*** Big Fat Weight Loss Thread ***

[AndyCr15]

I wonder if anyone here can recommend a good one that doesn't bounce around too much.

I have this one and it's pretty good. The only problem I sometimes have is finding the entrance into the flaps! It has one big pouch at the front middle for your phone and a small pouch either side, for keys.

unless you've gone all WiFi Bluetooth in which case how good are your earphones bus at staying in?

I have relatively big ear wholes (I think) and have tested probably between 4 and 10 different totally wireless earbuds and none have ever fallen out while running, so you should be fine. I think a bigger issue is some make your steps echo around your head. I guess some make a really tight seal in your ear, it's a bit like if you plugged your ears and are something. You hear all the movement of your bones.

 

[AndyCr15]

That's mostly been due to weight training and better quality of food. But belly is still there, so now am targeting 2700 calories per day.

I find the problem is, if you're looking to keep size/bulk but lose the belly, they kinda work in opposite of each other. To lose the belly, you probably should drop the cals lower than that (IMO of course ) but then it means you don't have the cals for the weights. I had to accept I would get smaller as well as lose fat.

I can't wait to get further with the decorating and DIY to get the boxes out of the lounge so I can start doing crunches and situps watching MOTD again.

Just remember, abs exercises are not how you lose a belly though

 

[AndyCr15]

but that belt doesn't have any zip so does it feel like the phone or keys could jump out while running?

No chance. As I say, it can be hard getting in sometimes to get the things out, let alone them coming out when you don't expect it!

head. Popped. WHAAAT?

Not sure if you're being sarcastic, as I feel like it's fairly well know, hence the smiley. Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, just thought I would check

I believe apple have the most accurate but since I use an android phone I don't suppose it's compatible. Fitbit?

As @Martynt74 says above, Garmin are considered a safe go to for a running watch. I have the 735XT and it cost me less than £200 if that's any good?

 

[AndyCr15]

If anything, you'll make your waist bigger as the muscles will get bigger Look up 'spot reduction', it's generally believed to be a myth. Your waist is determined more by calories in versus calories out. Eat slightly less and go out for a run

Of course, situps will burn calories, but you might as well do push ups or chin ups. They will have as much effect on your waist size. Do you do enough situps to the point you're sweating? Do you keep your heart rate up over 130 or so, for 10 to 15 minutes(at least)? That's the kind of thing that will burn the fat off your tum tum.

 

[AndyCr15]

Can the 735XT display these without needing to scroll through screens?

Distance walked/jogged
My speed
Heart rate
Calories burnt

Yep, this is possible. I'm not sure where you guys are getting a 3 data display limit? I have 4 on my main screen. (Maybe the use of 'lines' is confusing, as it displays 4 things over 3 lines... the middle line has two data types.)

It's touch screen, that would make it easy to scroll through while jogging.

Hmm, I would be concerned about this myself. When I'm running I think it's quite hard to operate your phone, for example. I like the watch has solid buttons I can grab and press. I think tapping on a watch screen, while jogging, would be very difficult. Then also, when it's cold and I have sleeves, do they interfere with the touches? Probably not I guess...

I tend to go mad if I have a chocolate bar and want three or four more. Same with biscuits.

Yeah, I definitely find this. I have a large Cadbury Caramel bar in the cupboard. I know I can't just have a few pieces. If I start it, I'll finish it. I think I need to just not buy these things and not have them in the flat!

I've gone under that and eaten 10, 767 calories in 7 days so I'm pleased with that.

Great control. Well done! I look forward to the result... but at the same time, don't be too annoyed if it's not a huge difference, or even none. It's a pattern and shift of momentum you're making. The results will come, just get that momentum moving that way

**EDIT** Okay, missed the last couple of posts. So yes, you've seen a couple of lbs come off, that's great, now it's stabilised a little. So, just keep at it and it'll gradually come off.

Have you started the exercise too? I love to see the effects of exercise alter the balance of my calorie deficit in MyFP I cycled 50 miles a couple of days ago, Strava suggested 3,000 calories burnt! In theory, I could have eaten about 6,000 cals that day! (I didn't but it's nice to know I can go up to about 3,500 and not worry)

 

[AndyCr15]

I'm also looking into high intensity training. Apparently 15 minutes of HIT can do as well as 30 minutes of jogging

One of the things I like that Strava gives me is a 'Relative Effort' for a session. I think it's some kind of 'HR x Time' equation. Look at these three rides -

Mon, 04/01/2021 - 3:15:08 50.24 mi (157 RE) - 129 Ave HR
Fri, 01/01/2021- 2:33:45 40.41 mi (148 RE) - 132 Ave HR
Wed, 30/12/2020 2:31:49 40.13 mi (217 RE) - 139 Ave HR

The shortest ride apparently took the biggest effort, I guess mainly because of the higher average heart rate. The other 40 miler wasn't that different to the 50 mile ride because of the slightly higher HR. So, have a think about sustainable, high intensity. Sprints are great, but you can't sustain them. My highest RE run is a 10k from last month, 145 RE (ave 150HR for just over an hour). I couldn't really run any further than that, so riding opens up higher RE opportunities (and just the ability to do longer exercises, so more cals burnt) if that makes sense?

I like sprinting but there isn't really a good place to sprint as there's always too many people at my local park and my park would only really suit jogging.

You wanna move 4 miles North mate. We got loadsa space in Barnet

 

[AndyCr15]

I'm wondering if the lockdown rules will allow me to travel 4/5 miles to exercise? Where's a good place to do sprinting and jogging in barnet?

Tbf, I'm more thinking about when I cycle, within a mile or two in cycling through fields. Mind you, I'm right by King George's fields which has a great hill to do sprints up.

MyFitnessPal says to try and eat only 53g fat a day. Scrolling through my days of dieting, most have over 53g fat, like between 65 and 80g. I assume I'll still lose weight because of my calorie deficit, but is the extra fat intake particularly bad?

The calorie deficit is the most important thing. Tbh, my fat is usually around 80-100g, but then my cal target is 3,000 at the minute and I usually have plenty of space for more. Right no I've eaten, 88g fat, 250g carbs and 237g protein today.

Just finished week 3 of my diet and I've lost just over half a stone, though the rate of loss has slowed considerably this week.

Nice Well done.

 

[AndyCr15]

Ha ha, I'm not particularly trying at this point, but all the food I tend to buy is low carb, high protein. Huel for lunch was 24g, Muscle Food Chicken Satay for dinner was 42g. Then other things through the day include a couple of yogurts are around 15g each, four protein bars around 22g each, two Huel bars at 12g and a pack of ready to eat cooked chicken at 33g. I did finish at 3,300 cals yesterday, so a little high.

 

[AndyCr15]

as I have gloves for my hands. That's the part of me that doesn't seem to warm up

Same for me, it's more about hands and maybe ears. Everything else is far too hot when jogging.

I haven't been jogging yet.

Just head out and try some things. I feel like we've been talking about this for months and you've not even been out and had a run yet!?!?! (Even if it's just 10 or 15 minutes, it will give you a good idea of if you have the right gear or not )

 

[AndyCr15]

But yeah, I'll start tomorrow.

it's all iced-up slush here and lethal

Tbf, I was just thinking this myself. Should I go for a run after work? Maybe I'll need to wait for the ice to clear...

 

[AndyCr15]

18/6 has worked well for me in the past

I almost wish I could do this, but I am hungry within 2 or 3 hours of eating, there's just no way I could last 18 hours. How many calories do you eat in the 6 hours?

 

[AndyCr15]

I have some Uber Eats discount codes and fancy being lazy this weekend, but don't want to eat to unhealthy. Does anyone have any tips for hour they order out, but healthily?

 

[AndyCr15]

Or just spoil yourself once a week, in the big picture won't make that much difference.

Oh I do that already. Sunday night has been kebab night all the way through my huge weight loss.

 

[AndyCr15]

I find I can jog at a good pace for about 30 seconds before I feel like wretching. So I mixed it up with brisk walking, then a bit of jogging, walking, etc. That's ok to do right? I guess the more I do it I'll build my jogging endurance.

Well done. Yeah, try jogging at an almost walking pace and see if you can sustain it for longer. Then, hopefully over the first few weeks you'll just gradually pick the pace up.

 

[AndyCr15]

ended up doing a 51 minute session

That's great. I think I said earlier, better to make the sessions longer but slowing down and making it a sustainable pace. Nice.

I had a spur of the moment run myself yesterday afternoon. Did 10.4k in about 1hr 8 mins. Not an amazing pace, but I didn't really push, I just wanted to get 10k done. (One of my goals this year is to do 10k if I run and 40 miles if I ride) Like you, my quads are quite tight today, so I've given myself the day off It's too cold for cycling (well, I have done in this temp, but figure I don't need to, so will have a rest day) Sunday is also my cheat meal, so will push the boat out on dessert this evening with some order out cheesecake and milkshake

 

[AndyCr15]

When I started cycling, I would do it every day. I wasn't bothered about 'form' or anything, I was just trying to burn calories, and it worked fine. But running is a different matter I think. There's a lot more pressure and impact involved. I think even now, I will usually have at least one rest day between runs. I try and mix things up in winter. Cycle one day, run another, gym/workout another. Summer is more like cycle, cycle, run to the gym, cycle...

 

[AndyCr15]

A discussion of temporary weight loss came up in the Huel thread and I threw in what I thought was quite interesting about my experience last week -

Just as an interesting note on weight and water loss... Last Wednesday morning I was 15st 7.4lbs, then Thursday afternoon I did a 3.5hour indoor cycle, (Strava said it was my highest ever Relative Effort) which almost killed me! I sweat so much, gave so much effort... then out of interest I jumped on the scales right after and I was something like 14st 12!!! (or maybe it waved around 14st 13 and 15, I forget now and didn't keep it). The next morning I was 15st 2.7 and by Saturday I was 15st 3.9, so as I rehydrated, the weight mostly came back.

I recently watched 'Power' on Netflix, where the MMA fighters would 'cut' on weight in day, losing 10+ lbs in a day. I now see how easy that could actually be!

 

[AndyCr15]

Woa, now that's impressive stamina! Legs moving continuously for that length of time or with some breaks surely?

No, my actual riding time was just over 3 hours. I had one reasonably long break of about 20minutes, for a coffee and brownie, at around half way, then another break at the 3/4 point. I think I did stop a few times for a few minutes near the end as I was feeling sick and also my legs wanted to cramp up, so I stretched them out a couple of times.

Didn't you get bored

As someone mentioned, I had a few TV shows to watch.

He probably ate enough afterwards/before to negate any weight loss.

I kind of exercise to mitigate the days I end up eating too much... so, given I have my goal set at 2,980 -

Wednesday - 2,870 in, 192 out (short home workout I think) = 302 under
Thursday - 3,252 in, 2,045 out (the 3 hour ride) = 1,773 under
Friday - 2,737 in, 0 exercise (I was suffering!) = 243 under

It's good, but i found the novelty wore off.

For me it's not been any kind of novelty, it's just making it more realistic, which it does a pretty good job of. At the same time, I don't like cycling indoors compared to outdoors (when the weather is nice, of course) but a decent trainer and setup is making it more bearable. The one advantage of Zwift is the racing/structure. I am a competitive type, so do enjoy I can race against others... even if I'm generally at the back somewhere!

 

[AndyCr15]

In the 18 months I've been doing this, I've never really counted calories once as I'm not convinced it works.

I don't really see how it can't? It's kind of the basis for pretty much ever diet there is...

I must say though, my appetite hasn't reduced so everyday is always a struggle of willpower not to snack too much in between lunch and dinner.

This is my problem. I'm sure people had made comments about 'your stomach will shrink' or 'you get used to it' but they're not true for me. I spend most of my time hungry

 

[AndyCr15]

Why not just replace it with protein?