I’m ready

[Lucinda2]

Hello! I’m so grateful to have found a great site with lovely people in it to guide me through my 11stones weight loss journey - l’m going to need all the help l can get! I’m 59 years old and retired. Quick resume of how l ended up at 22 stones: six years ago, l had a trapped sciatic nerve and eventually got the surgery, resulting in three titanium plates plus 22 screws to separate and decompress three vertebrae. All was well until a year ago when another trapped sciatic nerve made it’s entrance and nailed me to the sofa, too painful to walk. The resulting depression prompted constant food cravings (eating was the only thing left that l could enjoy). I started at 11st ... and here l am, 22st and desperate to get some order in place of the chaos of binging on massive amounts of naughty foods. I had an MRI spine scan last week and the surgeon told me that l was a very high anaesthetic/cardiac/thrombosis risk, my BMI being off the scale, and must lose at least seven stones before he will operate. I can’t excersise at all, so l think it’s going to be tough going. Please help! 😊 x

[SofaJockey]

One of the admins will be along with some helpful links tomorrow in all likelihood. But I so think you can do this. I'm down from 20 stones to 14 something, so I know it's possible and others have also succeeded on their journeys. It will take some time, but we are all willing each other to succeed. 😊

[Lucinda2 in reply to SofaJockey]

Oh that’s amazing! It’s so encouraging to touch base with people who have made it to the other side. I’m trying not to think about the colossal task in front of me but, with a little help, l know l can do this if l just take it one day; just get through today and don’t think any further than today. Thank you for your reply x

[SofaJockey in reply to Lucinda2]

Yep, one day at a time. Best of luck and enjoy the forum.

[Lucinda2 in reply to SofaJockey]

Thank you

[Joanney69]

Welcome to the best forum for weight loss, Lucinda ☺

Losing weight is 80-90% what you eat, so not being able to exercise won't stop you 😊

There are lots of lovely people here, on various stages of their journey, who will offer support and encouragement.

Try not to think about the total amount you want to lose, give yourself mini goals to achieve, it makes it much more achievable ☺

Have a look around the forum, there will be an official welcome in the morning ☺

[Lucinda2 in reply to Joanney69]

Hi Joanney and many thanks for your warm welcome. Setting little goals is a really good idea, l would never have thought of that. I think l will split it into 7lb segments ( a whole stone seems such a hard stretch) and reward myself with a non-food treat l’m going to enjoy making a list of those treats! Thank you for your support x

[Tiggerr]

Welcome Lucinda

Really sorry to hear about the pain and misery that you've been going through. You have however taken a big step towards making the changes you need to reach your goal and get that operation you so clearly need.

You can take great hope from SofaJokey's weight loss to date and as Joanney69 has mentioned, weight loss can happen even when we are unable to focus on exercise.

You see your journey as a colossal task but the only task you have between this week and next week is to lose one pound. I'm sure you'll lose more for some weeks to come but if you concentrate on that one pound each week, they will add up and you'll find that your journey is as doable as walking down the road, one step at a time.

Wishing you all the best

[Lucinda2 in reply to Tiggerr]

Thank you so much Tiggerr, l feel more comfortable already having like-minded people to talk to. Suddenly, that colossal task has become a little bit smaller, now that l have the company of people who understand

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi and welcome, Lucinda2

You've been given some great advice by our lovely members and I wondered if you'd be interested in my own story healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

All of the information you need about the forum can be found in Pinned Posts healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... and I hope you'll be joining all the Events, Challenges and Clubs that we run, especially a weigh-in and the daily diary.

We've found active participation to be key to successful weight loss and, of course, it's a good way to get to know people, find inspiration and share support and encouragement.

Wishing you all the best

[Lucinda2 in reply to moreless]

Hi moreless and thank you for your lovely welcome and kind words, l am indeed interested in your weight loss journey, l shall read it this evening. I do need to get a set of scales, mine only go up to 20 st! I was following the Keto diet a few weeks ago (fell off the bandwagon) but l learned the basics and l intend to follow Keto again. I don’t know if I actually lost any weight, but I can give you a recipe for a Keto bread that’s not a bad substitute, to make a sarnie with (l love sarnies) l love the same carbs that you mention, they’re my weekness.

KETO BREAD 3g total carbs

1/4 cup almond flour

1 heaped tsp milled flaxseed

1/4 teasp baking powder

Good grind of pink Himalayan salt

1 egg

Melted butter (optional)

Stir thoroughly and microwave for 1min 30 secs

I got a little 4”square glass dish to cook it in, slice in half longways to make two sandwich slices. Thank you for the links, I shall visit them tonight and find out all about the forums, l’m looking forward to joining in the activities!

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to Lucinda2]

Oooh thanks for the recipe! If you make this, take a picture and post a separate thread with the recipe, so that it can go into Lytham's Larder and everyone can share it

You'd be very welcome on our Daily Diary too, sharing recipes is a big aspect of it

You can get WeightWatchers scales at Argos for £15, that weigh up to 28st 8lbs, if it helps

[monday1957 3kg]

Hi Lucinda2 and firstly, my heartfelt sympathies re your awful health issues - but also congratulations on getting to this stage where you have found this fabulous forum!

I’ve been on it for only 9 months but it’s helping me immensely. Initially I only weighed in on Fridays & ‘chatted’ to folk that day. But last week I started to message on the Daily Diary, which has increased my sense of self-accountability & has given me lots of useful tips & motivation (most people start posting the evening before, as it’s centred around meal plans for the day).

I’ve also been following lchf (low carb high fat) which involved a big change in my meals as previously so many revolved around pasta, bread, rice or potatoes. I’ve become more creative in the kitchen which is fun!

But as others say, take each day as it comes and come onto the forum regularly as it really does help.

All the best and I’m sending you one of these: 🤗

[Lucinda2 in reply to monday1957]

Hi monday1957, thank you for your kind words and your warm welcome. You’re right, l think l have been very fortunate in finding this group, l could see straight away that it’s a quality site. As soon as l get some new scales l shall be joining the forums and events and l can gather some wonderful support around me. I am looking forward to the day when l’ve lost some weight and am able to support the incoming noobies! Here’s a 🥰 for you x

[monday1957 3kg]

Ps just another thought...as your mobility is currently compromised, could you still do some basic stretches & balance exercises? When I was incapacitated a few years ago, I used to dance on the spot - blast my music out & jig around! Still built up a bit of a sweat but more importantly, made me feel good (and that I’d moved a bit).

[Lucinda2 in reply to monday1957]

Thank you monday1957, it’s good advice but unfortunately l’m more or less debilitated, laid on my side, some days if l move half an inch it traps the nerve and the pain is off the scale. The cartilage sliding around and popping out to crush the sciatic nerve; it’s spasmodic and unpredictable but any form of movement at all is liable to set it off. I’m laid here on my side (only relatively pain-free position) drinking tea out of a sippy cup ☹️ I’m on very strong pain killers which make me sleepy, which is a blessing!

[monday1957 3kg in reply to Lucinda2]

Oh gosh...I am so so sorry to hear that...I can’t find any words to console. Hang on in there & we’re all cheering you on 😘

[Tiggerr in reply to Lucinda2]

Yowser!

At least it won't be easy to raid the biccy bin

Will losing weight help the situation at all Lucinda or is it all going to be down to this op?

Stay strong

[Craftyperson in reply to Lucinda2]

Sorry to hear this, hopefully once you've lost a bit of weight it might help. Finger's crossed 🤞. Sciatica is a terrible pain

[toomuchwool 6lbs]

Don't look at it has one large amount to lose. Break it down into more psychologicaly easier and smaller amounts to be approached on a monthly basis.

And remember you are doing it for your health. You potentially have a long and happy retirement ahead of you that you want to enjoy to the full.

This forum is a brilliant place for support and encouragement so keep checking in

[Craftyperson]

Hi and welcome and I know where your coming from I had a accident that chipped my coccyx, dislocated part of my pelvis, chipped my elbow..... Various things which led to me retiring at ripe old age of 32. Not working, exercising pain and depression led me to putting on 5 stone. Lost that weight and kept off for years till David died and comfort eating meant another gain of 3.5 stone .Still not as active as would like to be, still have pain and sciatica,but getting there. So you don't need to exercise to loose weight that's only 20% , food 80% so concentrate on that. Don't think of all you've got to loose it can be too daunting break it down into small manageable goals and give yourself non food treats for getting there. Youve got a good motivation in loosing to get your surgery so I know you will do it. Do you know what doing? Calorie counting or LCHF or just general cutting out snacks etc. Look at what admin will send and see what think suits you and jump on in. Good luck