One Stone to lose

I have been battling with my weight since my teens and have managed to keep most of it off. But now in my 50s it is creeping back and despite diets and counting calories its going up. I am 4ft 11in and weigh 64 kilo. Ideally would like to be around 57 kilo as I really feel unhealthy and unfit.

[TheAwfulToad Visitor]

Your weight still going up despite 'diets and counting calories' is completely normal. Eating less causes most people to store fat, especially if the majority of your diet is starch. Your metabolic rate reduces in anticipation of a famine, and your body retains fat as 'insurance'. This seems to be especially true for women.

If you want to feel less unhealthy and unfit then you need to get healthy and fit Unfortunately there's no magic fix for this. You're going to have to change your relationship with food - which you already recognise has never been right and will therefore involve a radical change in your thinking. You'll have to completely change the things you eat, and start exercising.

I recommend not paying too much attention to your actual weight, or having a weight target in mind. Focus on getting your diet/eating habits right, get yourself signed up at a gym, and everything will sort itself out. If you want some specifics:

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

[Hidden in reply to TheAwfulToad]

Thank you! No time for gym or even for myself. Being full time work and single mum doesn’t leave mum chance for gym.

I cook healthy meals. I am snacking when the children are asleep.

[TheAwfulToad Visitor in reply to Hidden]

If you're driven to snack, and gaining weight, then almost by definition your meals aren't healthy. You will have to do a bit of re-learning regarding what's "healthy" and what isn't, especially if you've been stuck in the same rut for as long as you can remember. You've probably internalized a whole load of ideas from "experts" that are sabotaging your efforts.

We've all been there. Once you figure it out, you'll be pretty annoyed that you were led down the garden path for so long. But at least you'll be on the right track afterwards.

I'll just add that the simplest way to avoid snacking is to not buy snacks. If they're not in the house you can't eat them, and if you're having good, filling meals you won't crave them enough to go out and buy some.

Don't worry too much about the gym if it's not going to fit your routine. It helps a lot, but it's not critical. Just getting your diet right will get you 80% of the way to your goals.

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Hi and welcome, kids4mum

TheAwfulToad has given you some excellent advice and here are a couple of things to support his words healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... and phcuk.org/wp-content/upload...

All of the information you need about the forum can be found in Pinned Posts healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh... and I hope you'll be joining all the Events, Challenges and Clubs that we run, especially a weigh-in and the daily diary.

We've found active participation to be key to successful weight loss and, of course, it's a good way to get to know people, find inspiration and share support and encouragement.

Wishing you all the best