Success without over the top workouts. Pics plz.

Left was about 15 to 20 lbs down from my heaviest. Right was today down 45 lbs. I did it mostly through a calorie deficit. Occasionally running or random YouTube workouts.

Believe it or not I've not once done any form of exercise (besides walking). -80Ibs difference.

I too have spent years feeling guilty about doing what I think I "should" do to lose weight. I know all about calories, exercise, cooking, time management etc. But I just can't make it fit together for me. There's so many websites, articles, conflicting research, opinion etc that it just confuses and delays me!

I've now decided that a little bit of consistent progress is better than nothing. Losing 0.5lb a week but being able to stick to a plan is going to bear me more fruit than being stuck in a corner like I was. It's time to be compassionate to ourselves!

On the exercise front, I have tried gym/trainers/home work outs. I can do it, but other than walking, swimming and weight lifting, I just don't like it!! It's too much at my weight. So I'm finally accepting that and not asking myself to be a gym bunny anymore, it's liberating. I've chosen to stop punishing myself. I'm personally working on the food front, and using exercise occasionally to balance out any over eating for occasions etc. Every decent personal trainer I've met has told me that food is 90% of the battle anyway.

On the food front, I've found lately it's really helpful to me to stop eating by 5pm and to only have something light like Veg and toast or fruit and yoghurt. I've essentially cut 75% calories off of one of my meals. This is great for me, because I don't move much on an evening and I actually don't like eating loads before bedtime. Interrupts my sleep! So I'm listening to my body.

If I find myself wanting a big evening meal on a weekend, I ask myself how I could eat my 'normal' family meals but chop 100-200 calories off each. So yesterday lunch time we were having tuna sandwiches, and for mine I dropped a piece of bread and used less mayo. That was 150cals saved. Then because it was an open sandwich, I dumped a load of salad on it to replace the bulk of the bread. Easy! That left me feeling full and it stopped me snacking - saved another 120cals. Then when it came to dinner, I had what I really wanted which was a lamb curry, but I served myself less rice and bread - saved 150cals - and replaced it with broccoli. I didn't miss the rice at all, rice was not the star of the show for me. I satisfied my craving as it was the sauce I wanted.

Today I'm going out for a family Sunday lunch. I've had berries and yoghurt for breakfast. Then we'll have the lunch - and I'm going to have what I wanted make sure I don't leave feeling unsatisfied - but then we'll have a long hilly walk and I'll run around the park with my toddler to counter the lunch. I'll probably not want dinner, but I've got wholemeal pitta and homemade chunky tomato veg if I do.

When I watch my naturally slim friends, this is how they eat.

Live your life and eat how you want to, just make clever tweaks as you go. The beauty of food is that there's always another meal, always 3 or 4 chances a day to trim it back.