Hello, nice to meet you! Anyone looking to buddy-up for the NHS 12 week weight-loss plan? And any top tips?

[2_be_me]

Hello everyone, it is nice to meet you all. I've just joined today and so I'm still finding my way around. I'm just starting out on my journey to lose at least 5 stone (gulp!). I'm planning on starting with the NHS 12 week weight-loss plan and I'd love to find a buddy who is also following it. Also, if anyone has any top tips I would love to hear them! Thanks in advance.

[Hidden]

I’m just starting too x

[2_be_me in reply to Hidden]

Hi Cazza4! It's lovely to meet you. x

[Hidden in reply to 2_be_me]

You too. So when are you starting?

[2_be_me in reply to Hidden]

Today seems as good a time as any! Eek.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Hello, 2_be_me and Hidden . Welcome, both of you, to the forum

It's great to see you teaming up. The forum is all about supporting each other and you will find plenty of other buddies once you start joining in with activities. I particularly recommend joining a weekly weigh in and using the Daily Diary where members log their meal plans. Why not make a start tomorrow? The Saturday Superstars are a very friendly lot and would give you a big welcome. Do take a little time to reply to others and offer them support too - it looks as though you're both good at that.

I have tagged you both in the Welcome Newbies post so you will get a notification: have a read as that tells you how the forum works. Other than that, do some exploring, read and join in chats, ask questions and see how you go

If you're going to follow the 12 week plan, it's important you get your own, individual calorie range from the NHS BMI calculator: the 1400 figure you see is generic and suits very few of us.

Please also read this information about online security/privacy healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

I hope we'll be seeing you around

[Hidden in reply to BridgeGirl]

Thankyou so much and yes lots of buddies is good. I had my own diet and fitness many years ago so in my head I know what I should be doing as it was built around the nhs diet but I’m only human and I need support like all those people who came to me for it. X

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Hidden]

You're welcome

I should say I thought I knew what I was doing when I first came here but I've learned a lot since then about current thinking on weight gain and loss, particularly the role of insulin. The biggest revelation to me has been that (dietary) fat doesn't make you fat, which has transformed what and how I eat.

You might find these interesting

psychologytoday.com/us/blog...

phcuk.org/wp-content/upload...

[Hidden in reply to BridgeGirl]

Yes we need fat in our diets to keep us going but good fats and not bad fats. I had my eyes opened and learnt so much when I was training to be a diet and fitness instructor.

The one saying that used to get me was people saying fat weights more than muscle lol. X

[2_be_me in reply to BridgeGirl]

Thank you. I didn't know this stuff. It's mind blowing. Did I read it right? Is full fat dairy really okay?!

[PippiRuns 3kg in reply to 2_be_me]

Still a highly debated question. Scientists don’t agree I.e. studies are inconclusive.

I choose to eat more of the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, completely avoid trans fat and limit the saturated fats. But many here believe that saturated fats are okay. I’m not convinced. The jury is still out...

But we don’t have to agree. In this forum there are many opinions and we still get along and support each other. And support is definitely an important ingredient in a healthy lifestyle 🥕💪🤗

[2_be_me in reply to BridgeGirl]

I particularly like the idea that I can eat in a way that will make me feel satisfied and have the energy to move. I feel so sluggish.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to 2_be_me]

That's right! Once we get the right nutrition, everything falls into place. All the diet and low fat and light stuff is heavily processed while full fat dairy is more satisfying without you eating loads. How's that for good news?

You may be interested in this. It's a useful website with plenty of recipes, all worth exploring dietdoctor.com/low-carb

[PippiRuns 3kg]

Welcome 🙏 both of you, 2_be_me and Hidden , I think the 12 week plan is an excellent way to start your journeys.

My most important tip is perhaps to not think of this as a time-limited endeavour (“I’ll be doing this until the extra weight is lost, then I’ll be able to go back to my normal eating habits”). So whatever you do to lose the weight has to be something you are willing and able to continue doing for the rest of your life. Otherwise you might as well not do it, because there’s a huge risk that you will yo-yo back.

Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to PippiRuns]

Thankyou and hello. Yes I know what you mean, I have lost the 30lbs slowly over a couple of years and half of it was down to stress and getting an eating disorder where I wouldn’t eat, wasn’t interested.

I still am like this now and I pick instead of eating a proper meal and not helped by the fact I’m a chef so long hours and not wanting to cook when I get home.

But finding myself single at 42 I want to improve my life and body for me. X

[2_be_me in reply to PippiRuns]

You're completely right. And it is so important. I need (and want) to see this as my new life. Xx

[Bookworm54 2lbs]

I started it last week, lost 3lb in the first week due to combination of counting calories and incorporating a 2 mile walk 4 times a week. It's working for me because I like keeping records that measure what I'm eating and I'm using the paper version of recording calories/exercise rather than the app so it's visible in my kitchen and acts as a reminder! I also like that I can choose what to eat and find it easier to manage when I'm socialising. Good luck and look forward to hearing how you get on!

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Bookworm54]

It can be a good idea to take some measurements, too, for those weeks when the scales don't oblige

[2_be_me in reply to Bookworm54]

Yes, walking! I miss walking and being outdoors. I won't bore you with details, but I used to be so active, then I got ill and it took a few years to work out what was going on and start to fix it. And getting outdoors is something so simple that I love. Yes, I can do that.

[Hidden]

I would love to buddy-up. I keep failing and so maybe this would be a good way to give and receive support

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Well it sounds like we will all get the support we need on here x

[2_be_me in reply to Hidden]

Great! Let's do it.xx

[Keggie17]

I'd like to join you, I started yesterday and still finding my way on here. Definitely up for the 12 week challenge. I have a lot to lose too 😊

[2_be_me in reply to Keggie17]

Great! Hello, it's lovely to meet you Keggie17.x

[Keggie17]

Hi 2_be_me, nice to meet you too. I'm still trying to find the 12 week challenge on here ...😂 Hopefully will have success shortly, hopefully it will come up if I try searching it. Great start. .😊

[2_be_me in reply to Keggie17]

healthunlocked.com/api/redi...

[2_be_me in reply to Keggie17]

Hopefully the links works. Let me know if not and I'll try again.x

[Hidden]

I'm starting too

[2_be_me in reply to Hidden]

Hi Lorraine, it's lovely to meet you.x

[Hidden]

I’m just starting too— would love to link up and support each other!

[2_be_me]

Hello! Lovely to meet you. Let's do this!xx

[Dancelaugh1]

Hello ladies I have just joined. Trying to familiarise myself with all on offer. My real interest is to reduce my cholesterol level as it's a little high. And I am hoping to lose up to a stone. I walk every where so at least 1.5 hrs a day. Wish me luck ! X

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to Dancelaugh1]

Hi and welcome, Dancelaugh1

I'm not going to contradict any medical advice you may have been given, but I do suggest you do your own research into the meaning of cholesterol test results and the function of cholesterol in the body.

There's an interesting piece here from Dr Zoe Harcombe, who has a doctorate in public health nutrition zoeharcombe.com/2015/03/wor...

Search for videos and reports by Dr Aseem Malhotra, an NHS Consultant Cardiologist and others. Just go to You Tube and type in 'The truth about cholesterol and statins', or 'The cholesterol Myth'

Here's one that I like

youtube.com/watch?v=yX1vBA9...(Not working as expected?)

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

[Dancelaugh1]

Thanks Moreless. That is one comprehensive list of activities! I will read and watch the Youtube videos. I am trying to educate myself so very welcome. I am using Pacer and some food diaries but need to get more disciplined as far ad diet. Many thanks again. 🙂

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Dancelaugh1]

Tagging moreless so she sees your reply

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to Dancelaugh1]

My pleasure and I'm sure once you start researching, you won't stop

[Purplesunshine78]

Hi. I’m starting too. Would love to buddy up and get lots of hints and tips along the way x

[moreless Administrator 7 stone in reply to Purplesunshine78]

Hi and welcome Purplesunshine78

I hope you'll follow all the links that I've given Dancelaugh1 and will become an active member of our community.

If you start at our welcome newbie post, you'll see all our new starts this month and will find lots of buddies to do your journey with.

Onwards and downwards!