I turned 40 in January and decided that this would be the year I sorted my life out (obviously the universe had other ideas given the current situation lol). I am only 5'3" and tipped the scales at 15 stone 9. I have never been this heavy, not even during pregnancy. I have four children and successfully lost the weight after each of them (my youngest is now 7). I weighed 11 and a half stone up until about 4 years ago (so not tiny by any means but "normal sized") and then the weight just piled on. I had a couple of unsuccessful stints at slimming world and then just gave up.
I started counting calories in February and lost the first 9lb quite quickly (probably water weight). Since mid February I have been hovering at or just under 15 stone. I have cut my calories from 1500 to 1200 per day in increments as I realized that I was not losing anything and it hasn't worked. I will feel like I am getting somewhere - lose 2lbs over four weeks- and then put the 2lbs back on for no reason!
I'm so frustrated and it's making me depressed. I feel like I could stop eating altogether and I still wouldn't lose any weight.
I want to take the plunge and try LCHF as I think I am probably insulin resistant and that's why I am not losing anything but I am scared that if stop calorie counting I will just end up even bigger! I just don't trust myself or my body any more. My self esteem is literally zero.
If anyone else started out in a similar situation could they please reassure me that this will finally solve my weight problem!
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Frootloop
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Hi, all I can say is that this worked for me and I lost over 3 stone.
It works for me because I stick to it due to it helping my PMR and also controlling my type 2 diabetes which is now well controlled without medication. I also walk at least 10,000 steps a day. Good luck to you
I've been in a very similar situation, similar height and weight and similar inability to lose it. I think you should actually see someone about potential underlying conditions, as for me it turned out I had issues with my thyroid that meant no matter what diet I followed, I was never going to successfully lose weight (in fact calories restriction makes thyroid issues worse).
You should consider whether you have any family history of autoimmune diseases or other symptoms, e.g. digestive issues, fatigue, swollen neck, and see your doctor about them, although I will say my GP was useless and just gave me some nonsense "different people lose weight differently" line, and it was actually a nutritionist who identified my issues were due to my thyroid.
Another thing to consider is that having had 4 kids, you've also possibly depleted some of your reserves - digestive enzymes, essential vitamins and minerals. Deficiencies in some of these can also make it difficult to lose weight. Did you ever take anything like a post-natal vitamin?
I've had blood tests for thyroid problems, pcos, Diabetes, menopause etc and all came back negative. I have autoimmune urticaria but as far as I know that doesn't affect weight. I've also been checked umpteen times for digestive stuff (like crohns etc) as I have IBS. I am actually at the point where I would love for there to be something wrong with me so I could fix it (as back to front as that sounds) but it appears that my body just hates me lol.
Oh and yes I took postnatal vitamins and iron (as I was anaemic after each kid) also my kids are spaced 4-5 years apart so I think my reserves would have been built back up .x
Autoimmune diseases come hand in hand with nutritional deficiencies and poor gut health, so I definitely think there's something behind your body struggling, please don't be hard on yourself about it!
One thing that helped me was seeing a qualified nutritionist - technically my thyroid issues weren't diagnosable, because I was borderline on a few things. We did a specific diet (AIP) and supplement plan and I swear my weight melted off, and I wasn't counting calories at all. I definitely recommend seeing someone if you can.
Whatever you do end up doing, try to support your gut with a good quality probiotic and some digestive enzymes
I saw someone privately - I checked the British association of nutritional therapists' website to find a registered nutritionist and did some research to find someone suited to my needs.
Hi frootloop - I just want to echo what Cooper27 has said here. A private BANTS nutritionist will take a holistic approach and will make lifestyle, dietary and supplement recommendations to bring any deficiencies into an optimal range. The NHS were happy with me having border-line or low levels of various vitamins, minerals and hormones because my numbers were 'within range'. The NHS is great for some things, not so good with others - and if you can afford the private route I feel you'll be doing your very best for your health. I've learnt so much about myself, lost weight and feel so much better for it. And I think a lower processed carbs approach is vital. I wish you lots of luck frootloop x
My journey to LCHF started with Michael Mosley's Fast800 book. So for my first month I counted calories, though I wasn't consistent, most days between 800-1200, some as low as 500, some around 1400 and I didn't count them at all on Christmas day, just rounded it to 3000 😂
Going low cal is useful, because you can get used to lower carb, before getting your head around higher fat. Gradually you can add the fat in. You might find that easier than what you are doing now, because lower carbs reduces cravings, and I concentrated my calories in one or two meals, so I had a satisfying meal everyday, so I wasn't hungry all the time.
I lost 10cm off my waist in that time, and it set me on the right path.
I know you can not see a doctor at the moment, but it might be worth having a conference call with one. They may be able to send you a diet or help in some way. I am 70 and have had a battle with weight since I had children. I was worried about being breathless and Ihave an under active thyroid. I thought I could not lose weight, my doctor thought otherwise. So I joined S.W and I lost 2st and so far 9mths later have not regained it. Try getting some help, good luck to you.
Well. We can’t tell you if a low carb diet will help your issues. BUT almost every week, I see some new research indicating that excess insulin leads to a different serious health issue. but a reduced carb diet will help get insulin and the issue them under control. In particular, excess insulin leads to all sorts of inflammation in the body.
The only way to tell low carb will help you, is to try it. It cannot do you any harm.
Hi, as I was reading your post, kept thinking, that’s me, that’s me.... I am 5ft 4, have lost 6 st on 4 occasions. Most recently I have put 60 lbs back on over the past year, while trying desperately to stop the weight gain. I had never heard of LCHF until I joined this forum, I am used to calorie counting everything. Thought I would give it a go, I have had no binges since I started 12 days ago, which is unusual for me, and have lost 4 1/2lbs, also doing IF. Hope this helps, good luck, happy to chat.😊
I think I am going to give LCHF a go and see what happens. What I’m doing now is obviously not working so I haven’t really got anything to lose (well I have but you know what I mean 😂). How are you doing the IF? I think I already kind of do IF naturally anyway as I don’t tend to eat til lunchtime as I don’t get hungry before then.x
For those of you who suggested the Doctor - you have spurred me into doing an email consultation and they should contact me by Tuesday. I’m not holding out much hope that they can help but you never know. I specifically asked if any of my results were borderline.x
Most doctors will recommend the eat well plate diet, eat less, move more, low fat, plenty of whole grain carbs. There are a lot of us here who have not find this diet remotely effective, and it does nothing to help insulin & metabolic hormone imbalances. There is a growing but still small band of medical professionals who include Dr David Unwin and Dr Aseem Malholtra, who are demonstrating that low carb can both address obesity and metabolic disease.
I’m just checking that none of my results for thyroid or PCOS etc were borderline incase there are meds that can help as well. I already know that calorie counting and the eat well plate aren’t working as that’s what I’ve been doing anyway. If that’s what they recommend then I’ll be ignoring them 😉
Yes sorry, I didn’t for a moment want to discourage you from seeing your doctor. Sounds like you are all over it. X
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I went to a workplace health assessment in the new year & was fully expected to be told off for a keto diet & was readying myself with my arguments. But the dr said good for you, carry on...
I’ll do my best but my Doctor’s never seem to give me actual numbers they just tell me everything is normal 🤷🏻♀️ I suppose I could try to be more pushy but to be honest I always feel like they think I’m making a fuss for no reason x
Yes I tend do naturally do IF, I always struggled to eat breakfast as SlimmingWorld advised. So I just extended what I was doing anyway, try to eat no later than 7-8pm, then I can choose to eat from midday, 2 or 4 pm depending how I am feeling or what I am doing. Today I didn’t eat until 4pm, so 20hr fast. Apparently IF and LCHF work well together. The main plus for me has been not feeling like bingeing, I am desperate to loose the weight again and prior to this just felt completely out of control with my eating.
LCHF worked for me, losing nearly 7 stones. Just because you don't count calories doesn't mean you don't eat smaller reasonable portions. The reduction in hunger and cravings means that eating smaller portions is do-able, without sweating over a calorie count.
I also follow a 14:10 IF (which others have mentioned) Breakfast to Dinner. c.10am-8pm.
I was on daily steroids, so a Doctor told me I 'couldn't lose weight'. Under LCHF I beg to differ.
Hi, it works for me! My doctor recommended it to me, so some GP's are getting the message and reading the research. He even suggested that the NHS had got it wrong by promoting low cal diets.
Have you looked at the dietdoctor website? My husband and I found it very helpful when we began LCHF. Lots of really enjoyable recipes and meal plans if you want them, just so much information well worth taking some time to look around it.
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