New Here via Couch to 5k

[KrisBlow]

Hi everyone. I'm new here and wanted to introduce myself. Maybe this site will help me with my goals.

I currently run three times a week and will be completing C25K next Friday. I also swim 100 lengths of a 25 meter pool three times a week. I don't eat badly - most of my meals are home cooked with fresh meat and veg, but we do have the odd takeaway here and there. Maybe once every two or three weeks or so.

Despite all that, I've only lost on average a third of a pound a week since the 2nd of January.

The NHS recommendations for my daily intake of calories and what my weight should be really don't stack up. I was 17 stone at the start of the year and 16 stone now. Apparently I should be eating 2400 - 3000 calories a day at my weight and to be "healthy" I'd need to drop to 11 stone 5 (and that's at the top end of healthy. 8 stone 6 is the lower end of the scale and that just seems unhealthily light).

I guess the point of this post is, does anyone else have an active lifestyle, eat well and still struggle to lose weight? I feel like I'm putting in 100% effort and getting back 1% gains.

Blub officially over, for now. Let's see how the Friday weigh in goes this week!

[lucigret]

Hi Kris and welcome to our friendly forum

Well there is not doubt you are fit, that is a lot of exercise

Well done on your 1 stone loss so far. I am going to hazard a guess that you are not eating the recommended amount of calories, because you think it sounds too much? If that is the case, then this is probably where you are going wrong and possibly you are eating too many Carbs.

Take a look at these two links -

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

phcuk.org/wp-content/upload...

To make navigating the forum easier, we’ve put all the information you’ll need in a Newbie pack and here’s the link

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Please take the time to read it carefully, so that you can enjoy all that we have to offer.

We also ask that you read this important information about internet privacy and security, especially as you have left your post unlocked.

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

We would like to make sure you are aware that if you leave your posts unlocked, they can be seen on Google, Twitter, Facebook etc. Some of our members will not respond to unlocked posts as they value their privacy.

There is a lot of reading to do here, please take your time and come back and ask questions if you need to

We would be very interested to know how you found us?

Wishing you all the best

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Hello and welcome

Great work on the C25k and your exercise generally. You will have done yourself a real favour by getting to that level of fitness.

lucigret may have meant to give you this link, too, on the risks of eating too little. It explains it very well healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

... as does this healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

[lucigret in reply to BridgeGirl]

Thank you BG, I think I have now added that first link, I was having a 'technical glitch' and couldn't seen to copy both links!

The last link BridgeGirl has given is also a very good one KrisBlow .

Please don't feel overwhelmed by all the information here, just take your time to digest it (pun not intended!!).

[lucigret]

Kris I should also add that the NHS BMI calculator is only a guide. I personally wouldn't worry too much about the recommended weight. You will find a weight you feel comfortable at and being comfortable is far more important than worrying that you don't fit into what they suggest. You will find other Calculators that will probably give you slightly higher weight scales.

I have awarded you a 1 stone badge in recognition of your loss so far instead of a newbie badge.

Why not come and join us on the Feel Good Friday Weigh in if Friday is your weigh day. We would love to have you You can find the weigh ins in Events. All the information is in the newbie pack I have just given you

Good luck

[KrisBlow in reply to lucigret]

Yeah there's lots of information to look at here! I get different recommended calorie counts from different sources. 2400 from NHS, 1750 from my fitness pal app, plus the doctor recommended an intermittent fasting diet where I have an eight hour window to eat. That meant dropping breakfast for me, making 1750 calories quite hard to achieve.

I do like the sound of a diet that tells me to eat more!

Thank you for the badge. I'm actually down by 13.75 pounds as of last Friday, so I've maybe jumped the gun a little bit.

Friday is my weigh day so I'll try and join that group, once I've figured out how to do it.

I did give myself a sneaky weigh in this morning (I know I'm not supposed to) and had put on nearly five pounds to my dismay. Serves me right I suppose but it did prompt me posting on here.

[lucigret in reply to KrisBlow]

Weight fluctuates during the week, its fine to weigh everyday, but just take notice of the weigh in day weight.

I would not recommend taking any notice of the fitness pal app recommendations for calories, they are always very low. Stick with what the NHS suggest and start at the higher end so you have somewhere to go as your weight drops.

Please be aware that intermittent fasting is not about lowering calories, it is about giving your body a rest, bringing the blood glucose to a normal level which then helps the body to burn fat. It is still important to be eating enough during that eight hour window.

It really isn't hard to reach 1,750 calories or higher. Add some cream to your coffee and use it in your cooking, use butter, cook with olive oil, eat nuts, use full fat Greek yoghurt, eat avocado, fattier cuts of meat, oily fish........all very good satiating foods that don't necessarily bulk out your meals to make them 'over facing' but add the necessary calories.

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to KrisBlow]

Hi and welcome, Kris

I don't eat breakfast, but manage to consume at least 2,000 calories a day.

Have a look at this healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

All the best!