Struggling to start;

[Shale93]

Hi all, I'm really struggling to start the weight loss journey in the past 3 years I've gain 3 stone. And I know they say it takes longer to loose then to gain but I'm really struggling to start the focus on weightloss. How do you find time to workout? How do you lower your intake? My body seems to want to eat all the time!!

[stopfaffing 3lbs]

Distraction..... pretend your body is a toddler wanting its own way..... and use distraction to avoid the food that is not in your plan!

I have a confession , which maybe I should put out there in the public world.... my brain cell ( I only have one !!! he he ) is called Cedric and he is the one that either causes trouble or ... sometimes I enlist to help .... this sounds totally crazy ... but it works for me ... So I use that idea to help me get around my evening snack cravings .... I talk to myself like a crazy person , and take myself off to the bath/ bed / hide in the living room / out for a short walk .... what ever I think will work at whatever time ...

[Seuzan]

Down load the nhs 12 week plan if you have not already done so and do your utmost to stick to it. The first time you do it, you might fail a few times (it takes a while to change engrained habits!) but then keep doing the plan over again until you have re-trained your eating habits. The ap myfitnesspal is very good for counting calories.

My food cravings (in particular for sugar) have really reduced, but it is taking time and patience to break old habits - I am now doing the 12 week plan for the 2nd time and finding it easier and enjoyable 2nd time round. I am also seeing the results with 10 lb lost so far.

With regards to finding time to exercise, you have to decide that you are worth it! Prioritise your health above other things and you will find a way to make time - walk whenever you can - do stairs - create a routine which enables you to attend a class.

Also, accept that it might take a while. Check in on the Monday weigh-ins to help keep you motivated.

If you are new to this forum, I think Low Cal or one of the other fab 4 will respond to your post and give you some links.

Good luck! X

[bizzie15]

Me to - I'm also trying to find the motivation to get started and also need to do it for health reason. I know about the theory: ie just have little goals - 2lbs by the end of next week rather than 3 stone in 6 months! BUT it is making that first step that is sooo difficult. It helps to know others are also struggling. I too am a frequent eater - perhaps eating often is not that bad if it suits your lifestyle it just needs to be healthier. Dieting is couched in the language of success and failure which doesn't help.

[MartinF]

Hi there, it is really hard to get started and I only got started because I made it the most important thing in my life. For the last 3 months I decided I didn't mind if I felt hungry. I followed (more or less) the blood sugar diet by Michael Mosley, recommended by my GP. Lost 3st from 18st to 15st, and now need to lose one last stone. Doing it quickly is hard as you feel hungry, but you can see your progress and that motivated me. Realise this may not be the way that suits everyone, but hope it helps.

[Claire2stone]

Hi Shale93 and welcome. You have made a good choice joining the most friendly and motivational forum around 😃

I've been on the nhs12wk plan for the last 19wks and have lost nearly 2stone. It's not easy but take baby steps try tweaking your diet rather than drastically cutting out food as you will only crave it more.

Drink more water, swap to wholemeal where possible, low sugar and go easy on the fats.

Try not to buy your forbidden foods ... if it's not in your cupboards you can't eat it.

I have a very busy schedule, work, family etc and find that the easiest way of working exercise in to you day is walking. Take the stairs, walk to the shops etc try to do as many steps as poss. Walk on the spot while you watch the TV is also good (you may look mad but hey your in your own home !!).

If you need alot of motivation join a gym and go as much as you can. You might hate it to start but once you see results (and you will👍) you will enjoy going and make the effort.

Good luck. Claire x

[katy6860]

Hi Shale93 and welcome! it seems that the more i want to lose weight the more i think about food. i think it comes with the territory. but regardless, it does get better. i think just getting my mind straight was the hardest thing i ever did. i finally decided that my body was fine the way it was and if i wanted to feel better, i could eat healthier which meant i would need to change my life. not diet. so i am doing just that. i eat more veggies and fruit and a lot less sugar. i try to not eat sugar and when i dont, i will give myself a little treat, NOT FOOD! like an extra five minutes to sleep in the morning or an extra chore to my son that i normally do. as far as how to find time. just remember, you are as important as anything else you do. whether it be work, family or what ever, if you are not healthy, then you cannot do work, or family or anything else. so to get healthy, a little exercise is necessary. whatever you have going on can wait for 30 minutes while you take a walk to make you feel good about yourself and to help you get healthy... just remember that! that is how i look at it. besides, how is my family ever going to make it without me holding their hands??? lol..

[timetoact]

hi -I feel we need to be in the right frame of mind and I've felt motivated as had a shock weighing myself a few weeks ago. Don't keep scales at home............as I am short I often say that I don't want to feel barrel like. The key for me was to get more active 1st-rediscovered an exercise dvd at home and started doing that.........Then the following week looked into if there was weight loss support still available through a pharmacy linked in to the nhs 12 week plan. The online community and resources are great and to be honest it's about small steps and keeping things simple that helps me. Hope this is a help as it feels daunting when you discover you need to lose several stones in weight..........doesn't it?