Hi there,

I'm new to this and it's the 1st time I have joined a forum. I'm on a mission to loose 1 stone and after many failed attempts, I'm wondering what works best? I'm not a gym person but like the outdoors and have tried things like Bootcamp but this didn't work for me.

Well, congrats on wanting to get healthier and in better shape. 1 stone isn't a lot to "have" to lose, so likely if you change your diet just a small bit and step up your exercise efforts it will happen in its own time. The problem with exercise alone is that it isn't meant as a weight loss tool in and of itself. Matter of fact, if you are in relatively good weight exercising may make you heavier/bulkier as you add muscle. While muscle takes up less room than fat it can get to a point where you're growing your muscles. Of course, I'm talking not of experience here but theory and what I've heard.

Basically, keep a ledger of what you eat for the next week, and take that to a calorie counting site and add up the calories, checking against your weight, age, height and see how much you should be eating to maintain, and how much to lose.

A friend of mine is doing a boot camp now 4 days per week. She has not changed her diet and she is quite overweight. She is finding it torture, of course, and is not seeing a lot happen on the scale, which is discouraging. As much as I try to encourage her to eat just a bit better and taper back on the food, my advice is falling on deaf ears. Anyhow, diet will help you lose weight and exercise will get or keep you fit. They work well hand-in-hand, but exercise alone isn't a great idea unless you're already in good shape, and exercise alone may not move the scale.

Thanks so much for your advice. I really appreciate it. It's a vicious circle I can tell you. I know how your friend is feeling re. Bootcamp. It is so so difficult and then after you put so much effort in, you don't see results!! It makes you want to just give up. I'm 5ft 5inches and I'm 10 st 3Ilbs so it's difficult at this stage to loose the weight. I tend to hold onto it around my middle but my arms and legs are fine. I generally eat good food and not junk but eating patterns are not great, i.e. I tend to be hungry at night but have been good lately. I think I just need to train my mind as to when are the right times to eat but I'm thinking if I can master that combined with a few walks per week, that might work?? I will also keep the ledger which is a good idea.

CATH ~ this is a great place with lots of support -- you will like it here. Lots of great people with good ideas & tips too. Take a look around and join in wherever you want and have fun.

Eating healthy and walking will get you off to a great start ...

I'm down 1.5Ilbs. I'm a bit frustrated as I really have been sticking to healthy foods and walking. Thought I would have lost more weight by now. Am I doing something wrong? I have 3 meals a day ( large healthy dinner, meat and veg, 2 glasses of water ). Should I do something else?