Introducing myself, 55, fed up with feeling fat and sluggish, I need to lose this weight for the sake of my liver!

[Lightbulbmoment]

Hi everyone, I won't bore you all with the stories of the battles with my weight. I've been overweight for around 15 years, I'm 5'8 and 15 stone. I have a liver condition called cirrhosis, which basically means my liver is badly damaged and has a lot of scar tissue, which makes it difficult for the blood to flow through it properly and could very well lead to liver failure in the future, as well as some other nasty symptoms which I won't go into. The consultant told me the one single thing I must do to prevent any further damage to my liver is to lose weight and exercise. That was almost a year ago and I did manage to lose a stone in the months following. But I've done my usual trick and put it all back on again. I'm the typical emotional eater, I eat when I'm bored, angry, sad, stressed etc..I feel as though I have some kind of eating disorder, whereby I go into a "zone" where nothing seems to matter except the next mouthful of food, even while being fully aware of the consequences. I'm hoping I can get some support and inspiration on this forum and share experiences with others who are struggling, but winning, this battle! Looking forward to getting to know some of you, thank you for reading my post!

[Gemini64]

Good morning Lightbulbmo...

This is a fantastic forum and you will get lots of brilliant support and knowledge from the others on here.

Someone from admin will contact you soon and show you the ropes. Meanwhile I wish you good luck to you (and your "liver" !) lol on your journey. 😊

[Lightbulbmoment in reply to Gemini64]

Thank you, from one Gemini to another!😄👍

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi and welcome, Lightbulbmoment

Take a look at the Pinned posts section to the right of your screen (bottom if you're using a mobile), read the Welcome Newbie thread, then move through to the challenges, where we hope you'll find at least one that will appeal to you.

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.

Take a look at the NHS 12 week plan, as a lot of people have been successful with it, making sure to enter your details into the BMI calculator, to get a calorie allowance tailored to your personal requirements. 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.

We run daily weigh-in's and you'd be very welcome to join us. The threads can always be found in the Events section, to the right of the HOME page, bottom on a mobile.

We also run a Daily Diary, where we share our meal and exercise plans for the day. It's a great place to get ideas and to keep us focused. The link can also be found in Events.

Be aware, that the HU app doesn't give you access to all of our important features, so we advise that you use the full website page.

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.

It's only left for me to wish you well on your journey

[Lightbulbmoment in reply to moreless]

Hi and thanks for the welcome. I don't really know how this all works so will follow your tips and hopefully find out!! I recently converted from being a vegetarian to becoming vegan, I hope the 12 week plan will have options I can use...thanks again, and you'll be hearing from me in the future, I'm sure!

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to Lightbulbmoment]

Being a vegan won't be any trouble at all with the 12 week Plan, Lbm, one of our start 'performers', LessToLose , is a vegan and has lost 8.5 stones! If you go to her profile, you'll be able to follow her amazing story

Click on her name here, to be taken to her profile

Any questions, any time, there will always be someone about to help you out

[Lightbulbmoment in reply to moreless]

THanks, I've followed lesstolose..sorry to be dim but how do I find the 12 week plan? And not sure what you meant about the challenges?

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to Lightbulbmoment]

On the right of the HOME page, you'll see the big sign for the 12 week plan and click to download (it's right at the bottom of your screen, if you're using a mobile)

If you follow the first set of instructions that I gave you, it takes you on a step-by-step guided tour, with explanations, of the forum

[IndigoBlue61]

Well done on analysing your triggers Lightbulbmoment , now you can deal with them 😊

Have a look at the links Moreless suggests and please ask if you have any questions 😊

Best wishes

Anna

[Lightbulbmoment in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Thanks Anna, everyone is so friendly and helpful on here, I'm very impressed?..my only worry is that my vegan diet will make it harder to follow any sort of eating plan...

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to Lightbulbmoment]

We have several vegans and lots of vegetarians . . . It's probably easier to eat healthily without meat 😊

[RG07 Maintainer in reply to Lightbulbmoment]

Hi the NHS plan is calorie counting I am a pesce vegetarian and to be honest the food I eat has not really changed, however its more balanced each day and I have cut down on crisps and alcohol. I have the occassional blip as do most people- more with the crisps than the alcohol, but every now and then I will treat myself to a packet of crisps but include the calories into my daily allowance. I just have to make sure I buy them on the day and definately no multipacks!!

[Anita44]

HI there, I went through that same vicious cycle, eat and eat then loose a bit of weight and put it back on and more, then lie in bed felling horrible. When I ended back at hospital due to a arthritis flare up, I remember the nurse saying to me, "you need to look after your health first, who's going to look after you and your kids if you get ill". I realised then that I needed to do something otherwise it only get worse, I was determined this year to eat healthy and join a gym which I have done, lost nearly a stone and feel so alive. I know enjoy the gym as I can see inches coming off, even though the weight seems to be stuck, I'm motivated by this site too. Make small changes in your eating and start off walking as your excercise, you need to be determined to improve your health and you can do it. I wish you well in your journey :).

[Lightbulbmoment in reply to Anita44]

Hi Anita, thank you for your post. I feel like I'm stuck on a treadmill, it feels like food controls me, instead of the other way round. It's so good to hear other people's stories though, for inspiration- and well done to you - its amazing how different it makes you feel when the lbs start coming off! I think a gym is great in winter when it's dark and cold, but during spring/summer I prefer to be outside so I'm going to give the couch to 5k a go! I'll let you know how it goes- at the moment I would struggle to run for 30 seconds!😜

[Anita44 in reply to Lightbulbmoment]

You be fine, stay positive, if you have a bad day just get back on it on the next, least you're not doing days of damage. Yes do the walking it makes a difference, tbh I struggle with running, I do fast walking on the treadmill instead. Good look and post your progress as thats motivation for you and others. Good luck.

[Sue-S Visitor in reply to Lightbulbmoment]

Hi I am 52, not particularly overweight, however not at all fit. I feel tired, sore etc most of the time and put it down to my age and the menopause. Anyway, just wanted to say I am doing couch to 5K on the treadmill at the gym - I know I wouldn't stick at it running outside - and I feel so much better. I hate it at first, I struggle, I am out of breath, I am tired etc etc, BUT I am now on week 3 and still continuing. I am much less sore and it does motivate me to eat more healthily. Please please give it a go. Do it at your own pace, I am up to 3 minutes of running this week, don't see how I will ever do it, but have managed so far. Each time you will run a little bit further or faster and you'll feel so much better. Good luck.

[Lightbulbmoment in reply to Sue-S]

Thank you Sue for this. I downloaded the app to my phone today but didn't have any earplugs...when I was doing the c25k before I had to use the stopwatch on my phone to keep count, so this should make it much easier! Bought some sport earphone thingys in Asda tonight so im all set now, no more excuses, I start tomorrow! Will report back! X

[Overeater]

Hi lightbulbmoment.

Wishing you well -you have a good reason to want to get fitter. Mine's more for vanity as I'm also fed up feeling fat and sluggish and getting a big swollen ankle as soon as the weather goes above 10 Deg. Just posting to let you know that at 59 I'm trying yet AGAIN to get into the running habit. Maybe you could start by pulling on some trainers, finding a quiet route and going for brisk walks and trying out 20s jogging and gradually build up over a few weeks until you can run for several minutes? I just got back from mine (face red, sweaty but smug) and hope to do this x3 per week. Must admit I sometimes do my geriatric trots after dark! You are not alone -just set small goals and do your best. Good luck

[Lightbulbmoment in reply to Overeater]

Hi OE, that could be my username too! Portion control is a real hard one for me, I have such a massive appetite! Re your suggestion, I have signed up for the couch25k and am going to attempt the first session today! I know how it feels to be self conscious, but I know whenever I see a larger person out jogging I always think " that's brilliant! Good for them, at least they're trying to do something about it!" -at the same time feeling a bit ashamed that I'm not out there too! But that's going to change! What's 20s jogging? Good for you, how long have you been doing it, have you managed to lose any weight yet? X

[Overeater in reply to Lightbulbmoment]

Literally, 20 seconds! (About as long as I could manage before feeling I would die) It improves with persistence and eventually it's possible to do 2-3 miles without stopping and having to walk. The reason I never get any good is that winter appears as soon as I get reasonably fit and so have to stop. (I gave up in January when even dogs on leads were slipping on the ice) now back to square 1! Keep on keeping on. Best wishes to all fellow strugglers.

[Lightbulbmoment in reply to Overeater]

Yes winters a bugger for exercising, that's when I would consider using a gym, otherwise far prefer to be in the great outdoors. I've managed to delay for one more day as I downloaded the app to my phone but had to buy some headphones. Which I've now got..tomorrow's the day! Bring on Week 1 Run 1! X

[Hidden]

I know how you feel. One thing that helped me was finding out how many calories I needed to maintain the weight. Then allowed this to be my "what the hell" days. I also LOVE eating and realised I couldn't go cold turkey from the huge meals straight away. A pint of water and eating veg before starting protein and lastly carbs (understanding they are not all evil 👹) I didn't want to waste calories on drinks because I enjoy eating so stuck to back coffee and tea and water.

[Lightbulbmoment in reply to Hidden]

Hi there thanks for the tips, I need to drink more water anyway so before eating is something I will try. People think I'm strange when I say I really hate drinking water, but I really have to force myself. Would much rather drink 8 cups of tea a day than 8 glasses of water! How are you doing with the weight loss?

[Hidden in reply to Lightbulbmoment]

Tea is great also ( just with no milk or the kcals will sneak up) nearly 2.5 stone so far. It's nice having that end goal but I make targets every time. Marking down weight when I see people then not seeing them for another stone works for me. Which sound a bit scary but if I meet up with 10 different people during my first stone you have 10 separate 1 stone victory meet ups in the second stone period. Really best of luck. Defo find what you need to maintain and what you need to loose healthy. That way if you do break to the maintain you have done no harm. I also make everything from raw ingredients. Get rid of all the bad carb stuff. You will feel much better. Best of luck

[Lightbulbmoment in reply to Hidden]

Thanks again for the snippets! Sadly I can't drink black tea... yuk.. when you say bad carbs? Obviously sugar, cakes, biscuits, is that what you mean?

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome,

Best bit of advice I can give you is stay active on the forum, get involved, join a challenge, answer posts and ask if you need help 💪

Learn to enjoy your journey, it's a life change with bumps, highs and lows and everyone of us will be here to celebrate and commiserate 🏆

I find the forum a great snacking deterrent too, I pop on read a bit, post, answer, cheer people on and before I know it I've forgotten to snack 😆

I wish you good luck on your amazing journey, you can do it

Kat xx

[Lightbulbmoment in reply to Hidden]

Kat thank you for that upbeat message, I love your positivity! Just one question, how do I join a challenge? What IS a challenge? X

[ary88 Restart June 2024]

Hi , I'm a binger,68yrs, have 5 stone to lose and overeat carbs for no good reason, just have had difficult time, and now no carbs in house other than flour and veg, I'm a newbie on an allotment,been on here 6 months, yo-yoing still, but am gradually improving, taken uo over 50s Zumba, weekly class, 10 length swims alternate days, and step darn,cing, ballroom, over past 6 months,which is helping,good luck on your journey, we are all different, and handle things likewise,but a lot of us are having to cope with eating disorders, so in that way we are all the same,so try to share support, I try to weigh Wednesdays