To think losing weight is a battle I just can't win

[starshaker]

I am trying so hard and it's not working. If anything I'm putting weight on. I go to the gym 3 times a week and follow a meal plan. On the days I don't go to the gym I do exercise at home and will walk at least 4 miles a day with my dogs.

I have pcos and am on anti depressants. I feel like I can't win against them

OK i have no joined WW. Its 12 a month for online only so I will just juggle some stuff and try and make it work. Finger crossed it works. Im already finding it confusing

That sounds really useful info for star Janice. I think for most people, cutting out fat and sugar is virtually impossible to sustain because we are hard wired to get some pleasure from food and fat and sugar basically fulfill that need - we can drop one long term but both becomes too much of a hardship (that what all the evidence seems to show anyway). I guess the uncomfortable and unpleasant consequences for your mum outweighed the pleasure aspect!

On low carb/cutting out fat we need good fat in our diet (hence essential fatty acids) for long term health, does anyone know how is this addressed for people with gall bladder issues? I agree with Epona, there is no need to eat high fat on a low carb diet but we do need a certain amount of good fat. I'm not sure on the science of LCHF and ketosis (BIWI where are you ), whether the high fat is necessary or just makes the low carb aspect easy to adhere to?

Start your day with a protein shake, poached egg and perhaps some oatmeal as I wouldn't want you to completely cut carbs.

Lunch can be chicken, fish or other protein like tofu and heaped salad.

Dinner chicken, fish or other protein and heaped veg.

Snack on yoghurt low fat and controlled portion of nuts.

Toast and similar carbs do nothing for you.

Look in to supplementation I really recommend protein shakes as you need to build lean muscle to burn calories your I'll also tone up.

I love HIT because that type of exercise makes you build lean muscle so that your burn calories even after the gym at home. I only do 30 minute sessions and I'm so tired at home every morning I would wake up feeling lighter.

I went from 87kg to 70kg doing this over 6-8 months it does take time especially with other health problems but that doesn't mean it is not possible.

I really really recommend focusing on building lean muscle it's so important to lose weight. Spending hours on the treadmill or cross trainer does nothing for you trust me I've been there. When I concentrated on building lean muscle I not only lost weight but the muscle tone I have now is amazing it also means that if your win a bit of weight say through pregnancy it is easier to lose it.

Oh yes try to eat lots of good fats and minimise sugar which is so hard but doable. The key is natural raw ingredients everything down to basics you may even find you have separate meals from rest of the family but yo have to do what works

RedMapleleaf Muttonwasagoose said that. I was just trying to explain what she meant. :)

star I think you need to listen to your GP. Get your meds straight first and then work on diets. Trying to figure out what AD's you need in what doses is going to throw your body for a loop as is, don't over tax it with trying to loose weight at the same time.

And STICK TO THE GYM!!!! It may not "aid in weight loss" (which I don't entirely believe), but its good for you in so many other ways. :)

Pie isn't healthy, pastry isn't good.

I would try Slimming World, ask your GP for a referral, if no its £4.95 per week.

I find it very hard so you have my sympathies. You have other things going on that make it even harder.

After many years of failing I've found what works for me. Which is not to count calories but just think about what I could eat for the rest of my life that wasn't too restrictive but is relatively healthy. I cook low fat, lean. Try and snack on fruit/yoghurt but I do still eat the odd bag of crisps or bar of chocolate. I drink alcohol - but less of it.

The thought of eating a pizza or something now is revolting. Anything with batter or breadcrumbs I just don't want. Much prefer a nice piece of fish or a chicken breast or vegetarian dinner. I find if I have two eggs for breakfast it keeps me going until lunchtime when I'll have salad or soup, usually with some carbs.

For me it's just been a case of taking a step back, stop fretting, just make better choices going forward. I probably eat about 1500 calories a day. I've lost maybe 15 lb since last Christmas. It might take me three years to lose three stone but it's better than gaining and I don't feel it's restrictive or hard. Also I've got into a computer game, wordament, so when I'm sitting there in the evenings bored, i'm not thinking about snacking. It keeps my mind busy.

I hope you find something that works for you. Don't lose heart - there will be a way.

Having rtft it seems that the OP has various health issues which mean that few, if any, of us are in a position to offer advice.
OP - it must be so frustrating wanting to do something about it, thinking you are doing what you are supposed to be doing & not seeing any results. Can the GP refer you to a dietician who knows all of your medical history & who can come up with a bespoke plan? It sounds as though the person at the gym may not be knowledgeable enough.
In the meantime, it sounds as though you are enjoying exercising and it is obviously good for you so stick to that.
FWIW, I have PCOS and weight loss is such a battle. When I am being super good with both food & exercise, I lose a pound a fortnight. Yes, that could be almost two stone a year but life gets in the way sometimes.

WIFI I have now joined WW. I can't afford £20 a week and in Scotland a referral isn't an option.

This is the pie i had www.hairybikers.com/recipes/view/chicken-and-ham-tangle-pie#wJXgmE42bgFJJOpB.97/here

here

eponaswilddaughter try zig zagging the 1000 calories, ie, do that every second day, eat more (1400??-/+) on your normal days. I've been finding that strict restriction every second day works much better than moderate restriction every day.

Well done for giving up smoking!

I'm wondering if you have given it long enough. As someone upthread said, you will probably be adding muscle and it is possible you are losing weight slowly. I have a weird body that loses weight in one big chunk - my weight gets stuck then overnight drops 5lbs. Happens with putting it on too.

Good for you joining WW. The trick is to save meals that you eat often so you just have to pop them in. And make sure you log your exercise so you get extra points! It really made me realize how large my portion sizes were. :)

However you look at it, a filo pastry pie isn't the sort of thing you should be eating when you want to lose weight. It may say 429 per portion, but if you inadvertently serve yourself more than one fifth of that pie (since it serves five) you may as well have had a Pukka Pie for all the calories you're consuming.

Ditto toast, even if it's without butter. I can think of a dozen breakfasts I'd rather have than a couple of slices of dry toast.

Look, I'm not judging. It sucks that we can't all eat the nice food we want to eat when we're dieting (or ever, if you don't want to gain weight again). But I think you're being too defeatist and unwilling to really change your eating habits right now.

Who said I'm unwilling to change my diet? I have joined WW and that pie fed 6 of us with some left over so no i didn't have too big a portion.

Im sure you can think of dozens of breakfasts you would rather have as can I but I can't eat them. I love porridge but can't eat it, I love cereal but again I can't eat it. I have found toast and eggs work for me and don't make me feel ill. I have already said I will be trying it without the toast and will just have spinach and eggs.

Don't just have spinach and eggs - low carbing is not for everyone, i would pass out if i low carbed - it's not sustainable.

Weightwatchers or MFP will help you figure out the right amount of calories for your body - a combination of weightwatchers and Gillian Riley's CBT techniques worked for me, i lost 5.5 stone and have kept it off for years so it is possible - atb.

It's small steps at a time and really difficult to completely change what you eat.

In fact portion size is a great way to start and the fact that you served 6 people with some left over is great.

If cutting the toast is hard why don't you try wholemeal bread and the smaller sizes that you can get that have less calories.

It is better to reduce carbs as I have done but at the end of the day if you take in less than you burn you'll still lose weight so consider cutting portion sizes on the things you like to eat!

Op cant wade through the thread, are you on METFORMIN

It will help you to loose weight.

I also have PCOS it takes at least three months of hard graft before, the body starts to get the idea nad loose weight.

remember its much harder for us and our bodies cant process carbs like other normal bodies.

good luck, dont give in.

star what about rye bread, or bascally any low GI foods. some marks bread - full of seeds is good.

My previous post I this thread appears to have been ignored.

A lot of the advice on here is obviously well-meaning and based on personal experience. However, the OP has multiple health issues. It's actually pretty irresponsible to be dishing out advice to cut this out, eat that, do this, do the other when no one posting is a doctor or expert on diet and weight loss.

I repeat: OP please talk to your GP about this.

OP - cancel the WW subscription. If your GP believes you can benefit from WW or SW you can be referred on the NHS. You've already said money is tight.

wowfudge the OP has already explained about a referral.

The best thing for weightloss and building lean mass whilst having PCOS but also using the gym is a Paleo diet. Very similar to atkins (but healthier) and does work.

They are suggestions

I actually am a doctor (ophth) but that doesn't mean I am expert of dietary advice nor do I have much experience in PCOS or the medical problems OP has
A variety of people post on mumsnet but I would never give medical advice on the Internet to be honest except in the field I have knowledge in

Star My DSD is losing weight but due to a complex gastrointestinal disorder, has a very limited diet. All the things they recommend; porridge oats, fish and veggies etc would make her vomit and very ill. She started making a list of things she can eat. She also has PCOS, by the way, and her weight loss has been very, very slow. I think it's very early days for you. Hang in there. :)