To think I'm overweight (refused access to an NHS funded diet program + pic included)

[user1485442361]

I used to be a svelte size 10. Put on weight after having my Son. My main issue is my stomach. It sticks out. I think this is because I have a small waist so the fat has a smaller area to cover (if that makes sense). In the morning it can look pretty flat but by the evening after I've eaten a meal it does stick out in tight clothes.

Anyway, I don't know what I weigh. But I have always considered myself considerably overweight. At least two stone overweight. I am 5ft7 and should be no more than 11 stone and around 10stone to me a very healthy weight. I suspect I'm about 13 stone. People do often tell me I am fine the way I am but my parents tell me I need to lose two stone.

Anyway, signed up for an NHS funded diet programme. I arrive and they tell me my BMI is not high enough to qualify. You have to be at least two stone overweight. But I am sure I am I said. They didn't even weigh me and said I was too slim to join.

I've just signed up to slimming world but I'm really annoyed. I know I should be flattered but I really wanted to go on the course and do genuinely think I'm overweight by around two stone and should have been allowed participate. I have struggled to lose the baby weight but I know I have to make an effort. AIBU?

Sorry for the poor quality of pics. I'm not in my own home and took them just now. They're not designed to be in any way flattering. I want genuine opinions and I'm ready for them!

MESSAGE FROM MNHQ - IMAGES REMOVED AFTER PRIVACY CONCERNS

I am gonna call it and say I don't believe you've tried 'everything'.

If you tried a VLCD you wouldn't look like that. Not necessarily advocating it by the way.

If you went to the gym properly or followed a HIIT exercise programme you wouldn't look like that. There are plenty of free programmes on the internet that you can follow including lots of recipe ideas.

I looked like you a year ago. I look now like that just slightly thinner because I upped my salad and reduced portion sizes and the amount of crap I eat. No I'm not 'svelte' and nor have I ever been but I know the reason why, it's because I eat things and could do with more exercise.

The NHS cannot be expected to 'help' people who just need to lay off the pastries and milky coffees. It's easy to get into the 'slightly podgy' category just by a bit too much of that. It's easy to lose it by cutting down on those things especially if you've been thin before. Not so easy to lose 6 or 7 stone when your metabolism is screwed and you're morbidly obese with all the psychological stuff that comes along with that... I'd rather funding went to helping those people than someone who could easily find the info themselves and put it into practice.

Op why do you think it's up to the NHS to help you lose weight? Why can't you do this stuff for yourself?

MyHairNeedsASnip that is similar to this but you don't get anything free. Which is fair enough. It's more a group to provide motivation and support.

The criteria is you have to have a bmi of 25 or more. So you certainly don't have to be obese.

Although clearly they didn't consider me to be in that category. They should have let me weigh myself. They don't accept any weigh figure taken at home. It has to be their one.

Flat stomach in the morning and sticking out in evening is just food/bowel related. Not weight. Keep a good diary, cut the bread down eat more veg and take probiotics

Don't give her biscuits, Orangebird69, she's overweight

(lighthearted)

But you suffer no ill health being that much overweight! You want to lose weight for reasons of vanity. Fair enough, I'd love to lose a bit too for the same reasons but why the hell should the NHS pay for it?! I am fit and well and can run half marathons. I would never dream of expecting the NHS to help me look better in a little black dress.

she's either delusional or fishing for compliments.

I thought about joining slimming world and my brother told me about the scheme. My bmi was something like 25.2 so just into the overweight range. I ended up not doing anything about it because I'm a lazy get.

Or just wants to go because it's free

Actually it does affect my health.

In my mind I feel overweight too sometimes.
In reality I'd have to gain a stone before I even got close to the overweight BMI.
Your perception of yourself is not always correct. Just because you think you are overweight does not mean you medically are in the overweight category, and even if you were, that does not entitle you to NHS treatment for it.

I'm not delusional. Several people have agreed I am overweight. I am.

It does entitle me though. I would meet the criteria if overweight. Which I am sure I am. Unless I'm 11 stone or under.

But not medically overweight

You are probably a bit above your ideal weight but the tummy is probably just due to loose muscles and skin after having your son and loosing weight probably won't make a lot of difference.

Dear goodness. OP are you for real? You are by the looks of it a bit overweight. Go get yourself weighed the. Eat less, move more for at least 4 months. Weigh yourself again. If you're bloated after eating cut down on the carbs and you may notice a difference.

YABU , they are not mind readers, you can loose the weight yourself and are joining slimming world, then why do you want the NHS to pay for you to lose weight

Pay for it yourself and stop expecting the NHS to pay for a service you can pay for yourself!

Well if it affects your health that's a great motivator to shift that few pounds then isn't it!

I was bigger than that, last year, at only a stone overweight. I lost it without needing NHS intervention, just like many women before me.

There would be far less doubt and hand wringing if you just weighed yourself.

did I read right that your parents tell you that you are overweight?

Jesus go to Boots and pay a quid to weigh yourself, then maybe try and access counselling for your weird obsession with being overweight while at the same time not knowing what you weigh.

You're a size 12/14 and 5ft 7. Your stomach is a bit pudgy because you've carried a child. I suspect you're maybe 11 stone 7 if that.

I'm sorry if you're upset but Jesus, I can't help feeling that funding is being cut for numerous things and a clearly not obese woman is upset her slimming club isn't funded.

I'm sure if you weighed yourself and found out you are morbidly obese you could successfully make a case to be on the course.

Assuming you aren't significantly overweight - and your pictures don't show an obese person - just do what you are doing. Take responsibility. Go to Slimming World. Exercise. Eat healthily. Why waste finite NHS resources on a lifestyle issue rather than a health need?

You're a grown up. Put your big girl pants on and do it yourself. Slimming World is great. You really don't need to bother the NHS.