Lockdown Fatties

We have been getting a bit heavy on here lately and the same questions are being asked over and over about vaccines, travel, passports and so on let alone still (yes, still) going on about Brexit (it's over, people, let it go).

To lighten the mood a little, has anyone been putting weight on over the long lockdown period and how have you handled it?

Now, me and 'er indoors decided back in February that, in the previous year, we have both, how shall I put it.........got a wee bit larger and, when getting in a lift, got the message "No more than 5 people allowed" when there were only the two of us (well, not quite).

From Feb we have counted calories for a couple of months, reduced portions (tip, buy smaller plates), cut down on sweeties and biccies and crisps etc even down to weighing portions of rice or pasta and so on. We are both in our 70s but go for a walk virtually every day but not normally over active. This month we are going to try the 5-2 bit where we eat normally for 5 days but cut down to 500 calories for two days in between to see how that goes.

In that time we have stuck to fresh food and lots of veg. Even went for a week with just fruit and veg, so strawberries or melon with low fat yogurt for breakfast, salads for lunch, bigger salads for dinner with some feta cheese or whatever and an apple or banana for a snack instead of tea and biccies. The only thing that did was using the loo about five times a day and feeling very lethargic, probably due to lack of protein. Next week we added grilled chicken breast or oven baked white fish to the weekly diet which improved it a lot. Also cut out all the saturated fat which hasn't been a problem. Although some cheese now and again is a weakness.

We also used to use those exercise parks you see on our walk round but they have been closed off so that has been a bit of a blow. Maybe a treat with a pizza once a month, or a packet of crisps between us every month but cut out pastries completely (including pork pies sob sob).

The result? Well, 'er indoors has been very slow. It's now been 16 weeks but she has lost a stone in weight (there's me exaggerating again, it's only 13 pounds) and I, obviously having far more chubbiness to get rid of, have lost a pound short of 2 stone.

Yes, we feel better, yes, we are eating healthy, yes the reduction round the face, arms and waist are noticeable but the belly, that bit just below the waist, is starting to outgrow the rest. In our 70s, we aren't going to join the local gym, the walks are getting shorter now the hot weather is here and the wearing of face masks is getting more and more uncomfortable.

So, has anyone also been doing things like this? Can you reduce that bit of belly without strenuous exercise or, as an oldie, am I whistling in the dark?

Still relatively fit in our 70s, not on any medication except Lansoprazole for 'er indoors although do feel the twinges when getting out bed in the morning.


Oh, a tip on the white fish thing. It is not exactly an awe inspiring dish unless you batter it or breadcrumb it. Battering out, obviously, and breadcrumbing a nuisance what with the covering in flour, dipping in egg/milk and then crumbing which is both messy and high on calories.
If you use a very mild mustard, like American or the Spanish burger mustard, then coat the fish with a very thin layer, like buttering bread, the breadcrumbs stick to it really well without all the mess or the calories.

My problem is portion control and having a chocolate bar every night with a cuppa,

Mine downfall us wine

And mine is cans of lager, such a hard life isn't it!! Boo,Boo woe is me(not) .

Try an app ....there are nany for abs andcwhikst require some super fitness just do the ones that aren't too energetic or painful...

Well done Marcliffe, great achievement.

My niece has always asked me how do I stay within a reasonable size, my answer was ‘if I have to buy a larger size garment, it’s panic time’.

She decided to do something and has now lost 6 stone this year and she has at last listened to me and did the carb diet. She decided to go for the Dr Mosley 800 calorie diet which is exactly the same but counts calories instead of carbs. She is 50 yrs of age/5’11”, walks every day around the village (UK). Diabetes medication has stopped, BP pills reduced drastically etc. She looks wonderful now, she still has a bit more to loose.
She will continue this style of eating for life now.

Have a look on Google ,diet doctor, lots of low carb recipes for an example.

If you are seriously over weight you need to start Dr Moseley diet as you have to understand how your body goes into ketosis state. Hard at first but once you weigh yourself after 7 days you will be amazed.

Good luck to everyone who decides to follow Marcliffs example.

Marcliff you mention that you are going to try the 5:2 diet but have you also thought of the 16:8 plan?
There is a lot of science around intermittent fasting (lots of info on Google and YouTube) and one of the benefits is to reduce belly fat. I found that having an eating window of 8 hours and fasting for 16 hours was quite easy to follow.

I’m doing intermittent fasting - 16 hours fasting, 8 hour window when you can eat. Lots of information on the www. It seems to work on the belly fat that seems to be such a health risk. I’m only in week one, but am finding it very easy to follow. My timetable is:-

12:30 break fast
16:00 lunch
20:00 dinner
20:30-12:30 only water, black tea or coffee
It’s important to cut out added sugar. I’ve bought erythritol instead as it doesn’t raise blood glucose levels.

Congratulations on the weight loss. A fine example to us all.
The weight was put on gradually over the years. So it'll take a while to come off. Better that way too.
It's the visceral fats that are the real danger. These gather around the middle and affect the functioning of various organs.
Have you noticed that you are sleeping better too?
Keep it up !!! Thank you for sharing !!!

WOW that is wonderful, I have been putting on the weight gradually over the last 18 months -I am always going to start the KETO diet but never get around to doing it. I cook for the family and have tried a couple of keto meals on them, however, they didn't like them so I gave up. I need to give myself a good talking to and start again. I am in awe of anyone who can and do lose weight.