Introduce

[Emmadoc34]

Hello,I recently joined earlier on today..I am having a bit of a problem that I am hoping this group will be able to help me with. I am starting to get noticeable stretch marks and they started appearing on my Stomach,Back,arms and thighs at the start of the year,Now i know that ain't good as it's showing I am gaining weight which I do not want to gain what so ever. I don't understand this because I barley eat most days? ..I am gonna give the weight plan a go and see how far that gets me over the next 12 weeks,But could anyone give me any advice??

[Tiggerr]

Hello Emmadoc34 and welcome.

An administrator will reply later with an explanation of how the site works and what's available.

Its unclear from your post as to whether you have experienced any weight gain, one of the causes of stretch marks. Do note though, that apart from weight gain, there could be other reasons and if you are in any doubt about the cause then you should go see your doctor.

Wishing you all the best.

[PippiRuns 6kg Restart Nov 2023]

Hi Emma. Stretch marks don't necessarily have to do with weight gain - they can be caused by a number of things - hormonal changes, certain medicines, underlying health conditions see more information here: nhs.uk/Conditions/Stretch-m...

But if yours are related to weigh gain, it is great that you have decided to put a stop to the process by losing some weight.

I understand you have already downloaded the 12 week plan. I have followed it myself and really recommend it.

The BMI calculator nhs.uk/tools/pages/healthyw... will give you a recommended calorie range and if you stick to it, you can expect to lose around 0.5-1 kg per week.

Good luck - and keep posting.

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi and welcome, Emma

I can't add to the advice already given you about your stretch marks, I'm afraid.

We're really pleased that you've chosen to join us today and would be interested to know how you found out about Health Unlocked and this forum.

Take a look at the Pinned posts section to the right of your screen (bottom if you're using a mobile), read the Welcome Newbie thread, then move through to the challenges, where we hope you'll find at least one that will appeal to you.

Move down to the Topics, to find a variety of threads, collated into specific topics for ease of access and we ask that you also 'file' your own threads, so that others won't miss your important news.

Take a look at the NHS 12 week plan, as a lot of people have been successful with it, making sure to enter your details into the BMI calculator, to get a calorie allowance tailored to your personal requirements. Don't forget to take your starting measurements and a 'before' picture, as they can be very motivating on days that the scales refuse to co-operate.

We run daily weigh-in's and you'd be very welcome to join us. The threads can always be found in the Events section, to the right of the HOME page, bottom on a mobile.

Be aware, that the HU app doesn't give you access to all of our important features, so we advise that you use the full website page.

We've found that to get the best out of this community, we need to be active on the forum, as it's where we exchange information, get motivation and inspiration and make friends. We hope that you'll join us here, regularly, too.

It's only left for me to wish you well on your journey

[Romssa]

Hi Emma. I personally use bio-oil after shower and gently massage my problem areas with a scrub glove. It helps in my case.

[HubbysMissMouse]

Hi Emmadoc34 from what you have said it sounds like you are not eating the full amount of calories you should be eating to even lose weight. When I first joined I wasn't eating much at all both then and previously. I was not losing any weight to start with and was advised by someone on here that if I wasn't eating enough calories as told by the bmi calculator then I wouldn't be likely to lose weight because my body would be likely to believe I was trying to starve it so it then turns what you do eat into body fat to ensure that it can keep going. Also body fat weighs more than calories do so you would be more likely to put weight on than lose it with it turning food into body fat. I thought about this and decided to give it a go and up my calorie intake because many people I know including my husband always ate a lot more than me and most of them was skinnier and weighed less then me which I always found strange. Once I ate more calories to the amount advised by the bmi index calculator I started losing weight and have now lost almost 2 stone. I never thought eating more would make me lose weight, but it has and am so pleased that I finally found a way for me to lose weight. I have always struggled with this before. Hope this information helps you too. Good luck.

[Emmadoc34 in reply to HubbysMissMouse]

Thank you!!