Hello everyone

[Gillr49]

Hi

I am new to the site and am desperate to lose weight. I am 67 today and have spent the last year being treated for vulva cancer which hopefully has been successfully dealt with. I also have an underactive thyroid which was not diagnosed for years. Now on thyroxine and am told my readings are normal. I am married, 3 sons all settled, 4 grandchildren and 1 great grandson. We live in the east of England with our 2 Yorkshire terriers.

xx

[sueper]

Hi Gill,

Sorry to hear you have been unwell but glad you are on the mend.

This is a fab site for advice, inspiration & support.

My usual advice is cut down on snacking and portion size and get out and do some walking. I have had good success so far doing this.

Good luck

[TheHud]

Welcome and Happy Birthday You may get more replies if you lock your post, maybe an admin can do it for you if you are not sure what to do

It will be down to you in the end but I am going low cal (500-700pd) no sugar, no fat unless in extra lean meat or fish, no diary except skimmed milk in tea and sugar. I eat sugar free jellies and have 2-3 fruit a day and loads of veg. Not even remotely hungry, big veg and protein meal at about 6pm keeps we going.

I do have one little treat, last thing at night with all my tablets I have a square of dark chocolate or low sugar chocolate

[Penel]

Happy birthday for yesterday, Gill. Let's hope this will be a good year for you.

As you are recovering your health, it is probably a good idea to make sure that you are eating the most nourishing food possible, and not stressing your body too much by any form of extreme dieting.

Perhaps start by having a look at the NHS 12 week plan and see if it looks "do-able" for you. I am a little older than you and have found that I do best with less carbohydrate but more protein than recommended on the plan. Giving up sugar and processed, refined foods (like white bread and breakfast cereals) is definitely a good idea.

nhs.uk/weightloss

You might find it useful to post on the Thyroid site on HU, as taking any medication may affect your weight.

Good luck with finding what works for you.

[TheHud]

Hi Mimsta, not sure where you post is, the alert brought me here Thanks for the concern, however I was at the docs yesterday and all my vital signs are the best they have been for many years. Having spent my life dieting including using various drugs and diets that have had serious health impacts, this is a diet designed to give me all the nutrients I need, lots of fibre, the right levels of omega 3 oil and calcium. It is reducing my blood glucose nicely and the actual weight loss is fast enough to allow me to increase activity quickly to become more mobile without damaging my joints further. Because of my long history of dieting etc I actually maintain on less than 1400cal, just the way it is. I was a super fit muscled up youngster until inflammatory arthritis hit. Thus my body needs lots of activity to lose weight and it can't get it.

When you consider top athletes do not consume anywhere near the calories the average person does and they are working out several hours a day, you can see just how few calories we actually need. This is what Jessica Ennis eats bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide...

My doc is a sports diet specialist and has no problem with me being happy and energised. I am only cutting out things we should not eat anyway unless we need instant energy. Most simple carbs are just bulk and you can do that with a varied diet of veg, which is also a carb but much better for you.

Thanks again for your concern but I will continue with this until enough weight is down and I can exercise more easily, I still will not be adding simple carbs back, maybe small amounts of diary depending on how the bowel problems cope, plus a few more choccy treats Don't forget sugar free jellies are wonderful with bits of fruit in them You know I probably eat more than alot of people on a 1400 cal diet but I have lots of very low cal veg with a couple of fruit.

[Penel in reply to TheHud]

Surely athletes, who expend a lot of energy, have to eat more calories than the average person?

[TheHud in reply to Penel]

Depends, the Browning brothers do, double the amount but they train for triathlons and practically do one a day. Athletes aim to build muscle with almost zero fat so they only eat what they are going to use. Which is a mantra for us all. They also do not want to be carrying loads of unused food inside them and thus feeling bloated.

If you consider that doing 1 mile burns only 90 calories, that speaks volumes. It is also true that the more overweight you are the more your basal metabolic rate will use to carry out normal essential functions. As you lose weight your body needs fewer calories to keep everything working. Often why plateau's are reached as your body adjusts. If you look through those menu's from top athletes it's an eye opener, was for me when I had it all explained. They avoid sugar at all costs unless in fruit (even that is limited), they eat a good amount of good quality low fat protein and lots of veg/salad stuff. They do eat simple carbs but no where near the amount that we may consider normal in the western diet.

Mo Farah was asked what he did to celebrate winning and he said 'eat a really good burger, I love burgers but this was the first one I have eaten in a year'.

Scary.....