To think finding the time to lose weight is IMPOSSIBLE?!

Honestly OP ignore the one that say where there is a will there is a way. It's BS. You don't need to exercise. The impact would be minimal.

A few people suggested intermittent fasting and I think it's brilliant to save calories. See if it suits you. Delay your first meal of the day as long as possible (or do it 1hr at a time to get comfortable) and it may reduce overall appetite and food cravings. It's brilliant. I somehow also find it relatively easy to not eat after a certain time in the evening because I know the window has closed and that's how it is.

If I eat very little no sugar no sweets no chocolate no desserts no restaurant meals I will lose weight.
This. I have changed to skimmed milk no sugar. Cut out biscuits, chocolate and snacks and I have lost 13lb in 2 months. No exercise.

I think you need to give yourself a break. You’ve got a LOT going on and are already juggling more than the average person. Whatever you choose to do, go easy on yourself. You’re doing great already.

Sounds like you've got a lot on your plate, it's not easy at all.

Another vote for intermittent fasting. It's cheap and you don't have to find time for anything. It should help you get your energy levels stable so small exercise/healthy eating starts to be a bit more manageable.

It can be hard at first but it works if you can get over that initial barrier.

Most of the posts are saying to just eat less, completely ignoring the fact the OP is specifically on medication that causes weight gain. Anti psychotics and other types of severe mental health meds come with very serious side effects that aren't always easily fixed. "Move more and eat less" doesn't work when medication messes with your physiology !!!!! Its also not easy to just stop them. So many people that are either ignorant or cant read properly.

OP you have had a very though time and are still dealing with a lot it sounds. So be kind to yourself. Aiming for a better weight is a good plan but probable done best in small steps by making small changes.

I would suggest getting a stress free evening routine would be a good plan. It sounds like your mother takes your toddler from nursery to your house? Maybe she can have your child fed and possibly even bathed by the time you get home? Just have some meals ready for your mother to heat up. Then you only have to focus on getting them to bed on time and your own healthy meal.

My DS sounds about the same age as yours and has always been a bad sleeper. I too end up in their bed every night. Make sure the bed is comfortable for YOU.

Reduce one bad habit. For exams give yourself one fizzy dink per day allowance at work. Once you feel this is your new normal try and reduce it a bit more like no fizzy drinks at home for example.

4 posts in, and someone suggests weight loss injections. 🙄

Don't start these @Fat40Unhappy FGS. I lost 2 stone several years ago (and kept it off) with the 5:2 diet. Very effective and the easiest diet I have found to stick to.

I'm all for exercise, exercise is great and being fit is something we should all aim for.
However, like others have said, losing weight with exercise is close to impossible. I didn't lose a pound when I was half marathon training and running hours every week. It's the food intake you need to address.
And if you say you're already eating well (except for fizzy drinks) then it's the portion sizes. I had a very healthy whole food homecooked diet - just too much of it. Bonus - no extra time needed.

Very doable.
You can focus on the food aspect more so the size of the portion and make sure you ar ein a calorie deficit. And walking 2 or 3 times a week 40mins each time will do amazing things with a good clean diet ina calorie deficiet.

I started to take it seriously last year and have lost 20kg! I eat healthy clean food no junk or frozen or anything. I meal prep for all the family on Sundays for the next 10days. But that wasn't enough I then started using my toddlers plate for my dinner. And it worked.

When it comes to diet, go with simple foods, it will be something you can actually do and may even make life easier.

Make up a big Tupperware of salad keep it topped up and in the fridge ready to go. I just chuck anything in but my favourite combination is: yellow bell pepper, sliced pickled beetroot, jalepenos, cherry tomatoes and little gem lettuce. I chop it all up quite small so it’s like a salsa and then add some frozen sweetcorn. That goes on the side of most of my meals at the minute.

When the weather is cold I do tenderstem broccoli, sugarsnap peas, baby corn, green beans and then just microwave a serving for 3 minutes and have it as a warm salad with a bit of butter, some cooked chicken or boiled egg or have it as a side with my main meal.

For main meals I just have whatever protein I’m making for the family and switch out the carb for my salad mix or some other kind of green veg or mushroom.

So if they’re having lasagna or bolognaise I hold back some of the meat in red sauce, put it on a big portobello mushroom and roast it alongside the lasagna.

If they’re having chicken and wedges. I’ll have chicken and roasted broccoli and cauliflower all cooked in the oven at the same time,

If they’re having tacos, I use little gem lettuce leaves instead of taco shells.

Meat and 2 veg type meals are generally quick and easy to prep, then just stick it in the oven and wait 20-30 minutes.

I also like doing slow cooker meals which I batch cook so I have 4 lunches cooked and ready to eat. 500g mince/beef chunks/chicken breast/boneless chicken thighs/pork shoulder steaks. A bag of prepped sliced onion, a bag of prepped sliced mushroom, frozen sliced peppers, a tin of tomatoes and whatever seasoning you like gives you 4 hearty portions and eat serving is about 250 - 300 calories depending on what meat you use.

I am always late to these threads where insane comments are made and quickly deleted. What was said?

YABU
You don't need time off work to lose weight. In fact, work is probably the easiest place to do it because you don't have a constant access of food.

If I eat very little no sugar no sweets no chocolate no desserts no restaurant meals I will lose weight. If I do the opposite, I maintain my weight or gain weight.

It's got nothing to do with not having time.What do you think extra time would do.

OP I'm on similar meds for MH and discussed with the GP and started mounjaro which has helped.

I had to pay for it though. There are charities for MH campaigning for patients on the meds to get the jabs

A lot of people have, quite rightly, said that diet is more effective than exercise when it comes to losing weight.

HOWEVER, for som me to be able to tackle either their mental health needs to be in a decent place. So I’d have that as my primary focus before anything else - otherwise you won’t have solid foundations for the rest.

Weight loss is all about diet and it’s hard. Meal prep for the week at a time.

Use an online calculator and find out your TDEE, subtract 300-500 cals and use ChatGPT to help you meal plan based on what you like, protein heavy or what you have in the fridge etc.

You can ask it to do 3 quick meals and snacks or 2 cooked meals and a packed lunch, then snacks. It can also give you a shopping list which you can do an online shop from. Will help you avoid the trap of not knowing what to do in the supermarket.

You could also ask it to be toddler friendly, such as no spice or veg heavy. I’ve never done this but I have asked it to meal plan for simple recipes as DD1 is a fuss pot.

Do come join the weight loss boards ❤

I totally get you, but agree with others that it's about calories in, and exercise can help you have a couple of hundred calories more each day, but isn't essential. It's more about portion control and willpower - unless you can afford WLIs which would make life much easier.

My fitness pal is great for tracking calories. Try to eat healthy and cut out potatoes/rice/bread as much as you can. I've been dieting for 18 months and don't think I'm ever going to be able to stop! I'm hungry all the time, its really not easy. I've recently started skipping breakfast which I'm still trying to get used to, and my hunger in a morning isn't any worse than normal. It's not easy and you';ve been through a tough time, I feel for you. But if you are unhappy with your weight you can change it - I am a slim person now even though I want to lose more, but I feel so much better for it.

I don’t think time is the problem here.

Have you considered weight loss injections?

Weight loss is all about what you eat. Exercise accounts for such a small amount of it. Start by downloading a calorie counting app such as MyFitnessPal. Set it to lose 1lb a week. Track everything you eat and drink. Losing fat is about a calorie deficit, so calorie count accurately and you’ll be well on your way!!!!

I can only imagine how sad your life is that you’re reduced to making such comments.

You don't need to exercise to lose weight.
There are lots of reasons that losing weight is hard, but lack of time isn't one of them.

@Themomentsheknewshefkedup
If you want to find time you will

I hate this so much. No, this is not always possible. At the worst with my son, between his needs, appointments etc and trying to keep my job I was on the go for something like 15-16 hours a day, 8am until 11/midnight and then woken by him every two hours in the night. Eating was whatever was easiest and exercise was out of the question, what was I supposed to do at midnight?

I've lost 3.5 stone with Slimming World since about last November. It's about what you eat. I'd highly recommend it.