Vegplotter Member

Don't take those exercise calories too seriously and don't get to rely on them too much. I treat exercise days as a good kickstart to losing weight. I'm always lighter the next morning. If in doubt use up half your exercise calories IF YOU NEED TO.

You are tall. You are 22. You are never going to be a size 0. Get to the mid weight for your height and sec and try maintenance for at least a year. If after that time you feel you could lose a bit of weight try then, but my guess is that life will have moved on.

First your daughter: Take her to a proper specialist who can give her the proper treatment to cure her. I gather they give you minuscule amounts of whatever it is she's allergic to to build her immunity. No one need suffer from these pesky allergies any more. In the mean time re-possess your kitchen. Give her a microwave…

Don't fret. You are just being human. This is a classic example of normal hunger turning into an ice cream fantasy. Here's my take on it: HUNGER Hunger is a normal and welcome feeling in people who are not overweight. If you were overweight and gaining for some years before your diet, you won't recognise the feeling. It…

Do not rely on natural herbs. See a doctor even if you have to steal to pay. Your health is more important than anything else. But it sounds as if you have given up the crazy diet and exercise regime so you may be heading in the right direction.

I think that's part of the problem of diets. We consider them a short term fix, never dreaming that a diet should actually prepare you for a lifetime of watching calories and taking more exercise. Those old habits have to be scrutinised and if they don't pass muster - ditch them.

Great that you are taking the plunge. I'm 61 and dieting for the nth time - but determined to keep the weight off his time. Happy to friend if you like?

I've suffered from Yoyo dieting all my life. I'm only now beginning to see the problem. Sorry to be a killjoy, but my guess is that you need a wagon you can stay on for the rest of your life. You've proved to yourself that you can cut down. Now you need to find a way to stay slimmer. That means eating for the new you, not…

Count you intake in calories and don't believe the exercise calories. Drink lots of water, walk don't drive, and give yourself a break at the gym. You'll never keep it up.

I assume Isagenix is some sort of protein shake? These type of product are prescribed by doctors in the case of obese people who have had stomach bands. A six to eight week programme is usual and not harmful to health. BUT the doctor will be checking your health regularly. Doing it yourself, especially for long periods of…

Excellent that you are thinking about the body and the mind in total and in its context. When we are anxious our digestive system goes into meltdown. Everything is connected. I'll join you. Feel free to friend.

Don't fall for gimmicks. As everyone says - reduce your eating, increase your exercise, drink lots of water, sleep 8hrs and leave the rest to Father Time.

They are all good at telling you whether you've walked/exercised more or less than yesterday. But I don't think the metabolism is necessarily as simple as that. Some days you eat more, some less. The amount of exercise you take may mean you need a bit more food - but exactly how much? Too many other variables to rely on…

I meant that people are telling jeanstudies to calculate her new weight calories add exercise calories and that's it. But I don't think it's wise to go straight from a low calorie diet to maintenance. I also think it's easy at that stage to overestimate activity calories. Even if she eats only 50 calories a day over her…

I think some people are being a bit optimistic here. Even now your body needs less calories to function than it did when you carried round more weight. Find a calorie page which gives you different recommendations for your height and level of activity. However be very cautious once you reach target weight. You can't just…

1. If you are an older woman the British medical advice (I think) is that one small (125ml) glass of red wine a day is good for your heart. 2. You also need to know that teetotallers don't live as long as those who drink alcohol in moderation. 3. Alcohol has very little nutritional value and is stuffed with calories and…

Cravings mean you feel hungry. This is a novel experience for a dieter. When we are getting fat we are eating more than we need, so we never get hungry. If an overweight person misses a meal their body has a ready store of fat to use. Once you start dieting your body starts using up the fat store, so the messages of hunger…

Well done for persevering in the face of that craving. I suggest you take some really lovely speciality tea bags like earl grey or whatever you like and sip those as a boost. I see you have a little dog - so taking him/her on a nice walk should lift your mood when you get home. Also do you have enough friends in your area?…

Counting calories is only a way to become more aware of what you are eating. I'd try it for a while, the proportions are a little bit arbitrary. If you can't handle it you could try the French approach. You'll note there is no mention of giving up wine! Good luck Wendy

You've both done really well. There isn't much good advice out there about ending a diet. Every time I've dieted in the past I've put the weight back on within a year or two. So this time, even though I've got a long way to go yet, I'm determined to work out how we deal with those last few pesky pounds and the (inevitable)…

I've just checked your weight and height on the NHS chart and, as far as I can tell, you are in the sweet spot. The perfect weight for your height. 115lbs is still classed as healthy, but it may well be that your build just won't let you go there. Perhaps instead of a reducing diet you might need to focus on maintaining a…

It's very difficult to go from eating anything and everything you want to relying solely on healthy foods. But part of dieting is changing habits. I'd choose something you can't live without - say chocolate - and eat a tiny bit at the end of the day if you have the calories left. (And you must log it). There is nothing…

Here are a few tips. 1. Use up your calories wisely - it's much easier if you buy healthy foods and cook your own. 2. Soups and milkshakes are very satisfying. 3. Go for a short walk after every meal. (Though do allow for about fiveteen minutes for digestion before you get up.) 4. Good luck

I get the drift - if you eat above your calories you will get fat. But don't steer clear of fruit and milk. A 200ml whole milk smoothie with 100gms of fresh fruit is a great breakfast. It's not a snack though! (Sorry about the metric - I'm English) Salads like cucumber, celery and leaves are very low in calories so I'd say…

I like to start and finish the day with something sweet. Here are my tips: 1. There is a massive calorie difference between home made and shop bought sweets. So first think of cooking/making your own. 2. Fresh fruit is the lowest calorie sweetener. 3. Some really nice herbs can add a sweet taste, eg mint. 4. Yogurt or milk…

Be careful though. The database is full of partial entries. I assume the ones with a green tick have been checked by someone, but even they often don't give all the contents. I'd say go for uncooked versions, but remember the more you cook the more vitamins you destroy, so make allowances. Enjoy!

I'd get expert advice. Your doctor may say that you don't need to diet, or that you don't need to fast. I reckon the two are incompatible. Dieting is about little AND often.

Soup is the simple solution. It can be cooked in big batches and then transferred to a thermos. Add chopped chives, croutons or parsley for extra bite. Soups really fill you up.

Hi, it's easy to typecast yourself, but in so doing you might just be condemning yourself to eating badly. Check out how many times you eat highly spiced foods like pickles, mustards and curry. It might be that your taste buds need a little rest before subtler flavours can be enjoyed. I'd suggest cutting out the relishes…