*** Big Fat Weight Loss Thread ***

Ive plateaued again at my last lightest weight (which is still crazy heavy). This week ive started going on a walk in the morning and the evening, just 3-4km per time. The last 3 weeks ive been doing 3 sets a day with resistance bands to try and dwindle the man boobs, defintely feeling a difference on the chest and my nipples have started to reorientate themselves :cry: . Back on the Huel too, 1 huel and 1 meal per day atm with fruit inbetween.
 
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Zenduri said:
Ive plateaued again at my last lightest weight (which is still crazy heavy). This week ive started going on a walk in the morning and the evening, just 3-4km per time. The last 3 weeks ive been doing 3 sets a day with resistance bands to try and dwindle the man boobs, defintely feeling a difference on the chest and my nipples have started to reorientate themselves :cry: . Back on the Huel too, 1 huel and 1 meal per day atm with fruit inbetween.
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How you finding Huel in terms of value? It seems expensive upfront but is it decent value over a month say?
 
Matty8787 said:
How you finding Huel in terms of value? It seems expensive upfront but is it decent value over a month say?
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Huel has a couple of varieties - the Black version (40g protein per shake) is about £1.80 per serving if you subscribe (20% off).

It's the best value meal replacement shake at the moment, as they sell 1.5kg bags.

I'm about to ditch Huel and go back to Yfoods - it's dearer (about £2/shake), has slightly less protein and only comes in 1kg bags, but the flavours are nicer and it's much, much easier to mix than Huel (which needs a blender to stop it being so clumpy/gritty).

The ready made bottles of Huel are a lot different to what you get when mixing the powder - but obviously these work out way more expensive.
 
RedMogg said:
much easier to mix than Huel (which needs a blender to stop it being so clumpy/gritty).
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Just as an alternate view, in 5 or 6 years I've never used a blender and I hardly ever have clumps plus it's not gritty. I simply mix it the night before and leave it in the fridge.
 
AndyCr15 said:
Just as an alternate view, in 5 or 6 years I've never used a blender and I hardly ever have clumps plus it's not gritty. I simply mix it the night before and leave it in the fridge.
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I did this with the sneak meal replacement testers I got, they advised to leave them in the fridge.

They weren’t gritty or clumpy but were like an oat milk type thing, quite nice to be fair.
 
RedMogg said:
Huel has a couple of varieties - the Black version (40g protein per shake) is about £1.80 per serving if you subscribe (20% off).

It's the best value meal replacement shake at the moment, as they sell 1.5kg bags.

I'm about to ditch Huel and go back to Yfoods - it's dearer (about £2/shake), has slightly less protein and only comes in 1kg bags, but the flavours are nicer and it's much, much easier to mix than Huel (which needs a blender to stop it being so clumpy/gritty).

The ready made bottles of Huel are a lot different to what you get when mixing the powder - but obviously these work out way more expensive.
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I was under the impression that Yfoods was not a diet based shake, and just a time saver meal replacement? Do you use it simply as a time save, or because you want to cram in protein? Or a bit of both?
I only as because a lot of Youtubers are now having to state it is just a meal replacement, and not a diet shake - I believe it has a lot of sugar in it, doesn't it - I know every Youtuber bangs on about no added sugar, but it certainly seems to have a lot in it when I briefly looked into it? Or do they do some without sugar at all?

Regarding Huel, I know nothing about this, is this a more diet focused shake, or again just a time saver meal replacement?

Do either actually fill you up like a meal, or is it a bit more of a placebo and you just take it how it is and say to yourself well that's me until dinner now?
 
Matty8787 said:
How you finding Huel in terms of value? It seems expensive upfront but is it decent value over a month say?
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if you're doing 2x200g scoops its 17 meals per bag for the black edition one. I'ld say 2 bags is about £61 which will cover 34 meals. I only really eat 2 meals a day normally so thats basically half my food for month in theory. It's not bad value and i would say get 2 bags so you arent stuck on 1 flavour and you can alternate
 
Freefaller said:
Well done! fantastic effort! :) How do you feel and how are you getting on with it now as part of your daily life?

Yeah I'm trying to educate him on nutrition, it's been a long term thing (we've been friends for over 2 decades...). Thing is I'm a poor example as it's integrated into my life (I've been a gym rat and athlete most of my life), so it's hard for me to empathise sometimes.

I took him under my wing, gave him nutrition plans, training plans, but he loses interest very quickly. His mindset is opposite to mine as I'm always fitness / health over quick pleasures, and am very disciplined, he KNOWS he has to change his life, but struggling to get that discipline. Hence my question about your experiences (in this thread) as I wonder if he saw changes in him he'd start to focus more. I care about him and I just want to help, but 20 years of struggle is frustrating (I feel frustrated for him!).
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Going to reply here to be on topic

Cutting out sugar was simple for me. Definitely recommend That Sugar Film (2014), eye opening in that sugar is in so much UPF (where it rightfully shouldn't be) and how even by itself without other UPF crap it hurts liver and metabolism.
And suddenly snack craving was gone
Intermittent fasting 16:8, skipping breakfast felt so natural. Discovered how actually feels to be hungry and how you could go a while between meals, just "I'm fine" feeling.
Keto was a natural progression. Cutting carbs meant there were no energy swings, sleepiness after meals. But an average person needs a lot of convincing that cholesterol is not a horror dangerous thing. And I always loved meat
Once I upped protein, had a 6months weight loss plateau but also the most drastic body recomposition. Literally weird effect of fat turning into muscle, I would never believe hearing it from someone else.

As far as workouts, very minimal. Try to have a walk 30-45min a day. Some 5-10 min weights for upper body. Thats it.

Whole aisles in shops don't exist for me, breads, cakes, pasta, rice etc. One or two meat based meals with some greens and greek yoghurt. Nothing is simpler to cook than mince beef or eggs.
I wouldn't want to eat in any other way, but I admit keto is not for everyone.
IF should work for anybody. It working is usually attributed to natural reduction in calories, but it can't be all of it. Hunger signals work better, fasting helps mobilise your own fat for energy, better gut health and more.
 
alec said:
Going to reply here to be on topic

Cutting out sugar was simple for me. Definitely recommend That Sugar Film (2014), eye opening in that sugar is in so much UPF (where it rightfully shouldn't be) and how even by itself without other UPF crap it hurts liver and metabolism.
And suddenly snack craving was gone
Intermittent fasting 16:8, skipping breakfast felt so natural. Discovered how actually feels to be hungry and how you could go a while between meals, just "I'm fine" feeling.
Keto was a natural progression. Cutting carbs meant there were no energy swings, sleepiness after meals. But an average person needs a lot of convincing that cholesterol is not a horror dangerous thing. And I always loved meat
Once I upped protein, had a 6months weight loss plateau but also the most drastic body recomposition. Literally weird effect of fat turning into muscle, I would never believe hearing it from someone else.

As far as workouts, very minimal. Try to have a walk 30-45min a day. Some 5-10 min weights for upper body. Thats it.

Whole aisles in shops don't exist for me, breads, cakes, pasta, rice etc. One or two meat based meals with some greens and greek yoghurt. Nothing is simpler to cook than mince beef or eggs.
I wouldn't want to eat in any other way, but I admit keto is not for everyone.
IF should work for anybody. It working is usually attributed to natural reduction in calories, but it can't be all of it. Hunger signals work better, fasting helps mobilise your own fat for energy, better gut health and more.
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That's really good! Well done and great advice (even though I've shared this with him) I will show him this post (and other's from that thread) to see if I can push him along the change his attitude.

As I said in the thread he's quite apathetic and doesn't care much for food other than just fuel - but some of the things you've said are worth tackling with him more seriously again. Although I used to do nutrition plans/training plans for people as a side hustle (I was qualified, and was a royal bore to people about it! :D ) it's hard to see your advice being ignored from a friend who you know isn't happy but doesn't want to listen either!

Workouts are just good for cardiovascular health, you can't out train a bad lifestyle/diet!

It's all about lifestyle, I need to change his mindset - but reading this and that thread will help motivate me to help motivate him more!

Yeah IF just leads to calorie reduction especially if eating whole foods - trying to shove 3k calories in a small feeding window isn't easy! (Unless you're a competitive eater).

I need to try and snap him out of his apathy. This is why I keep venturing into the Ozempic thread - as I wonder if he were to start to see some weight loss, he'd start to feel better and be more motivated... chicken/egg scenario.

Thank you for sharing your experience and successes.
 
I honestly think a quick start on Ozempic or other GLP1 Meds could really help so many people - If I was the NHS I would be going full pelt into them, think of the cost savings in later life care when you can prevent obesity / type 2 diabetes / High blood pressure etc with active intervention. It's clear that intervention with diet etc isn't working for the majority as we don't have the time or resources to really help people in this space.
 
GLP-1 agonists are such a great thing for the population, of course people rebound after stopping them and fall into bad habits, or get side effects, but the same is true for bariatric surgery. Long term outcomes will be very interesting.

Had a whole week in the 88kg range which is satisfying. Nice to see a step in progress. Got a few more weeks until we got away for holiday so will carry on for now!
 
Good work.

I’ve been off work all week. Got a big ride in Thursday which I wasn’t aiming for. Ended up around 30km longer than intended.

Booze has been (relatively) minimal although yesterday I had an amazing beer from La Chouffe. Still not sure which it was but it was hazy and tropical. Kind of like an DIPA but not like any La Chouffe I’ve had before but couldn’t quite grasp the name and all the taps didn’t line up with the beers. My wife got a Bruge Zot which said Brun but was the normal blonde version!

Eating hasn’t been too bad. Annoyingly I went to a podiatrist who mentioned my toe was still unhealed and I should avoid all running and mountain terrain.
 
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Alice In Wonderland said:
I'm amazed how much you lose once you've had a massively satisfying poo.

I bought some digital scales rather than use my non digital ones so I've been getting rather obsessed and fascinated by how much I put on and lose.
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I'm more amazed that you are weighing your poo, to the point you even upgraded to a digital scales to weigh it! :cry:
 
For the first time in my life I've managed to do exercise consistently for a period of time, however I forgot to measure waist for the first month so not expecting anything dramatic (if even lighter at all) than last month where I clock in at 14st10lb.

At my heaviest I was 16st, and basically got a kick up the arse from drs with the whole pre-diabetic stuff. I have struggled with binge eating for years which I'm glad to say is now much more under control since getting my ADHD diagnosis in 2022 and medicated (suppresses appetite and cravings). If I don't take my meds I'm struggling all day as my brain craves that dopamine hit from biscuits or whatever.

I am aware of all the mistakes I've made in the past where I tried to get in a routine and always fail and I'm much happier being relaxed about it, i.e, really don't want to do the full 30m target, just do a min of 20m. I managed a session on my spin bike every day last month, this month the max I'll hit is 21/30 days but again, not treating it as a failure, that is still more than any previous attempt for a month.
I am varying the resistance on the bike after 5m and keeping a steady pace so I'm sweating and can't talk easily. I didn't find not having a rest day mattered too much for my initial goal of just getting the routine.

Food wise what I was doing was unhealthy, I was probably eating less than 1200 cal a day for a month and yes I lost a stone but after a bit of research I realised this wasn't sustainable. I'm having for breakfast 2x wholemeal toast with PB, or 2 chicken sausages, a ramekin of beans with or without toast, maybe one or two eggs a week but not every day due to cholesterol. For my own purpose I need to not get too scientific with it, calorie deficit + exercise = results. I am not and will not consider any medical things to help, no shade at people who use them but it's not for me.
Peanut butter has been the main thing I use to get by, the high oleic kind (Pip & Nut).

I saw positive results early on too, I was prescribed statins but told to hold off as a blood test showed liver test as 'abnormal but expected, they said could be a blip have another in two weeks, that one came back as 'borderline', I said I'd been on an exercise streak and the Dr said oh that could be why it's improved, give it another 3 weeks, I did and that one came back normal. So that was some nice positive confirmation along with the initial weight loss.

I'm not spending money on weights or going to a gym so I thought a compromise could be getting some resistance bands and adding that into the mix so I don't have to do the same cardio on my bike every day (though I don't mind too much as it's easy to do when WFH and I play on my Switch).

Here's to hopefully a good July! Wishing everyone else luck too.
 
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