App recommendations for a newbie please

[Vampyra]

Hi I am new to the forum and about to start the NHS weightloss programme. I recently had a bout of illness and the doctor has told me to lose weight and take exercise. In the past I have tried weight watchers and Slimming World with little or no success so I am going to try calorie counting. Can anyone suggest an easy and suitable app that includes calorie counting and/or walking tips and step counting? I am around three stones overweight but want to lose an initial half stone and take it one step at a time. How successful have you been with this programme please?

[N-o-r-d-i Maintainer 64kg]

Hello there and welcome. I use MyFitnessPal for calorie counting. You can also track steps with it, or connect to some other apps or devices that track your activity levels. There are others available but I’m not familiar with them personally. If you have any questions about the one im actually using - feel free to ask 😊

[Vampyra in reply to N-o-r-d-i]

Thankyou. I will check this out. Definitely need to be organised.

[ForthefinalTime in reply to N-o-r-d-i]

That is the one someone recommended to me. Great little free app.

[TheTabbyCat Administrator 16kg]

Hello Vampyra and welcome to the weight loss forum. Please have a good read of the Pinned Post “Welcome Newbies”. healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

This is a very large community with lots going on. May I suggest you use the webpage as opposed to the app at least until you know your way around. Take your time and follow every thread so that you know exactly what’s going on.

Here’s the link for a “Tour” of the forum ,if you haven’t already taken it.

healthunlocked.com/?tour=true

As you are following the NHS plan please check your BMI on the NHS site and obtain the correct amount of calories for you.

healthunlocked.com/api/redi...

The Daily Diary and the Weekly Weigh ins are very good places to begin. You will find the DD and WI in the Pinned Posts under “Events”

I find the Daily Diary a very good place to share my plans and get inspiration from other members, too. Once the day’s food is written down I’m far more likely to stay on track.

The key to success is participation, we are all on the same journey.

If you can’t find something just shout, there’s usually someone around.

I hope to “see” you around, Good Luck.🍀😉

[Vampyra in reply to TheTabbyCat]

Thankyou. There does look a lot to take in. I will complete the diary and weigh in once I have a hang on what I’m doing. This time I really need to stick with it as my health depends on it.

[TheTabbyCat Administrator 16kg in reply to Vampyra]

You're welcome. The forum really isn't as complicated as it seems. When I 1st joined I spent a lot of time clicking about,following every link, until I knew my way around.

You can so do this.

[Redbrook]

Hi am also new to this .I have put the active 10 app on my phone .from the NHS. You set goals and it tracks you.I found it very helpful. I started a 10min brisk walking away. I do more

I all so put the app .strive on it map out were you walk .how far .

[Vampyra in reply to Redbrook]

Thankyou. I will have a look at this. Exercise is something I haven’t done in a long time. 😳. Good luck to you. Onwards and downwards!

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Hi, we have a Topic on Apps and Trackers. If you follow the first link Tabby has given you, Welcome Newbies explains how to find Topics

[Vampyra in reply to BridgeGirl]

Ah yes, thankyou. I will go and check it out.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Vampyra]

👍

[Scaffie Host 2 stone]

Hi, I've done loads if fat clubs! All failed because it's all about your head not your intake. Do as suggested below. The my myfitness app by under armour is superb. I bought a fitbit which helps me make sure I do enough exercise and does good food counter If you want. The key is to find out your triggers, emotional, boredom etc. I've dealt with misery eating and had to learn EVERY day is not a treat day- good old fashioned self control, boring I know but there's no magic. I weigh in with one of the free weight support groups here. In 28 weeks I've lost 1stone 1.5lbs. Am fitter & healthier. That s only half a week but a stone in 6 months, I'm happy. All the best.

[Vampyra in reply to Scaffie]

Yes Scaffie. The most pounds I lost were monetary! 🥺. Even following to the letter, I lost a few pounds but it went back on again. Eventually I gave up with it. This time however it’s important to keep going, how do you keep motivated?

[Scaffie Host 2 stone in reply to Vampyra]

Well just like Carer 53 says below you find what works for you. It's in your head. I found my household has a very healthy diet I make all my own bread, cakes, pastry, stews EVERYTHING so telling me to cut out processed food...... Yeah right. But I looked at what I had at every meal. I have a sweet tooth and recently had some stomach issues (acid refluxy) so I had to cut out fruit which is acidic, cheese and curry. That's painful I love cheese. But I make sure I allow myself one chocolate each evening so I don't feel totally deprived. Work out why you want to lose weight and what you can do to lose it. I found the fat club thing was great the first few weeks but as you put it on the support lessened and then you leave, then you pay to rejoin and start again and you get some interest. Then I realised I was getting whatever my self esteem, or my 'person' needed from the praise and interest of others and so I decided to do it because I wanted to. Our Wednesday Wobblers rule, I think is apart from not being nasty (!) is we encourage at least 3 others. So I have somewhere I can vent when I've felt physically or emotionally low but I'm doing it for me because in reality only I really care about where my weight is at. So do it for you. Keep on keeping on. Join one of the groups, start to exercise. Don't compete just do it because you deserve it, because you are worth it, because you will feel better, get into new clothes, be more healthy. Get my drift? Be encouraged.

[Hidden]

Hope you find this encouraging but remember we are all different and what works for one doesn't work for everyone. I did the 12 Week N.H.S plan and it worked for me as it didn't feel like a diet. I down loaded the easy meals app that came with it and chose meals from there. I also downloaded the active 10 app which recorded my daily activity as well as lots of tips. There is also a calorie counter on there and BMI calculator. Its the first plan that has worked for me because you eat normal food but in much smaller portions. I weighed everything in the beginning but you soon learn potion sizes. I have reached my target weight now and use this forum to keep me focused. Remember its one day at a time. I still use the easy meals but allow a treat now and then to maintain.