Weight Watcher's Thread

[YMFB]

This week I’m 90.3 kgs, 199 lbs so I stopped Insulin!

I don’t feel any different but my morning BG is around 7

 

[ColinJ]

For now I am keeping my weight comfortably below 80 kg. When spring arrives I will start to do more/longer rides and should see more weight loss then without really trying.

I am still the same weight!

To be honest, I am now pretty slim apart from my belly, which has some stubborn fat that needs to go.

I am not super bothered now though. I have developed a healthy balance of food intake vs exercise. I do around 7 hours of hilly cycling a week plus another couple of hours wandering about town on foot. That lets me eat what I like (within reason).

I don't do formal intermittent fasting any more, but I do listen to my body and only eat when hungry. I got back from a 30 km ride at 21:00 the other evening and didn't feel lie a big meal so I just had a banana and some seeded oatcakes with peanut butter on. That saved a few hundred calories without even trying.

I ate a lot more than usual on a recent 12 day family visit to Devon but I cycled 342 lumpy km and did some gardening while there and that burned off the excess.

 

[YMFB]

I’m still 90 kgs, but much importantly my latest HbA1c is down to 50. Yesterday the diabetic nurse told me I no longer need to test my BG 4 times a day and I’ve reversed my diabetes, I’m not 100% sure as I’m still taking Metformin, however that’s the next drug to reduce/stop.

My eye is still bigger than my belly as I couldn’t eat all my lunch and dinner yesterday.

Mounjaro is now on my repeat prescription.

 

[Drago]

260 exactly, a loss of 12.

 

[Drago]

How does this work;


Weigh myself.

Eat a meal weighing about half a pound.

Drink about 2/3 a pint of mineral water.

Go to bed.

Wake up.

Do my morning routine, 1 and 2.

Weigh myself again to find I've gained three pounds!


I can only presume that the very air we breathe is in some way fattening, or else San Pellegrino are sneaking lard into their water now.

 

[wafter]

I've been doing low carb and short extended fasts since the end of May with good results (all values above are averaged over 7 days):

Mass: 78.3 to 74.0kg (-4.3kg)
Chest: 102.5 to 99.5cm (-3.0cm)
Waist / belly: 96.0 to 92.5cm (-3.5cm)
Hips: 96.5 to 94.5cm (-2.0cm)

BMI is currently about 23.6kg/m^2 however I've always lacked muscle and carried a lot of fat on my upper body so this typically under-represents my body fat percentage.

My target mass is mid-high 60kgs; if I get that far I plan to re-introduce a modest amount of low-GI carbs and push the strength training more.

I've been tracking belly size against mass and the last time I was a similar weight (2022) my belly was around 2cm larger; suggesting that more of my mass is now muscle so I've made some modest gains with the strength training I've been doing.

Visually what little muscle definition is present is the best it's been and I find myself strutting round feeling like Brad Pitt looks in Fight Club, although objectively I'm still a weak, porky little fecker..

I'm consistently losing around 0.6 - 0.7kg per week which, assuming calorific value for body fat of 8Kcal/g is the equivalent to an energy deficit of around 5200Kcal per week. Over this time period I've averaged around 150 miles per week on the bike, which at the modest c. 32Kcal/mile suggeted by my head unit is about 4800Kcal per week.

So, while the low carb's moderating effect on blood sugar is definitely helping me control my food intake it seems that without the cycling I'd not be losing a lot of mass; which perhaps isn't surprising given that my aging metabolism isn't getting any faster.

These latest proceedings began with a 60hr fast and I've done three 36hr fasts since - typically weekly over Thursday; so am due another today. Diet is mostly meat (sausages, black pudding, chicken breast, fish from the chippy), cheese, eggs, broccoli and salad; as well as kefir and a bit of fruit - strawberries and I found some fantastic peaches at the fish market a while ago.

Carb intake is limited to the relatively modest grain fillers in the black pudding and sausages, breadcrumb coatings on the chicken and sugar in the kefir and fruit.

It seems the stars have aligned currently with the fantastic weather allowing me to get out a lot on the bike, which in addition to the energy burned aids my mental health and keeps me away from thoughts of misery-binging.

I'm not the lightest I've ever been but probably as best placed as ever in terms of all-round health and hope I can keep on this for the rest of the summer to push myself well beyond what I've been able to manage before.

I hope everyone else on here trying to do similar is making good progress

 

[Electric_Andy]

I've given up. I lost 30lbs the first time doing keto, and put it all back on. I then tried again and lost 20lbs, then put it back on. I then went on to slimfast and lost 14lbs, plateaued for about 3 months, then it started giving me an upset stomach. So I'm back trying to moderate my eating which isn't working. So I've given up to save my sanity

 

[Mo1959]

I've given up. I lost 30lbs the first time doing keto, and put it all back on. I then tried again and lost 20lbs, then put it back on. I then went on to slimfast and lost 14lbs, plateaued for about 3 months, then it started giving me an upset stomach. So I'm back trying to moderate my eating which isn't working. So I've given up to save my sanity

I know the feeling. The more I try to diet, the more weight I put on in the end. They do say diets don’t actually work long term.

Keto does work but I didn’t enjoy it, and as my cholesterol is a bit high, it’s not the best way of eating for that either.

 

[ColinJ]

People have started with dire warnings about excessive weight loss. I point out that while most of me is now pretty slim, I still have a paunch...

They counter with "Oh, everybody gets those when they are older!"

I reply that many people do, but not all, and that doesn't mean that it is healthy. Visceral fat is the stuff that really matters!

Only about 2" to go from my waist now!

I got a pair of black cords for Christmas and made sure that they were the size that I want to be rather than the size that I was at the time. I realised that I will probably never have a 32" waist again but decided that 34" was a sensible/realistic target to aim for.

I want to be able to wear the trousers in comfort (not breathing in and holding my breath!) by the summer. I think I will achieve that. If I somehow lose the extra 2" to get back to my teenage 32" waist measurement then I will use a belt to hold the trousers up.

I put the trousers on yesterday. I can actually do them up now but they are still a bit tight round the waist when walking around and very uncomfortable when sitting down. I aim to fit them properly before my 70th birthday in January and promise to post a picture below!

I did agree that more upper body strength would be a good thing so I would be happy to keep some of the weight on in the form of muscle. The only catch with that is I have iffy shoulders (rotator cuff injuries). I will have to be careful not to overdo things.

 

[ColinJ]

How does this work;

Scales that are not consistent. Get on and off them 20 times and see what they display each time.

If the numbers are the same, try warming the scales up with a hair dryer and repeat. If the numbers change from the originals, then you need to make sure that the scales are at the same temperature each time. Or buy better scales...

I'm back trying to moderate my eating which isn't working. So I've given up to save my sanity

Keto does work but I didn’t enjoy it, and as my cholesterol is a bit high, it’s not the best way of eating for that either.

The secret is to find healthy food that you can eat virtually unlimited amounts of. Obviously you have to quite like it!

Eat a little of what high calorie food you really fancy (meat, fish, cheese, whatever) and fill up with the healthy low calorie stuff. Like this mega-salad...

(The tuna and the DIY salad dressing would be limited in quantity - only 1 tin of tuna, and in brine not oil. That dressing is mainly unsweetened yoghurt, with balsamic vinegar and just a little olive oil. Eat the whole bowl of salad if you still feel hungry after half of it.)

 

[YMFB]

My BMI has gone from 31.9 to 27.1

 

[wafter]

Didn't feel up to the currenty-regular 36hr water fast on Thursday, but did manage a 60hr fast starting Thursday night and ending about ten minutes ago when I tucked into a plate of black pudding, soft boiled eggs and fried garlic mushrooms

While facking yummy at the best of times the taste is incredible after a period of abstinance

About 6.5wks into the current drive, on the 7-day mean down from around 78.3kg to 72.5kg; today 70.8kg but the difference will mostly come back in water weight and stomach / gut contents. I've now lost nearly 6cm off my waist too; which is very welcome.

I'm a little concerned about excess skin given the amount I'm aiming to lose / the rate at which it's coming off but nowhere looks obviously problematic yet, other perhaps than my belly - the stubborn vestigages of which seem to be accumulating above my waistline - although nothing actually sagging yet.

Managed a whole three chin ups at the bars the other day and did a few on a doorframe in the house yesterday - shocked by how rapidly I ascended as the low frames mean more bend at the elbow to start and a better mechanical advantage.

Always nice to remember how much less mass you're actually carting around when you lose body fat - my current loss being equivalent to around 3x 2 litre bottles of pop / water etc... which would soon become problematic if you chose to carry that around with you for an entire day!

 

[ColinJ]

About 6.5wks into the current drive, on the 7-day mean down from around 78.3kg to 72.5kg; today 70.8kg but the difference will mostly come back in water weight and stomach / gut contents. I've now lost nearly 6cm off my waist too; which is very welcome.

I'm a little concerned about excess skin given the amount I'm aiming to lose / the rate at which it's coming off, but nowhere looks obviously problematic yet, other perhaps than my belly; the stubborn vestigages of which seem to be accoumulating above my waistline; although nothing actually sagging yet.

Well done!

I am down to 78.0 kg after a few weeks of vigorous cycling, and largely avoiding tempting post-ride goodies.

My waistline is starting to develop saggy skin. There is no avoiding it for me - I am nearly 70 so the skin's elasticity isn't what it was when I was young, and I have now lost one third of my maximum bodyweight!

 

[wafter]

Well done!

I am down to 78.0 kg after a few weeks of vigorous cycling, and largely avoiding tempting post-ride goodies.

My waistline is starting to develop saggy skin. There is no avoiding it for me - I am nearly 70 so the skin's elasticity isn't what it was when I was young, and I have now lost one third of my maximum bodyweight!

Thanks - that sounds like an excellent achievement! Best I managed was about 25% of my max body weight at about 86 to 64kg; which was over a period of several years in fits and starts.

Have you looked at ways of boosting skin elasticity? Apparently collegen is the thing to be scoffing; be that from fish sources (amongst others) while you can also get fish oil supplements for this... something I've been meaning to chase but as usual haven't...

 

[ColinJ]

Thanks - that sounds like an excellent achievement! Best I managed was about 25% of my max body weight at about 86 to 64kg; which was over a period of several years in fits and starts.

Well, it did take a near fatal illness to finally convince me to take my health and fitness more seriously. I gave up alcohol after that in 2012, which was a huge help, but it took another few years to kick the chocolate and cake habit that took its place!

Have you looked at ways of boosting skin elasticity? Apparently collegen is the thing to be scoffing; be that from fish sources (amongst others) while you can also get fish oil supplements for this... something I've been meaning to chase but as usual haven't...

I already take one cod liver oil capsule a day, and I have been meaning to eat more oily fish. I really like mackerel, but I don't like the smell of it lingering in the house!

TBH, a slightly saggy waistline doesn't bother me that much. I only aim to lose another 4-5 kg so I don’t think the sagginess will get horribly worse. The saggy skin won't be hanging down over my waistband!