Angry & obese

[_M_a_r_i_a_]

Just joined and looking for some guidance. Tired of diets and puting back more weight than the one that took me so much effort to loose. Any suggestions?

[IvanTheHorrible Maintainer]

Just reading between the lines, it sounds like you're viewing a 'diet' as a transient thing that you only have to suffer through for a few weeks, and then you can get back to eating 'normally'.

You need to completely rethink the way you eat. Forget about dieting for a while and focus on fixing your relationship with food. Start stocking your cabinets with fresh vegetables, meat, eggs and dairy. Stuff your grandmother would have recognised as food (I stole that line from Michael Pollan). Throw away all the crisps, cookies, sweets, fruit juices, colas, white bread, and anything else that's made from sugar, flour and chemicals. Try to avoid starches in general - that is, instead of loading up your plate with pasta or mashed potato, have some more vegetables (or meat). Just that, in and of itself, will probably result in some modest weight loss.

When you're back to enjoying proper food again you'll be in a much better position to diet, because when you switch back to 'normal', you'll be switching to a standard weight-maintenance diet.

[_M_a_r_i_a_ in reply to IvanTheHorrible]

Thanks IvanTheHorrible. I think my main issue is time management for planning and cooking my meals ahead of time. I have downloaded some apps from NHS with recipes to see if that give me some ideas...

[Tiggerr in reply to _M_a_r_i_a_]

Try the Daily Diary where we plan the following day's menu. It doesn't take long to write it up and helps make planning easier when we're already pre-focused.

Cooking for the freezer makes the week easier as well.

[JiminyCricket 7lbs in reply to _M_a_r_i_a_]

Have a look at batch cooking - I make huge vats of stews, curry, chilli etc , freeze in boxes or plastic bags with calorie total written on, and treat them like ready meals. I find it's no more effort to cook for 12 instead of 4 (we're a family of 4 and all eat the same evening meals, I just have less carbs). Best of luck

[MissGeorgia in reply to IvanTheHorrible]

What works for me is online supermarket shopping. I use Tesco and they are great. Twice a week I find the recipes for the next 3-4 days and order the ingredients. They deliver everything to your door with one hour slots.Then when it’s time to cook I have everything ready and it is super easy. Online shopping is also great for not getting distracted by processed food (if I go to a supermarket it’s so easy to add silly things in my basket)- and it’s great for your wallet too, you buy exactly what you need. Win-win! Hope this helps? 😘

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to MissGeorgia]

Very useful MissGeorgia, planning is key so well done 😊. In case you haven’t already seen it please pop over and read the Welcome Newbies Post as it has lots of important information about using the forum and finding your way around healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Best wishes in your weight loss journey

Anna 😊

[MissGeorgia in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Thank you Anna 😊

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to MissGeorgia]

You’re very welcome 😊

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to MissGeorgia]

Good planning MissGeorgia

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome _M_a_r_i_a_

Have a good look at the NHS 12 week plan, and change your thinking from 'diet' to a healthy eating

To make navigating the forum easier, we've put all the information you'll need in a newbie pack and here's the link

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Please take the time to read it carefully, so that you're able to enjoy everything that we have on offer.

In the interest of internet safety, we ask that you always lock your posts, by clicking on 'only followers in my community', before posting.

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Wishing you all the best

[Fairfifty]

I wish there was a magic formula _M_a_r_i_a_. Since I turned 40 (& now in my 50s) I've struggled with my weight. I had always been able to eat anything although I was super fit in my 20s & 30s running 10k & half marathon & county squash, I never had to worry about putting on weight I'd just run a few more miles. Now I have arthritis in one of my feet & a botched bunion operation on the other making it almost impossible to do cardio. I can walk but running is out of the question. I'm new here too & hoping the support & food ideas will keep me going. I'm only on day 2 but determined to make a life change & drop those bad habits, especially sugar. Good luck. We can do it 😊

[Tiggerr in reply to Fairfifty]

You can do it. I was not dissimilar from you in terms of fitness and now in my fifties too I've had to rethink my whole eating lifestyle. We have to relearn new habits and find what works for us.

My only tip for now is to not try and change everything at once but get a few things to stick and then see if you want to change anything else. Try and make your journey as enjoyable as possible.

[marscar46 1lb in reply to Fairfifty]

How about an exercise bike, would that give you cardiac with less pain?

[Fairfifty]

Agreed. One or two small changes can make a big difference

[Really-Determined]

I feel your words. Diets don’t work. Only eating less and moving more does. When you were a child were you slim or overweight ?

[_M_a_r_i_a_]

Thanks all very much! Wow I was quite impressed with all the suggestions. I will go through them and give it a try. Talk soon😉😉