The Un-diet plan, 2lbs week challenge
 

I have been doing low carb for years and have found recenlty that I cannot make myself stick to it so today I am starting my own plan. It is called the Un-diet. Basically I will eat healthy and whatever I want. I will have a 1000 per day deficit of calories which will give 2 pounds per week of loss. My current goal is by October 24th to lose 34 pounds.
current weight 274
goal by 10/24/13 is 240lbs

Basically I will log all food for each day. I have been using a body bug so I know I burn 2500 calories per day average. so I will be eating 1500 calories per day. take vitamines, drink alot of water, half my body weight in water per day/137 oz of water. I will workout 5 or 6 days per week.

I am eating healthy with balanced meals. I do not plan on eating anything white if it is possible, potatoes,rice, etc. mostly veggies, protien, fruit and complex carbs. If i warok out heavier one day I will add some extra calories. I pray that this works otherwise I will have to go back to low carb. If i want desert I will plan for it and that way I can have whatever I want....

If you want to join me with your plan or if you want to try this plan. Mostly lets support each other and keep each other accountable.

donna

I cannot believe so many people have read this post and no one will join me, no one wants to buddy up on weight loss goals???
donna

Hi, Donna! I'd be happy to join you. I do share your approach, which has worked best for me in the past: no special "diets," just eating mostly healthy foods, tracking calories in/out and maintaining a steady daily/weekly calorie deficit to get it done.

But I would need to go at a slightly different pace. About 1.5 lbs./wk (~ 750 cal. deficit) is more reasonable for me, much as I would like to lose more quickly. That tends to mean eating 1100-1500 calories depending on how much I exercise. I guess at the 1.5 lbs./wk rate, I will be aiming to drop from 166.5 lbs. now to 155 by Oct. 24.

Exercise/fitness is a big part of my goals, too. Over the past 3 years, I've not only gained about 35-40 unwanted pounds, but also fell off the fitness wagon in a big way, and had started feeling achy, sluggish and unhealthy. Have not yet lost much weight, but am starting to get back into a routine with running, yoga and strength training, and am getting to the point where exercise feels good instead of just a struggle. Small victories!

I'll Join the Un-diet
 

Hi my name is Michelle and I totally agree with the un-diet idea. I am looking for a lifestyle change. I'm in!

I just started a 10 week challenge with a group of people in my neighborhood. My biggest issue is moving more.

My goals: Starting weight 215
Lose 20 pounds by October 5 (that is my end of 10 weeks (2lbs a week)
Calorie deficit-1100 calories per day (1500 goal for the day)
Workout 5-6 days a week for minimum of 1 hour - but be sure to stretch everyday.

My first week I lost 1.6 lbs. and increased my muscle mass by 1% and lowered my body fat % by 1. So overall I am pleased with my first week.

Hope we see more join in the group. :)

Hi Donna
I'm in too - though I am aiming for 1 lb a week. Started 3 weeks ago and have lost 4.5 lbs - i know you always lose more the first couple of weeks, so I'm on target. Am aiming to go from 195 to 135 by this time next summer. I'm doing low-carb - "Primal Blueprint" plan though I am having trouble getting enough exercise. I live in Florida but I'm up north till Sept 1. When I get back to Florida, I'm buying a treadmill. That's the only device i've used with any success. Will keep you all posted.
Pam

Hi, Michelle and Pam! Congrats to all on your progress so far!

Since it's been almost a week, I thought I'd check in with some observations:

Running is going well, doing 3 mi./day consistently. A couple times I've come up short on energy, but I still go 3 miles, just with some walk breaks as needed.

Energy levels, focus and sleep schedule have been completely erratic, though. Losing weight always makes me a bit tired overall even if I'm not hungry. My calorie counts were all over the place the first few days too, but I'm getting more consistent and less hungry. I've tended to eat too much sugar (specifically candy), but have still stayed near my calorie goals most days and have lost about a pound; perhaps reducing sugar will help somewhat with the fatigue.

In any case, I'm glad to be headed in the right direction and looking forward to more positive results! How's everyone else doing?

Great job ladies on your un-diets. I would like to join you for 1 lb/ .07 stone as a goal per week. I already exercise every day except Sunday alternating strength training with cardio, but eat a lot to override any weight loss benefit. My undiet will be a grand effort to give up over processed and prepackaged foods. Sugar and flour, going along with Donna's white foods ban. Potato chips are vegan and have potassium and other vitamins and minerals...and tons of calories, arrggghhh
How do you know how much muscle mass you gained?
I will check in next Wed.

Weekly Update
 

Today was weigh in and I am still going in the right direction! Whew!!

Down 1.8 lbs (3.4 lbs so far)
Body Fat% - down 1% and Muscle Mass% went up .05%

Overall I have lost 4.5 inches all over my body in the last two weeks.

I will keep doing what I am doing and increase my exercise with weights.

Hope you all are having a good week. :p

Welcome, topspally! Are you vegan? Me too (not for weight loss, have been for years). I'm not even going to try to eliminate processed or white foods.

And mmbrown, that's awesome!

Hi Jflamingfeet,
Your running sounds like the perfect thing for you, good for you for keeping motivated and strong.
I am a vegan off and on, I try not to be so strict with it that if I eat something by mistake I will get sick or be upset about it. I like to eat and can eat twice as much if I eat vegan...only thing is I want to stop doing that and only eat what will keep me at optimal weight.
I am doing well today and am about to go for another walk after I log in my food.
Go Un-Dieters, Go :-)

Sounds good, topspally!

Yeah, I like running! Used to go 40-50 miles per week and it was a great time to let my mind wander or think through things I'd been working on. Of course, there's a certain amount of inertia in that it's not as enjoyable at first when it's hard, and on top of that you're more prone to soreness and injury starting out, especially with extra weight putting more stress on the joints. Once you get past a certain point, though, it's really hard to not run! I've signed up for three 5k races this fall for a little extra motivation.

Meanwhile, I'm finding I'm over my calorie goal by about 100 calories/day on average. Which isn't bad, it's still a calorie deficit and about 1 lb./wk weight loss, but there's some room for improvement (and it's not like I'm starving--I should be able to do this).

We can all do this! How's everyone else's week going?

New week
 

Well had a rough week on the whole un-diet. Still was down .2 lbs and worked out 4 days this week. Since our fridge went out, I found that we ate out way to much.

So back on track this week. Good luck to everyone. Get healthy!

This kind of challenge is definitely not hard to achieve if you focus yourself to it and do what is necessary. Well, cutting out some carbs to your diet is one way of eliminating those unwanted pounds you had. I'm already up for this challenge.

Well, not a pound, but .6 pounds down. I am happy.
Hope everyone is doing well with their un-diet.
Keep at it.

Update
 

Feeling a bit frustrated this week.- I need to step up my work. I have a goal this week to eat 1200 calories (plus what I burn working out.) The numbers are still going down but hardly at all. I am trying to keep a positive attitude, but truthfully all I am thinking about right now is being hungry. Also, how am I going to do this when my husband wants to always eat out and buy me fattening foods.

The only way I will be able to do this is if I am working out a lot more and burning at least 300-400 calories a day.

Ok - enough venting; time for me to get off my pity party and start thinking positive on how I can do this instead of I can't because....

Hope everyone is seeing progress this week. Wish me luck.

Hi All,
Sorry, I am just getting back to this. I lost .4 again and then 1.2. The turtle wins the race for me. There are all kinds of theories about the 1200 calorie thing. Some theories go that your net calories should be 1200 or your body thinks it is starving. I don't know how that works. I am now shooting for 1500 net, that is what TOPS suggests. Unfortunately I have not been entering in my log. It really helps me to log my food on fit day because then I see the nutritional value of what I am eating. I am trying to get fit, not skinny, uggh. Made a commitment to do that at least 4 times a week, hope it works out. That will help me get to entering my progress here too eh' Good luck folks. I am here to cheer you on.

Re: the Un-Diet Plan
 

Sounds like a good plan! It's worked for me in the past just limiting my portions, but eating basically everything. I cannot say "no" to carbs or sugar (just not too much of it). I also find that not skipping meals and eating more or less at around the same time each day really helps. :)

Hi, everyone! (and good luck, mmbrown!)

I've been sick for the past couple weeks and neither exercising nor tracking calories. I did lose a little bit anyway, but unfortunately, going two full weeks without running will set me back endurance-wise. I'm starting to feel a little better, and about to try a run, but it may be more of a walk as I still feel lightheaded.

I unfortunately had to skip the 5k I signed up for. I have another in a month, though. I think I will have to revise my original weight loss goal, but at least the scale is still moving in the right direction, which is the important thing.

Oh jflamingfeet, It is so hard to work on fitness when you are sick, I hope you are feeling better by now. Sorry about the 5 K, I hope you make the next one.

Good work everyone!

I have been working out very lightly because I hurt my back. I was down .4 this week. I am making recipes from Skinny Vegetarian cookbook (not putting milk in either) it is a good change of pace to stick with some new recipes instead of my standbys, I am hoping to shake up my metabolism with it. We will see in a few days at weigh in.

mmbrown74 I am sorry your husband is not being supportive right now, that is tough. A heart to heart might help him see that you need his help in this, that you need to be a team. Maybe asking him to be your weight loss coach, or something like that, would help him to share your success.

Good work LChang3, I hope that is still working for you.

Hope everyone else is still working on it and winning the good fight.

Weight Loss Tips
 

Stress is always detrimental to healthy weight loss in the long run. Find ways to combat stress and you'll soon realise that your diet and exercise aren't sabotaged anymore, and that you truly do see results. Look at yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises, or simple hobbies like reading to fight stress.

Okay, I am back, not sure what happened there. I bought a bunch of diet books hahahahaha and none of them worked, hey they were supposed to make me skinny LOL
so I am back to what does work.

this is exactly how i have lost 80 pourand maintained the loss
 

I try to eat around 1000 to 1600 a day. I eat whatever I like.

How is everyone doing on this. Me, not good. gained it all back. I am back anyway! Been doing well on the undiet again for about three days and am feeling better. Happy to be back.