This may sound all lovely and fluffy and reassuring, but fundamentally, youāll never lose weight in caloric surplus.
It sounds like itās going to either be a case of maintain sanity by eating in excess, or lose weight and be temporarily miserable while you get accustomed. But either way, I donāt think we should encourage people ānot to worry about the caloriesā when theyāre specifically hoping for weight loss - Thatās a slippery slope, similar to giving every participant in school races a medal instead of just the winner.
You Certainly donāt want to being āworryingā to the point its causing stress so do what you need to do to get around that, but you can not defy physics either.
Basically, to be fair, if you are picking better food choices by eliminating junk caloric dense foods and replacing them with more filling nutritious things then you are bound to still lose weight, again simply because youāll be eating less calories than you were, so no, you donāt necessarily have to track calories to do this, if you know that the foods you are eating day in, day out, are containing less calories overall.
My mother for example has lost several stone simply by cutting out rubbishy junk foods, and consistently eating a decent diet, she doesnāt track and honestly she wouldnāt know where to begin, I tried explaining the basics of macros to her before and watched as she glazed overā¦ But the point is still the same, if somehow youāve created a caloric deficit by eating a better diet youāll lose weight.
If you overate with several thousand calories of broccoli youād gain weight, if you overate the same about in Mars bars youād still gain the same weight, itās just a lot harder (basically impossible) to over eat a massive amount of broccoli, because itās not calorie dense.
I donāt think I encouraged disregarding calories, since Iām a believer in Calories In Calories Out. A couple of points:
I think we agree that in order to lose weight, she has to be in a caloric deficit
What we disagree on is how to get there: if youāve read her posts youād realise that over-worrying about eating more than 1500kcal is making her mentally more likely to give up entirely, which, in the end, is NOT going to put her in a caloric deficit
Thereās a fine line between empathy and making excuses/being weak, and so long as she keeps making steps to improve herself and her diet, itās evident sheās making steps to get there eventually.
Oh and I second this too ^
Thereās an analogy I find very useful:
CICO is like telling people āin order to make money, you gotta save more than you spendā, but thatās very often not exactly the most useful piece of advice.
Itās important to find out WHY youāre spending more than youāre saving. And then to take small, consistent steps to correct that over the long term.
CICO is the mechanism of weight loss, but the method is important too, and what works for each individual often varies.
No, I agree. You didnāt say those words, but it seems OP misunderstood what you said and inferred the āignore caloriesā instruction.
I kind of see what youāre saying, but being over a target caloric goal by 1000 is not simply āadjustingā and needs to be pointed out accordingly. Itās better to be upfront and make the point that this behaviour must be corrected before progress is seen.
@Luffers Again, to clarify, nothing I say on here is ever meant offensively or to be insulting. Itās just objective and to the point rather than fluffy and nicey nicey
I think how I worded it was wrong and ive not actually said what I mean!
What @jeffy89 said was in the first week of changing any diet, donāt go extremeā¦ like just focus on cutting down, then once youāve done that, the next step wonāt feel so drastic.
So before starting on Huel, was consuming in excess of 3,000 4,000 calories easily. When I started Huel and worked out what I āshouldā be consuming ā1,500ā calories, I found it incredibly difficult, even after just one or two days. @jeffy89 advice was just focus on cutting down. Which Iāve done.
Just by eliminating the usual bread, crisps, chocolate, fried foods that I was eating, my calories are naturally down, and Iām making better choices.
Albeit it at a higher calorie content that I ultimately āshould beā consuming.
After a week or so doing this, I should then feel more capable a lowering the calories down even further.
Also setting myself a weekly target instead of failing at daily targets was another point @jeffy89 made. This is a great idea. Daily I was failing, but if I try for a week, the goal seems to make me want to hit target much moreā¦
So Iāve given up drinking Pepsi. My one weakness Iāve not wanted to quit!
Definitelyā¦ I worded what I meant wrongly. My bad
Iām never going to make excuses. Iām very upfront and if I mess up, I fess up!
I was 100% worrying that I was constantly failing. Even though I was making better food choices, I was still consuming too much, BUT it was still a LOT LOT less than I previously was eating every day. So instantly I have made improvements!!
Iāve gone from 4,000 calories a day, to eating 2,500 roughly. So Iām already 1,500 deficit each day!
After a couple of weeks consuming Huel, mentally and physically I will naturally start to consume less and less, my appetite is sated much quicker now and Iām finding the need to snack and munch on bad foods slowly fade away.
As I just mentioned above. Iāve gone from 4,000 to 2,500 in a week, now, after a couple weeks I will hopefully get down to 1,500 with a better mindset and a much lower risk of sabotaging myself.
I didnāt really ignore the calories in vs calories out. I was just trying to say, I will ease myself into this new way of eating and thinking of what Iām putting in my mouth. Slowly and surely. Itās been a few days, so Iām not lost yet!!
Iām not a fluffy Nicey Nicey girl myself. Iām as blunt as F***, so carry on
I was just badly getting across my thoughts and Iām definitely working on it.
This is kinda what I was trying to say. I am choosing better options and I am actually lowering my calories by avoiding the foods I was eating previously to starting Huel. Normally I would be eating take out most nights, snacking on whole bars of chocolate and eating crisps and junk constantly. Oh and bread. At least a whole loaf of fresh baked bread that I bake myself at work!!
Iāve stopped all that!
I think Iām doing great so far. Iām on day 6 and I can already tell that thereās a difference in me.
Biggest difference Iāve noticed is my energy levels. Iām able to work more efficiently and Iāve come home feeling almost energised instead of dead on my feet.
My mobility has increased too, as even a week ago I was taking extremely strong painkillers to get through a shift at work, now Iām taking NONE!
As an ex addict, I hated taking even paracetamol but because of my health issues, I have had no choice. Iām very limited to the medications I can take and this was my biggest āneedā in losing weight. I want my body back.
As in my first post, I wrote, almost a year ago I was 6 stone lighter than I am today.
This has made a huge impact on my body and my health and I want to reclaim it. Instead of withering away and gaining more and more weight.
So thank you all for being kind enough to help me through this week, I really do appreciate all the comments and feedback, hopefully Iāve worded myself better and you can see I am making slow and steady progress.
I really donāt want to f*** this up, I really do want to change my life. In a healthy non destructive way.
So keep pulling me up on things if you see me going wrong. Iām very honest with my daily intake and thoughts, so I wonāt āwrite what you want to hearā
If I screw up and over eat, Iām gonna say so.
Iām only accountable to myself, but I also want to be accountable to this thread tooā¦ that way I will hopefully NOT screw it up!!!
I think that is a really good approach, gotta start small and build from there basically. Thatās what I did years back and Iām now walking around with a semi decent physique!
Rome wasnāt built in a day and all that stuffā¦
Indeed. Iāve gone the complete opposite way over the last year, from a very toned and very athletic figure to a very overweight unhealthy person!
Iām claiming that body I once had back, but without drugs! I think my recovery from narcotics was worth becoming obese for, but I canāt stay obese forever.
Slowly and surely I will get myself back to a good place both physically and mentally
Drinks: 1.5 litres hot water (maybe 2ltrs by bedtime)
Total calories consumed: 1,735 (daily goal 1,500)ALMOST MADE IT!!!
Exercise: 10,559 steps so far (maybe a Bit higher if I go out this evening to collect my daughter from a friends house) EDIT: just closed all 3 rings on my Apple Watch
Weight: unknown, but very noticeably not bloated!
After yesterday, I had a good think about myself and what Iām doing. I read the previous comments about what Iād written, and hopefully Iāve clarified what I actually meant to say and what I mean.
Today, I did not snack on anything. I actually didnāt even want to!
I finished work, and as I was walking home, something happenedā¦ I realised, for the first time in forever, my body did not hurt. I live up a steep hill and most days I need assistance to walk up it, or if Iām alone, I take an extended amount of time to make the short steep journey to my front door. I walked up the hill with easeā¦ and quickly!
Then at my front door, I always always use the railing to get up the few steps to my front door, BUT TODAYā¦ I walked up each step without a care in the world
I actually did a little happy dance when I realised, my body is getting better!
I know this has only been 6 days into a change of diet, but I think because of all the vitamins and minerals and all the goodness that Huel gives you, combined with the elimation of bad foods from my diet, my body is rejoicing with happiness.
I was almost medically at the point, mobility wise that Iād need either a walking stick, or a mobility scooter within the year, so, this is HUGE!
Iāve also found my work clothes arenāt as tightā¦ theyāre elasticated at the waistā¦ but theyāre fitting just that little bit better and not as stretched out.
Again is an amazing feeling.
Simple goals and simple victories are making me extremely happy right now.
Tomorrowās goals:
Drink more water (Iām always going to put this, as its a good one!)
Find something for dinner thatās low in calories
Itās my day off work. So try to exercise and close my 3 rings!
Breakfast: new vanilla v2.3 x3 scoops + instant coffee (456 calories) Lunch: new vanilla v2.3 x3 scoops +1/8th mocha (456 calories) Dinner: BOL smokey tomato and lentil soup, salad, red pepper with garlic hummous, celery, French dressing (696 calories)
Snacks: quorn cocktail sausages and a unicorn ice cream cone (564 calories)
Drinks: 1 litre hot water, 500mls sparkling water
Total calories consumed: 2,172 (daily goal 1,500)
Exercise: 12,454 steps (closed all 3 rings)
Weight: 15st 0lbs - previous weight:15st 5lbs
I cannot believe Iāve lost 5 lbs in seven days! As I havenāt even been reducing my calories as much as I could have, I wasnāt not expecting this much. I was so shocked! But very pleased.
I also think Iāve lost about 4ā off my waist too. I say this because when I look in the mirror, my boobs now stick out more than my belly does and before I looked 9 months pregnant!!!
I chose much better options for my dinner today, I wish I could go shopping everyday and buy yummier foods. Better that what I have in the cupboards already at home
I get paid tomorrow, so Iām going to stock up on more yummy salad stuff and eat it all! (Joke!)
The other day @Stole_My_Sweetroll said, calories are calories, if I ate the same amount of calories in broccoli as is in a mars bar, that would be a LOT of broccoli.
Itās true, my dinner today was so filling. I could only just finish it. And it was so much more satisfying than other foods Iāve eaten recently.
This evening out shopping with my sister she gave me an ice cream cone, and without thinking I started eating it, then, instantly realising, oops, Iām trying to lose weightā¦ but then thought sod it!
This isnāt a strict no treat ādietā Iām on, this is a change of lifestyle and making better choices deal Iām on. I would have been under target for todayās calorie intake had I not eaten the ice cream, but sod it. It was a special treat. EDIT: 1 hour after eating the ice cream, I was on the loo like when will I realise, I canāt process fat. Or dairy?!
Iām not one of those who think, āoh, go you, youāve lost 5lbs, you can afford to eat an ice creamā thatās just not me.
Also today, my sister tried to encourage me 3 timesā¦ yes 3 times, to have take away fish and chips for dinner tonite,
once before she took my niece swimming,
once after swimming and she was in the fish and chip shop,
then once again, when they got to my house and sat in front of me eating it.
I said NO each time!
My sister was like āwoah, Natā¦ Iām so proud of you, I would have given in my now!ā
I was actually extremely excited to eat my salad and my soup!
After Iād eaten my dinner in front of her, she looked at me and said, āyou know what, that looked way more tasty and appealing than what Iāve just eaten, I wish Iād gotten salad instead now.ā
Not gonna lie, I felt kinda smug!
Tomorrowās goals:
Drink more water
Close all 3 rings
Buy LOADS of low calorie, high goodness foods!!!,
Weekly goal:
AVOID Pepsi (3 days counting, and kinda craving the sugar, not gonna lieā:see_no_evil:)
Breakfast: new vanilla v2.3 x3 scoops + instant coffee (456 calories) Lunch: new vanilla v2.3 x3 scoops +1/8th mocha (456 calories) Dinner: salad, hummous, French dressing, BOL lentil and vegetable soup (1,046 calories) Snacks:zero snacks! Drinks: 500mls hot water, 300mls sparkling water. (Not enough at all I know!!) Total calories consumed: 1,958 (daily goal 1,500) Exercise: 12,755 steps Weight: - unknown!!! previous weight: 15st 0lbs
Not much to report today, I replicated yesterdayās dinner, but had twice as much hummous! I was being greedy and I really wish I hadnāt. After an hour, I was on the throne again my body really doesnāt like high fat.
I didnāt work today, but made sure I didnāt sit on my ass being lazy! We got a little kitten and I spent the day walking around buying supplies and getting my super messy house tidied!
Also dyed my nephewās hair purple, he now matches me!!!
I got my mum signed up to try Huel today too, sheās getting her delivery tomorrow! Iām so excited (for her!)
My next steps are to convince my twin sisters to start taking it, then my brother! Oh and also, all 4 of my kids!!!
Tomorrowās goals:
DRINK MORE BLOOMING WATER!!!
DO NOT EAT LOADS OF HUMMOUS
Weekly goal:
AVOID Pepsi (and oh god this was hard today, I really wanted a fizzy can of popš)
Lunch: original vanilla v2.3 x3 scoops +1/8th mocha (456 calories)
Dinner: BOL sweet potato and cauliflower soup, hummous, carrots raw, celery raw, alpro go on strawberry yoghurt, messianic pasta, pesto (833 calories)
Snacks: (ZERO calories)
Drinks: 500mls hot water, 800mls bottled water
Total calories consumed: 1,745 (daily goal 1,500)
Exercise: 14,802 steps
Weight: unknown - previous weight: 15st 0lbs
My mum got her delivery of Huel today, she got original vanilla, so we could compare on the flavours, I MUCH prefer the new vanilla surprisingly, I really thought I wouldnāt!
I bought the mocha flavour pouch too, via amazon prime! I wanted the toffee but it was out of stock hopefully next week! I love the mocha one, I donāt always want coffee in my shake, but now I can have the flavour without the caffeine. I would buy decaf coffee, but I will get WAY more out of a flavour pouch than buying coffee! Iām only using 1/8th teaspoon per shake. So a pouch will last me forever!!!
Lunch: Alpro go on passion fruit yoghurt, salad, hummous (880 calories)
Dinner: alpro go on mango yoghurt, alpro go on blackcurrant yoghurt, kebab shop chips. (564 calories)
Snacks: jelly beans (270 calories)
Drinks: 1 litre hot water
Total calories consumed: 2,170 (daily goal 1,500)
Exercise: 12,941 steps
Weight: unknown - previous weight: 15st 0lbs
Today was a write off.
I woke up in a crappy mood, desperately wanting more sleep and not an extra long shift at work.
After I finished work, I got home, far too tired to even take my boots off, I sat on the sofa and sulked about being super tired.
I was extremely hungry too, but couldnāt even move my ass off the couch to go get a shake. So I sat there, for 4 hours.
I eventually got myself up, and made some salad and used the whole tub of hummous, I didnāt care how many calories were in it, or that within an hour Iād be on the loo like
My kids all came home from school/college and complained we had no food, we literally had bare cupboards, so after some much more whining sulking, I got up and went food shopping. Whilst walking around the store, I was wanted everything on the shelves, I looked at dried mango, ice creams, falafel wraps, biscuits, I even put everything in my basket, determined to eat it all, but as I walked around, I slowly put each item back where it went as I really couldnāt justify the calories.
I wanted it, but I wanted more to NOT to break my good eating choices.
I got all the way home with the shopping, then instantly realised Iād forgotten to buy myself anything for dinner Iād eaten my last bit of food at lunchtime instead of a shake and I really wasnāt in the mood for a shake at dinner time.
So instead, I ate 2 yoghurts and sulked some more. I really wanted something wholesome, like mashed potatoes, and peas with gravy, with vegan sausages (Linda McCartney ones) but I didnāt have the ingredients at home.
I sulked some more, then after about an hour, I begged my sonās friend to go to the local kebab shop and buy me some chips.
I ate them and I didnāt care. I gave half to my daughter and weighed the rest. Sure how accurate that is, but I chose the option with the highest calories and thought fuck it! Iāll take that!
I went to bed shortly afterward as I was still in a super foul mood, and I saw a packet of jellybeans Iād hidden ages ago in my bedside drawer. I again, thought fuck it and ate them.
But I hated them. They tasted so weird and yucky. Almost like theyād gone off. I even checked their sell by date, Aug 2019, so nope in date.
I wondered, is it the high sugar content that Iām not used tooā¦?
Whatever it was, it solidified the fact that I do NOT want to eat candy again. EVER.
I didnāt regret eating the chips, theyāve always been one of my favourite guilty pleasures and Iām not gonna stop treating myself once in a while!!
Tomorrowās goals:
Drink more water
Wake up in a better mood!
Donāt eat everything in the house, buy food!!!
Donāt worry about eating everything in the house
Family sabotage. My hubby is the one. He brings in Ben and Jerryās because it was only Ā£2.00. I screamed at him and he put it in the freezer. Then the following night, he sat and ate it in front of me. NO I didnāt give in. Somehow I got strength to keep going. Determined now.
The first thing I told my partner was āDo NOT bring cookies home or anything sweet, but you can eat whatever the hell you wantā. We now have an understanding. Iām not buying the stuff either - I donāt want any junk in the house. So important to get partner/family etc on board so they donāt sabotage.
Iāve been thinking a lot about addiction and Huel. I remember once watching a documentary about bed bound morbidly obese people and one said that they were addicted to food, but unlike with other addictions, they still had to have their ādrugā three times a day and thatās what made it so hard.
I can sympathise with that, the more unhealthy food I eat, the more I want! However, for me, I find Huel is almost like the opposite of food, itās the thing I can put into my body which gives it what it needs, but still leaves me feeling light and empty, but not hungry - does that make any sense?
Very true. Plus the food industry obviously formulates stuff for maximum addictiveness. I have some funny stories about smokers who managed to quit once they had switched to additive-free pure tobacco - the big tobacco companies but several thousand additives into their cigarettes, and I could imagine theyāre now doing the same thing with vapes, but thatās a rant for another day. The big companies make the biggest profits if they make their food (or other products) as addictive as possible. Plus, of course all the advertisingā¦ thereās no escaping food, itās simply everywhere.
But the point is still the same, if somehow youāve created a caloric deficit by eating a better diet youāll lose weight.
(Iām always going to put this, as its a good one!)
