help!

Put it behind you. So, you fell off the wagon. What’s done is done, just get back on track today.

It’s not the occasional night out that does the damage, it’s the constant nibbling at home. So onward and upwards (though downwards on the scales!)

That is a good point. I have managed to avoid the constant nibbling at least. But my mind was so set on this and now I have tasted nectar I want more so all I have done is made it harder for myself

Join the 16:8 group, it definitely works. Then you can eat the nectar you crave!

Give yourself a break, have a treat at the weekend and try to avoid it during the week. Also, walk more.

Yes 16: 8 is the effective and easy way to go!

Don't diet. Eat healthily and move more. The problem with dieting is that we deny ourselves things we want then begin to crave them or, as in your case, binge on them. At that point we begin to beat ourselves up for being a failure but actually we set ourselves an unattainable target.

You need to eat at least 1200 calories a day to make sure you get the nutrients you need and tbh it's better to eat more that 1200. However if you're only doing it for a couple of weeks it won't hurt.

I have to admit I'm a fan of Fitbit (other such devices are available lol). The Fitbit site not only recommends 10000 steps a day but that you should walk 250 or so of those steps each hour between 9 and 6. I do most of it by walking in the living room. It only takes a few minutes.

Don't beat yourself up about the cheesecake and mousse. Just start to eat healthily again today.

Have a look at the weightloss sites like My Fitness Pal (that's the one I use) where you'll be able to work out how many calories you need to eat.

In a situation like this train yourself not to resist the irresistable, but just have a small portion and no seconds.

Alternatively, only eat very lightly during the day leading up to the dinner invitation and the day after and eat normal portions of all the delectables you are offered and no harm will be done.

vampire I think 1200 calories a day is too much for some people, especially those with underactive thyroids. I put on weight at 1200. Just want to put this on the forum for anyone else in the same position so they don't feel disheartened.

Quick tip ruffles - when temptation strikes, go and clean your teeth! It works. Displacement theory (or something!)

I agree Nonnie - I don't lose weight on 1200 either - has to be 1000 to show any effect.

I've not been very well and put on a lot of weight which made me feel worse. However I headed towards more fresh food and nuts and raisins and I've lost a stone in the last 3 months. It's not much but it has stayed off even if I have a relapse and have some chocolate or a biscuit and I've been feeling more energetic as well so am exercising a little bit more and believe me I don't go overboard with exercise but for once I actually WANT to exercise [gentle stuff - not jogging or stress on joints]. That's a FIRST!

The 5:2 idea works for me. I'm good on weekdays then eat whatever I fancy ( within reason, not the whole large bar of dairy milk that I'd love !) at the weekends. I managed to lose a stone over the course of 7 weeks doing that, so definitely works!

I'm a 16:8 fan. No faffing about counting calories.

This might sound a bit trite but willpower is like a muscle. If you exercise it, it gets stronger. These days, if I'm out for coffee with friends, I have no hesitation in refusing biscuits or cakes if it's my fasting day. The great advantage with 5:2 intermittent fasting is you're only hungry on two days a week! With most slimming diets you're hungry every day.

thefastdiet.co.uk

lizzypopbottle I am with you all the way. I lost 2 stone in 4 months on the 5:2 and continue on the maintenance system.

What I liked best was that while, during the weight loss period I ate very moderately on the non-fast days, if we went out or visited friends I just ate whatever I wanted without binging. Guilt free eating, which I think, is the key to the 5:2 diet resulted in me eating less.

My way of doing 16:8 is not strictly regimented.
I have breakfast at 9 and main meal at 5. I have cut out serious carbs - potatoes, bread and all the obvious stuff.
I've never been a snacker so there are no sweets, biscuits or crisps in my cupboards apart from when dc's are here.
I don't use scales so no focus on weight loss I but do use a tape measure. As Jane says -no faffing about!
Trousers which fitted in November can now be removed without undoing the zip and button so they're at the back of the wardrobe.
Plenty of flexibility so the odd glass of wine or dessert fits in fine!
Not a diet, just a change of habits - and if I feel the need, it can become stricter for a couple of weeks.

What is the 16:8?
I’m assuming it’s 16 hours for something and 8 hours?

It's 16 hours not eating and getting all your day's intake in 8 hours. It a) automatically cuts down your calories and b) gets your metabolism going, especially if you do some exercise as well. I did it to lose weight for my son's wedding last summer and dropped almost 2 stones through a mixture of fasting and walking. It means you can indulge in puds or whatever else takes your fancy from time to time without feeling guilty. I've pretty well adopted it as a way of life now, though I'm not strict any more over the precise hours of fasting and eating. I think I enjoy my food more too!

I adopted this after Christmas. Lost all my Christmas weight within a week and can feel my jeans are looser. It’s really easy.

some great ideas thank you. I need to find out about the 16 8 thing

I like the idea of brushing your teeth but less easy when at someone's house for dinner

16:8

Never fails and is easy to do

does 16 8 work if you don't do it every single day. I am thinking about the day I go to an exercise class at 9am and the instructor is very clear that we should have eaten first (not too soon before of course) so if I have breakfast done by 8 it would mean not eating anything after 4pm. I wonder if you can do it some but not all days?

You can do what you want with 16:8 but the clue is in the name. Try it properly for 2 weeks. The fitness instructor won't know if you've not eaten before the class. Google the research behind 16:8.

Ruffles why not do a 15:9 on that one day?

Have your last meal at 5.00pm and a very light breakfast at 8.00pm.