not helped with bloating/ weight gain.

Still battling on.

[Diana in reply to gingernut49]

Tough times, along with menopause bloating/ weight gain.

I keep battling on.

[Rachyroo]

Hi, well first well done for trying again, it is never easy to have to re-start the old losing weight process, but hopefully this time with support and encouragement you will succeed!!! I would drink water in between meal times its so good for you and it it helps to fill you you up. For a a snack a few nuts and a piece of fruit is always good, but if you are feeling really hungry then porridge is brilliant. Whatever you eat though remember the slower you eat it the better it is and the more fuller you will feel, good luck, stay in touch x

[gingernut49]

I decided to fast for the health benefits as in Michael Mosley's excellent BBC Horizon programme Eat, Fast and Live Longer vimeo.com/m/54089463 and its much easier than you think it will be. Instead of having to restrict yourself forever to 1400 calories or whatever you just need to be careful two days a week - and it works! Not only that, but everyone doing it has noticed that their belly fat is the first thing to go.

Win-win!