Please help me! I need to lose at least 5 stone and I just don’t know where to start…

[Wondering917]

As the title says. Tried slimming world, couldn’t stick to it.

Lost a lot of weight on weight watchers but then put it all back on, plus loads more.

Dip in and out of calorie counting but I am never able to sustain it.

Thought about slimfast but not sure I fancy shakes for 2 meals a day.

I am at a complete loss but I know I need to take some action. Are there any online (free) support groups, even on Facebook or something?

You will get dozens of answers about what worked for different people and completely contradictory advice about what to include, avoid etc. I won't add to that in terms of specific advice but would say this: identify your reasons for over -eating. Mine are boredom and feeling I deserve a treat late at night after a day of single parent full time working. I've addressed that by going for a 16:8 fasting approach. I can eat 11-7 but nothing after 7. In those hours, I eat the sensible, moderate stuff I always did, I just don't add on another 1200 cals by having popcorn or crisis, chocolate and wine in a 90 minute window before bed. Your triggers or habits are probably different so you need to work out what that is first. In terms of support groups, there are lots on the weight loss part of this site, broken down into general chat and specific methods. Good luck

Crisps not crisis ..though sometimes both 🤣🤣

@BibbleandSqwauk thank
you!

Saxenda weight loss medication helped me loads with a low carb high protein diet along side it

Have a look at Noom - it’s psychology based and guides you through identifying why, what and when you overeat and supports long term lifestyle changes.

My advice is identify the issue for you and then choose the plan that works for you.
My sister loves food, not even necessarily bad food but once she starts she can’t stop- so she does intermittent fasting.
I snack a lot and find I need to gym to encourage me to eat better. It’s my incentive, ie. I went to the gym this morning let’s not ruin that hard work.
Any plan will work, you need to find one that works for you.

I can't say what's best for you, but might be worth joining or starting a thread in the weight loss chat section - that way you can chat to others in a similar situation - they can hopefully support you and likewise.

Thank you for the responses

16:8 fasting is the only way I can lose weight.

I have to lose about the same amount of weight and I’m massively struggling. I think the only genuine way that works is changing your lifestyle. Following any diets, plans etc isn’t sustainable long term.
I’m trying to have the mindset that I just need to get healthier, eat more nutritious food and exercise more, then if I can do that losing weight should be a bonus. But it’s really difficult to find the motivation and start.

• I would at first spend money on a nutritionist/dietician. It might be expensive but probably saves you money on WW/SW membership/other diets over many years. And the one I went to I only needed one session, then was basically armed with a plan. It depends how much your diet needs to change and how much support you need.

• I've done lots of diets which I could only keep up short term and they worked short term but I put the weight back on. The only thing that has worked long term is manageable, sustainable change.

• It's much better to do something you can manage in the long term and lose weight slowly.

• Depending on your age, you might need to also get hormone levels checked. This can massively affect what you even want to eat. Sleep, or lack of, does too, hugely. If you sleep badly I'd sort that out first.

• Exercise is great but doesn't have to be going to the gym or HIIT, or any formal sport or exercise unless you enjoy that. Just try and build in some more walking into your day, briskly if you can, to start with. Again, for exercise to be something that forms into a habit, it must be enjoyable and manageable.

• Short term goals can be immensely useful. What can you change this week?

• Meal planning is a really good idea at least until you have a good recipe/go to food store and healthy habits built up.

• Do have treats and a adopt a food abundance not scarcity mentality.

Sorry about the gaps there.

I'm about a quarter of the way through the weight loss that I need to achieve. Slow and steady is the way, small changes and try to get into new, better, habits. Things that are working for me:

• cut out the really awful sticky buns/bread/chocolate that I used to guzzle
• smaller portions of everything, eating slowly and only until I feel full
• walking 10,000 steps most days
• 16-8 fasting (only eat for 8 out of 24 hours a day)

Once the weight starts to come off, fitting into clothes and seeing my measurements drop has been really motivating for me. I'm also terrified of the health issues that have started to creep in for me recently and I really want to get those sorted by losing weight and getting fitter.

I started Noom a week ago and it's working so far

Thank you all…
some good advice!

i need to loose 4 stone by next may for my wedding. Tried the gym cause that’s worked in the past but with two children it’s becoming more difficult. One child is 2 months old so that’s my day job so I only really get time first thing in the morning or at night . I have signed myself up to charity things like , like run so many miles in a month, swim so many miles in a month, walk 10,000 steps a day for two months.

its free , fundraise for charities and you go at your own speed and get fitter and healthier

There are a good few on FB, Slimmingworld, Weight Watchers, calorie counting although none endorsed by them as a company.

It's pretty much moving enough to burn off the foods that we eat, which clearly, unless there's a medical reason for weight not coming off we're not doing.
I use the word we as I count myself in that sentence.

I've also done SW groups and lost a lot of weight, pilled back on, tried WW no success then re joined SW numerous times and haven't lost more than a few pounds.
I start ok, know exactly what foods are the better choices to eat for weight loss and which are not and should be kept to a minimum, because let's be honest no foods should be off limits or you're setting yourself up for failure, then when the scales/my clothes show no movement within a few weeks I give in...

I'd always prefer an in person group meeting mainly for support but since Covid many of our local ones have closed.

I found the Nutracheck calorie counting app, 7 days free rial then you have to pay a yearly subscription.... they have good offers so it was only £23.99 for a yearly membership, but I equally haven't given this 100% of late either.
Which will change as from today...as I'm coming into yet another summer overweight, muchly.

I'm a very visual person and like the fact that NutraCheck is easy to follow, has hundreds of branded/supermarket foods, with pictures on their list and a forum of its own on the app.

I think we all know what the best type of foods are that we should be eating but for whatever reason go for the more calorie dense type.
As said by a PP you need to find the reason that you are over eating...boredom/emotional eating that's me, then try to distract yourself.

I've sorted out my reading books and crochet for the evenings and for daytime blips bought one of those adult colouring books which actually I find quite therapeutic and it really does keep my mind and hands occupied.

I think we have to get our mindset in the right place before we're going to get anywhere.

I'm a decade plus older now than when I did lose a good amount of weight and do wonder if this plays a part and makes it that bit harder....or that could just be my thinking.

@Moro93 its hard isn’t it 😞

You've tried a lot of things already, I would suggest you're just not ready yet and not in the right mindset and I til you are then nothing will 'work.'

Same! I lost 2stone last year, 10lb has crept back on. I cannot stick to SW longer than a few weeks. I might try fasting, as I’m normally happy not to have an evening meal. Might give it a go and gym for a few weeks. We’ll see!!
I also have 5 to lose but would be so happy with 4!!

Don't look at it in terms of needing to lose 5 stone, thenk about the first 7lbs. Break it down into small chunks, so it sounds easier to achieve.

Try Team RH or just calorie counting using an app, I use my fitness pal.

Eat lots of protein it will keep you feeling full for longer. Try and cut out bread, potatoes, and have minimal pasta and rice.

Add in veg, fruit and salad

Definitely break it down into chunks,makes it easier.

I'm on my way to losing 10 stone. But I look at each 7lb as a milestone. I'm only on week 5 so a long way to go. Choose a method and stick to it.

Eating slowly is a really good point. Particularly when I did Fast 800 I used to practically inhale my food as I was starving.

I actually developed a swallowing problem a couple of years back (turns out I have oesophagitis and a hiatus hernia) and had to start to chew my food more and eat slowly to stop it getting painfully stuck in my oesophagus.

Weight loss support on Health Unlocked is great for support. People losing weight in different ways but all cheering each other on.