Day 19 of The Diet round 2. So far I have lost -2kg. It looks like I’m going to have to take drastic measures. I think I might have to actually eat less food. Apparently just saying I am on a diet and committing to losing weight is not enough to manifest that result into reality. Disapointing.
Meal portioning in my hilariously broke uni days definitely left me unintentionally losing a lot of weight. I made it work by telling myself that’s all there is in the portion and if I wanted any more I’d be ruining tomorrow’s lunch, which I couldn’t afford to do, so there.
Volume eating is what helps me get into gear. Same sized plate as always, but a smaller, more reasonable portion of the actual food, served on a gigantic bed of lettuce, cucumber, cabbage, shiritake noodles, etc.
I’m feeling full immediately because of the volume, I stay full because the meal itself was an appropriate portion of something nutritious, and after a few weeks of eating like this I find I’m naturally gravitating towards smaller portions of more veggie-heavy meals, recognising when I’m full, and no longer eating with my eyes. I no longer need the bed of cabbage to satisfy my hunger.
Perhaps it has something to do with the gut microbiome and the fibre in the cabbage that just re-wires my stomach to be happy with a diet.
yeah, I have an impressive set of weights, and a cupboard stuffed full of clothes too small for me. I even have a fit ball, what more does the universe want from me?!
I think you’re doing well. I find there’s either 2 scenarios which occur. In the first, the initial few kilos are hard to budge and then it starts really happening, then frustratingly it plateaus. In the second, the first few kilos melt off and then it’s a bastard to lose the next few, and then it frustratingly plateaus 😆. I’ve learnt that I’m good all year but then my birthday happens in mid October and I turn into a bear preparing for hibernation from then until after Xmas. I don’t know whether to embrace or fight it.
I’ve found it to be very hormonal for me - I normally go through about a week where I am really hungry all the time and put on weight quickly (presumably mostly water) and then a week where I’m not really hungry at all and the weight all just vanishes again. I’ve learned to just go with that and not stress about it. The problem I’m having at the moment is peri-menopause has put a spanner in the works, and keeps just leaving me in the PMT “hungry” phase for ages.
I’m not pushing to lose weight quickly, but I would like to lose maybe another 20kg over the next few years to get down to a healthy range. My body is really fighting me on it though.
Aah perimenopause, I can relate to you there! For me it feels like puberty without any of the fun stuff, like sexual enlightenment. It’s sexual “endarkenment” for me!😆 Certainly one of the main reasons my body wants to get podgy; with physical work and peri combined I feel like a comfy old cushion with muscles. I have drawn a picture which I will share:
-2 kg in 19 days is pretty good. Don’t eat less. What you need to do is strength or resistance training 2 or 3 times a week so when you are resting you continue to burn calories.
“macros” are food. You can’t both be “on top of” your macros and not eat less if the appropriate amount to eat to lose weight is less than what you are currently eating.
Oh you said lost -2kgs. Hmmm tricky then. I’ll rephrase what I meant. My dietitian told me that I can still eat plenty of food but need to be mindful of the carbs / fat content (now obviously YMMV). There’s so many recipes on YouTube of a large meal with a surprisingly low calorific content. Its just tricky finding them.
Day 19 of The Diet round 2. So far I have lost -2kg. It looks like I’m going to have to take drastic measures. I think I might have to actually eat less food. Apparently just saying I am on a diet and committing to losing weight is not enough to manifest that result into reality. Disapointing.
Smaller plates and/or bowls. So what looks like a full meal is actually less food, but still has all the nutrients in proper balance.
Meal portioning in my hilariously broke uni days definitely left me unintentionally losing a lot of weight. I made it work by telling myself that’s all there is in the portion and if I wanted any more I’d be ruining tomorrow’s lunch, which I couldn’t afford to do, so there.
Volume eating is what helps me get into gear. Same sized plate as always, but a smaller, more reasonable portion of the actual food, served on a gigantic bed of lettuce, cucumber, cabbage, shiritake noodles, etc.
I’m feeling full immediately because of the volume, I stay full because the meal itself was an appropriate portion of something nutritious, and after a few weeks of eating like this I find I’m naturally gravitating towards smaller portions of more veggie-heavy meals, recognising when I’m full, and no longer eating with my eyes. I no longer need the bed of cabbage to satisfy my hunger.
Perhaps it has something to do with the gut microbiome and the fibre in the cabbage that just re-wires my stomach to be happy with a diet.
Alas, buying a smaller frock or a set of weights that sit in the cupboard doesn’t work either. This manifesting stuff is nonsense.
yeah, I have an impressive set of weights, and a cupboard stuffed full of clothes too small for me. I even have a fit ball, what more does the universe want from me?!
I think you’re doing well. I find there’s either 2 scenarios which occur. In the first, the initial few kilos are hard to budge and then it starts really happening, then frustratingly it plateaus. In the second, the first few kilos melt off and then it’s a bastard to lose the next few, and then it frustratingly plateaus 😆. I’ve learnt that I’m good all year but then my birthday happens in mid October and I turn into a bear preparing for hibernation from then until after Xmas. I don’t know whether to embrace or fight it.
I’ve found it to be very hormonal for me - I normally go through about a week where I am really hungry all the time and put on weight quickly (presumably mostly water) and then a week where I’m not really hungry at all and the weight all just vanishes again. I’ve learned to just go with that and not stress about it. The problem I’m having at the moment is peri-menopause has put a spanner in the works, and keeps just leaving me in the PMT “hungry” phase for ages.
I’m not pushing to lose weight quickly, but I would like to lose maybe another 20kg over the next few years to get down to a healthy range. My body is really fighting me on it though.
Aah perimenopause, I can relate to you there! For me it feels like puberty without any of the fun stuff, like sexual enlightenment. It’s sexual “endarkenment” for me!😆 Certainly one of the main reasons my body wants to get podgy; with physical work and peri combined I feel like a comfy old cushion with muscles. I have drawn a picture which I will share:
-2 kg in 19 days is pretty good. Don’t eat less. What you need to do is strength or resistance training 2 or 3 times a week so when you are resting you continue to burn calories.
no, I’ve not lost 2kg, I’ve lost -2. A negative and a negative = a positive. I’ve gained 2kg 🤣
Oh I see.
2kgs is great progress! Not a dietician but I have heard that you don’t need to eat less food if you’re on top of the macros and exercise.
I’ve gained 2kg, not lost it.
“macros” are food. You can’t both be “on top of” your macros and not eat less if the appropriate amount to eat to lose weight is less than what you are currently eating.
Oh you said lost -2kgs. Hmmm tricky then. I’ll rephrase what I meant. My dietitian told me that I can still eat plenty of food but need to be mindful of the carbs / fat content (now obviously YMMV). There’s so many recipes on YouTube of a large meal with a surprisingly low calorific content. Its just tricky finding them.
Check this dude out: https://youtube.com/@Felu?si=E8xFhlljT3U_4GfC
He has some fantastic recipes in there - especially the Udon noods ones. They’re plentiful and I often eat only half the portion cuz I’m so full.