Newbie

[jackie4ball]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this part of the site I have Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis I take quite a bit of medication which to a certain extent I think doesn’t help with weight loss. I don’t eat much during the day but then find myself eating at ridiculous times like 11pm. A few weeks ago I decided I needed to lose a bit of weight for my sons wedding I stuck to a balance diet for 5 weeks and didn’t lose anything this led to me being disillusioned and I now can’t seem to get my head back into trying to lose weight. The minute I think diet I can’t stop thinking of food. I have become virtually housebound recently had hand surgery for OA but have hip and knee problems I got afraid to go out alone because I had some falls so only go out when I have someone with me which is very rarely. I am not grossly overweight but am probably about 2 stone over what I should be my problem foods are things like ice cream and chocolate, crisps if I eat late at night it’s normally a cheese and tomato sandwich if I’ve got any in it’s followed by chocolate or ice cream. I also have bad insomnia which is why I think I eat in the night because the time drags so slowly. I just need to get to eating healthier and feeling better about myself and maybe some sort of gentle exercise but that means going out. Which as I say is getting harder unless I have someone with me. My daughter is expecting her first child next March and I want to be involved in being with my grandchild and will be looking after him/her when my daughter returns to work I think this will help me focus on other things but I need to start now doing something. I eat fruit which I normally have in I will pick at that during the day as well as a couple of nuts which I have on the side as I have read they are healthy. I drink Pepsi max in the evening but have tried cutting it out but it made no difference to sleep, weight or anything. I don’t want to think of foods as banned as then I know I will want them more. When I did the 5 weeks of healthy eating I had a bag of sweets in the cupboard and crisps and because I knew they were there if I wanted them I found that helped and not once did I want to eat them. I think it was just the fact that I lost no weight at all that threw me.

Any advice would be welcome thanks

Jackie

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi and welcome, Jackie

My first bit of advice to you, is stop thinking diet and start thinking healthy lifestyle!

There are a couple of other communities that may be of assistance to you, too

healthunlocked.com/fibromya...

healthunlocked.com/arthriti...

I'd like to invite you to join our Newbie Club, which we hope will be a good place for you to connect with members, who are also just starting out. If you just post a few words to introduce yourself and respond to others there, you'll soon break the ice. Here's the link

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

You'll find all the information you need to navigate the forum in the header, so please take the time to read it carefully.

Wishing you all the best

[jackie4ball in reply to moreless]

Thank you I have been on the fibro and arthritis sites for a while now and find them very helpful.

Jackie

[Marion_63]

Hi Jackie, I know what you mean. I have osteoarthritis of the spine and it flares up with agonising pain. I try not to take too much medication but it is debilitating. Don't think about dieting as such but as a lifestyle change. I made small changes to start with. My main problem was portion size so I weigh things out, and I vary what I have. I make sure I have plenty of fruit and different vegetables in and always have eggs so I can rustle something up quickly. Chocolate can be factored in if you add calories to your count.

Good luck!

[IndigoBlue61]

Hello jackie4ball

You sounds just like I was two years ago, tried ‘dieting’ and lost nothing so gave up. But when you are at rock bottom the only way is up.

It’s hard to beleive but make sure you eat enough, I scoffed when I was told I could eat 1400-1500 calories a day but I lost weight 😊. I was also amazed at the calories in some ‘healhty’ foods like nuts, banana and flapjack. For the first 6 months I weighed absolutely everything, I even count out the nuts!! Lol 😂

It wasn’t easy, and the weight loss was slow, (about 2 stone in the first year, but I was heavier than you). The food aspect wasn’t difficult as I had alwys eaten healthily and love to cook, but it was portion control that was my problem. A typical day was skip breakfast, soup or ryvita for lunch. Then be absolutely starving and eat all evening. Nowadays I eat breakfast at mid morning, have a decent lunch and dinner about 7 and nothing after that. Evening eating is a habit like any other and we can re-train our brain.

I have also slowly increased the exercise, like you I can’t do much but every little helps, 5 or 10 minutes a couple of times a day makes a big difference. I also became a Granny this year and it feels good to be able to lift her with confidence, and play with her 😊

Have a good read of the Newbie Club post, work,out your target calories, and have a little faith, you can do this 😊

Wishing you well

Anna

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome!

[Cat33 Visitor]

Hello Jackie and welcome My heart goes out to you as I was exactly the same as you 18 months ago I really didn't think it possible for me to lose weight I have OA so I do understand I've had operations on my feet and am recovering from a hip replacement

I did it though Don't think about it as dieting just eat healthily and don't deprive yourself of your treats just figure them into to your calorie allowance

You have such a lovely reason with a grandchild on the way and by March you can lose a lot

All the very best you will get loads of support on this forum it's fantastic

Take care xx