How are you doing it?

[lou192]

Hi, I'm new here despite signing up last year. I've lost 2.5 stone over the last 2 years (very slowly) I suffer with PCOS and seem to find it extra hard. Since January I've been logging in myfitnesspal but I'm not getting anywhere. I have 1 stone to lose before July (my 30th). I've started couch 25k and doing run3 tomorrow.

Just interested in how you're all doing it? What approach are you taking?

Im a weight watcher gold member so have started attending meetings again but its not helped at all.

Thank you in advance for responses.

[Nomoreexcuses 2lbs]

Well done with the weight you've lost. I'm just counting calories and exercising. Just started but had a good first week. I'm finding the support on this site really good. Even just reading other people's stories is helping. I lost 2 1/2 stone with weight watchers after my babies but moved away and couldn't continue. I tried slimming world but didn't find that group as inspiring, maybe my mindset had changed by then, but I'm finding the support here great...almost like I don't want to let anyone down here even though it's quite anonymous. Stick with whatever plan you choose and keep posting. Good luck x

[lou192 in reply to Nomoreexcuses]

I think I'm going to concentrate on cutting carbs along with just 1200 cals a day. Just need to find recipes that will fill me up.

[Folliegirl]

Hi there, I'm a fellow PCOS sufferer, it definitely makes it harder! I'm just starting week 3 of the NHS 12 week plan, I'm also a C25k graduate, but am recovering from injury and not allowed to run at the moment

I found that the interval training style of walk/run really optimised weight loss for me last year ... It's a fabulous program, stick with Laura, you'll do great!

Good luck on your journey 🌻

[lou192 in reply to Folliegirl]

Brilliant, it's nice to hear from people that are graduates. I start week 2 this morning and I'm nervous lol hoping it will be key to weightloss.

[Folliegirl in reply to lou192]

I'm using the podcasts on my rehabilitation walks, mainly because they are crammed full of feel good motivation ... Enjoy! 😉

[lou192 in reply to Folliegirl]

I do love the music it really fits. Well I found today's hard but it's the start of week 2 but the music kept me fired up. Yay

[gingernut49]

I lost the three stone I needed to in six months on the 5:2 Diet after watching Michael Mosley's excellent Horizon programme in 2012, "Eat, Fast and Live Longer" tinyurl.com/qzgo7tq or tinyurl.com/a8ppjl7 and went from a size 16 to a size 10 by eating 500 calories two non-consecutive days a week. I've been maintaining my weight loss since April 2013 by just fasting one day a week - in the past I piled the weight back on as soon as I finished 'dieting'. I'd very much recommend you read Kate Harrison's book, "The 5:2 Diet" (tinyurl.com/qe6mz4u) - it really does work and it will save you a fortune (towards your smaller clothes!).

I'd also recommend a free app for your phone called MyFitnessPal. Counting calories is very important so you can see how much you're eating and therefore eat mindfully rather than mindlessly. There are excellent videos in the Help section on the app that show you how it works - there's even a barcode reader to scan in branded foods.

It's important you don't eat more than your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) on non-fasting days. You can work that out here thefastdiet.co.uk/how-many-.... If yours works out at more than 2000 then aim at 2000 on non-fasting days.

Here I am in the Daily Mail on 7th January tinyurl.com/m7rqecq. The other two ladies’ stories are inspiring!

Here Michael Mosley answers many questions on it dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

This little video explains more youtu.be/W9Aj6hRYg4A(Not working as expected?)

[lou192 in reply to gingernut49]

Thank you you really got me thinking. I've seen that video before but will re watch to refresh my mind. I would love to eat low carbs but don't know how, need some recipes to try really. I'll definalty look into it as I suspect I'm intolerant to wheat slightly.

Thank you

[gingernut49 in reply to lou192]

Watch the original programme too. It's very thought-provoking and for me set me thinking as of course I really want to live longer as long as I'm healthy. After I'd lost my first stone I started the NHS Couch to 5k running programme and now I run about 5k three times a week. I didn't start that until I was 63!

I eat carbs - in fact apart from eating far less on my two fasting days a week I didn't moderate my diet in any way at all though I started to eat from smaller plates as, like many nowadays, my portion sizes were far too generous.

[lou192 in reply to gingernut49]

Funny you should mention portion sizes lol last night I weighed my spelt pasta and actually realised I'd been eating double to what I'd been logging. I'm now going to pre weight and bag up all my pasta and rice. I'll be watching the original tonight too they are saved to my tablet.

It's great that you do that each week, you must be super healthy!! I only wish I could get my mum to be a bit healthier. But she has cut down smoking and is watching what she eats so it's a good start.

Thank you for your advice

[gingernut49 in reply to lou192]

More advice for your mum then - I gave up smoking over five years ago using the lozenges (nicotinell or nicorette, I can't remember). You just park one in your cheek and each one lasts around 35-40 minutes. You completely forget about smoking - and you can't eat when you're sucking one - win-win!

Get your mum to watch the original programme and pass on the links to her. Just the title of the original programme alone, "Eat, Fast and Live Longer" got me watching it - and it truly changed my life.

[lou192 in reply to gingernut49]

Thank you sooooo much lots of tips and lots to research. I think she was keen on doing the 5:2 and has cut carbs. I'll be passing that all on.

I'll stop wishing for a magical cute and just keep doing what I'm doing. This last 1 stone is just being so stubborn, really isn't budging.

Thank you again, can't wait to snuggle in bed later and watch those.

[Penel]

Well done on losing 2.5 stone. The NHS 12 week plan is a good place to start, but I have found that I need to keep my carb intake low to lose weight, so I eat lots of different veg and protein but no sugar or flour.

authoritynutrition.com/low-...

A low GI or low carb diet is recommended for PCOS, as it lowers the amount of insulin the body has to cope with. There have been several posts on here about PCOS, they may be useful reading for you.

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

[lou192 in reply to Penel]

Thank you I only eat wholewheat and carbs that have minimal ingredients but could do with getting rid completely. Will be having a look at those links, I'm off for w2 run 1 eek

[Snowy333]

I was just intrigued as to why you have to lose that weight before July 30 th?

[lou192 in reply to Snowy333]

I'd like to lose it before beginning of July. I have a special birthday on the 2nd of July, I'll be 30. I have a special birthday dress already hanging up in a size 8 to motivate me. The last few years I haven't celebrated as I jusst didn't feel comfortable in my own skin, this year will be different.