I noticed this summer that I was up to max lifetime body weight, around 25 BMI. The fluffiness around the midsection was starting to feel uncomfortable when I did yoga, too, so I decided to get serious around mid-August. I had been running, hiking, and biking outdoors on a daily basis during the pandemic, but I stopped going to the gym and slacked off on the weight lifting and yoga and wasn't doing the group fitness classes that I love. Because my spouse was home a lot too, I also started eating breakfasts with him (he makes a mean french toast/waffle/breakfast sandwich). And then during hot vax summer I was brunching and happy houring like there was no tomorrow. So I ended up quickly gaining around 15 pounds during the pandemic, in addition to a slower weight creep of another 5 pounds or so over the previous 4-5 years.
I went back to the gym in mid-July, but because I was lifting weights and not particularly watching what I was eating, my appetite probably increased and I didn't lose any weight. So in mid-August, I decided to go to a 16/8 IF plan. This works for me since I exercise during the morning and I like to do that in a fasted state, so my window is noon-8 pm for eating. I also decided I would create a calorie deficit by sticking to around 1500 calories a day. Since fitbit claims I average around 2600 calories burned per day (with exercise), this gave me around a 1000 calorie deficit per day and 3500 calories = 1 pound so I expected to lose about 2 pounds a week. I did give myself the weekends off sometimes, so maybe a bit less than 2 pounds/wk. And I went on a couple of vacations, too. I would have a protein shake in the afternoon plus a few 100-calorie snacks and typically a large bowl of tomatoes or something high volume but low calorie like popcorn, and then a normal dinner. This works because I eat normally in the evenings when my spouse is around. I was quite hungry in the afternoons for the first 2-3 days but then my body must have recalibrated itself and I got used to it.
So it's been a bit over 2 months now and I've lost 15 pounds, back to a solidly healthy BMI and I feel and look great, much more like myself again. I could stop now and be fine but I'm going to go for the last 5 pounds while I'm at it, which should come off by Thanksgiving.
I have actually still eaten out quite a bit under this plan (the outdoor eating season here is precious and I love a meal with a great view) and I never gave up alcohol or anything in any food category, but I stopped going out for lunch, and when I go out for dinner I stick to lower calorie more healthy options - fairly easy to do since I'm on the shoreline, so I stick to things like raw oysters, tuna tartare, mussels etc. which are low in calories but high in nutrition and also delicious. I also substituted wine or champagne cocktails instead of higher calorie drinks like margaritas.
