hello everyone, I'm new to this and I would like some tips and advice for my weight loss. I am 16 and extremely obese- I weigh 172lbs, I have struggled with weight for as long as I can remember and due to this I have extreme low self esteem and anxiety. I know I seem young, but I really feel the need to lose weight to be healthy and to reduce risks of illness.
I think that losing the weight earlier in life will mean that I will have a healthier and longer life. I am writing to ask if anyone has any tips on how to lose weight or stay motivated and if anyone knows how to keep eating healthy will school meals?
Thank you.
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iwantoloseweight
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At 16, you are only just old enough to join the site and are too young to follow the 12 week plan. I would advise you to speak to your GP/practice nurse and see what they have to say. You could also read this
School meals should have a healthy option, or you could make your own healthy packed lunch. Try to watch your portions sizes and fill up on lots of vegetables/salads.
Keep active, so take up some forms of exercise that you enjoy and that you can see yourself keeping up for the long term.
Thank you, my issue is I can't do the 12 week plan so I am struggling to find a meal plan, I am not really sure what kind of things to eat and I find sticking to a plan much easier.
At your age, you need to be following a healthy lifestyle, rather than a 'diet', or plan. You are still growing and developing and your weight and shape are still under the influence of raging hormones.
If you can follow the guidelines highlighted in the link that I gave you, it will teach you how to eat healthily, rather than you copying someone else's ideas. Similar to the best way to learn your schoolwork.
You may join our Daily Diary, which will give you ideas of what other people are eating, but you must bear in mind, that at your age, your needs are a little different.
Are your parents on board with your plan to lose weight, because they may be the best people to advise and assist you? If not, what about another family member, or a schoolteacher?
My parents are aware of my weight but every time I say I will try to lose weight they sort of laugh it off because I have tried times before. I was thinking maybe try and ask them to try and buy healthier foods rather than the food they buy now which isn't very healthy.
do you have an advice on how to stay motivated? I would consider myself quite impatient (as bad as that sounds) and I need ways to remind myself to keep going.
Take me as a good reason why you don't want to be impatient! I started dieting at your age and did it the stupid way! I starved myself, lost a lot of weight, gained it all back, with a little bit more and this went on for over 40 years! When I started, I was about 10 stone, when I arrived here, I was 58, had been yoyo dieting all my life and weighed 19stone 10lbs!!! That should make you see the sense in doing things properly, especially as I'm now 60 and although I've lost 7 stone, I'm still much heavier than I was when I started, at your age!
You can log on here, whenever you like and chat to someone, or read posts about people's successes. You can join our exercise challenges and have fun along the way. I know I'm an old fogie, but I do know how you feel and I really want to help you reach your goals
Thank you! I really appreciate it. The thing is I can't imagine myself thin and I think whenever I try to lose weight I self sabotage? I feel sometimes like being fat makes me who I am, I know its weird! I don't think I can be thin, I don't know how to explain it but I think that I was not supposed to be thin and that I can't lose weight? Does any of that make sense?
Goodness me, that makes perfect sense to me! I still can't think of myself as slim, but I am working on that and trying to get my head to catch up with my body!!
I've spent a lifetime excusing myself for everything, because I was fat! Losing the weight has meant losing the excuses, but, do you know what? I don't need those excuses now! Taking my time to lose the weight and spending that time with the lovely people here, has given me the time to realise that the only failure in life, is to not try.
I've gone from being barely able to stand, to running a marathon! I wouldn't have done that in my negative, fat body! My new positive, slimmer body says why not, rather than why?
It's the same for everything. What if you don't pass your exams, get a boyfriend, be popular, if you haven't got being fat as your excuse? Life is about putting yourself out there and trying and being proud of your effort and liking yourself for it
I'm glad to see that i'm not crazy and that someone understands my mind state, I really do understand what you mean about fat being an excuse to not do things and I really want that to stop.
I am extremely overwhelmed by the amount I have to lose - which is 27kg according to the bmi measure, it is a lot of weight and I think that it is just too much and I get panicked and give up because it is just so much weight!
Don't look at the whole picture, baby steps are the way to go! Make one change at a time, one day at a time and congratulate yourself for each tiny success. Work towards a healthy lifestyle and view the weight loss as a happy side-effect
I calculated that to lose my weight healthily it will take about 8 months, I plan to start when I go back to school - on the 6th September, I know its a while away but I need time to prepare and I think starting in the beginning of a school year and starting a diet on the same day is like new year new me, as cliché as it sounds.
I do want to be healthier as I know I am at risk for type 2 diabetes and heart problems. I am just worried what people will say or how they will react to me trying to lose weight like 'oh look, the fat one is trying to lose weight, haha' I am just nervous.
Also that my parents won't believe me and just won't buy healthy foods meaning I won't be able to lose weight, I don't know what to do.
You'll drive yourself crazy with the 'what if's?' The only way to find out what's going to happen, is to go for it.
Why not visit your GP first, explaining what you want to do and your concerns, maybe even ask for a referral to a dietician?
Ask for a diet sheet and advice in writing.
With that in place, it would be very difficult for your parents not to follow medical advice and not supply healthy food options for you.
Why wait until the start of the new year? Why not be comfortable with your new lifestyle, by the time you have to confront your peers' reaction? A lot can be achieved in 4 weeks.
I think it's unlikely that you'll meet with any negative reaction, but if you should, you could arm yourself with some facts about nutrition, rather than weight loss, to explain your change of eating.
You should aim for no more than 1lb a week and it may be that, if you have a lot more growing to do, it will be slower than that, as you'll just get taller and be slimmer.
Do you have anyone else that could take you to a doctor's appointment?
You know your parents best, but please don't be deterred, if they don't warm to the idea immediately.
This is good advice. Try walking as much as you can, if you get puffed stop. increase the amount each day and if you watch your portion sizes and walk the weight will start to fall. If you know someone who has a similar problem, get friendly and walk together. As you chat you will walk for longer. Good luck. You can do it.
Take a look at the Pinned posts section to the right of your screen (bottom if you're using a mobile), or in the drop down on the 'Posts' page (it says 'arrange by'). 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 NHS 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.
To the right of the HOME page (bottom on a mobile), you'll find Events. In there, you'll find links to our daily Weigh-in's (you will choose just one day per week), our Daily Diary, where we post our menu and exercise plans, for accountability, advice and support and our “What's happening today” thread, where we pop in for a chat.
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
Hi there!!. Please take the advice that moreless has given you. moreless has words of wisdom and always steered me right and very greatful for. Good luck on your journey. please enjoy your teen years.
Well done for taking steps to trying to lose some weight. I really don't envy young people growing up in todays world where food is EVERYWHERE, the need to have a perfect body is always IN YOUR FACE and there is so much pressure for young people to succeed.
Many parents nowadays are too busy to cook meals from scratch, and there are lots of quick and easy not-so-healthy options that are filling and quite cheap - but sadly many of these are full of additives, preservatives, etc. My daughter is 20, I used to feed her healthy meals, but now she's gone off to University, she seems happier to eat take-aways and fast food! (I'm 50 by the way!)
My Mum is French but lived in the UK since she was 11, but has always cooked meals from scratch. I used to love watching her cook and liked to sit and stir whatever was on the stove... little did I realise how much I learnt from just watching her - making sauces, casseroles, preparing vegetables.
An easy way that you can make some simple changes is to cut out or cut down on things like bread, pasta, rice, potato products (chips!), and things that contain flour (cakes, pancakes, etc). Even if you can't completely cut these things out, reducing your intake will have a good result.
Fill up if you are able to on things like beans (not baked beans), lentils, lots of vegetables... as these are full of fibre and will make you feel fuller for fewer calories.
Do you enjoy cooking? I am wondering whether your parents might be up for the idea of you cooking dinner perhaps once a week? There are LOTS of recipes on line that are really simple, and you can use canned beans (berlotti, kidney, etc).
As for school dinners - whatever happened to them?...!!!
When I was at school (A LONG.... time ago!) the dinners were really nice! We'd have things like shepherds pie, chicken pie with really nice pastry and gravy - and always lots of fresh veg - which we were MADE to put onto our plates and encouraged to eat.
Can you take a packed lunch? Maybe things like homemade wraps with chicken and salad in them?
Well done for trying to make some changes - you are right to try and at least ensure that your weight doesn't rise too much more - sadly the older one gets the harder it is to lose....
The world is very confusing, society tells you that you have to be thin to be loved and being overweight results in bullying and rude comments, I understand that it is unhealthy but I feel that all of that had spurred my anxiety - I feel uncomfortable and self conscious whenever I leave the house, as I think everyone is staring at me and laughing.
My parents work late and usually cook the same dinner every night, some meat and oven chips. I know this is extremely unhealthy but they don't really buy healthy foods.
I think I will try and cook my own dinner some nights as I think this will be more effective. I guess school lunches have just become more and more unhealthy so I will take your advice and take in healthy packed lunches.
You come across from your posts as extremely bright and mature. I am sure if you want to do this, you'll be able to!
What about friends? Are they a good or a bad influence to you? Do you have someone who could share this journey with you? Have you got any brothers or sisters older/younger?
You mention anxiety, and that is something that my daughter experiences. I do wish she'd believe what a beautiful and lovely young person she has become! I'm very proud of her, but I don't tell her often enough. Again, I think anxiety is a growing issue for many young people.
Thankfully my daughter got some really good support - but that was after she'd been quite poorly, making herself sick so that she could avoid going to school as she experienced social anxiety. She's older now and better able to rationalise some of her thoughts and feelings, but I still have to be quite careful how I talk to her and the words that I use....
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your belief in me.
I don't really have many friends, just one I am extremely close to. She has been trying to lose a little bit of weight as well, as she considers herself over weight ( which I don't think she is, she is only a size 12).
As for siblings, I have an older sister, who is also overweight and has tried to lose weight through the 'Slimfast' diet, but after this didn't work she kind of gave up losing weight. Like my parents she does not belive that I can lose weight, everytime I tell her she laughs it off. So I don't really have anyone to share my journey with (which is partly the reason I joined this forum).
I truly think my anxiety stemmed from my weight, I just don't feel comfortable in my own skin and feel paranoid that whenever I go out people are laughing at me.
I am glad your daughter is better, I can't imagine what that must have been like for you, so I am sorry. As long as she is getting better that's all you can wish for.
Its great that you have joined the forum because you will then not feel the only one who needs to lose weight. There are many many of us of all ages. Becoming healthier is the greatest motivator of all and you will definitely be healthier as you lose weight and with the loss of each kg you will find it easier to move about and begin to enjoy exercise more.
Walking costs nothing and burns fat so try to work up to walking 10000 steps everyday. Do you have a birthday coming up or could you acquire a fit bit somehow else because they really help you to see what exercise you take, how many calories you burn and how many calories you are eating. I needed to lose weight urgently to prevent diabetes and to improve my high blood pressure and I bought one. I find it really motivates me to stay on track. I have lost nearly half the weight I needed to lose and my blood pressure is coming down. Do try to see your GP and see if you can get help from him/her.
If you can get hold of any of the diet books by Michael Moseley - they may be in your local library - or you can get them through Amazon or on your kindle if you have one - they are very inspirational. He is a doctor who needed to lose weight and change his eating habits to reverse type 2 diabetes and so investigated all the research and changed his eating habits and it worked. He has a lot to say about which foods are the best to eat and will help you know what are the healthy choices.
You have taken the first step by speaking about your desire to lose weight. Now start today by trying to cut out sugar, bread, potatoes, rice and pasta if you can. Write down everything that you eat and take a walk everyday. You can and will do it and I look forward to hearing your progress.
I love this forum, because it reminds me i'm not alone and that other people are on the same journey. I keep reminding myself that I am doing this to become healthier and to look and feel better.
Sadly my birthday isn't until late next year so I don't think I will get one, but I am using my fitness pal and I'm finding it useful. I need to find something to motivate me personally and I think it will be physically seeing a change in my body rather than on the scales or anything else.
Micheal Moseley? I have never heard of him before but I will definitely look him up and maybe read up on him and see his ideas.
Thank you for the support and I look forward to hearing about your progress as well! xx
I was thinking if you have a mobile phone you can use it as a step counter with an ap and also there are loads of calorie counter aps. Try my fitness pal.
Dr Michael Moseley is often on tv with health documentaries. His wife is a GP
Look him up on the web because you'll find his diet web sites and info
Well done on getting started on the road to the new you
Hello and welcome. I was always a big girl at school; overweight and ungainly! Big thighs my mother used to say and I was probably a size 14 for many years. It was that way until I had my children and really started to put weight on. I'm nearly six foot and weighed about 23.5 stone in January this year. I've lost five stone now; and I'm 54. I stopped eating cake, crisps and rubbish and now eat a balanced diet and do a LOT of walking now with my trusty Fitbit for company. It's really helped and after years of being huge and for the last few years, really unhealthy, my point to you is don't make my silly mistakes and think, tomorrow. I have problems with my knees, hips and ankle and all because I'm overweight. I don't want to be someone who expects healthcare through being careless with my health. Do it now and ignore the bad comments; they come from the jealous ones and concentrate on the good ones! The very best of luck to you! Truly .
I am currently a size 14, and I really really want to get down to at least a size 10, but I know I should be more focused on getting healthier than going down in dress sizes.
Wow! 5 stone?! Congratulations, that is honestly amazing! I think to start I will just stop eating bad foods and just eat healthier and cut out white breads and pasta. I think walking is an extremely good idea, as as you can guess i'm not the fittest person on the planet.
Thank you! I truly appreciate the advice and support!
How about with the walking taking yourself out for 10 minutes to start with (or 15 or 20 or 30 - whatever you feel you can manage) and set a timer on your phone for half that - walk until the timer goes then turn round and walk back. Walk the same route for the same length of time each time you go out and notice how much further you get over time - I know you will.
I have just read all of the great responses you have received and you have been given lots of useful advice. The support here is amazing and as we are all going through the same journey, you will never be on your own.
I would like to wish you all the best with your weight loss journey. You can do this!!
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I am sure if you want to do this, you'll be able to! 
I'm new here and need some motivation
Hi, I'm new here - Quick question pls?
I'm New Here Any Help Appreciated Please!!
I'm new here and need help!
I'm new here,
