Building up the miles

[PaulSB]

I have had the following today:

Breakfast - a bowl of Special K and a cup of tea with no sugar and a little bit of milk.

Dinner - a tin of salmon with a little bit of coleslaw and a few small tomatoes

Tea - a few bits of chicken breast, a few eggs and some lettuce with a cup of tea.

Throughout the day I have been drinking more water. Yesterday when I went shopping I bought a few bottles of Evian natural mineral water.

As soon as I woke up I did some sit-ups. After my dinner I went for a walk.

I feel a lot better in myself and realise that cutting down on the calories will make all of the difference. Until I get the bike sorted, should I just continue doing what I am busy doing?

I don't think you are listening to people. What you have posted diet wise isn't sustainable. It's the sort of thing people do in the early, enthusiastic days. For one thing all your measurements are a "few."

The diet above won't fuel any real cycling distance.

 

[CXRAndy]

I bought a few bottles of Evian natural mineral water

Dont buy bottle water, its the modern age scourge

. You're are paying more for water than petrol per gallon. Just use tap water. If you dont like the hardness taste, put in a jug in the fridge overnight and the hardness smell and taste disappears

 

[dodgy]

It would be nice if the OP at least thanked some posters who are trying pretty hard to help [not me]. There is a like button to show appreciation.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I have had the following today:

Breakfast - a bowl of Special K and a cup of tea with no sugar and a little bit of milk.

Dinner - a tin of salmon with a little bit of coleslaw and a few small tomatoes

Tea - a few bits of chicken breast, a few eggs and some lettuce with a cup of tea.

Throughout the day I have been drinking more water. Yesterday when I went shopping I bought a few bottles of Evian natural mineral water.

As soon as I woke up I did some sit-ups. After my dinner I went for a walk.

I feel a lot better in myself and realise that cutting down on the calories will make all of the difference. Until I get the bike sorted, should I just continue doing what I am busy doing?

Sounds pretty fine to me. It’s not so far from my ‘base’ eating regime. But! Use it as a base, it’s OK to have the odd slice of bread, Bag of crisps or pasta meal whatever to keep life interesting, just don’t do that every day. Keep it varied so it becomes a liveable way of eating. Increase veg intake as much as possible that includes beans, pulses, lentils.
Dilute cranberry juice is nice with food. Alcohol free beer is not bad, I may have 1 treat beer and one AF of an evening.
Forget buying Evian, please drink tap water and reuse a bottle - add little cordial again to add variety once in a while.

Don’t obsess and start building sustainable exercise into your daily routine.
Forget the scales. You’ll know if you’re heading in the right direction.

 

[vickster]

What exercise regime are you following while waiting for the bike?

 

[LemonJuice]

I don't think you are listening to people. What you have posted diet wise isn't sustainable. It's the sort of thing people do in the early, enthusiastic days. For one thing all your measurements are a "few."

The diet above won't fuel any real cycling distance.

I am listening to people, I just hate the fact that I have noticed such a change in my body and I want to go back to how I was before.

It would be nice if the OP at least thanked some posters who are trying pretty hard to help [not me]. There is a like button to show appreciation.

Sorry, I use my iPhone so I just read the posts and reply.

I am very grateful and I have repeatedly included “thanks” in my posts.

I do apologise if I come across as rude.

Sounds pretty fine to me. It’s not so far from my ‘base’ eating regime. But! Use it as a base, it’s OK to have the odd slice of bread, Bag of crisps or pasta meal whatever to keep life interesting, just don’t do that every day. Keep it varied so it becomes a liveable way of eating. Increase veg intake as much as possible that includes beans, pulses, lentils.
Dilute cranberry juice is nice with food. Alcohol free beer is not bad, I may have 1 treat beer and one AF of an evening.
Forget buying Evian, please drink tap water and reuse a bottle - add little cordial again to add variety once in a while.

Don’t obsess and start building sustainable exercise into your daily routine.
Forget the scales. You’ll know if you’re heading in the right direction.

If you don’t mind my asking, how tall and heavy are you?

What exercise regime are you following while waiting for the bike?

I walk my three dogs in the morning.

I do 25-30 sit-ups in the morning.

I go for a walk which I think is about five miles.

I do more sit-ups.

I take my dogs for a longer walk.

I do some sit-ups.

I’m focusing on reducing the amount of calories I have on a daily basis more than anything else so it won’t come as a shock to me when I start riding the bike.

 

[ColinJ]

Don't forget that the muscle size that you gain through doing all the extra exercise will actually weigh quite a lot so if you aim for your previous very light weight (for your height) then you will have to have even lower body fat than you had before. That is getting very close to unhealthy...

IIRC, there was a rider on BikeRadar who went down this line of thinking. He got more and more obsessed with weight and fitness. He got to the point where he was doing multiple very long rides every week, sometimes getting out of bed in the middle of the night to do them because he couldn't sleep. He ended up being killed when he was hit by a motor vehicle during one of those rides.

Wiggins at his skinniest was NOT a good look, and not a healthy weight....

 

[CXRAndy]

Its better to check shape than actual weight.

If you look online images of people who took up fitness regime, changed their body shape and even put a bit of weight on, but actually look much slimmer.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I am listening to people, I just hate the fact that I have noticed such a change in my body and I want to go back to how I was before.



Sorry, I use my iPhone so I just read the posts and reply.

I am very grateful and I have repeatedly included “thanks” in my posts.

I do apologise if I come across as rude.



If you don’t mind my asking, how tall and heavy are you?



I walk my three dogs in the morning.

I do 25-30 sit-ups in the morning.

I go for a walk which I think is about five miles.

I do more sit-ups.

I take my dogs for a longer walk.

I do some sit-ups.

I’m focusing on reducing the amount of calories I have on a daily basis more than anything else so it won’t come as a shock to me when I start riding the bike.

Currently 5'9" and having lost 5 kgs during the lock-down 90kg. Am currently cycling 10 miles/day weekdays with a 40 miler at the weekends.
So yes, that makes me obese, so why should you listen to my advice?

Well my normal working week would see me in airport lounges and 5* hotels with all the food and drink I can muster and eating at all kinds of strange times. Plus I work in the food-industry, so eating is an occupational hazard. BUT, stop doing that, reduce the alcohol and eat the way I would 'naturally' adopt if left to my own devices (i.e being at home like most people) and I notice my belt being tightened extra notches, people comment am looking slimmer (and I do), am notably fitter and the weight is going down. All in a few weeks of not trying and cycling a bit more than normal.
I could still drink less. I could eat less cheese....

But am not on a diet. Just adopting lifestyle behaviors we all know.

 

[vickster]

Its better to check shape than actual weight.

If you look online images of people who took up fitness regime, changed their body shape and even put a bit of weight on, but actually look much slimmer.

Yep. I’ve only lost about half a stone since I got my body fat scales and it’s gone down by over 5% in absolute terms and around 12% in % terms (clearly numbers vary but using the same device for consistency). I’ve certainly lost some fat around waist, chest and back and my legs are more slender and defined (lots of cycling)

I am female so clearly a different body shape to a tall skinny bloke with a pot belly

 

[Fab Foodie]

Currently 5'9" and having lost 5 kgs during the lock-down 90kg. Am currently cycling 10 miles/day weekdays with a 40 miler at the weekends.
So yes, that makes me obese, so why should you listen to my advice?

Well my normal working week would see me in airport lounges and 5* hotels with all the food and drink I can muster and eating at all kinds of strange times. Plus I work in the food-industry, so eating is an occupational hazard. BUT, stop doing that, reduce the alcohol and eat the way I would 'naturally' adopt if left to my own devices (i.e being at home like most people) and I notice my belt being tightened extra notches, people comment am looking slimmer (and I do), am notably fitter and the weight is going down. All in a few weeks of not trying and cycling a bit more than normal.
I could still drink less. I could eat less cheese....

But am not on a diet. Just adopting lifestyle behaviors we all know.

So here we go, the benefit of lockdown, just measured 3 inches difference :-)

 

[ColinJ]

View attachment 525882


So here we go, the benefit of lockdown, just measured 3 inches difference :-)

You've just reminded me that I was using a 'belt test' on my waist a few years ago. It is a really simple way of checking progress. It is easy to fool yourself if you breathe in when doing up the belt, but all becomes clear if you breathe out and relax your belly muscles!

I was bought a pair of black cord trousers for my birthday that year. My waist was about 2 inches too big for me to be comfortable in them and it has gained another 3 or 4 inches since then so they have never been worn.

I'll see if I can find the belt that I was using back then.

MY target is to wear those trousers this year! (I think a 1.5 stone loss would be enough for me.)

 

[LemonJuice]

Just a little update.

I did not have any alcohol on the weekend. I have been eating healthy food, especially fish. Also, I have been eating a small bowl of porridge in the morning.

I weighed my yesterday and I was exactly 13 stone. Also, although I still have belly fat that I want to get rid of, my belly appears to be less bloated.

I did not buy any bottled water when I went shopping. I’ve been drinking plenty of water. Is there anything I can add to water to give it a little bit of taste that I can buy from a supermarket? What about the strawberry flavour or lime flavour water? And, oh my goodness, because I’ve been drinking so much water I’ve been going to the toilet a lot more!

I’ve been going for longer walks and every time I got home I felt knackered and I fell asleep.

I don’t want to come across as someone who is asking for advice and not listening to anyone. I just feel very angry with myself for allowing me to put on 1 1/2 stone and not doing anything about it. I have a few pairs of 28” jeans and I want to wear them again. Hence why I’ve decided to nip this in the bud and do something about it. I recognise that I’m not overweight and still within the healthy range for my height, but I want to get back to what I was before.

When I went shopping I bought prunes, dates and a mixture of nuts and raisins, are all of them okay to eat?

I’ve also been eating bananas, strawberries, peaches and nectarines.

 

[HMS_Dave]

Just a little update.

I did not have any alcohol on the weekend. I have been eating healthy food, especially fish. Also, I have been eating a small bowl of porridge in the morning.

I weighed my yesterday and I was exactly 13 stone. Also, although I still have belly fat that I want to get rid of, my belly appears to be less bloated.

I did not buy any bottled water when I went shopping. I’ve been drinking plenty of water. Is there anything I can add to water to give it a little bit of taste that I can buy from a supermarket? What about the strawberry flavour or lime flavour water? And, oh my goodness, because I’ve been drinking so much water I’ve been going to the toilet a lot more!

I’ve been going for longer walks and every time I got home I felt knackered and I fell asleep.

I don’t want to come across as someone who is asking for advice and not listening to anyone. I just feel very angry with myself for allowing me to put on 1 1/2 stone and not doing anything about it. I have a few pairs of 28” jeans and I want to wear them again. Hence why I’ve decided to nip this in the bud and do something about it. I recognise that I’m not overweight and still within the healthy range for my height, but I want to get back to what I was before.

When I went shopping I bought prunes, dates and a mixture of nuts and raisins, are all of them okay to eat?

I’ve also been eating bananas, strawberries, peaches and nectarines.

Nuts are fine but go easy on them. Nuts vary in nutrition between them, but most contain a lot of fat, peanuts in particular so you don't want to go mad on them. Prunes contain sorbitol so are an effective laxative but again limit your amounts and they you'll be fine and they are healthy containing antioxidants and good nutrition.
Just bare this in mind, you have lost a lot of weight given your starting point, but a return to old habits will very quickly put it all back on simply because you will have lost a lot of inflammation in your body from a poor diet causing water retention which will be where most of the weight you have lost currently has gone.

It is normal to feel a little tired when moving to another eating regimen that your body is not used to, but it could be a sign that you're not eating enough. As for flavouring your water, i've never really been too fussed with sweeteners like some, so i sometimes reach for a sugar free lemon squash...

 

[ColinJ]

Also, I have been eating a small bowl of porridge in the morning.

That's good; I was going to suggest that. I used to have porridge every morning, to which I would add a chopped banana and a spoon of mixed seeds. I usually have sugar-free muesli these days, sweetened instead with the natural fruit sugars of raisins, and/or grapes and/or a banana.

As for flavouring your water, i've never really been too fussed with sweeteners like some, so i sometimes reach for a sugar free lemon squash...

I sometimes just squeeze half a lemon into a glass of water, over ice. Cheap, refreshing and effectively calorie-free.