My 14-day diet challenge

[DG Phototraining]

Having been around 15:07 for a few years and 'dieted' a few times too with limited success I was inspired by the Bear Grylls 'The Island' recently where folk just starved and obviously lost a lot of weight

Not fancying starving itself, or having the will-power considering the house has readily accessible food, I went for a 14-day challenge of limited cals instead

For no real reason I chose 1,000 cals per day as a target, NET of additional to normal cals use by which I meant walking

Various cals counters suggested 100 cals per mile based on a 3mph rate and a 14st bloke seemed about right, so with that and strict cals counting I was off - here's the result



As you can see I started off a bit extreme and in the 2nd week introduced more food to get used to eating properly again, but on fewer cals than I was used to

By that 2nd week I didn't even feel hungry anymore, and actually felt like I'd "pigged out" any time I got to 1500 cals; which I did by adding in 2 bottles of wine that week!

I burnt off something like 4,625 cals more than normal over this period by walking around 46 miles that I wouldn't usually have done, so that's pretty cool too

Anyway - I just posted this as an idea for anyone struggling with their weight as something you can set-up for yourselves as a challenge at whatever level you feel you can stick to

This nicely adds to my total so far this year where I've lost 23lbs and I'm aiming to have lost 30 lbs by Christmas as I'll be doing another challenge on my return from 5-days photography in the Lakes this week; the next one will be less extreme though

Dave

 

[Cartus]

In my experience, rapid weight loss almost invariably results in the weight being put back on almost as quickly as it was lost.

 

[DG Phototraining]

In my experience, rapid weight loss almost invariably results in the weight being put back on almost as quickly as it was lost.

If one carries on eating in the same way as putting the weight on then yes I defo agree, its what I've done in previous years' attempts

That's not what I've been doing this year though, this was just a kick-up-t-arse to break 14:07 where I'd been stuck since losing a 14 lbs earlier this year

Dave

 

[cambsno]

Good stuff. While Tim has a point, I do think that shifting initial weight is good and often it changes habits and cycles. When I come of my diet I think (and hope) that I wont eat the wrong things to excess so often.

 

[mark4183]

these days, theres a lot more nutritional science about.

Whilst its true about a calorie deficit, you shouldnt actually starve or make the body go hungry either. Theres also the types of food to eat, 3 main areas being; carbs, fat and protein.

Diets for rapid weight loss, although they initally work, its far from a long term solution

 

[JohnC6]

Monday evening.I was going to reply to this after the current Arsenal v Leicester game but as the Arse are winning 3-1 half way through the second half having been 1-0 down I didn't want to hear anymore. Spurs fan..lol.

I got to 13st 2lbs on September 1st. Today I'm 12' 7. It's noticeable too.

I spoke to a friend who was following a plan by 'Our path'. It's basically a low carb diet. .I just found it easy but I'm very single-minded.

First off I cut down the portions. Half the spaghetti..half the rice..one medium jacket/baked potato rather than the biggest on the potato stall in Morrisons..lol. Maybe three small boiled potatoes. instead of 5 medium sized.At breakfast just one slice of toast with a poached,srambled,fried (in oil) egg or omelette. Saturdays I have baked beans, fried toms and mushrooms and 2 Linda McCartney plain (regular) sausages which are excellent. Before the intake reduction I used to have two slices of toast and then a 'quickie' third one with marmalade..lol. I do a 45 minute good-paced walk each afternoon.Good for the cardio-vascular system and that gets weight off the middle.

I think cutting down is the key.

I have to declare, however, that I don't eat meat...all fish. A pescatarian, I believe not a vegetarian.My concern is over growth hormones and antibiotic feeds not to mention welfare standards of the animals. I stopped eating meat about 4 years ago after a discussion with my nephew who knows about these things and within 2 months had lost almost a stone and my blood pressure came down 12 points to 'normal'. I eat a lot of fish. I don't drink wine or spirits ..burns my stomach an I d don't like UK beer so no alcohol.I lived in Germany for three years and their beer was great. I think german beer is made from hops and UK beer from barley. I don't drink fruit juice but eat a medium bowl of a variety of chopped fresh fruit each morning with quality full fat yoghurt. My wife was told that what goes into getting it low fat isn't good.For that same reason we're back on full fat milk from semi-skimmed.Sadly, I do miss the whole milled Sainsburys porridge oats. High calorie content but good for the bowels. Bananas are high calorie too so I just have a small piece with the morning fruit. For lunch I used to have soup and a salad/smoked mackerel (and the like) sandwich or a large roll and at 3.30pm the coffee and cake. Now I just have a large cup (soup cup) full of home-made soup..just veg soups made in a soup-maker.I still have the 3.30pm coffee but only twice a week with a small cake. Sometimes no cake.

I eat a lot of salad too.

Despite being a Spurs fan I do like Chelsea buns...lol. Instead. of a whole one with a coffee several times a week pm with machine-made coffee ... I now have half a bun (warmed in the microwave) with butter only twice a week. I buy the whole ones,cut them in half and freeze them. Instead of half a large tin of Heinz baked beans ( a real favourite) we now only have the small tins once a week. 200gms. The large are 415gms so not a lot of difference having the 200gms but we don't have waste because of opening a large one and having to eat them within two days and then another one at weekends.

Having gone from 13' 2 to 12' 7 I feel much better. I didn't gradually start this diet. I just embarked on it on September 1st. Also, what helped was the hotel that l we stayed in on our holiday in September (Lake Garda-wonderful) had a self serve only for starters..after that is was table service for the main course and dessert so I wasn't able to do what I did on previous self serve and as much as you want hotels. I returned one pound more than when I went and didn't feel hungary.

I don't calorie count but do weigh myself every three days and note it. That's important for me to ensure I keep on track.

Hope this all helps.I feel fitter and don't miss those larger portions and don't feel hungry. If I need a nibble I have a small sandwich box with a mix of peanuts /walnuts and a small scattering of sultanas in and just grab a few now and then through the day.If I feel like having a cake or a small shop trifle now and then, I will.