tiggerlili1's Journal, 11 Aug 21

great weight loss well done.xx 

Hi, I don’t really think anyone here can tell you how low in calories you can safely go, but I certainly wouldn’t suggest going anywhere under 1200 per day, as that will send your body into starvation mode, I’ve had a look at the meals you’ve posted, and they look perfectly good in calories and portion size, , I know it’s nice to maybe relax a bit at the weekends, and go stricter during the week, and finding that balance is hard, and you probably don’t want to hear this! But if your eating a lot of calories at the weekends, that’s the place you should start with when looking to reduce! Good luck 🤞🏻 

Thanks Jamie. Red wine is my weakness. I have managed to go from a bottle a day for 30 years to just drinking at the weekends. Also stopped smoking so trying to find a balance. 

That is brilliant Tigger. Trying to change too much at once can be undermining so make sure you have nailed one thing before moving onto the next! But keep moving on nonetheless! As you say, balance. 

my problems weekends as well as I gave up drink during the week but I drink Friday and Saturdays. but I always put on water weight. after the weekend. so on Monday and Tuesday I go to a 1200 calorie days and that seems to even my weight loss. every one different. but we'll done on losing weight 

Agree with all those posts. Maybe you should drink more water as well as your wine at weekends. Maybe glug water all day so that the wine is for pure pleasure and taste instead of for thirst. Do you count your wine calories? You must adjust what you EAT at weekends,I think.  

Well done for drinking less x 

trytrytryagainagain I do count the wine calories and try to eat less to keep under budget 

I have swopped wine for gin and diet tonic. I don't miss the wine at all now. In fact, I find it sickly. 9 times out of 10 I top my gin glass up with diet tonic and don't even notice the lack of gin after the first shot! 

You’re right Anne! It’s that first glug of a G&T that hits the spot!! After that its just the fizzy, cold, quinine tastes that are important! (I am drinking alcohol expert!) 

Lots of ice and lemon and it almost becomes healthy! Hydration and Vit C!! 

Your meals from what you've posted look fine. I second the don't eat under 1200 calories as that could possibly lead to negative effects. Try calculating what your basic metabolic rate is and go from there you can use this website (https://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/) and input the details and it will tell you how many calories your body will burn with 0 exercise. What me and my partner found that worked for us was then took our recommended daily intake, took 500 calories off of that allowance and also added in light to moderate excersise and now we are losing between 2/3 lbs per week without really having to change what we eat if that makes sense. Obviously everyone's different but possibly something you can try. I am by no means an expert so take my advice with very little gospel behind it. Also secondly in your comments I noted you are quitting smoking, congratulations but also this could be the reason you're struggling to lose weight as people who are quitting smoking naturally tend to gain weight for the first few months of their quit. The reasons behind this are because smoking speeds up your metabolism, so your body burns calories at a faster rate. When you stop smoking, you actually need fewer calories. Smoking can suppress your appetite. You may find that food tastes better after you stop smoking and you also crave sugary foods. It's possible to mistake nicotine cravings for feeling hungry, or to eat to distract yourself from them. You may replace the "hand-to-mouth" action of smoking with snacking. All this information is available on the NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking/stop-smoking-without-putting-on-weight/?tabname=smoking-facts There are loads of places to get free help and advice for this though including a free app on android or ios called smoke free which I recently downloaded and have used to become smoke free for nearly 2 weeks. I hope some of this is useful for you and good luck on your journey both in weight loss and the stopping of smoking ☺️☺️ 

Simon thanks so much. All the comments and support have been so valuable to me  

Simon thanks so much. All the comments and support have been so valuable to me  

I was very like you - a bottle of wine a day was normal and Iwas pleased if I drank less than that. I’m a smoker too and loved Simon’s comments about metabolic rate and what giving up smoking did to me back when I gave up. I gave up for 7 years …stupid I’m still smoking. What has been interesting is that I’ve dieted on and off for years with slimming world and always put it back on. Calorie counting has been the best way and most sustainable way for me so far. My metabolic rate said that no exercise calories should be 1700 a day to lose weight slowly and steadily which has been true. But the big difference has come with my doctor telling me I was on the cusp of being prediabetic. He told me to cut sugar, bread, potatoes, pastry, rice, pasta and flour. I thought this would be awful but I’m loving it. I still drink - not a bottle a night but I’m still drinking through the week. I’ve never felt less hungry …I don’t snack. I’m loving the food ….I don’t think we’ve ever eaten so well. I try to keep my carbs colourful and varied. I’m lucky I don’t have a sweet tooth though so I never ate sweets or biscuits. I’m losing weight steadily each week. It’s not for everyone…but it’s working for this no-exercise boozing wumman. I know I’ll HAVE to start exercising soon but the fact that I’m losing is spurring me on and making me feel so good I’m almost excited about it (and this is from a woman who, when she feels like taking exercise goes for a lie down till the feeling goes away) A nice non alcoholic drink (most are awful and sweet) is a little drop of Belvoir Ginger cordial over ice, a squeeze of lemon and a mint leaf and lots of slimline Schweppes. I have it in a massive 500ml glass. I found I was forgetting to drink water and coming home and drinking wine when thirsty and throwing it down my neck. My brain thinking I was satiating my thirst. A massive ginger and tonic when I get home means I drink a glass of wine later and enjoy it drinking it slowly. I can even have more than 1 

Sorry that was an ESSAY 

Interesting though! 

Paintyc I bought some Belvoir ginger cordial. Got it an a big G&T glass with diet tonic and ice. It is really nice. Thanks for the idea.  

Paintyc I am not sure how many calories. It says for 100 ml, is that neat or diluted? 

That’s neat