Fresh Start

[MsProcrastinator]

Hello fellow dieters!

I'm new and desperately need to lose weight. Ideally I would like to lose about 3 stone but would be delighted to see any weight loss at all. I've tried Slimming World in the past but despite sticking to it rigidly I got stuck after losing 6lb and nothing worked.

My weight is having a big effect on my health, so that is my primary motivation and of course I would like to look better, as my other half still looks the same as he did 10 years ago (damn his superior genetics!).

Unfortunately, I have Fibromyalgia which is very painful, ME so I'm very tired and lethargic, Arthritis, Pernicious Anaemia, Elher Danlos Syndrome (hypermobility) and Lung Disease. Therefore, exercise is difficult but I try to swim every week, luckily I love love love swimming so that is a great help when trying to motivate myself. I get thoroughly fed up with people telling me to walk 10k steps a day, when some days just standing up is a challenge. It makes me want to stuff their FitBits down their "&*##**!!! Not all disabilities are visible.

So obviously I only expect to lose a lb a week (fingers crossed) without being able to exercise as much as I would like. If I swim in the morning I will spend the rest of the day sleeping.

I have a dairy intolerance. I don't drink alcohol as it tends to affect my medication.

I take MST twice a day (morphine) and Oramorph for breakthrough pain, Sertraline for depression, Azithromycin (lung disease). I do wonder if the medication is hindering my weight.

I managed to stick to my 1400 calories yesterday, but chocolate will be my downfall as I know I reach for sugar for a instant energy boost.

I'm hoping this is a fresh start for me, and that the calorie counting works as I will be able to squeeze in a little chocolate and still squeeze into my jeans!

Onward and downwards hopefully!

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi and welcome, MsProcrastinator

You do seem to have more than your fair share to contend with, but, rest assured, there are other members, who suffer similarly and have still managed to lose weight.

The best person to speak to about your medication and its side effects, are your GP, or pharmacist. Mr Google tells me that morphine increases hunger and Sertraline and antibiotics can cause weight gain! Oh dear!

Take a look at the Pinned posts section to the right of your screen (bottom if you're using a mobile), or in the drop down on the 'Posts' page (it says 'arrange by'). 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 a weigh-in every day of the week and you'd be very welcome to join one of them. The threads can always be found in the Events section, to the right of the HOME page, bottom on a mobile.

We also run a Daily Diary, where we share our meal and exercise plans for the day. It's a great place to get ideas and to keep us focused. The link can also be found in Events.

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