Ok, it's been a fortnight, and I have settled in to 1/3 to 1/2 the ridiculous QUANTITIES I used to eat, and hit 920 - 1150kCals a day (around the lower on fish days), again cutting calorific intake by 50 to 60ish%

And what did I find of benefit from this radical reduction? A 9lb loss in the first 2 weeks. I know I have been ultra strict with portion size, this speed of loss is unsustainable, and I have always lost weight quickly in the past, but this amount comes as a shock! I checked 3 times, weighing at noon on Saturday wearing t-shirt and boxers (sorry for that image in your minds). I suppose my Metoclopramide is now working in my favour.

It is not easy. I have hunger pangs and cravings, but I had them before and that is where the weight piled on. There has been no junk, one Baklava treat a week - and that is just 97kCals. It helps that my neck and arms are so painful it slows down lifting a fork to my mouth now, and is deteriorating. Meals last nearly twice as long so I get the chance to savour my food and feel full.

The one thing I have not done is get the tape measure out. That is a once-a-month ritual.

I trust that everyone on this Journey is making progress. I still have a long, long way to go. Maybe I will photograph my scales when I hit my target?

Dave.

Dave, that sounds really great .

I do mindful eating ("I get the chance to savour my food" as well.

Dear david,
congratulations on your weight loss.
that is fantastic!!!!!!!!
I applaud you in your determination to stick with your diet plan.
Losing weight is all about the food.
I am sorry you can lose weight and not do one exercise at all.
I think that you need to eat at least 1200 calories or you run the risk of your body turning into panic mode. starvation mode and turning off your metabolism.
I wish you much luck in this journey....it will take a while but it is worth the effort.
YOU ARE WORTHY OF THIS EFFORT!
bizi

Hi bizi,

Thanks for the encouragement - and especially the advice. I am now aiming more at 1200kCals per day as a deliberate Target. I didn't want to have to cut, then cut again, but then my 'Low Count' days are not deliberate, just that I am eating a very varied diet. When I have a low cal main meal (fish usually) I will compensate with a higher count lunch and snacks.

I am slowly getting a grip on the hunger issue by allocating enough for a small snack every few hours.

I am coming from a long way up, with great determination - fuelled by the support of my Friends here. For that I thank you all.

Dave.

Drinking a ton of water and chewing gum helps me.
a piece of fruit like an apple or a pear in the evening is perfect when I watch an episode of the x-files with my hubby in the evening around 10:30 pm.
lights out midnight.
tonight we had a late dinner, I worked late so dinner at 720pm when we normally eat at 6. then we took a walk around the neighborhood, about 2 miles.
I wear a fit bit and todays totals are:
7615 steps
3.17 miles
1782 calories burned total
for dinner I had baked chicken with bacon and cream cheese
( rarely do I eat bacon!) and steamed brussel sprouts with strawberries and blueberries for desert oh and 2 dark chocolate hersheys kisses.
bizi

Thanks again bizi,

I have to watch Gum, acid issues I take Lansoprazole and Metoclopramide for. Fruit I am finding is good, instead of reaching for a packet of cookies. My Diabetes glucose levels are obviously dropping from this swap (I don't test yet, maybe this year).

For dinner last night I had 4oz Southern Coated Chicken Breast - as a treat, baked. 8oz baked potato and 6oz steamed peas and green beans. I hit 1180kcal yesterday nicely. I am not an obsessive counter, I do not include splurges of condiments or the like, and I round up and down. As long as I am hitting 1200-1300 consistently, now I am 'in the groove' I am happy.

Dave.

oh dave look at your condiments. they can really add up!
Are you diabetic? knowing what your A1c is really helps to see how your blood sugars have been over the past 3 months. It should be below 6.
bizi

Bizi is right about at least 1200 Cals; even 1500 Cals for a man would still be good. You don't want to set yourself up for failure by not allowing yourself enough to sustain a good diet.

Wishing you a successful, lasting diet.


Gerry

Hi bizi,

I should clarify, I am not a great condiment consumer - a small squeeze of yoghurt and garlic sauce on a baked potato once a week, and now fries are out so is ketchup. I do count my allocation of skimmed milk I use in tea, and obviously fruit juices - everything natural, unsweetened, vitamin enriched.

I am a Diabetic, another factor in my need to lose this belly fat. I have my levels checked at my GP's during my Annual Review, last year it was 6.9. I have developed new/further deterioration in the form of sharp needle stabbing pains in my feet, legs and hands this year. I have full bloods being done on 12th of this month, with a GP Review a week later.

Gerry, I have spoken with one of my GPs about calorie count and vitamin/mineral deficiencies - although I am eating better now than I have for years. My diet was not particularly bad, it was the extras and the sheer amount that was the problem. Anyway, my GP was very supportive with a count of around 1200kcals being a good starting point. Remember, due to the pain and my injuries I am very sedentary. It is easier to pop a couple of hundred more cals on mid afternoon with a cereal bar and an apple than it is to scrounge around to make further cuts once the diet is established.

I really do appreciate everyone's advice and encouragement, the weight may have started dropping quite quickly (as before), but this IS very hard.

Dave.

This is hard and you are doing a good job, it will be curious to see what your next a1c is in three months I bet it will be more normal if not then your meds need to be adjusted 6.9 is still too high. diabetes is a silent attacker of your kidneys, eye sight etc. a disease of the whole body as you know.
I am a registered nurse and have dealt with a lot of people with diabetes in the past.
good luck in this journey. We are here to help support you. Hopefully you have people in real life that support you too.
bizi