Right guys, I decided to give this diet another crack before Christmas. I dropped from 16 stone in January to 12.5 stone in June. I ate at maintenance over the summer. I still have quite high bodyfat percentage so the plan was to get down to 11.5 stone and that should be me finished my dieting.

I can remember this happening the first time I dieted in January and wonder does it happen to anyone else? Basically in January I ate at 1600-1700 cals per day, the scales never budged the entire month of January then first week of Feb BOOM something like 12lbs of it 1 go. A similar thing seems to be happening this time around. I started this diet over a week ago, I've not lost as much as 1 Oz. It would be easy to see why some folk give up. Does this happen to you?

Think it was the 2010 version of this thread where I last posted. Did some good work back then going from 24st down to 17-something over the course of 7 or 8 months. This time of year came around, with the cooler weather and it made me want to eat comfort food and go back to my old ways.

Piled on much of the weight again and then in 2011 someone who remembered me from that 2010 thread sent me a private message. She proposed that we should both give it another go, keeping each other motivated and informed of our progress. My heart wasn't really in it and I was an arsehole to her. When I began to struggle there were feelings of shame and embarrassment but I shouldn't have done what I did, which was to start ignoring her messages until she stopped sending them. Really regret that and I'm sorry for what I did.

It's took me until this year to give it another proper crack. Was up to my highest ever weight of 26st 7lbs when starting in February. Currently 19st 12lbs. Was good to dip under the 20st figure the past week or so. Things are going well in general and hoping to drop around another stone before Christmas.

In 2010 it was 2000 calories a day, diet like a bodybuilder with loads of protein. Was lifting weights and doing daily cardiovascular exercise. Motivation was mostly wanting to look better.

This year it started at 2000 calories again, no particular focus on protein, carbs or fat but just trying to eat reasonably healthy. Home-cooked meals, lots veggies on them etc. Found myself dropping that calorie total as the year has gone on a bit and and eat anywhere between 1500-1800 a day at the moment. Exercise is just walking, upped it to 4 miles a day from 3 a couple of weeks ago. Motivation is mostly wanting to do certain outdoorsy things more easily. I want to do a lot of walking, hiking and even some climbing next year. Perhaps do a walking holiday carrying a tent on my back, or a cycling one.

Like to think that my motivation is a better one this time around as it's something solid and tangible I want to do. The diet feels more satisfying as it's much more varied and the exercise regime has been less punishing. Hopefully all that will keep me going in the colder months better than it did back in 2010.

Going mad for up to 2 weeks at Christmas no matter what and will be stuffing my face. Then it'll be time to get back on it. So yes, trying to get another stone off or so before then.


Not at the start for me, but I have had periods of time like that within the whole process. Last one has just finished. Was stuck at the same weight for 3 or 4 weeks and in the last 10 days they've shown an 8lb loss. It just happens from time to time.

Not sure why it happens. Just got to keep the doing the good things and eventually it will show on the scales too. Good luck!

Those weight loss plateaus where yo don't see any weight loss are one of the main reasons why people give in. It's happened to me loads of times.

2016 hasn't been a great year weight-wise. I fell off the wagon badly over the summer and have managed to put on around 10 pounds since the spring.

I had a flash of determination back in April - I quit the gym as I hated it and instead went on a very strict 1000 calorie a day diet. I lost a ton of weight and was the lowest i'd been in ages in July.

However I then went on holiday - broke my diet, started drinking again and slipped straight back into my old ways. Have put it all back on and more. I've tried to get back on track a few times but haven't lasted more than a few days.

I think i'm going to have to give up drinking again as it's just a trigger for me - one bad hangover sends me into a spiral that I struggle to get out off. It's frustrating though as just not drinking doesn't result in any weight loss - I just stop putting it on.

I never give up drinking during my weight loss, I am not a big drinker say 4-5 pints on a Saturday night, I'd weigh slightly heavier on Monday but by Tuesday all was back to normal. What I learned is if you slip one day no big loss, just start again tomorrow and don't give up.

Time I joined you guys seen as I have lost over 2 stone this year . Shame I have another 2 to go! I am doing the Michael Mosely 8wk blood sugar diet which is 800cals a day but due to health probs a bit harsh for me so just doing the principles of the diet which is no pots, pasta,rice,bread and sugar . It was hard to begin with but am in the swing of it now . It is a really a diet for diabetics and been great success with people coming off meds but am sure I was pre diabetic with the size of my waist . I am now off one of my Blood pressure tablets which after 14yrs is quite something . Good luck to everyone doing whatever works for you

In mid-October I posted that I wanted to drop another stone before Christmas. I've managed to do 2 so I'm pleased with that. Been a good year overall although there's still some way to go. Should definitely be able to be around my goal weight by this time next year.

Putting together some plans for next year in terms of goals and achievements of a physical nature that I'd like to do. They're things that should continue to help with losing weight and should really up my fitness. Going to do couch to 5k (or maybe 10k) at some point, want to do regular long walks and get up some hills too in the process. Might even do a walking holiday.

Mostly finished for Christmas and expect to put a few pounds on now. The big test will be getting will be getting back into better habits again in the new year. That's when I'll need to find some motivation. Hopefully I'll soon get back in the groove again.

Yearly summary:
Feb 1st 2016 = 26st 7 lbs
Oct 14th 2016 = 19st 12 lbs
Dec 19th 2016 = 17st 11 lbs
--------------------------------------
2016 weight loss = 8st 10lbs
Target = 13st 0lbs
To go = 4st 11 lbs

Well done!

What got you to change?

Thanks, I found something that I really wanted to do that pretty much required me to lose some weight. That's been the #1 motivational factor.

I started to watch lots of youtube videos where people document walks, hikes and some camping trips too. Sometimes they tell the viewer a little history of the area they're in or talk about any folk tales or legends from the places they're visiting. It inspired me to want get out and about a lot more, see some lovely new views, visit and learn about new places, do some exploring etc. To get into that kind of thing to the degree that I want to I really needed to start losing weight.

There's always been that nagging thought that for the sake of my health I have to do it too, but I've found I could quite often put that thought at the back of my mind. Having a proper aim, things I want to experience and do has been a bigger inspiration than that. I suppose thinking about your health and worrying about that is a negative that you're trying to avoid whereas working towards something you want to do is a true positive and has rewards to look forward to. So I suppose that would be advice if I had any, for people to try and find a thing that they'd love to do or experience that losing weight would really help with. Would obviously be different things for each person.

My end of year report is that I'm finishing 2016 pretty much where I started.

Well done sodavlac!

I've stuck after losing 23kgs, but will carry on trying in the new year.

Oh... I've lost count the amount of times I've plateaued but didn't give up. As that is one thing I've learned with this. Your body wont run to your schedule. Lost total 71lbs over 16 months down to 11.7st, 10lbs remaining to lose. Didn't even use anyones diet plan. Was my own diet and a ton of exercise.

Sorry, I don't know your story or other posts but I've jumped in here and seen this. Well done. That is a fantastic achievement accomplished with self discipline and hard work.

I think overall it's been a good year for me. I've lost around 18lbs in total but I think I've gained more muscle as I go to the gym quite a bit now

Thanks, and well done to you too! That's what, just over 50 lbs/ over 3.5 stone, getting up towards 4 in old school weight? Great job.


Nice one!

Well done guys. Some decent weight lost this year 👍🏻

Myself I started the year at 16st 2, I end it at 12st 2. I think for me next year will be all about reducing body fat percentage. I'm about 23% at the moment, I am aiming for about 15%, so the plan is some early morning HIIT 3-4 morning per week along with my evening lifting sessions.

Thanks Majik1 and sodavlak.

To be fair I was told to lose weight because I have high cholesterol that is caused by a faulty gene and am at risk. When I lift my dog in the car it shocks me to realise that he weighs 24 kgs, so I've lost almost the same as his body weight, no wonder I was struggling, it was like I was carrying him around with me all the time