I am 79 years old suffering from copd for about 19years . I am a widow of 28 years now and I live on my own. I am trying to get my weight down but have trouble with what is a calorie and what is a carb ? sorry if I sound simple but this will only be my first attempt at slimming down and I need help with theses things b/4 I can move on..
I cannot walk far or do hard exercise but my main hobby is my garden which I understood from the team who look after my copd 2 hours gardening is very good exercise for me which stops in winter months hence the need to slim down.. during this last winter I have been very ill and have indulged in all the goodies in life.
So I am mainly looking for help to show me the way or a list of what I shouldn't eat and what would be good for me.. I would appreciate any help.. I do not eat salt or sugar except for store bought food..
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tillyjean
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Hi Tilly Jean Well done on taking the plunge yourself into losing weight. I have just turned 70 and appart from high blood pressure, high cholestoral and (statin related-I think) aches and pains quite healthy. I have a pretty good idea about calories but am specifically tying to diet to lower my cholestoral naturally. I took myself off the statins (naughty) and after a few weeks asked the nurse at my doctors to put me in touch with Healthy Living Team andActive Living team. They are very helpful and the fact that I touch base with them on a monthly basis helps me to keep in line. I have been losing about 1-lb a week since I started with a couple of blips but still overall 1-lb a week. I also joined a Pilates class once a week (on week three now) which is helping with my movement greatly-the instructor is a young girl Nicki Long who is very understanding of the fact I haven't exercised for years and keeps an eye on everyone to make sure they only do what they are capable of. I can honestly say I haven't felt any after exercise pain but do feel more supple. There is also a chair exercise class in my local Community Centre for people who can't stand for long, I am thinking of taking a 90 year old relative there (for company as well as exercise. It is all better than doing nothing. GOOD LUCK IN YOUR ENDEAVOUR
A calorie is a unit of measurement for energy (like a metre is a unit of measurement for length). Just being alive requires the body to use up calories (like breathing, or our heart beating) and other activities we do also use up calories like walking around the house or doing something more strenuous like swimming or cycling.
We get all the calories (energy) we need by eating, and all food contains calories. You can see how many by looking at the packet where is says KJ or by looking online.
When we eat more calories than we use up, the body stores up the energy for later (as fat normally) and that's when we put on weight.
In order to lose weight you need to eat less calories than you use, so that the body can work its way through all that stored up energy.
I know that sounds a bit complicated. But all you really need to know is that if you look on the NHS BMI calculator it will tell you how many calories you need to eat each day to lose weight. And then just make sure you count up all the calories in the food that you eat so you don't go over that number. I imagine it will be something like 1400 a day.
Please do join in with anything that you see which takes your interest. I would recommend having a look at the range of resources available within the NHS Choices website - I will pop back with a link to that for you:
I have to confess to finding calories counting a bit of a chore although it is important 😕
A simple way to start would be to cut down on food which are high calorie but offer little in the way of nutrition, (sometimes called "empty calories" ) Boost your diet with low calorie nutritious items, squeezing out the higher calorie things.
Simple changes such as smaller helpings of meat and potatoes but an extra helping of vegetables, and eating slowly so your body has time to feel full and you therefore will eat less. Do you lay the table and sit down to eat? Many single people don't and yet you are entitled to have this pleasure in your life!! Eating enough at mealtimes so you don't get hungry between meals and are therefore not tempted to snack is also important. (Although I also believe life is too short not to have any "goodies" 😊)
I am guessing that you grew up with proper meals and very little processed or "junk" food, wartime rationing restricted so many things that meals HAD to be healthy and based around bread, potatoes and vegetables. That's proven in countless studies to be a very healthy way of eating. Although you were quite young I bet your Mum cooked proper food?
Gardening is an excellent form of exercise, and with the warmer weather and lighter nights you have much enjoyment to come. As you lose weight your breathing and COPD will be helped too 😊
Hope this is some help, good look Jean and very best wishes
Anna 😊
Ps I mentioned it my reply to your other posts but the British Heart Foundation website is really good, you may find other things that can help you COPD
Anna thank you so much for your answer to my post yes although rationing was here in war time I read an article some years back saying England was tip top healthy then .
At the moment I am trying to find a book on war rime cooking to see if it would help me.
We do have a great second-hand book shop in town they said they will phone me if they get one so I am ever hopeful
I do always sit at the table to eat and as a child was never allowed to eat a meal any where else
I feel you already know me because I am so looking forward to the lighter nights.. My front garden has already got her spring dress on..
Once again thank you your post has woken me up on ways to tackle this slimming diet. I realise now I have been so lucky never to have been on a diet b/4 it sounds like a long journey
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