Hello 👋🏽

[DS97]

Hi everyone, I'm 21 and have always struggled with my weight. After years of yo-yo diets, I have finally decided I need to lose weight more efficiently in order to keep it off. I love the gym and being outdoors, it's the diet side that I tend to struggle more with.

What are your top tips for losing weight and staying motivated? ☺️

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi and welcome, DS97

For someone so young, my advice would be never to diet, as that will make you fat, you need to embark on a lifelong healthy eating plan. In a nutshell ditch the junk, at least for most of the time. You won't go far wrong if you follow the advice here phcuk.org/wp-content/upload...

Follow this link to our chat thread and a list of all the activities we run. We've found active participation to be key to success, especially with our weigh-ins and Daily Diary

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

To make navigating the forum easier, we've put all the information you'll need in a newbie pack and here's the link

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Please take the time to read it carefully, so that you're able to enjoy everything that we have on offer.

We ask that you also read this important information about internet privacy and security.

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Wishing you all the best

[Pineapple27]

Hi there DS97

In order to maintain weight loss, we have to re-learn some of our past bad behaviours or habits with food. So for example:

Garden Centre trip = cake and coffee

Cinema = Pick n' mix / nachos / popcorn / fizzy drink

Evening in front of the TV = bar of chocolate / bag of crisps

Birthday = non-stop eating for three days!

You get the idea and I am sure you can identify with at least one of these.

I know that for me, I have changed a lot of what had become "normal" for me. I have also learned not to plan each trip out of the house to include food.

Once upon a time, I'd have included lunch with a trip into town, coffee and cake with a visit to the garden centre.

I now plan or even prepare a meal BEFORE I go out (usually a salad) so that I know exactly what I can eat as soon as I walk into the door... and don't turn to "what I fancy" (usually high calorie carbs that don't keep you full for very long...)

Make a list of the reasons WHY you want to lose weight. Keep it somewhere safe (stuck to the inside of a kitchen cupboard door?) and look at it from time to time, especially when you are raiding the kitchen for treats!

Finally.... alcohol. In my opinion, it's "empty" calories (no nutritional benefit) plus lowers your resolve to stay away from more alcohol or foods that you shouldn't eat. Perhaps try and limit how much you consume and stick to having it only at weekends? I know this may seem that you are being "punished" for trying to lose weight, but we have to try and change a lot if we want this to work for us.