Starting afresh

[sirensandbells]

Hello! After a long time, I've decided it's about time I tried to lose some weight.

I've just turned 24, and at 5'3, I am classed as very obese. In the past three years, I've put on so much weight - I was in an horrible relationship and ate a lot as a form of comfort; and even though I'm really happy now, I still eat too much.

I had a really horrible bout of reactive arthritis last year that left me bed bound for three months and I've not regained my strength, so I'm still so weak.

I'm hoping a combination of healthier eating and going to the gym a few times a week will help!

I had bulimia as a teenager, and whenever I've tried to lose weight in the past, it's reared its ugly head again, so i'm hoping that this time, I can keep all the bad thoughts away!

I'd love some advice or friendly encouragement if anyone can help!

One big thing I struggle with is sweet snacks - I don't eat much during the day but I LOVE sweet food and snack loads during the evening, even if I'm not hungry! Has anyone got any tips?

[wa2un7 Maintainer]

Welcome back to this forum where you will not be short of encouragement. Congratulations on taking control after having such s horrible time. As for evening snacking Im sure you'll get lots of ideas from the members. Personally I save calories each day to allow for that. Be sure to check what your recommended calorie allowance is on the NHS BMI calculator if you've not already done so as you may well be surprised at how much more it is than you might expect. Good luck.🤗

[IndigoBlue61]

Hello sirensandbells and welcome to the weight loss forum ☺

Well done on taking that first step towards a healthier fitter you 😊

Here are a few suggestions for getting the most from the forum 😊

The first place to look is at the Pinned posts section to the right of your screen (bottom if you're using a mobile), read the Welcome Newbie thread first and move through to the challenges, where we hope you'll find at least one that will appeal to you ☺ (Please note if you are using the new HU App these facilities aren't available yet so you may prefer to use the full website version)

Move down to the Topics, to find a variety of threads, collated into specific topics for ease of access and we ask that you also 'file' your own threads, so that others won't miss your important news ☺

Have a look at the NHS 12 week plan, as many people have had success with it. Also use the BMI checker to find your target calories, it's important to eat enough. This was a major turning point for me, realising I could eat anything I wanted as long as the calories are accounted for ☺

Don't forget to take your starting measurements and a 'before' picture, as they can be very motivating on days that the scales refuse to co-operate ☺

The forum also have group weigh-ins every day if you wish to take part. The posts can always be found in the Events section on the 'home' page ☺

You'll notice a grey box next to people's names, these are achievement badges, and as a new member you may have a 'Newbie' badge. If you have any questions or would like a Newbie badge please just ask ☺

We've found that to get the best out of this community, we need to be active on the forum, as it's where we exchange information, get motivation and inspiration and make friends. We hope that you'll join us here, regularly, too ☺

Best wishes

Anna