Any tips as I'm about the start the 12... - Weight Loss Support

Weight Loss Support

114,745 members β€’ 61,035 posts

Any tips as I'm about the start the 12 wk weight loss programme???πŸ˜πŸ˜πŸ™ˆπŸ™ˆπŸ™ˆ

Jojo76 profile image
Jojo76
β€’29 Replies

Does anyone have tips/ advice on what's useful to calorie count etc as all this is new to me...πŸ™ˆπŸ™ˆπŸ™ˆπŸ˜πŸ˜πŸ˜πŸ˜βœŒπŸΌοΈβœŒπŸΌβœŒπŸΌβœŒπŸΌ

Written by
Jojo76 profile image
Jojo76
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
29 Replies
β€’
Zest profile image
ZestHealthy BMI

Hi Jojo76,

Welcome to the Weight Loss NHS forum. Β Great to hear you're going to be starting the NhS 12 week plan. Β You might find our Welcome Newbie post helpful for some tips and suggestions and information:

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Have a great week.

Lowcal :-)

maiziepops profile image
maiziepops in reply to Zest

Hi, i joined yesterday too but I'm a veteran dieter. I use my fitness pal app, its really good as you can scan barcodes with your phone and it gets all the nutritional information allowing you to just add the quantity you consumed and it stores the information. I have a Garmin watch that links with MFP and it tracks my activity and calories earned. it basically means i can just check the app and see how many calories have consumed and how many i have left at a glance. good luck

Deb66cody profile image
Deb66cody in reply to maiziepops

I find it annoying with the one I use. Β Takes ages to find the food you are eating. Β Also not best set up for cooking everything yourself.

deejay28 profile image
deejay28 in reply to maiziepops

i'm just starting (again) too and i have been using my fitness pal plus i have a fitbit linked to it. i am still trying to get used to it though as i don't think the exercise should give you more cals? it gets me confused and i am eating more which isn't really benefiting me?

suppose it's all trail and error but i need to do something so hopefully posting on here will help me?!

Dx

Cmc43 profile image
Cmc43 in reply to Zest

Cmc43

Is there actually a diet that one can use as a guide? I have downloaded the Get Started Guide but I was hoping for a specific plan to follow - to get started st least.

Help please

moreless profile image
morelessAdministratorSS Supercook7 stone in reply to Cmc43

Hi and welcome Cmc43 :)

The NHS 12 week plan is designed to teach you healthy habits for life, not as a specific diet plan. It gives you step by step instructions and you tailor it to suit you. You may wish to join our re-boot challenge, so that you have company and support as you start your journey

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Have a look at the pinned posts section to the right of you screen and starting with the newbie thread, work your way through all the information and motivation that's there :)

Consider joining our monday group weigh-in. The latest thread can be found in the events section to the right of the home page :)

To get the most out of this forum and wonderful community, log on frequently and become an active member :)

Wishing you all the best :)

Cmc43 profile image
Cmc43 in reply to moreless

To Moreless

Thank you for replying. I really need to look through the download more carefully. One other factor concerns me. I have a disabling back condition and my ability to walk is compromised. From what I have read, exercise is an important component of the plan, to compensate for my inactive life, should I reduce my calorie intake?

moreless profile image
morelessAdministratorSS Supercook7 stone in reply to Cmc43

When you load your details into the BMI calculator, just declare yourself as sedentary and it will automatically take your inactivity into account :)

Have a read through these links, because they're the reflections of those of us that have just repeated weeks 1 and 2 of the 12 week plan. They're really good! :)

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh....

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh....

I hope this helps, but don't hesitate to ask as many questions as you need to :)

Webb profile image
Webb in reply to moreless

hi lowcal - when i try the BMI indicator it doesn't ask me about my activity levels... though i remember it doing so once. could you post a link? thanks!

moreless profile image
morelessAdministratorSS Supercook7 stone in reply to Webb

Here you are Webb :)

nhs.uk/Livewell/weight-loss...

Finnberry profile image
Finnberry in reply to Cmc43

I had cauda equina syndrome (lower back injury) in 2012 and it damaged the nerves permanently in my left leg and pelvic area. I can't walk well and use a wheelchair most of the time. I was getting frustrated with exercise. I like swimming but that isn't always possible. I have started trying to increase how far I can propel myself in my chair. I go to the park and try to increase my distance and speed. Any exercise that makes you out of breath is good. So some daily tasks that my hubby does without thought, are moderate exercise for me. Try to find something that works for you.

AlanW profile image
AlanW in reply to moreless

A specific diet plan would be absolutely perfect. I work so much better with absolutes. I can learn more as I progress through the 12 weeks but for week one at least, it would be good to be in no doubt and have a whip cracked over what I am to eat even if I don't like it.

moreless profile image
morelessAdministratorSS Supercook7 stone in reply to AlanW

I can only suggest that you look online for ideas Alan, but the whole point of the 12 week plan is that it teaches you about food, calories and portion sizes. If you only do as your told, you won't learn anything and you'll end up giving up, if the meals aren't really to your taste :)

Think of the meals that you enjoy now and see how you can make them healthier. Have a look at our recipe threads for ideas.

Read through the re-boot reflections and the welcome newbie thread.

All of these things will get you started and you'll soon get the hang of it :)

Good luck! :)

greeny4 profile image
greeny4

I'm finding fitness pal really useful as I used to guess what I was consuming beforehand. It's easy to use and keep track of everything. Β I've just started this into my 3rd week now and have lost weight. Β I'm finding this the most helpful thing I've done after trying fasting and slimming classes. Β Good luck with your journey.Β 

vanessa93 profile image
vanessa93

Hi, I have just started using a free app called my diet coach which has a calorie counter and weight tracker and also you can link other apps such as map my walk.

LessToLose profile image
LessToLose4lbsRestart April 2024

The best tip I have is go to the main page, here:Β  nhs.uk/Livewell/weight-loss...

enter in your weight and height and level of activity and it automatically calculates how many calories you can consume a day.Β 

If you have a lot of weight to lose, you may be pleasantly surprised!

dot33 profile image
dot33 in reply to LessToLose

Great advice. Were not all built the same and our calorie intake is different.Β 

BB72 profile image
BB72 in reply to LessToLose

This is definitely an eye-opener, I found I could eat much more than the recommended 1400 cals and still hopefully lose weight.

Venusflytrap profile image
Venusflytrap

Nice to meet you, @JoJo76. Β The best tips I can offer are:

1. Β Keep a food diary so that you can revisit good days or work out what is going on if you don't lose as much as you feel you deserve.

2. Β Think of it as a journey rather than a once and for all fix. Β Sometimes you might want to have something unplanned and that's fine as long as you get back to your eating plan as soon as you can.

3. Β Think about each day (or week) and plan some meals and/or menus so that you can make sure you can have the ingredients and it fits in with your social life.

4. Β Eat slowly.

5. Β Share your highs and lows on the forum as well as asking about anything you need to check and telling us about your great solutions and finds. Β This is one of the nicest weight loss forums around. Β Everyone is so supportive of each other.

See you round the forums

Venus

Springy40 profile image
Springy40

Hi I started my 12 week plan 2 weeks ago . I found the people on this site so helpful and kind and keep you going . I use myfitnesspal app to count calories which is a free and they have other free apps to map your fitness that go together.

Scottsmum profile image
Scottsmum

Count all of your calories( I used the fitnesspal app) drinks lost of water and walk whenever you can

Deb66cody profile image
Deb66cody

Im starting today too. Β Just had a shock as got to eat nearly 2000 calories. Β No idea how. Β I barely get 600 - 700 done and thats pushing it.

chrsmatthe profile image
chrsmatthe

Good luck jojo. Β Tip that seems to be working for me.... have a bottle of water with you at all times and take a swig regularly...x

trynabethingirl profile image
trynabethingirl

Hey hey!

Get MyFitnessPal its the best :)Β 

good luck!! :)Β 

I usually stick to reading the labels and jotting the calories down rather than using an App. I have used some previously in the form of myfitness pal and another one that i cant quite recall the name of and they were great at first but after a while i found it really annoying when i couldn't find a specific food or they didn't match what was on the label. Plus it took over my entire life to the point where i was actually noting down the exact calories in 2 mushrooms.... if your a bit obsessive like me the apps weren't great in the long run :)

Fitness Pal is good though and if your just starting out and are new to the game its a sure way to get into a routine! Just don't become too obsessed there's so many factors that contribute to diet and losing weight other than counting every single calorie!

Good luck :)

Kayleigh

Hi, I've started the plan today too. I've been cancer free for 3 months and aiming to take control of my health. I'm aiming to lose 1 more stone. I don't use any devices but have been exercising regularly for the past 2 months. Let us all be healthy x

mount13 profile image
mount13

How do you get started on 12week

Northway profile image
Northway

I have found that if I have breakfast at 10am and no later than 10.30, lunch at 2pm and no later than 2.30pm and supper at 6pm and no later than 6.30pm works for me. If I feel in need of something I have an apple, or a skinny cappacino. Hope it helps

radioactiveblue profile image
radioactiveblue

Count anything that you consume other than water.

If you taste something while cooking, count it. If you finish a kid's cookie, count it. If you have a sample of cheese in the supermarket, count it. A bit of milk in your coffee, count it. It all adds up, and those few calories here and there that you don't even remember having can add up to quite a lot.

You may also like...

Any helpful tips about Osteoathritis will be most welcome

me as I used to be very active and now I have a lot of discomfort doing half of what I used to do....

I'm starting to lose weight today! Join me.