Dieting

[Meg888]

Hi. I really need to lose around 1.5 - 2 stone. I'm 38 and feel washed out and fat. I have to admit I am lazy too, i have early morning starts, where i do cleaning & school run; then work all day, where I get home & do some good old fashioned home cooking then park up for the soaps each night. I dont do any excercise. I'm tired & aching all the time/bursting out of my clothes! I know I need excersise, but I need a simple diet, but one where i could lose weight quickly (at least at the beginning). My partner is diabetic also, so he could do with losing some weight too. There's too many diets out there, and I would be grateful to hear of your dieting experiences & what works for you.
Thanks in advance

[mrs_overall]

I think Michael Winner had the best idea for a diet. He ate the same meals as always, but less of it.
I personally think faddy diets are a waste of time and money.
You will lose more weight if you exercise as well as diet. I realise it's easier said than done at this time of year when the sofa looks so inviting, but only you can supply the will power - no one can help you there.
Don't make the mistake of paying an arm and a leg for gym membership. There are lots of things you can do for free, such as walking, power walking, jogging, cycling etc. There are lots of floor exercises you can do at home, such as sit ups. If you want to tone up your arms/upper body, use things you have in the house, such as tins of food.
Good luck.

[Jenga]

I usually avoid all sweet foods i.e chocolate, snacks like crisps and biscuits. It works for me but I don't know if you eat that type of thing.

[coccinelle]

I think a lot of people are feeling a bit over the limit weight-wise at the moment, mainly due to wanting to stay inside out of the cold and eating warm comforting food. It's our body's way of providing insulation. It's often been proved that diets started in the winter don't last for long but once Spring, light nights and warmer weather comes along the body is ready to move and eat less stodgy food so weight is lost more quickly. A lovely homemade nourishing winter warmer is vegetable soup; you can make it as thick as you want , without meat and along with a wholewheat bread bun and then a yoghourt you've got a light meal.
You don't sound 'lazy' to me but maybe you've got a sit-down job during the day? Lots of luck to you.

[ganesh]

the Paul Makenna idea of stopping and recognising when you're full really works ,but I think you still need more will power than he makes out. Check out the book tho, ' I can make you thin'worth a try.
Otherwise just walk everywhere you can,take the steps rather than the escalators,and cut down on the carbs,in fact try and give up bread altogether. Crash dieting DOES NOT WORK so don't even try. Its a slow process,lose only a few pounds a week and they are more likely to stay off,
good luck.

[lil123]

Slimming world is excellent plus you cook from scratch so if you enjoy cooking you will love it.
I'm 37 and work full time although I get alot of exercise from my job I still need to do more

[Jan1957]

Like lil I think Slimming World is really good. I lost 3st in 3 months and never felt hungry. Well worth seeing if there is a local meeting near you. It also helps having other people going through the same thing and their meetings were very friendly and helpful.

[veritymoon]

i have about 2stone to lose if you fancy a dieting budy.

[Obidashi]

Hi - Last year I lost 5.5 stones. I didn't want to go to a slimming club, so I joined in a forum on Ebay's FHG board - this year the thread is called Feeling Fine in 2009 - they are a great bunch of people and offer help and encouragement. People will post various ideas and recipes etc.

Some posters joined Weightwatchers and Slimming World - some did it alone without a club.

Drinking plenty of water and portion control were my biggest changes.

[Eve]

I joined Weightwatchers and have lost 10 lbs so far over 3 weeks.

It's a great system and really helps you control portion size and such. Their online resources are fantastic too.

I am amazed that I am so less hungry than I used to be when I ate loads as I'm eating better. I feel a lot better too, so much more energy.

You can still have treats so long as they are factored into the points.

I see it less as a diet but more of a new way of living. It's learning control which you can use for life rather than a mad crash diet which is unsustainable and often eventually unsuccessful as the weight goes back on.

[chattykathy]

I lost 2 stone quite easily with Slimming World which is great if you like cooking. It's really easy to follow and there's hardly any weighing.
I think you will feel a whole lot better and more positive about yourself if you do some exercise. Just a short walk with your partner to start with might motivate you both to do more

Good luck!!

[Velvetee]

2 stones isn't alot to lose, just do some exercise and reduce the amount of fatty and sugary foods.

[Ice.Maiden]

Your partner's diabetic clinic should've given him a sheet with "allowable" foods on it - which'd also suit yourself.
There's no quick way to lose weight and keep it off.
Three meals a day, with little fat or sugar - and exercise. You'll soon see the weight drop off.

[Meg888]

Thanks so much to all of you for taking the time to answer. There's some great tips here, and even just reading your responses is motivating. I've started the day with green tea (its not as bad as it sounds!) and a piece of fruit. I intend to have several pieces of fruit for lunch, and a light meal for tea. I'm going to start off by having a brisk 10 mins walk each night, as I live in the lovely countryside, which is wasted if I dont walk around it! And then hopefully work up to an hour or maybe a 10 min run in the morns (once I've got my energy levels up) I feel determined and I'm going to work hard on it staying that way. VERITYMOON: I'd be happy to have a dieting buddy, if so, pls get back in touch. Thanks a bunch everyone!

[mandimoo]

give yourself some positive affirmations too. when you feel hungry, keep thinking to yourself along the lines of 'hunger is good, its making me thin' and picture in your head a new thin you.... really work on appreciating a bit of hunger.