How to Lose Weight When the Odds Are Stacked Against You

I have experienced the double whammy of weight gain – quitting smoking and entering full-blown menopause.

Now, while just ‘eating less and moving more’ or ‘mindful eating’ might have worked when I was younger, at a certain age, losing weight gets harder and harder. I  needed to do something more than simply count calories.

In the last two months, I have lost almost 7kg (15 lbs) by applying the weight loss principles I am going to share in this post. I even went on holiday for a week where there was a free daily buffet breakfast and dinner and I didn’t gain a gram.

It goes without saying that I am not a doctor, a nutritionist, a scientist or a dietitian so please take my advice with a grain of salt. Don’t blame me if it all goes horribly wrong!

My weight loss plan

#1 The longer you can go without eating the better (no snacking!)

I discovered this principle from reading Mastering Leptin: Your Guide to Permanent Weight Loss and Optimum Health. Although I didn’t understand all the science (and I am not sure I am convinced it is all true) I did quit snacking and now limit my eating times to two or three times a day. 

#2 Rest your digestive system (intermittent fasting)

The book The Obesity Code blames insulin rather than leptin for weight gain and is a compelling book well worth reading. In order to reset your insulin sensitivity you need to fast. I tried all sorts of fasting regimes, but what works best is a combination of 18 hour and 24 hour fasts (see the diagram below). 

#3 Keep your body guessing

In my old body-building days, I had the most weight loss success when I cycled my carbs. I’m beginning to think it wasn’t the low carb/high carb combination that brought success, but because I was doing something different every day. If you eat 1200 calories day after day, your body will adapt and think this is normal (and stop losing weight). Mix it up by eating different amounts of calories each day.

#4 Don’t choose an extreme food regime

If you choose a low carb diet, after a while, all you want is thick, grainy bread, and if you choose a low fat diet, before you know it you’re craving bacon and eggs. Cutting out a particular food group is unsustainable and causes cravings.

I personally like the Mediterranean diet with moderate carbs, moderate protein and good fats. I eat wholemeal pasta, potatoes and bananas. I even drink red wine and the occasional stack of pancakes. Food is good stuff and deprivation leads to bingeing.

#5 Give up artificial sweeteners

There is some evidence that artificial sweeteners cause insulin spikes so I’ve given up sweetening my tea. I don’t know if it makes a difference or not but it is part of my diet plan.

#6 Exercise for stress relief, not for calorie burn

My exercise regimes is now based around walking and gentle jogging. It seems to help relieve my anxiety. Cortisol (caused by stress) is another hormone that causes weight gain so if your workout regime is stressful, you won’t lose weight. Exercise for the enjoyment you get while doing it, not some perceived benefits you’ll get once it is over.

Putting it All Together – The Diet Strategy

Here is a sample of my weekly diet strategy.

Monday:  (no breakfast) | lunch | dinner | 1200 calories
Tuesday: (no breakfast) | (no lunch)| dinner | 500 calories
Wednesday: breakfast | lunch | dinner | 1800 calories
Thursday: (no breakfast) | lunch | dinner | 1200 calories
Friday: (no breakfast) | (no lunch)| dinner | 500 calories
Saturday: (no breakfast) | lunch | dinner | 1200 calories
Sunday:  breakfast | lunch | dinner | 1800 calories

Other Resources

These books have alternative dieting strategies that are worth checking out.

Fight Fat After Forty

The Fast Diet: Lose Weight, Stay Healthy, and Live Longer with the Simple Secret of Intermittent Fasting

The Complete Guide to Fasting: Heal Your Body Through Intermittent, Alternate-Day, and Extended Fasting

The Every-Other-Day Diet: The Diet That Lets You Eat All You Want (Half the Time) and Keep the Weight Off

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I remind you that I am no nutritional expert, but I am very pleased at the results I am getting.

Please let me know if you try this weight loss plan. I would love to hear your results.

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