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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think help with losing weight should be based on clinical need not on eligibility for free prescriptions

135 replies

finlandstation84 · 28/09/2015 19:38

So My bmi is 38. I have recently bern diagnosed with a condition ehich is likely to need surgery. My gp has advised me thst they may not be happy with my weight. Well neither am I. So I asked for some support with losing weight. I was expecting to be offered regular weigh in with a HCA. Instead I was told by the receptionist that they now do a Slimming World Referral. Even better I thought until I discovered thst I do not qualify as I am not in receipt of free prescriptions. Now I get it is fair to offer to those less abke to psy but it is slso provided for people eith a medical exemption. well both my dh and I have long term conditions which require us to pay for prescriptions. If we had different conitions they would be free and I would be entitled to support losing weight.
Now I do already have a gym membership and I am trying to diet but could really use some extra help. I am an emotional eater and reslly need regiment of a weigh in to help.
Aibu to be upset no support is available when there is a clesr clinical need.

OP posts:
nancy75 · 28/09/2015 21:51

In my experience people just above the line to qualify for stuff can't afford gym membership. OP £5 per week is what 2 small coffees? Is there nothing you could cut to find the £5?

viciousknid · 28/09/2015 21:52

yes the nhs has money to pay your fiver a week slimming club fee because you don't want to. Confused Are you serious?

ToGrapefruit · 28/09/2015 21:55

Do you like going to the gym OP?

I only ask because I joined a gym once and really didn't use it enough to make the membership worth the money, because of time constraints and the fact that I wasn't that bothered about gym style exercising. So is the gym membership worth keeping, or would you maybe get more out of walking every day briskly, leading to jogging every other day perhaps, for an hour?

It's much better for me, and free!

Thelushinthepub · 28/09/2015 21:56

SW doesn't usually work, and I don't think the NHS should be paying a corporation to peddle their wares at patients curtosy of the taxpayer

ToGrapefruit · 28/09/2015 21:59

So sorry OP, x posted with you, just seen you need crèche at gym. Sorry.

futureme · 28/09/2015 22:00

Will the dr refer you for counselling? Honestly I think with overeating its more helpful than yet another diet.

A website I'm finding helpful with emotional eating is "beyond chocolate" but their first premise is ditching diets which may not be possible for you at the moment.

I think with obesity its beyond just a bit "more" self countrol, its a mental health issue in my mind.

letmehaveyoursoul · 28/09/2015 22:00

I don't think SW should be subsidised by the NHS at all. Also, long term it's not a sustainable plan to follow, let's be honest.

endoflevelbaddy · 28/09/2015 22:02

If you really can't / don't want to pay get one of the free membership promotions out of women's weekly or whatever, go and get all the books and info then follow it yourself but rope in a friend / partner to do your weigh on so you still have that motivation.
You could always get one of the discounted 6 / 12 week packages to get you started properly.

PurpleDaisies · 28/09/2015 22:05

If weight loss is your goal you're better off changing your diet than going to the gym. I'm a big fan of exercise and working out has loads of good points but if you want to shift the pounds you need to control what you're eating.

Could you join sw for a few weeks to see how to do it then rejoin the gym? My aunt lost ten stone on it eating proper food, and has managed to keep it off five years on.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 28/09/2015 22:11

I haven't read all your thread.

If you're using your gym,I wouldn't cancel it.
Slimming world is a boring rip off imho... You can weigh in at your gym, and ask their fitness staff for health advice. They are more likely to be qualified too... Rather than pushing SW products!

Original poster
finlandstation84 · 28/09/2015 22:14

Actually no I don't necessarily want slimming world. Ijust want some support. At the moment I have a condition which could become serious so I am desperate for surgery. I fear they will refuse to operate due to my BMI. I have been careful for the last few weeks and have lost 2 pounds maybe but I fear this rate will not be acceptable.
So I guess I need to look at budgets etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
finlandstation84 · 28/09/2015 22:17

O great advice iam. Never thought of that. Although I do swim now more than the gym due to my condition.

OP posts:
Original poster
finlandstation84 · 28/09/2015 22:17

Thank you.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 28/09/2015 22:18

Does it have to be rL support? The weight loss chat section on here is actually really good for camaraderie in sticking to whatever weight loss plan you decide to follow.

Original poster
finlandstation84 · 28/09/2015 22:19

O I don't drink coffee and my gym is in lieu 8f preschool but problem solved. Just ask gym staff

OP posts:
PrimalLass · 28/09/2015 22:21

In the short yet you would be better off with SW than s gym membership.

PrimalLass · 28/09/2015 22:21

Short term!

Justbatteringon · 28/09/2015 22:31

Do you work finland? My friend started a weigh in at her work everyone pays a pound and whoever loses the most by Christmas gets the cash. I thought it was a great idea.

Original poster
finlandstation84 · 28/09/2015 22:35

I usually go 3 times per wee but more often swim or aqua but sometimes gym. When I joined a year ago I lost maybe a stone but since than my weight has stabilised. I think the exercise increased my appetite. I have found that in the past my best weight loss was always through diet and exercise. Such a shame Rosemary Conley closed down.
will look at mumsnet forums too thanks.

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 28/09/2015 22:38

Does it really have to be an either or thing? If the gym is important to you...is there nowhere else you could save £5 a week from?

I've lost 8 stones with slimming world, honestly the fee is worth it - it's not something that costs loads to buy food for, or is unsustainable over a long period of time.

YellowBucket · 28/09/2015 22:41

Am glad someone suggested the gym staff. I was about to suggest the same. Ours did something very similar for a friend along with compiling a weight loss fitness programme. She'd actually failed on WW and SW but this worked for her. Good Luck!

Original poster
finlandstation84 · 28/09/2015 22:42

I lost about 2 stone on the surgery run thing and may well have keep it off if I kept it up. However, I lost my mum months after losing my brother so things went wrong for a while.

OP posts:
lljkk · 28/09/2015 22:43

Overeaters Anonymous is very cheap, only a £1 per meeting or so. Don't usually have childcare, admittedly.

pinkdelight · 28/09/2015 23:03

It does all sound a bit like the magic 'if'. If you got the help you cant get then you'd lose the weight you can't lose any other way. Sorry but your reasoning/excuses don't even stack up. You have to use the gym rather than free forms of exercise cos you need the crèche for childcare, so who would provide childcare while you were at SW? And why couldn't they provide it while you did free exercise? But then exercise makes your appetite greater anyway you say. I dunno... There's really a lot of can't do, and if you change that, it's the first step to making some real lasting change. No one can do it for you.

Original poster
finlandstation84 · 28/09/2015 23:07

Because the creche is being used as a form of preschool equivalent. Would do sw meeting in the evening and I may actually buy a block. This thread was just a kneejerk reaction. If it was surgery based weight mgmt would bring dd with me.

OP posts: