Hi Everyone, Back again.

[Cruiselover1]

I have been here several times. I always start with good intentions get so far and then it all falls apart when my weight loss plateau's. Then I steadily gain until I am back to square one. I have a top weight I reach which always seems to trigger the need to try again......I reached that today. I have tried in the past SW, WW and calorie counting (which I find really tedious) I know portion control is my issue. I have a mountain to climb and I think the sheer scale of what I need to lose is defeating and scary, however I know I need to lose. Onwards and hopefully weight downwards! Just got to decide which plan to follow.........any suggestions welcome

[Lytham 3 stone]

Hi hun, good to see you back! It would be low carb for me everytime especially if you like a plate full!

Hey, you're just in time to join our Easter Challenge, just started today, here's the link, hope to see you there x

healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Hi, welcome back and wishing you success

The previous plans you mention are all about "cutting back" and "portion control". If you do want to try a different approach, then maybe eating differently, rather than eating less: that might be more sustainable.

This is a very straightforward plan that doesn't need any counting phcuk.org/wp-content/upload...

[Hidden]

I am going to agree with Lytham. Lowish carb for me, it's the only plan that works for me. I also found, some time back when I lost 2 stones - before I knew about this forum, that when I ate lots of fruit and veg, along with meat and fish, I didn't feel hungry at all. I often think it was because my body was getting the full range of nutrients it needed so that suppressed any cravings.

Good luck with your new weight loss journey, whatever plan you decide to follow. Have a great day.

[Lytham 3 stone in reply to Hidden]

I didn't feel hungry at all. I often think it was because my body was getting the full range of nutrients it needed so that suppressed any cravings

It's amazing how I don't feel as hungry or have cravings, I've never heard that theory before but it makes total sense when you think about it.

Thanks for sharing hun x

[Hidden in reply to Lytham]

Over the years I had read many articles about dieting and healthy eating. There were quite a few articles about why we get get food cravings and what possibly causes them. One theory was that cravings are the body's way of telling us that it isn't getting something that it needs although it didn't say what that something might be.

I was doing a weight consultancy course at the time and decided that I might as well use the course to lose some weight myself. I was quite taken with the Hay System but decided to adapt it to suit my personal preferences. The weight came off steadily at the safe rate of 1lb - 2lbs per week. I lost 2 stones in 6 months.

The thing is, I was eating more than the generally recommended 5 portions of fruit and veg per day so I was getting lots of different nutrients. I also had more energy than I knew what to do with. I put it down to the fact that my body was getting the right nutrients and so wasn't lacking in anything - hence no cravings. That's just my personal viewpoint though. I really need to get back to that way of eating. It does make sense though.

As an aside, an amusing anecdote. My husband had a mild stroke followed by a double heart bypass and a bi-femoral aorta bypass. When I took him to have his stitches out after the second operation the surgeon asked him if he was eating properly. My husband said that he was. I jumped in and told the surgeon that husband wasn'teating at all. I told the surgeon that I had been trying to tempt husband with fresh fish, fruit and veg but that he wouldn't touch it.

My husband doesn't like me going on about nutrition so started rolling his eyes and saying to the surgeon "I wondered when she'd start on about that again". He wasn't prepared for the surgeon's reaction.....

The surgeon threw his hands in the air and literally screeched at my husband...

"Listen to yourwife, LISTEN TO YOUR WIFE!". Score 1 to me that time.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Hidden]

😆

[Lytham 3 stone in reply to Hidden]

LOL! That's hilarious, bet you were so smug!

Do the sugars (albeit natural) in fruit concern you? X

[Hidden in reply to Lytham]

Yes, I was a bit smug. When we got home after seeing the surgeon my husband finally gave in and started eating very tiny portions of fresh food which I served on a tea plate and built up from that. I think he was scared the surgeon might come after him! That good gentleman was quite excitable about the situation but, because he stuck up for me, I could have kissed him.

I am not the slightest bit worried about the sugars in fruit. When I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes about 10 years ago I went on a diet to lose weight. I ate fruits that were high in sugar, pineapple and grapes to be specific, along with clementines. I still lost weight at around 1lb - 2lbs per week and reversed the pre-diabetes. I don't have fizzy drinks (except sparkling water), I don't take sugar in tea or coffee, or sprinkled on cereal and try to avoid food with hidden sugars in it.

I think if Mother Nature didn't want us to eat fruit she wouldn't put it in our way. Of course, fruit contains fibre and a whole range of nutrients. An apple, for example, will do us more good than a diet coke. On that note, I rest my case.

[Lytham 3 stone in reply to Hidden]

Ha ha ! It would have made his day if you had kissed him!

My Mum's diabetes dietician told her to avoid fruit because of the sugars in it, years ago I never even considered fruit as having sugar in it, it was a vet that told me not to eat bananas if I wanted to lose weight! Lol x

[Hidden in reply to Lytham]

Obviously, I can't comment on what a dietician recommended to your mum as I don't have the necessary qualifications. When I was diagnosed with the pre-diabetes I discussed my diet with the clinical nurse specialist at the GP practice and told her I would have 3 portions of veg and 2 portions of fruit, based on the recommended 5 portions of fruit and veg per day. She told me I could have a third piece of fruit if I wanted it but I explained that I felt 2 pieces of fruit was enough. Anything over the 5 a day would be veg or salad.

Vets are sometimes more astute than doctors. Bananas are a law unto themselves. I can't eat them as they make me nauseous. Of all the fruits available, bananas are the highest in sugar and also high in other carbohydrates. Definitely not suitable if you follow a low or reduced carbohydrate plan.

[Lytham 3 stone in reply to Hidden]

I think you were wise to stick to the two pieces of fruit a day.

Isn't it typical my favourite fruits were among the highest sugar(hence carb) count, bananas, grapes, honeydew melon, pineapple and mango . Although thinking about it our hunter gatherer ancestors wouldn't have had access to tropical fruits, they would have been more restricted to berries which are the lowest sugar/carb count. Fascinating isn't it? X

[Cruiselover1 Restart March 2024]

Thank you everyone, I have joined in the weigh in and will commit to updating whether good or bad.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Cruiselover1]

Good for you The team support is always good

[Clematisa1 1st 7lbs Maintainer in reply to Cruiselover1]

Looking forward to seeing you soon ❤️👍🌈

[Cockneyblue 2lbs Restart Jan 2024]

good luck. It’s always hard to start again, but this site is always here. They are lovely aren’t they. I just pop in and out every now and then. It’s good to see some of the ‘old faces’ still here. Thank you for always being here.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Cockneyblue]

Happy New Year, Cockneyblue It's always good having you here, offering support.

You'd be very welcome to join in any of the regular activities - all here in Pinned Posts healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

[Akiona]

Heyyy hun.Honestly you like took the words out of my mouth.In last 3 years thats me!Up and down!One week I’m oh yeah I’m going for it and comes Friday and I’m on wine and munchies lol lol telling myself oh it’s only 1 cheat day and I will start tomorrow again, comes tomorrow and I am like oh I got this chocolate,crisps,sausage rolls etc. left from yesterday so I’m not just gonna chuck them in the bin so I finish them and then I start from Monday lol lol comes Monday I’m all good…till Friday lol lol and again back to the same scenario!Tbh with you no matter what plan,method we follow need to stick to it.Honestly I think I’m the last person to give advice but from my previous experience (SW and NHS Healthy living)and losing nearly 10st (the same amount I need to lose now) I learned few things I just don’t use them.So here is what worked for me(I think it can work for any plan you choose):

1. Have a food diary ( this time I downloaded the NHS app and it’s great for recording meals)

2.Plan your meals ahead

3. Make sure there is food ready for evening time or the time when you feel the hungriest(I do batch cook or cook for 2,3 days).This will reduce the chance to open the cupboards or fridge and stuff the face with anything there lol

4. Keep very little amount of “naughty” foods chocolate,crisps,biscuits etc at home. (I used to have one cheat evening and only bought what I could eat that evening or other way if there was anything left,I packed it in a bag and put it away in a far corner of the top shelf.Outof sight out of mind.

5. If you craving anything replace with good stuff- if I craved sweets I drunk a glass of Pepsi Max or ate red grapes or sweet fruit,for savoury I made oven backed chickpeas or lasagna sheet crisp i.e,done the ham parcels(wrap veggies like cucumber,celery,carrot in a slice of ham and have these with SW hummus)

6. I used to hang a piece of clothing of my desired size or the size I was previously in a visible place and it was always in my face and reminded me about my goals (actually I will do that this time as well.Works perfectly)

7. Once you lost significant amount start going to cloth shops and try clothes on and it will be like wow I couldn’t fit in this size 4 month ago and now look at me.Great positive boost

8. And first and last stick to the group any group you feel comfy in and talk about frustrations because it does really help and makes you realise that oh my there are so many other people who are in the same boat

Excuse my mumbling but I hope you find this helpful,even if it’s only a tiny bit lol Keeping fingers crossed for you hun and good luck 😊xx

[Cruiselover1 Restart March 2024 in reply to Akiona]

Thank you Akiona,

I've had a good couple of days. I am keeping a notepad nearby to "scribble as I nibble" so nothing gets overlooked and have joined up to the NHS 12 week app and I'm finding it really useful. I have been an on/off member of SW for so many years and tend to find I get so far then everything just stops and whilst the leaders are very motivated for the group on a one to one basis it's not so good. You have given me lots of ideas to move forwards with in your mumblings - love it! As you can see from my username I am a cruiselover, which is lethal on the waistline, I have beautiful clothes in varying sizes but at the moment many are uncomfortably tight. Thank you for the encouragement 😊 x

[Clematisa1 1st 7lbs Maintainer in reply to Akiona]

You're very welcome to come and join us on the weight loss forum any time. Lots of support and no judges 💕@Akiona

[Clematisa1 1st 7lbs Maintainer]

Did you join the Easter Challenge yet? And do you come along to the weight loss forum that I am hosting this week Cruiselover1 hope I haven't missed you on there.... ❤️

[Lytham 3 stone in reply to Clematisa1]

The hostest with the mostest, go girl, loving your enthusiasm x

[Clematisa1 1st 7lbs Maintainer in reply to Lytham]

Just looking to drum up new peeps for us Lytham the more the merrier💞

[Lytham 3 stone in reply to Clematisa1]

Absolutely chick, go for it ! X

[Clematisa1 1st 7lbs Maintainer]

I do TRE and You don't have to worry about calories if you don't want to. I still count calories but it's a habit now and keeps me from eating too many of those white processed carbs. ❤️ White flour white sugar white rice aren't too good for us. But our brains don't understand.