Help needed

[Truthfully]

I'm 56 going through the menopause, over weight more than I've ever been !!! Never done anything like this before. Usually I have been able to diet on my own, but it's not working like that anymore.!!! I'm in need of support. So here I am hopefully on a new journey to success with your help. !!

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Hello and welcome, Truthfully

This may help you understand why it's so much harder to lose weight in our later years healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... and this will suggest the way forward phcuk.org/wp-content/upload...

There is loads of support and information here if you come here regularly, no need to post, just read, ask questions, reply and encourage others and it will really pay off for you.

This welcome post explains how the forum works and how to find your way around. healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... I recommend joining a weekly weigh-in on the day of your choice, and using the Daily Diary for help with meal planning.

I'd also advise you to lock your posts, especially if you're including photographs (I could just down a Guinness!). You will see the Facebook and Twitter logos below your post, indicating that it can be shared around the internet without your knowledge or consent. Further information here healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

I hope you will enjoy being an active member of the forum

[Truthfully in reply to BridgeGirl]

Thank you . How do I lock my posts

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Truthfully]

The information is in the link I gave you.

Click on More, below your post, select Edit, choose Only my community (for who can see your posts) and Edit post

[Lytham 3 stone]

Hi the menopause SUCKS ! Good luck on your journey! x

[Truthfully in reply to Lytham]

Thanks Lytham

[Lytham 3 stone in reply to Truthfully]

Are you going to be following a particular food plan ? x

[Truthfully in reply to Lytham]

I'm a bit bamboozled to be honest. And don't know where to start

[Lytham 3 stone in reply to Truthfully]

Have you read up on lchf? Low carb high fat, its lush food ! x

[Truthfully in reply to Lytham]

I've tried keto. That's the same isn't it. ?Felt it wasn't very healthy. And couldn't seem to stick at it. I have exhaustion problems & can't stand cooking from scratch. Didn't like all that almond flour. 😝. I know it works for some and I'm so pleased for them. But it's not for me. Thanks though.

[Lytham 3 stone in reply to Truthfully]

Well I hope you do find a way forward for yourself, have you joined the weigh in today? x

[Truthfully in reply to Lytham]

Not yet. Will do though. I haven't any weighing scales at home as can't stop myself getting on them every day!!!

[Lytham 3 stone in reply to Truthfully]

Ha ha ! I do that! x

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Truthfully]

Decide on a day when you can get to Boots or somewhere with scales and make that your weigh day. The team support is great

[Truthfully in reply to BridgeGirl]

Thanks I will do that.

[Truthfully in reply to Truthfully]

I know I'm easily confused and this is going to sound silly. But been looking up so much to do with dieting & I'm not normally one for social media. How did I get onto this site ?? And has it got an app. I have to go to my emails to access it, is this the only way ??

[Truthfully in reply to Truthfully]

I only have a android phone. Looks like no app on that 😟

[rachelleigh Visitor in reply to Truthfully]

Hi Truthfully - my phone is an Android - I haven't looked for an app as I have too many lol - but I type Health Unlocked into my search engine to bring up the website. Hope that helps! I too am menopausal. I'm not full keto but have had to seriously rethink my diet in order to feel better. I no longer eat processed carbs/sugars or starchy veg (and this is a woman who used to be addicted to bread and biscuits and chocolate and chips!). I have never used almond flour - though I do eat a lot of nuts lol. I eat a lot of veg/salad plus good quality protein and fats. And I have been to visit a nutritionist who has helped a lot. Lowering my carb intake has made a significant difference - and I don't think you need to go full keto to feel the benefit - I've just lost my first stone and am eating healthier than ever. Wishing you good luck on your menopause journey - I hope you find something that helps x

[Truthfully in reply to rachelleigh]

Thanks rachelleigh. Yes that good idea, I definitely will cut down on carbs . In fact I haven't eaten bread or pots for a while. Thanks for your encouragement

[rachelleigh Visitor in reply to Truthfully]

It sounds as though you're already making changes to get you and the scales in the right direction. This forum is a great resource - you've come to a good place - lots of info and support. Good luck! x

[rachelleigh Visitor in reply to Truthfully]

Also worth mentioning that I have joined a Pilates class - I've been going twice a week for nearly 3 months to help gently build up muscle mass, which several people recommended to me to help ease menopause x

[Truthfully in reply to rachelleigh]

Mmm some thing to think about. Im not ready for it yet, but once I'm up and running with this diet , will definitely start doing strengthen exercise. Need that cause as you know muscle tone helps with metabolism. I can't do everything thing at once that's just me.

[rachelleigh Visitor in reply to Truthfully]

You definitely don't need to do everything at once - just try and introduce gradual changes that set you on the right path. It can feel pretty intimidating looking at the size of the challenge ahead - I find it helpful to break my goals down into smaller manageable chunks. You can do this - honestly - if someone like me can shift - anyone can! The arrival of menopause was a great big kick up the backside to get myself in order - I couldn't live like that anymore ...

[Hidden in reply to Truthfully]

Agree with you - have diabetes type 2 lost two stone but felt tired and ill. I was told I had ketones in my urine. The doctor who saw me did not realise I was diabetic and sent me away. I had diabetic ketosis. I was told to drink water but it is a serious problem if you have this sort of ketone effect with diabetes. I like the Berry diet recommended by Stephen Gundy US MD (Doctor) It helped accelerate my weight loss combined with less carbohydrates . Have gained 6 pounds whilst away so time to watch the diet again!

[diabdietfree]

Felt like you, had a hysterectomy and felt awful for years. Weight just kept piling on. I was sick of seeing all these ads of people who had transformed their lives and their diabetes 2 with severe carb limiting diets or "sachets" and expensive "formulas". 2 friends of mine did these only to put more weight back on after they came off the diet. I went to my GP and said I can't do this on my own (after 6 years of trying) and he referred me to the Healthy Heart, healthy weight intervention programme. Once a week for 2 hours and I have learnt so much and gained support from people I would never have met otherwise but all feeling like lost souls too. Have you been to your GP? Doing this on your own is really tough but if you can find others, it can even be enjoyable. Good luck and don't underplay how unhappy you are with your GP. You want to get better, you just need a little help and will no doubt save the NHS money in the long term by doing something about your health now.

[Truthfully in reply to diabdietfree]

thanks for your encouragement .No haven't gone to docs, but do have a appointment soon so could mention my problem then . Thanks hadn't thought of asking doc for help.

[diabdietfree]

Absolutely raise it with your GP. You are being proactive in trying to manage your health. All the best.

[Truthfully in reply to diabdietfree]

Thank you I will !! Let you know what she says 😉

[Migo2010 10 kg]

Hi Truthfully,

Looking at your posts and I think you are over-complicating it all. Cut down on carbs - and eat anything that has not been processed. With all this great weather, there is lots of great fruit and veg about and its all wonderful. Don't let yourself get too hungry and don't obsess about it. Relax and enjoy. A slightly smaller plate - and just cut down on the spuds and bread - it works for me. Lost 26 lbs so far and feeling great. Hope all goes well. Lots of great advice on this site.

[Truthfully in reply to Migo2010]

Yes counting the calories maybe a bit hard🤔. Thanks for the suggestion on the small plate will try that.

[rachelleigh Visitor in reply to Migo2010]

Great advice!

[Snoozlecorn 3lbs]

Hi Truthfully as the others have said, the menopause sucks, so maybe we could support each other. I’m 53 and menopausal I also have an under active thyroid (double sucks) but I know we can do it!!!

[Truthfully in reply to Snoozlecorn]

Thanks snoozlecorn. Just driving home from helping my sister in law, my brother in law died on Thursday. So been sorting his things out & supporting her. My husband want to call in to Chinese 😱. So will be hard, but not going to have rice, or sweet sauce. Any suggestions

[Snoozlecorn 3lbs in reply to Truthfully]

Boiled rice is ok , but maybe try to avoid foods with sauce or ask him to go via the supermarket for a ready made salad. 😀 I’m faced with a picnic on the beach at work tomorrow. Any ideas for that one? 😀

[Truthfully in reply to Snoozlecorn]

Chicken thighs with out the skin very filling.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Truthfully]

With the skin it's even more filling, and likely to keep you feeling full for longer, so you don't need to eat between meals

[Truthfully in reply to BridgeGirl]

Could I eat skin on chicken ?? Isn't it too high in fat ?? I'm just counting cals so thinking about it it would just take more Cal's up ??? Do feel it's all confusing. Been on so many diets, low fat, high protein, high fat low carbs ,😱. Have to re read that info you sent I think. But all that said I think I'm doing ok. Just keeping an eye on my cals. Early days. Find out Friday . My chosen weigh day. How do you record your weight in on this site ???

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Truthfully]

We've had decades of being told to avoid fat and what we've seen in an ever increasing incidence of obesity. I really do advise you read the first two links I gave you when you joined as it will start to make sense to you. They will set you on a much more helpful track.

If you also read my link about how to find your way around the forum, that tells you what the forum weigh-ins are about and how to find them, whatever device you're on.

[Truthfully in reply to BridgeGirl]

Thank you have read it, but obviously didn't take much in. Thanks for your patience

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Truthfully]

Just realised I replied to you 13 hours ago on this thread with all the information you need about the weigh-ins

I hope you're not using the HU app as that doesn't give access to all areas of the forum. Whatever device you're using, you'll be best with the website, not the app

[Truthfully in reply to BridgeGirl]

Thanks BridgeGirle . Yeah I got it 👍. Didn't see it till after I asked you. I've a android phone it's not coming up the same as your pictures you sent, but think I've worked it out maybe.?? Want to weigh- in Friday

[Truthfully in reply to Snoozlecorn]

Hi snoozlecorn. Hope your picnic is going well. Wow it's hot out there be careful girl 😅. I ended up just eating some meat from my hubbies Chinese, and scrapping the sauce off. He got char sue ( not sure if that's how you spell it ? ) in oyster sauce & chicken in some very sweet sauce ? Only had 2 bits of chicken off that scraped sauce off well. So if I did ok I'm not sure ?? But I was pleased I didn't give in completely 😁. This heat helps though not that hungry.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Snoozlecorn]

Snoozlecorn, here is something really important to read that will help you understand why we find it so much more difficult to lose weight as we get older healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... and this will help you find the way forward phcuk.org/wp-content/upload... I've shared them both with Truthfully , too, so maybe you can compare notes.

Regarding your thyroid condition, it's important that you're appropriately medicated and you will get a lot of advice and information from the Thyroid UK forum healthunlocked.com/thyroiduk so do make use of them

[Snoozlecorn 3lbs]

Hi Truthfully. I ate the lunch I prepared but did have a couple of cocktail sausage rolls, however I turned down the Ice cream. Tea was salmon with new potatoes and salad with a piece of garlic bread followed by a ww yogurt. I have to say after I had cooked. For 20 people I didn’t really feel like much in this heat 🤪

[Truthfully in reply to Snoozlecorn]

Oh wow . Cooking for 20 people in this weather. Poor you !! Well done for sticking to your food plan 👏👏👏. And turning down ice cream im impressed 🙌. That's one of my weaknesses ice cream .

[Snoozlecorn 3lbs in reply to Truthfully]

Cider or gin are my weaknesses. I have made some bliss balls that are healthy but taste like Jaffa cakes to try and break my Jaffa cake obsession 🤣🤣🤣🤣. My work colleagues like them too 😀

[Truthfully in reply to Snoozlecorn]

You sound like a good cook. I'm hopeless at cooking.enjoy your bliss balls.

[Snoozlecorn 3lbs in reply to Truthfully]

I have to cook for work, but I can’t seem to manage at home. My husband does all the cooking 😀

[Truthfully in reply to Snoozlecorn]

Well if cooking is your job should think it's the last thing you want to do when you get home. What a lovely hubby 😁

[candoo]

I joined nearly 2 weeks ago after falling off the wagon and struggling.everyone is lovely and very supportive. I found my mojo here so good luck and im sure youl find so much help and support. p.s this is my first time on a forum but im getting there,lol.

[Truthfully in reply to candoo]

Hi Candoo. Love your positive profile name 👍. I'm a great WhatsApp fan, but no I've never done anything like this. It's very supportive.

[candoo]

thank you, i don't know how long I was thinking of a name,lol. Im hoping im pressing all the right buttons and sending the right messages,lol. its been brilliant on here, just able to talk to people with the same feelings and the weekly weigh in gives something to aim for. Im sure you'l do well, have a good week and know you're not on your own best go, ive got my son wanting to play some sort of pokemon game with me,

[Truthfully]

Aww love him. Yes you get off .I want to do the weigh in I'm still look at how I do that. Only thing I'm finding with this is it's hard for me to navigate around to find things like the daily diary, and weigh in, but I'm not very good with technology 😂😂😂. Have fun with you boy.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Truthfully]

The weigh in for each day is in Events. This will help you find events on your phone as it has pictorial guides healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...