overwhelmed

[Patsy52]

joined here years ago and posted now and then.

I followed slimming world, and although it worked it slowly crept back on and more!

retired 5 years ago and became less active and took up camp next door to the kitchen 🙄

So a routine blood pressure at the chemist and 3 weeks later I’m on blood pressure and high cholesterol meds and an appointment with the cardiologist at the end of the month

I just feel so overwhelmed and to be honest frightened!

I seriously do want to make life changes but just don’t know what’s the best eating plan ( I’m not good with going rouge, I need structure) rules, parameters if you like

So… first off I’ve made me and hubby members of the national trust - thought it would help with the exercise and get us out more and away from the kitchen 🙄

I have also thought of the gym, we have a local one with a pool. I can’t really do much in the gym because I have arthritis and fibromyalgia so definitely don’t want to be aggravating those. But think swimming would be ok

Any words of wisdom or ideas on the eating plan side would be sooo appreciated 😘

[springersrule Moderator 76kg]

Good morning Patsy. I'm sorry you are feeling overwhelmed at the moment, its very understandable with those diagnoses coming all at once. Firstly take a deep breath and relax, put things into compartments so you can deal with each one individually. Whilst I don't advocate using Google (or other search engines) as a doctor, it can provide a wealth of information as to food and the conditions we are living with. I would, and did, start there when I began my weight loss journey. It isn't as simple as saying a specific way of eating will work for you, you do need to take the plunge, pick a starting point and make changes as you need to along the way, until you hit on the plan that works for you. I spent days reading and watching YouTube videos on different ways of eating and then started on the NHS 12 week plan with a few tweaks due to eating preferences. I eventually moved to Low carb/healthy fat lifestyle which I find very easy to follow.

I think the NHS plan is a great place to start, and from interacting with the member here, a lot of other people find it a good place too. Have a look and see what you think

You've done great on the exercise front, joining the NT is a great way to see some great places whilst walking miles without realising it lol If you want to join the gym do so but could you just find a public swimming baths to you to begin with. As you feel stronger then maybe look at joining a gym. You may find that sorting out the eating and upping your walking will be enough as a start. Losing weight is more about what you eat than the exercise you do. Exercising tones your body and builds your muscle strength, eating a good balanced diet is good for your whole body and will help you lose weight too.

I hope the above helps along with keeping up with chatting to others on our Pinned Posts. I wouldn't have got to where I am now without the support, advice and friendship I found here.

Best of luck xx

[Patsy52 Restart Oct 2024 in reply to springersrule]

Thank you so, so much for your reply.

Funnily enough I downloaded the NHS 12 week plan shortly after my post - I now need to purchase a tape measure lol

You are right, it was a lot! I didn’t see it coming (or maybe I did subconsciously, the weight has definitely been on my mind)

I found an old slimming world book from 18 months ago and to my surprise and delight I am still a stone lighter than my starting weight - so that has given me a boost this morning.

I think fear is a big part of my anxiety at the moment. I am 60 and my mum passed at 62 from a one and only heart attack 😟 It was an associate that gave me the results along with the statistics, that I have a 1 in 4 chance of a heart attack. But no context with that.

I have had some chest pain and breathlessness but put it down to COPD - I only just tip the scales for that diagnosis. But the associate related the information to GP hence the cardiologist appointment.

He has also referred me to a nhs weight loss team - but i may or may not be accepted 🙏🏻 I weigh 16 st so I suspect it depends on how much of a threat that is to my health. Although I did meet the criteria for the referral.

Your reply has definitely given me the perspective of one change at a time. Thank you ☺️

[springersrule Moderator 76kg in reply to Patsy52]

Its very hard when its a surprise. I had similar but with different diagnoses. I had an appointment with my rheumatologist and we went through how the new medication was going. At the end of the appointment he said we need to look at your weight. You're caught in a catch 22 with the limited mobility so he referred me to the bariatric team! Like you it totally threw me and it took me a month to get my head round that. That's when I started looking at YouTube videos. I really didn't want surgery so it gave me the impetus to get things moving myself. The bariatric team helped me a lot, I spoke with their doctor and nutritionist regularly (didn't meet them due to COVID) and after about 4 months I was taken off the list for surgery because what I was doing was working. I had access to the team for a year and had the option of doing another year with them but felt I didn't need that.

Its great that you've found the SW stuff from before and are able to see its not as bad as you thought. Take that good feeling to motivate you to go forward and to help with the anxiety and fear of what is to come. Does your GP practice have a doctor or nurse that specialists in cardiac patients, they may be able to give you some advice and help with the anxiety and fear too.

I'm glad to hear you've been referred to the weight loss team, they can be such a great help.

Hearing what others have done and how they have coped is the great benefit of this forum. There are so many people from different corners of the world all on the same journey, yes with different medical problems but we become like a hive mind particularly on the Weigh In and Daily Dairy posts. There's a Christmas Countdown Challenge starting tomorrow, you might find that helpful too.

All the best xx

[Patsy52 Restart Oct 2024 in reply to springersrule]

YouTube is a brilliant idea!

I think I’m going to use slimming world as a template to get back to it and have some direction.

We don’t have anyone in surgery that can support weight loss so will need to wait for the referral to process for that support.

Can I ask if you have any links to support chat on here?

Hopefully in a month things will look a lot more manageable.

Patsy x

[springersrule Moderator 76kg in reply to Patsy52]

SW is a great place to start. Just remember nothing is set in stone, stick with it for a month or 2 and then do a review of how you have done, how you feel, what you have liked and disliked etc then if you need to make changes you can.

To get supportive chat, you need to join in with the pinned posts i've mentioned. With the Weigh In you could do that after you've been to the SW meeting to keep everything in line for you. You'll get to chat with everyone else in that half of the week. I'm putting the link here to those pinned posts for ease of getting to them healthunlocked.com/weight-l... Join in with any of them that you think will be helpful. The Daily Diary is self explanatory and you will get lots of meal ideas as well as support and advice. There's the Fit is Fun thread too which is very supportive to doing exercise and trying new things. Just so you know, All the weekly and daily pinned posts get swapped on a Sunday evening (they can get swapped on a wednesday evening if they are getting heavy of replies which slows the thread down). 2 of the threads are monthly so change over on the evening of the last day of the month.

We have a topics area as well where you can find other resources ie. apps and trackers, success stories, and lots of recipe ideas. These are listed at the bottom of the Pinned Posts page (on a phone) on the right hand side if you're using a computer.

Once to take control of one things you will find that other things follow suit. Its amazing how much of an impact taking control of just 1 thing can make, and the good impact it has on anxieties. xx

[Patsy52 Restart Oct 2024 in reply to springersrule]

Thank you ☺️ I feel a bit more positive than I felt this morning.

Like you say, once you organise one thing others just fall in to place.

Thanks again for taking time to support

Patsy xx

[springersrule Moderator 76kg in reply to Patsy52]

You're very welcome Patsy. I've been there, though with different medical conditions, the struggle is still the same though. That's the beauty of this forum. Everyone has been through the same struggles for many reasons so are well placed to advise and support.

It's great to hear that you are feeling more positive than you were this morning xx

[Brumosa Maintainer in reply to Patsy52]

In Surrey NHS, you get 12 weeks free slimming world or phone mentoring if you are BMI 30 or more. You can use string to measure, if you have a ruler in the house. 😊 One of the admins will probably help you with navigation of Weight Loss Forum. Or search for Newbies, which is helpful.

[Patsy52 Restart Oct 2024 in reply to Brumosa]

Been to town and got a tape measure. Job done! 😆 not a fan of the number, but it is what it is 🙄

Seriously considering going back to slimming world for some face to face support and recipe sharing.

Borrowed pinch of nom books from a friend this afternoon, currently sat at kitchen table searching for nice meals 👍

Thanks for your reply x

[Progressoverperfect Restart June 2024 in reply to springersrule]

what a lovely, thoughtful reply x x

[springersrule Moderator 76kg in reply to Progressoverperfect]

Thank you ❤️ xx

[Patsy52 Restart Oct 2024 in reply to Progressoverperfect]

It really was, and really helped 😊

[Brumosa Maintainer]

Sorry to hear how you're feeling and this forum is a good place to find support from others who have been in the same position. You have already started with some very positive steps. Exercise will help your emotions, as well as your fitness. If you're familiar with SW eating plan, it's a good place to start. Lots of healthy veg, lower refined carbs. Swimming is also great exercise and relaxing. You will probably get advice via the NHS, but unless you are obese and pre-diabetic they wouldn't recommend a very low calorie diet (e.g. 800 cals). Do keep in touch with others on the forum, it really helps.

[Patsy52 Restart Oct 2024 in reply to Brumosa]

Thank you.

I’m just trying to navigate the site again to find slimming forums.

It really does help to connect with people who are in the same boat.

[Progressoverperfect Restart June 2024]

Good afternoon Patsy52 and welcome to the best weight loss support forum, the support from fellow members is brilliant and there are some really forums, I use the Daily Diary and the Weekly Weigh In.

Good luck and I look forward to 'seeing' you on the forums 😊

[Frenchfields Restart Jan 2025]

Really cannot add anything to Springersrule’s suggestions and supportive advice - so just to say welcome and well done for facing up to the identified potential health problems and not just burying your head in the sand as many people do. Have a good week and hope to chat on the other threads.

[Patsy52 Restart Oct 2024 in reply to Frenchfields]

Thank you

I feel like there is no choice other than to sort it.

My grown children and grandchildren deserve to have me around for as long as possible. Ignoring the warnings would be stupid and selfish.

So onward and upwards and hopefully the scales will go downwards lol

[Hectorsmum2 Visitor]

Patsy. If you have CFS symptoms and heart problems it might well be helpful to post on the health unlocked thyroid forum. Thyroid problems are often missed by GPs even when the bloods are taken. Weight problems, fatigue and heart problems common with people with thyroid issues.

[Patsy52 Restart Oct 2024 in reply to Hectorsmum2]

That was the drive for the blood test 7 months ago. I was feeling exhausted and concerned about the weight I have put on. Don’t get me wrong we retired 5 years ago and obviously are not as active. I was a behaviour manager in a college so walked miles each day around campus

But last week when I went for the blood pressure results the associate I saw looked at the previous blood tests and asked if anyone had had a conversation with me about the results I explained that I rang the receptionist and she said “no further action “

He said he would relay all the information to one of the GP”s and made another appointment for the next morning with himself. That’s when he said the recommendation for the blood pressure results was medication and that I DID have high cholesterol and that would also require medication. I was so cross I made an actual appointment with the GP (after some verbal exchange with reception) The GP asked about family history and other questions around symptoms . The next minute he was talking about angina and referring me to the cardiologist. I was reeling!

We are very lucky to have private health care so I have an appointment at the end of the month

I was so overwhelmed how it had all come out that I was just thrown into absolute panic mode. My hubby is furious with the blood results not being looked at properly 7 months ago and with how they were just so matter of fact about it all.

[TeganSara 6kg Restart Oct 2024 in reply to Patsy52]

I'm sorry the receptionist blew you off, that's such a common problem. I have hypothyroidism and chronic anemia so I always ask for my results and I know what to do about them but I always think, those tests were ordered for a reason and "we found nothing significant" is no answer for your symptoms. Always feel free to make a follow up appointment to discuss the results, and if they say the results are neutral, repeat that you still have the symptoms and what further tests are advised? Don't let them fob you off no matter how tired you are.

Also don't forget it was a slow creep over years of weight gain and health issues, it will be equally slow to improve those symptoms. Slow and steady will win the race ☺️

[Patsy52 Restart Oct 2024 in reply to TeganSara]

I will definitely have my eye on them after this little lot.

I have just spoken to the practice manager after my daughter insisted it need looking into who, and why did they say no further action. So we will see what come back.

[Hectorsmum2 Visitor in reply to Patsy52]

It would be worth getting those blood results and posting on thyroid uk for a second opinion. I was told my bloods were normal for over twenty years but i had a more unusual thyroid condition that GPs know little about and a thyroid related genetic condition only discovered by posting on thyroid uk. Iwas illl for most of my adult life but am much better now.