Hitting a crisis point.

Hi all, I'm Joanne from West Yorkshire, 49 yrs old I have dwarfism, 3ft 9 inch tall. Struggling to lose weight. Currently at 5 stone this morning. Last week GP sent me to A&E, blood pressure was 215/160. According to a study I took part in, I should be eating around 800 calories for my height, which is difficult especially when I'm at work. As an adult with dwarfism I can't register my height or calculate my BMI on any site 😞

[Minniewinny 5 stone Maintainer]

Great to have you join us Joanne Hidden

I'm not sure how to calculate a BMI for you either.. You have a challenge!! But a lovely smile and friendly face, great to have you with us..

Enjoy the forum...

I'd like to invite you to join our Newbie Club, which we trust will be a good place for you to connect with other members, who like you are also just starting out on this forum. Please post a few words to introduce yourself and respond to others there, you'll soon realise the encouragement and support this forum offers.

Here's the link:

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Cheering you on to reach your goals 🎉🎉🎉

[Hidden in reply to Minniewinny]

Hello and thank you for the warm welcome, also for the encouragement. It's a challenge for all that is trying to lose the extra pounds... More of a challenge because I can't check my BMI or ideal weight? This is why I took part in the study for people with restricted growth. The medical profession does not have a guide to what our BMI or weight should be. We don't all hit the 5ft mark. The Restricted growth Association do have doctors on board and we are taking part in a study on BMI/weight, restricted growth to have some sort of a guide for the medical profession.

[Minniewinny 5 stone Maintainer in reply to Hidden]

Well done for taking part, I hope they are able to give some positive feedback in the future.

A good indicator for all of us is how we feel when we have to rush for anything, how our clothes fit, how tired we get and if we can see our knees or toes!!

I hope you get more comfortable as you lose some weight and of 800 calories a day is tried and not helping to move weight it can be adjusted maybe every other week until you find what suits you best.

You are best judge of your needs and your best caretaker 😉

[Hidden]

Yes you are right. It is individuality. Right now, I don't feel comfortable. Having spent time in A&E... last Friday night and finding that my blood pressure is extremely high and I was on 5mg of Remipril, now increased to 7.5mg. I needed to do something. At least the NHS site can give me a guide as to calorie intake and a lot of info too.. I'm a little concerned about excercise, as my heart is pumping too fast at least the headaches has subsided. I don't go back till the 16th of Oct, to have blood pressure checked.

I was 8 stone... This last 14lb is hard to lose. I've to remember I'm 50 yr old next year! Doctors have told me to do weight baring excercise. I think I'll just take steady walks?

[Hidden]

Hi Hidden , and welcome. Can I recommend Michael Moseley ‘s Blood Sugar diet cookbook to you ? The recipes are geared to keep you at 800cals per day, and in line with new revised thinking, it encourages you to eat full fat cheeses and yogurts etc, as these will keep you full for much longer. It’s really worth looking into. Best of luck.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Trimmerteacher, thank you for the welcome! I'll look into the book you recommend however, I'm lactose intolerant. I do eat coconut oil and also cook in coconut oil or rapeseed oil. No problem eating healthy fats, like anything else, one needs to be careful and I really do need to keep my calories down.

Thanks again,

Joanne.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I think it could still work for you Hidden , I mentioned dairy fats, but in fact the book recommends all other fats such as olive oil, olives, hazel nuts, almonds, avocados, coconut milk and oils, because they are all high fat and keep you full for much longer. But I’m sure whatever you decide, you will succeed, because for one thing you are so determined, and for another, you have joined this forum! 😊

[ArgyllGirl Healthy BMI]

Hi Hidden . Welcome to the group and good luck with the weight loss.

I know there are 'correct' weights, or healthy 'weight ranges' but I suspect most of us are influenced more in deciding when we stop dieting by how we feel in ourselves about our weight - I know I could never get anywhere near the bottom end of my supposedly 'correct weight range' - that would be totally unachievable for me - so I am aiming more for the upper end of the range since I know that in the past as long as I kept between 9 st 6lb and 9 st 12 lbs I felt good and was happy about my size. So I think maybe you will know in yourself when you reach a weight which is right for you, and at which you feel good. Your photo only shows your head and shoulders, but you have a nice slim face so maybe you dont have too far to go to reach that point?

On the calorie intake, as Minniewinny says, I guess it will just be a case of trial and error - if 800 cals doesn't work, you could always reduce it slightly each week or fortnight until you get the desired results. Presumably the study has people monitoring your progress? They would perhaps be good people to discuss it with and 'bounce your ideas off'?

Really good that you are taking part in a research study to provide answers to these questions for other people in the same situation. Well done to you for that !

[Hidden in reply to ArgyllGirl]

Hi, ArgyllGirl,

all the best in keeping with in the weight range you feel happy with.

Thank you for the welcome! I'm not confident in showing my whole self yet. Really is what you feel comfortable with, we all come in different shapes and sizes and I know myself I'm not happy and after being in A&E, not good... I've managed to get my BMI and my height registered with the NHS site and according to the NHS I should lose 4.6 kg which sounds about right. So for now I'm aiming for around 4 stone 7lb which was a target weight when I was at slimming world. I need to be strict with the weight loss plan because of the high blood pressure and spinal issues which I'm trying to avoid spinal surgery. Slimming World told me I couldn't do a calorie control diet as it doesn't work with slimming world, so I left and my eating healthy went out the window 😞

I'm thankful that we have doctors at the Restricted Growth Association to give us advice and the research we are involved in helps others in the future. I will be going to the Restricted Growth convention in a few weeks time and probably get involved with research 😁

Hopefully this NHS site will get me on track. All the best!

[Hidden]

Hi Concerned,

I need to lose the weight, around 4.6kg. Waist measurement is 34ins way too much for someone that is 3'9"

[Rignold 3kg]

If your doctors advise you to do weight bearing exercise, why do you not do weight bearing exercise rather than walking? Or both?

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to Rignold]

Walking is weight bearing isn’t it? Rignold 😕

[Hidden in reply to Rignold]

Hi Rignold,

Doctor said weight bearing is walking! I do walk even though I struggle to walk long distance and I'm trying to stay out of my wheelchair as much as possible. I have a mutation which affects my bones, my spine and pelvis is wearing away; no, it's not osteoporosis. It's painful to walk.

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to Hidden]

Do you use sticks or walking poles Hidden ? I find I can walk faster and for longer and it’s still good exercise 😊

[Hidden in reply to IndigoBlue61]

I do have walking sticks and they do help Anna61

[Hidden]

Hi Little Pearl, love your name. A friend's daughter is called Pearl, I learned she was named after a grandmother called Margaret as that means 'pearl' - who knew! It sounds to me you are struggling to even set a goal, even after being part of that trial. Have you looked at alternative calculators such as waist-to-height or waist-to-hip? I think waist-to-hip would be the most useful for you as that totally takes height out of the equation. I saw you mentioned you are dairy free - I am too. In which case have you come across Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's book "light n easy"? I found it easily enough in the library. 800 cals sounds like a challenge but with good planning ahead these things can be achieved. Post your plans on here, maybe use the Daily Diary for accountability, and take one day at a time. Good luck

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Ruth_canal_runner,

thank you, I use Littlepearl for my Twitter. I didn't know Margaret ment Pearl, it is a lovely name. Yes, I'm struggling maintains around 800 calories. It was when I gave Slimming World the results from the trial, that's when slimming World told me calorie control won't work with slimming World. Anyway, I left slimming world and my diet went to pot. I'm trying with this site to get back on track. It is a wondeful site and I have been encouraged and made most welcome. It really is not easy, doing it on your own. Now I've found this site, I feel encouraged 😁

Yes, it's about preparation and planning ahead. I'm on annual leave for 3 days so, I've no excuse not to plan my meals.

Dairy free, thank you for the recommendation on the book, Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's, "nice n easy", much appreciated.

Keeping a daily diary is helpful.

All the best and good luck to you to.

Jo.

[13Valerie]

A big welcome Joanne

Wishing you all the best on your weightloss journey. Your GP will be the best to advise you regarding your healthy weight but you'll get plenty of support here. Nest wishes snd post often 😀

[Hidden in reply to 13Valerie]

Hi 13Valerie,

thank you for the welcome! Yes, GP said I need to lose 14lb, I've only another 9lb to go and I've lost a total of 4 stone 😁

Thank for the much needed support.

All the best wishes too.

I'll try and post often.