Right! 3 stone, 6 weeks!

newmug

Basically I have 6 weeks to lose 3 stone for a fitness test. I'm 6' 2", male, 30 YO. On 7th March this year I weighed 22 stone, by 14th April I weighed 19 stone and now I'm hovering around that. I need to lose a further 3 stone just to be allowed to partake in a fitness test I want to do for a course.

For the last few years, I have been doing a 2 mile run twice a week, thinking I was training more than anyone else in Ireland. Since 7th March, I have upped this to a 2 mile run every second day, with an odd swim or cycle thrown in. Diet wise, I haven't done anything mad, just cut back on beer, cut out milk, butter, biscuits etc. Thats all it took to shed that 3 stone.

But that seems to have been the excess. Now I'm finding it difficult to keep losing weight. I'm fluctuating at 19 stone, could be 19.5 some days, 19 dead other days. I think my diet is ok. 1 bowl porridge for brek, 1 brown bread sandwich with salad and a meat for lunch, dinner always consists of 2 or 3 spuds, 2 veg, and a meat.

So what am I doing wrong? A mate of mine who was like me, but who completely turned his life around and now runs several marathons per year, thinks that I should hit the slim fast just this once for this upcoming fitness test. Does it work, would I actually lose that much weight that fast with slim fast? Is there any other similar, better products? Any other suggestions / ideas?

newmug

newmug wrote: »

Basically I have 6 weeks to lose 3 stone for a fitness test. I'm 6' 2", male, 30 YO. On 7th March this year I weighed 22 stone, by 14th April I weighed 19 stone and now I'm hovering around that. I need to lose a further 3 stone just to be allowed to partake in a fitness test I want to do for a course.

For the last few years, I have been doing a 2 mile run twice a week, thinking I was training more than anyone else in Ireland. Since 7th March, I have upped this to a 2 mile run every second day, with an odd swim or cycle thrown in. Diet wise, I haven't done anything mad, just cut back on beer, cut out milk, butter, biscuits etc. Thats all it took to shed that 3 stone.

But that seems to have been the excess. Now I'm finding it difficult to keep losing weight. I'm fluctuating at 19 stone, could be 19.5 some days, 19 dead other days. I think my diet is ok. 1 bowl porridge for brek, 1 brown bread sandwich with salad and a meat for lunch, dinner always consists of 2 or 3 spuds, 2 veg, and a meat.

So what am I doing wrong? A mate of mine who was like me, but who completely turned his life around and now runs several marathons per year, thinks that I should hit the slim fast just this once for this upcoming fitness test. Does it work, would I actually lose that much weight that fast with slim fast? Is there any other similar, better products? Any other suggestions / ideas?

I don't think you can feasibly lose 3 stone in 6 weeks unfortunately. Not in a healthy manner.

However, the rest of your post seems to indicate that you know the answer. You broke the back of some of the weight by returning to a training regime, however, the hard work on losing weight isn't in the gym, it's in the kitchen.

The stickies have fantastic information for you. In your case I would particularly pay attention to
Portion sizing - Everyone gets this wrong, waaaaay wrong. 700kcals a day by sizing wrong isn't that hard. That's going to make a serious dent in any weight loss ambitions
What is Healthy? - Brown Bread is just slightly "less bad" for you than white bread. Yet we are told that it is a healthy alternative. Healthy for me means something that isn't made in a factory. Fruits, Vegetables, Meats - This should be the core of your diet. Processed foods aren't healthy. No matter if they've got a "hi fibre" sticker on them.

Have a quick read of the stickies, especially Nutrition101, and ask any questions that you need further detail on in here and I'm sure people will help you out.

Also, well done on the training. That is not easy to do at your current size. Now lets couple it with a good diet and get you to where you want to be.

Doctor_Socks

Post up your full diet, warts and all. You might think you're eating healthy but in reality it might not be true.

Don't bother with the Slim Fast, always better alternatives to commercial ****e like that

newmug

Doctor_Socks wrote: »

Post up your full diet, warts and all. You might think you're eating healthy but in reality it might not be true.

Don't bother with the Slim Fast, always better alternatives to commercial ****e like that

Ok I'll try. I wont be near internet land until Tuesday, I'll start then. But just from memory for today:

1 bowl porridge, 2 tea-spoons honey, splash of milk (about 100ml)
2 cups coffee, 2 teaspoons of sugar in each, milk in both aswell.

500ml chicken soup, 1 brown bread sandwich w/o butter, 1 slice ham, lettuce, beetroot.

2 big potatoes, 2 rashers fried, 3 sausages fried, 1 egg, mushrooms x5, half tin of beans.


Now I have to say in my defence, that dinner was fried without my knowledge. I rang home to see what was on, as if I thought it was unhealthy I'd get some healthy food myself, only to be told there was bacon and veg. Not rashers and mushrooms and beans etc.

Still though, got a 4 mile cycle in today, and worked my arse off cango-ing out a yard.

Mellor

newmug wrote: »

1 bowl porridge, 2 tea-spoons honey, splash of milk (about 100ml)
2 cups coffee, 2 teaspoons of sugar in each, milk in both aswell.

500ml chicken soup, 1 brown bread sandwich w/o butter, 1 slice ham, lettuce, beetroot.

2 big potatoes, 2 rashers fried, 3 sausages fried, 1 egg, mushrooms x5, half tin of beans.

The stuff is bold is whats wrong with that day tbh. Nothing is wrong with those in moeration, but constantly adding sugar (honey is sugar btw), frying foods and big portions is jackign up the calories.

If you replaced the sausages and rashers with grilled chicken or whatever it would help. But i've a feeling portion size is whats holding you back