I’m new to this group, I’ve always been a big guy but have always been active and participated in any sporting activities,
But recently developed arthritis in both my hips that is now bone on bone, this has cause me to put on a huge amount of weight on due to my very restricted movement now and intense pain I endure.
I have been told I need both hips replacing but unfortunately the NHS won’t attempt this until I get my weight down,
My stats
Age 51
Height 6” 2
Start weight 24st 10lbs (17th Jan 2020)
Last weight in 23st 3lbs (1st Feb 2020)
My goal 19stone (this was my weight before my condition)
I’m using a calorie controlled diet of about 1500 to 1600 calories a day,
Hopefully if I can lose 2 lbs a week I will be happy and start to do the things I used to enjoy
Written by
x-Shrek-x
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Hello x-Shrek-x and welcome to this Forum. You have a great objective to work towards there and am sure you will benefit from the combined experience and support from Forum members. We have others who have managed considerable weight loss and others who have issues with hips and arthritis so you are not alone
You will have been sent a Welcome post on registration which gave you advice and guidance on how to navigate this site. We award weight loss badges for those who are regular and supportive contributors on their weigh In page
There's a lot there but it's worth taking your time to read, honest!
We recommend that members join a Weekly Weigh-In, on the day of your choice, and also use the Daily Diary, where members share their meal plans and get useful feedback.
A special feature of our Forum is the degree of support between members which you will experience (and add to yourself !) as you join in and chat with others.
My father was 24stone - and lost seven stone in a year.
If you "slim smart" weight loss is not so hard! It is not all about motivation and masochism.
Some of us here find that what works, for weight-loss and arthritis, without counting calories, is a combination of The Low Carbohydrate, High-Fat (LCHF) diet (see the forum here on Health Unlocked) and Not Snacking All Day AKA Intermittent Fasting (IF). See:
I’ve been trying the intermittent fasting program like you suggested using calorie counting, my last weigh in for this week I’ve lost another 3lbs, I’m doing a 16/8 fasting program, I’m not feeling hungry and drinking water and black coffee in my fasting hours, I have increased my calorie like Nanny EJ suggested (and I’m very great full for any suggestions given) I know this might sound stupid but I’m finding it hard to increase my calories to the suggested amount, because I’m feeling satisfied with the amount I’m eating and don’t want to over indulge,
My understanding with LCHF and intermittent fasting is that you forget calories altogether. The idea is that by reducing How much insulin your pancreas produces (by eating less often & fewer carbs), you allow your appetite controlling hormones (Leptin & grehlin) get into balance. So my suggestion (as an interested amateur not professional) would be to listen to your body - if you are hungry, eat. If you aren’t don’t - as your body will be using fat stores instead.
BUT for this to work, you need to be eating low carb & high fat. It doesn’t work if you eat carbs.
Hello and welcome Shrek. There are many different diet regimes that forum members follow, not all of them count calories. However, if you intend to follow a calorie counted plan then I suggest that given your size and weight, 1500 to 1600 calories is much too low. If you go onto the NHS BMI checker and enter your age, height, weight and activity level it will give you a personalised calorie range to enable you to lose a safe and sustainable loss of 1 to 2lbs per week.
If you start towards the top of the range you will be able to eat enough food so that you are not hungry. As you lose weight this number will drop. If you start too low to begin with you will end up starving yourself which is definitely not sustainable for the long term.
I know many people feel that the less they eat, the quicker the weight loss will be. This may work for a few weeks but is no good long term and most people end up yo-yoing and weighing more than they did to start with.
Ditch all the sugary snack foods and takeaways and focus on eating healthy meals made from fresh ingredients from as many different types as possible to ensure you are getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs. This also may improve your health symptoms.
Good luck and welcome once again to this wonderful forum xxx
Hi Nanny EJ I have used the NHS BMI calculator and it’s says have 2500 to 3200 calories a day, that really seems a very High calorie count to have each day,
My orthopaedic consultant has given me 6 months to lose the weight in order for me to get the surgery,
I have also checked my TDEE and it says 3278 calories,
Thanks for the advice I will increase my intake as you advise, as anybody who has arthritis in their hips they have restricted movement and I’m probably being very impatient, simple things like putting socks on, tie a shoe lace, or even dropping a £1 coin on the floor (that I won’t even try to pick up) are very difficult tasks to do, I just want my independence back
Perhaps start with 2800 cals and see how you go. Some other good ideas have been posted here for seated exercise to help burn calories. These shouldn’t affect your hips and may make you feel less helpless and help you achieve your weight loss a bit quicker.
Upper body strength will be important for after you have had your op too so the upper body exercises will be dual purpose.
My husband used his upper body strength a lot for the first week after his hip replacement so the exercises should definitely help you. Stay motivated by checking in to this site regularly and this will help you to stay on track.
Your condition sounds very painful, so I am very glad you are taking care of yourself.
I would suggest that you follow the BMI calorie intake recommendations , this is because if you don't eat enough, your body can slow down the rate at which it uses food and make it harder to loses weight.
However, as you lose weight, you can check your BMI again, reduce the calories per day accordingly.
Personally I am less scientific- I just cut out refined sugar and white flour products. I have lost weight without counting calories- and my cravings for sweets, treats and alcohol has gone away.
I still enjoy fruit and rice quinoa and potatoes with my meals (I eat a lot of veggies and a serving of protein).
I am thinking this is less of a diet and more a lifestyle change.
I still have one cheat meal per week - which is fun to plan for.
The thing that is most helpful here is the support I get from the lovely people here when I weigh in each week.
They keep me motivated!
I also joined a short term goal to lose 7 lbs by Easter in the Easter challenge which is fun.
I know other people are having success with the lchf diet.
And the 12 week plan - both are on this website. Perhaps they might work for you too!
Hello x-Shrek-x, wow that's some loss there! If you click on this link I gave you a while ago it will take you to all our guidance AND our Weigh In page(which is updated every day). When you reach todays Weigh in page you can reply with your details above and benefit from the support of others in the Sunday weigh-in team. healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...
You will also find the link to our Daily Diary page within the same link above which is where we share our eating plans and again share support.
When you get to the Weigh In page dont click on Write(that means you end up writing a new individual.post)but read the Weigh In blog and at the end of that there will be a Reply box, write in that box and click on the blue box Reply 👍😊
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My first post! - Newbie
Newby with a long way to go:( 
Well - here we go; I'm a newbie
Newbie alert 
Newbie. Trying to eat more mindfully.
