I am 4 ft 8" and shrinking and weight 11st 10lb. Any ideas on how to shift 5 stones without joining any diet clubs as I am strapped for cash?
Anyone any ideas on losing weight? I ... - Fibromyalgia Acti...
Anyone any ideas on losing weight? I have osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis so exercise is difficult...
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Khozzy
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Hi it's hard as the medication does not
Help, and for you movement must be awful
I don't do any silly diets, for a start off they are
Expensive, you tend to put the weight back on.
Use a smaller plate, get your self a calorie counter
Book, 2,000 I think for a woman, and count every
Thing you put in your mouth.
Try not to eat to much bread and biscuits cake
But if you can't resist it count it as well don't forget to count
Tea and coffee, after a while cut the calories down a bit
More.
I stopped eating bread and felt a lot better it may have been just in my mind but who cares if it makes you think you feel
Better
It's a slow process. But at least it's healthy, remember
That protein stays in your system longer so it keeps
The hunger at bay
Good luck stay well love viv
Khozzy in reply to
Thank you Viv that sounds like great advice! I have already cut bread out and crisps which are my favourite but still I have only shifted a couple of pounds in a month.. it's a real pain as I wish I could do more exercise but you're right it is very painful though I will still keep trying....and I'll increase the protein and see what happens. Thank you for your help, i'll keep you posted.
Hi Khozzy
I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? This is a very difficult question to answer I am afraid to say? I share your issue as I have arthritis and find it difficult to exercise, but I would think it is not impossible with some help from your GP.
Most GP Practices these days will have a physiotherapist on site that should be able to offer you some gentle exercise that you will be able to undertake.
I have pasted you a couple of links relating to your issue and it could give you some ideas to discuss with your GP.
arthritisresearchuk.org/art...
nhs.uk/Conditions/Arthritis...
I genuinely hope that you can find some resolution and relief to this problem.
All my hopes and dreams for you
Ken
Hi Ken, I'm so sorry to hear about your condition and hope that you are as well as you can be too? Yes exercise would be great except for the crazy exercise plans that the fitness instructor linked to my GP surgery has. There is no way that I could keep up with it as I pay a very heavy price the next day which prevents me doing anything thereafter so it becomes a catch 22 situation. I have tried to explain balance to her but it goes over the fitness instructor's head as she doesn't get it, so I gave up! Grrr I would love to be fitter but I feel that I will need to lose some weight to and maybe at my own pace. Thank you for the websites I'll have a look now and see if there are any changes that I can make in addition to those I am already trying.. slow though my progress is. I hope I find some resolution and relief too. Many thanks for your ideas though... I'll keep you posted.
Yeah! that would be overdoing it somewhat. My GP keeps telling me slow gentle exercising is the answer. I am soon to be starting a course myself as I had to wait for physio due to surgery. I really hope that you can find an answer to this? And I look forward to hearing how you get on.
Take care
Ken
Thanks Ken, I have already got some ideas from the webpages that you gave me, so I think I need some insoles first and I'll leave the fitness instructor to those more able bodied people and have a bash myself using some of the suggestions people have given me. I hope you do great on your course and I hope you're feeling better since your surgery? Good luck and stay well!
Hi Jess, that sounds like a great idea about the portions and sizes as I have just found a plate that shows this in details so that's definitely worth a review. I'm wondering if I need to get some insoles to support my feet better first as per Ken's webpage options, as this prevents me walking as the pain is awful, but this could give my feet some support. I'm wondering do you use anything to support your feet to help you to move for longer?
I forgot to say.... Well done to your partner! 
hi there
i have the same prob with weight and exercise but have found if i eat a good breakfast then small amounts about 5 times a day instead of 3 normal meals i lose weight with out feelling hungery
if you leave your body to long with out food it gets into the habit of storeing it as fat to be used later by doing little and often it has no need to do this
some light chair exercises will help but just as much as is comfertable for you dont over do it
hope this is of help to you
maurice
That's a good idea Maurice... I'm wondering... how do you split your meals into five portion sized meals and what would you normally eat? I can defo manage chair exercises! Thanks for the great tips!
hi try smaller plates of food if you use a 12in plate try a 9in plate it just looks a big dinner little and often is the answere
i break up my dinner into 2 portions on 6in plates then have it every 2 hours seems to work for me hope it can for you
2 small bowls of porrage one at 8 one at 10
at 12 i have 3 cream crackers
at 2 i have 3 more
at 4 i have chicken potaoes carrots cabbage and swede this i tend to have on 2 plates
so i can eat half then have the rest at 6
at 8 i have a small salad samwich
then at 10 just 2 rich tea biscuits then of to sleep if lucky as you can see i do not go hungery but my body just has enough to use
all the best
maurice
Thank you Maurice for the comment....I have now found a smaller plate so that is great news as it's lightweight too. But I am wondering.... how do you manage to eat when you work if indeed you do? I'm just curious how I would be able to fit this into my everyday life. I'm also wondering...do you have a set number of calories per meal or just what you want and eat it little and often? And also is it plain crackers or with something on them? Sorry I have so many questions... it's a really interesting idea! I hope you don't mind.
Hi khozzy if you talk to your doc they can give you vouchers for slimming world then you don't have to pay my sister have now lost nearly 3 stone x
Is that just in England or Scotland too?
We are in England x
OK ...I will ask my doctor as I'm based in Scotland but it's worth a shot. Thank you x
Well done to your sister too! x
I am a devil for cake so what I do now is have a big bowl of fruit, banana melon grapes all chopped up and pour muller light yoghurt over it and it is filling and really tasty. For a bit of a change I partially freeze yoghurt to eat with my fruit, its like an ice cream treat without all the calories. I eat lots of fruit and veg. I find for me I lose weight if I cut out fats like butter, limit my cheese to Dairylea light triangles and I put these in my jacket potatoes instead of butter. I have lost 15lb in 6 weeks. I have osteoarthritis and fibro so cannot exercise much either, plus I walk with a stick. It is a case of healthy eating and portion control but with the odd treat too. I am a member of Slimming World but if I can help in anyway just ask hun x Another helpful site is the British Heart Foundation, they have a healthy eating plate which gives an idea of portion size if you register with them, they will send you their booklets and healthy eating plan this works too as I have used it. x
Khozzy in reply to
Oh there's some great ideas thank you Mistyang! I will see if I can get the portion plate as I was wondering where people got this.I have just traced it off the NHS site but a plate would be so much better! I love the yougart idea too... I could do the same with squash I guess as an alternative too as sometimes I get fed up with the same things.. but yes please any ideas that you have would be greatly appreciated, I need all the help that I can get! x
Jaynielynne in reply to
Angel food cake is good with fruit, pudding, judy plain. =)
Hi with the health conditions you have & weight you need to lose, your Gp or nurse should be able to give you a choice of lots of free help. I am 5ft 1" & heavier than I have ever been when I went for regular blood pressure & weight check I was given lots of options free weight watchers, slimming world or Rosemary Connelly slimming club membership fees paid each week, I think they do it in blocks of so many weeks, unfortunately as joining one of these in the past lead to my Bullimia I was advised by Councellor never to try these type again & I know I'm not strong enough to avoid my sometimes slips into the past getting more often. It is worth seeing your dr or nurse about this as I know how concerned they are about weight gain in people like us who can't exercise in traditional ways. Hope this helps Karen
Khozzy in reply to
Hi Karen, you have hit my concerns right on the head as I had anorexia in the past which is why I have so many disabilities now. I guess I'm saying that I don't trust myself in not getting into the diet trap again as I've been there before. But yes your comment does help, as I was beginning to wonder if I was just over reacting.... I'm wondering Karen how do you work with your Bullimia and managing an healthy diet and your own health? It may give me some ideas to ponder... and thank you for your honesty... it means a lot to me.
in reply to Khozzy
I can fully understand your worries, when the nurse said right which one of these diet clubs do u want to go to, I almost vomited in the spot. I used Slimming World before but I was the victim of my own success I was the only member who lost weight every week so got into the habit of weighing myself earlier in the day I was due to go, knowing my scales were a 1lb different to the clubs, it started occasional vomiting sessions before I knew after losing 3 stones & divorcing my husband, I stopped going but living almost opposite a 24 hour garage & being a choc a holic, at nights when I can't sleep or in lots of pain it's too easy to go across for goodies. Usually after a while I stop & can lose the weight by just stopping the rubbish but this time the switch hasn't flicked & I cannot get into the mind set to stop. I don't work, as well as Fibro I've had knee problems since I was 15, I'm 50 now. After 6 operations I had both knee caps removed in 1996, although this stopped the what I called bone type pain, over the years I had lots of nerve damage & obviously Fibro doesn't help either. As for my diet sadly it's not 1 I'd recommend, I always have cereal porridge for breakfast, mostly so that I can start tacking the rattle box of pills lol, very rarely have lunch & honestly don't cook much of an evening either living alone & being in so much pain most nights I just can't be bothered. I know I have to get myself into some routine, I did when I was seeing my eating disorder Councellor but mostly to be honest to avoid getting told off. Sorry I can't help you any further but if either of us come across anything I will definitly post good luck in your weight loss plan Karen xx
Khozzy in reply to
It sounds like you have been through the mill too Karen.I can understand your worries and why you get into a pattern of eating and then not. It's not easy to work round disabilities and also an eating disorder. Although I get where your're coming from in being compliant with health professionals! lol Well it sounds like you've got there with your breakfast so that's a bonus even if its to stomach the pills.. I'm in the same situation living alone so I have been guilty of not bothering and then bingeing later or not eating at all, but it makes me feel rubbish. A catch 22 all round! Thank you for all your honesty and good wishes Karen, it's good to know that someone is out there struggling too in trying to manage an eating disorder and lose weight too. It's not easy to mix the two or get into a routine. Take care of yourself and if I find a magic solution I'll let you know too! x
wildwoman in reply to
Hi Karen, just to say I had bulimia for a long time. Over it now, but I do understand how it is, hang on in there! With love, Sally xxx
Jaynielynne in reply to
Some of the boxed meals at the grocery store in the frozen section are pretty good. You can add a salad or add veggies and proteins to the meal or skillet. They have extra salt in them so that's the kicker but it beats eating other quick foods.
My sister throws vegetables, fruit and yogurt into a blender to drink them as snacks or bigger size for meals along with a hunk of chicken or turkey from the night before leftovers. It works and it's pretty healthy.
There's some great ideas here.. thank you for taking the time to reply... now I just need to get on and have a try and hopefully tomorrow will be a better day than today.
Hi Khozzy,
I hear you loud and clear.
I lost almost five pounds last week by eating smaller portions and a low carb diet as Vivien60 suggested - not too low as I'm diabetic so I eat at least some carbs every day - don't forget that there are carbs or sugars (in my case almost interchangeable) in some vegs and most fruit.
I also included some seated exercises as suggested by honyman (found some on the NHS choices website and included a few moves of my own. I also incorporated some handheld weights - light ones. You could use a couple of small water bottles. The important thing is doing repetitions and raising your heart rate.
Doing it to music you enjoy or could dance to is brilliant and as soon as you feel yourself building up a sweat or feeling tired, STOP.
Finally, make sure you have to report to someone Every Week. That helps you to keep on track and hopefully not lie to yourself or them - especially if you know they're going to actually see you at some point! Strangely enough, it was losing weight on my face that made me realise it was working.
As a post script, please don't worry if you fall off the wagon now and then, like everything else, just pick yourself up, dust yourself down and start all over again. Just don't become disheartened and give up and if you have a flare, like I did this week, just leave out the exercise until it's passed.
Wishing you all the best - Stay Strong and Stay Positive
I love the idea of the water bottles cos then I can vary the water in them as I'm not great with heavy objects, having had some pretty narrow escapes before and I could have a bash on good days and leave it on bad ones. I'm more wary with heavy items as I'm on my own at the moment. I love the ideas of dancing and repeating exercises, as I'm rubbish at remembering stuff. Maybe I could just check in here each week as I can do this when I'm working so it becomes routine?Hmmm lots to ponder... thank you!
Loads of good advice there, as always. Just try to remember you're not training for a marathon - or are you? Anything that makes you breathe even a bit harder is good, it means you're burning calories, and exercise can help with fibro pain but it's not a cast iron guarantee - nothing seems to be. I can't do Slimming World because the timing and location arte unhelpful. However my GP says, as long as you're losing SOMETHING it's better than going up or losing nothing. It's not a race.
I'm personally sceptical about weight loss groups and preparations - what's their incentive for you to succeed? None. If you de reach your target you stop spending/subscribing. and any fancy diet just puts weight back on as soon as you come off it.
I'm sorry the only way to diet is to stop most of your favourite things. Don't stop giving yourself the OCCASSIONAL treat, or you just get so despondent on top your other problems. Most of us honestly know what a healthy balanced diet is, the problem is avoiding those tasty bad things.
Or try my gin and tonic diet. I've lost 3 days already. 
Haha no I'm not training for a marathon... unless it's eating one! :/ sorry I think they're called snickers now... lol Yes that's true about the other diets and books. I guess I'm looking at other alternatives as the ones that I would usually try don't seem to be working as well as they used to when I was younger sadly. But yes you're right, I have cleared my cupboards of all the things that I like and am trying to use the calorie counting as a back up although I can feel some urges coming back to cut back more and more by the day so I will have to watch that this doesn't enable me to go back to a full blown eating disorder... otherwise maybe I will need to join you on your gin and tonic diet to recover and break the cycle!
Just been to hospital where there was a poster about healthy eating, then a consultant walked by with a Tw*x in his had. Don't know whether it was a left Tw*x or a right Tw*x.
Haha priceless! He obviously needed a sugar high to help him remember that he was supposed to be healthy eating. :/ Hope your hospital visit went well?
part 1 over, part 2 to come 
Aww that doesn't sound like it's something to look forward too. I hope all goes as best as it can for you. Take care of yourself. x
Thanks. Well lets not over dramatise but its not a job they let dentists do these days but I'm old enough to have had another out the same way 30 years ago. It's not as bad as many fibromites have to suffer and when it's over, it's over.
Hmm I wonder if we have a Scholl shop locally or do you mean on the internet? My feet are a nightmare especially on shopping days.. that's all the exercise I can usually manage on these days but maybe the gel insoles would be worth a look at. I've only ever seen the padded material ones before. Thanks for the ideas.
My pleasure
H am in a similar position Larger lady cannot walk now I only just manage to potter about my house.I have had to given and get help two days a week .I have lost two stones since Christmas by cutting plate sizes, no bread / no flour products. Lots of green veg, fish lean meat and fruit.
I do feel better but my back is very bad. Best of luck keep us posted xgins
Wow gins I am well impressed with how much weight you have lost and in such a short space of time. That is brilliant! I am hoping to follow in your footsteps so any tips would be greatly appreciated. I'm wondering gins, is your bad back due to your diet change or because of something else? I'm just curious as I broke T12 in my back and I don't want to aggravate it or back pain any further.So far I have lost 2lb this week so that's cool. I was beginning to feel rubbish not losing any. x
I'm still desperate to try and lose weight! I have about ???? stones to lose, and although I have a small plate, I never feel full!!! I just want to eat and eat !! I'm not able to exercise either, and I have followed the Chair Exercises on Sky TV but I just don't have the motivation! All I seem to be doing is sitting watching TV, being on the lap top, sleeping (not very well unfortunately), and eating!! I'm really at the end of my tether!! Help!!!!!! XX
nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Healthyw... Hi Sue, this link will take you to the Body Mass Index page where you type in your height and weight and then it will give you the range of what is a health weight for your frame and also looks at the amount of activity that you do. I did this first to find out how much I was aiming for to lose in weight and then it also gives you a rough idea of how many calories to aim for. I have been using the lower limit which is about 1200 as I'm only 4ft 8" and can't exercise very much, but maybe this could give you an idea of what you would like to lose and how you are going to get there. Maybe by increasing your protein in meat, fish, eggs, yougart, milk, or nuts, it could help you feel fuller for longer and add in as many fruit and veg as you can manage. It all helps to fill a gap. Also watch for high carbohydrate levels in food as this can make you hungry quicker. Keep a food journal and add up calories if you can as you go along. Even if you manage one day in the limits, it's one day closer to your goal. If you're not sleeping I also find writing a journal of how I'm thinking and feeling helps to take away the anxiety or depression that may be behind it. It could also help with the emotional eating aspect and maybe help you to cut down, or at least be aware of when you are eating and why. If you want to chat then just message me. Good luck with your weight loss, I'll be thinking about you. x
Thanks Khozzy!! I follow a low carb diet as I have T2 diabetes, and make sure I don't have many treats. I rarely eat cakes or biscuits....fortunately I don't have a sweet tooth. I eat only 2 pieces of fruit a day, becos of the sugar content, eat plenty of veg and lean meat and fish but never seem to lose weight. I also drink plenty of fluids daily!! XX
It sounds like you're suffering what I was going through eating healthy and not losing much weight.But now that I have done the BMI test and also found out how many calories I can have per day and used that as a target, it seems to be working better and I have lost more weight. It sounds like you're trying to cover all bases, so good for you. Hopefully you will see some results soon. x
If you go to ur doctors they can now refer u to slimming world free of charge for a 12 weeks course,,,hope this helps
Many thanks for your reply...I'll give it a shot!
Hi Khozzy,
You could ask your GP to refer you to a podiatrist. They can look at your feet and your gaite and get the correct insoles needed.
I find that the best exercise is swimming because the water supports you. Also tai chi and gentle yoga are supposed to be really good for fibro.
Gentle hugs
Becky xx
I am in a similar position and have been overweight for years, sometimes losing weight then putting it back on, though I don't follow any specific diet plan. Since getting my fibro diagnosis and finding myself too sore to work I have sat at home and eaten - everything! For the first 3-4 months I was in so much pain that food was a comfort, the past few months I have reduced what I am eating but finding any kind of exercise painful and very tiring, even walking. For the past few weeks I have been getting hydrotherapy and although it is tiring I have felt better on the days between the sessions so my plan is to keep going to a pool once I am signed off and trying to keep up the good work. Even walking is more pleasurable in the pool as it doesn't hurt the way it does on land. I am hoping that between being able to walk more and swim when I can that I might be able to undo some of the harm I have done and get back to what I was, or less. Linda
Hi Linda, it sounds like you're trying really hard to lose weight and manage your health too It's lnot easy I must say. I've been cutting down on food too using the BMI calculator on the NHS site which has helped and I have now nearly lost a stone which is amazing...although today is not a good day! Like you I overeat when I can't do all that I want too or because of the pain. I'm trying to do a little exercise.. not as successfully as I would like but it's all I can manage due to the pain. But fab idea walking in water... I think I could do that! Good luck with your weight loss and health..
On Land or in the water?lol Water Walking is fun too.
Great ideas! Certainly worth a shot.
Just a quick update on the hydrotherapy. I do a few different exercises but I spend a lot of the time walking in the pool. Over the past three weeks I have had four hydrotherapy sessions and have been to the pool on my own twice, just walking up and down and I have lost half a stone, which it am delighted about. One of the things the physio uses is a belt that goes around the waist and the wearer either walks or jogs up and down the pool. The belt apparently increases the waters resistance and makes the body work harder. I have ordered one online to use once I feel fit enough, almond with a ball type thing (it's a bit tricky to describe) that I can use to strengthen my hips and legs and also use to tone my waist, or should I say the area where my waist should be and I am hoping that by increasing my fitness level and reducing my weight my pain will be more manageable and my depression and anxiety will improve as well. I really, really want my life back, or at least some semblance of normality. Writing this here is a way of holding mysel accountable and making sure I keep trying, even on the bad days. Thank you all for being there and being so supportive, Linda.
Gosh that sounds like a great idea Linda. I think that I will need to find out if we have a hydrotherapy pool where I live as the physio has never mentioned it when I've been before. But I guess at least I have more information to put to the doctor to see whether I could be referred that way through to a pool if we have one, so thank you for that. Walking in the pool is a great idea to help strengthen my feet, legs, hips and back as the pain is awful. I did gardening on Saturday and have been up every night ever since in agony and my healthy eating has flown out of the window as I couldn't be bothered to eat properly, so now I'm back at square one again. Well done you though on losing so much though, you sound like you're determined to change your life around and that is very commendable. Good luck with your endeavour!
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