Any tips/advice welcome because I'm terrified

[M7salltheway]

Hi, I have 6 stone to lose. I've cultivated a horrendous junk food habit. I try to eat healthily for a few days, and follow a healthy lifestyle, but I always slip back, it feels like a drug dependency! X

[Zest Healthy BMI]

Hi M7salltheway,

Welcome to the Weight Loss NHS forum.  Hopefully you might find our Welcome Newbie post helpful, as there's lots of helpful tips and advice in there - and also a link to the NHS 12 week plan too, which I would recommend as a good structure to follow.  It might help you keep on track and focused beyond a few days.  Do have a look if you want to:

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Also, have a look at our Monday group weigh-in - which is going on today.  If you like the look of it, and want to join in, then pleased do - you'd be very welcome:

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh....

Hope you have a great week.

Lowcal

[M7salltheway in reply to Zest]

Thank you! Feeling rescued, I will check out both links, and will weigh in next mon. 

[Zest Healthy BMI in reply to M7salltheway]

Fantastic!  Just to say that if you want you could weigh in tomorrow morning, and I'll add you into the stats for this week - or wait till next Monday, if you prefer - just an option to consider.  

[LessToLose 4lbs Restart April 2024]

Don't be afraid, it is much easier than you think!  I practically lived in Greggs before my moment of realisation last August and I have lost 80lbs since then. 

When you weigh more, you can have a decent amount of calories every day and that makes it OK as you can still enjoy lots of tasty things (although not from Greggs, LOL).

Join in here as much as possible and you will soon get to know everyone which keeps you going and keeps you motivated.

All the best - you can do it!

[M7salltheway in reply to LessToLose]

80lbs, that is amazing, and very motivating! Thank you for your welcome, and I will join in with as much as poss. I used to go to weight watchers and slimming world and enjoyed the community, but having to give up an hour minimum each week, and the cash was unsustainable. Will be nice to have a weekly weigh in again.....😖 x

[LessToLose 4lbs Restart April 2024 in reply to M7salltheway]

Great, I shall look out for your post in the weigh in thread next week.

I much prefer this to going to a class, it costs less and is easier to get to, LOL.

Good luck for the week ahead!

[Redx1995 in reply to LessToLose]

Hear, Hear!!

I dread to think how many holidays I could have paid for if I'd discovered this website first???

[Diana in reply to LessToLose]

To be fair I work for greggs, they are doing salads soon, fruit and a healthier sandwiches, it's just not most of their food!

[M7salltheway in reply to Diana]

The last time I went into greggs I was very impressed with the soups and healthy choices. I'll head there instead of maccy ds next time!

[LessToLose 4lbs Restart April 2024 in reply to Diana]

Oops, sorry, I didn't mean to malign your place of work!  It will be great if they did start to do salads and healthier sandwiches.  They do the fruit pots already, but they always sell out really fast.

[Diana in reply to LessToLose]

Don't worry, it's nor personal opinion know, salads out third and yes heslthy sands for ages now

[Genosmum in reply to Diana]

Ahhhh Greggs cheese and onion pasties though...Im afraid I'd go in for a soup or salad and be immediately hypnotised by the hot stand...I just have to stay out of there all together I'm afraid! 

[Seuzan]

Just wanted to say hi and very best of luck! Take little steps and enjoy the journey to get fit and healthy! X

[Son1 Maintainer]

Hiya,

I've found that the first few days, maybe week are by far the hardest.  I'm sure I was addicted to sugar, choc and cake.  The cravings were unreal in the first few days, but honesty, if you can get past that hurdle, you're well on your way, it's by far the hardest part.  Come on here, everyone is really kind and will encourage you to succeed, good luck!

[M7salltheway in reply to Son1]

I've been able to cut out sugar for a month 6 times and it gets a half stone off, but I just can't seem to crack it. I've just come off antidepressants on 20 March because I put on 10lbs in 7 weeks, and I could ill afford to put on any weight as I was already big, so I've got some work to do! Thank you for your welcome 

[Diana in reply to Son1]

I can relate the first few days are pretty tough

[IndigoBlue61]

Small steps, one day at a time, and then you will create good eating habits 😊 Have enough to eat, take time to find recipes that include your favourite foods so you don't get bored, and think positive thoughts 😊 You can do this, many people do, lots of success stories on here 😊 Good luck

[Hidden]

Hi and good luck. Can't offer tips as I'm struggling to get started myself. However I can say that calling it a drug dependency is DEFINITELY something to which I can relate. I like that idea. Going to go around today thinking to myself "I'm a recovering junkaholic so bear with me". Xx

[SuseWild]

I've only just joined last week so am a newbie to this site too. I think a lot of us can relate to how you feel, I have started healthy eating so many times I've lost count and can totally relate to feeling addicted to junk food. Maybe that is a good way to think of it,I've always thought dieting is harder than giving up smoking as you don't need to smoke to live, but we still need to eat...but we don't need junk food, just a thought, think I'm going to try to apply that to myself. Good luck 😊

[merrymanda]

Good luck to you, everyone's really lovely on here and full of encouragement. Take it one day at a time

Merrymanda

[Janecad]

If you're in town that has Gregg's then the chances are you have a Subway as well.  Garden side salad, lettuce, toms,cucumber,corn,red onion,green pepper, b!ack olives and lots of gerkins, hold the jalapeño 😵 no cheese sprinkled and no dressing. Yummy,healthy,  and no waste salad left in the bottom of the fridge

[Redx1995]

Junk food isn't quite off the menu, although it isn't a frequent choice. I went into MacD's in week 2 - first time in almost a year, and was able to select a small fries, and a chicken wrap. There are healthier options for these. If you go on the websites for MacD's and places like Kentucky, they provide the calorie content of their meals so you can make an informed choice in advance, and work this into your daily allowance.

Iceland is a store we've only recently discovered, and in there you can buy twin packs of Greggs pasties. My husband opted to buy a couple of the steak, the vegetable and the cheese and onion to try and over a period of a week we polished these off as an easy lunch whilst decorating. The cheese and onion ones are the best. Again, you can check the calories in advance to work these into your diet.

So even if we do succumb to the junk - we can make up for this by eating healthier for the rest of the time, and by limiting the number of times we indulge.

We're in for the long haul, and a little of what you fancy does you good. Do remember though that it's the frequency of having that little bit which can cause the real damage.