To expect some help from my GP in losing weight?

[Chubbychubchub]

I am a fatty. Properly overweight. About 8 stone over normal weight range (about 19st, I should be 11st at most according to BMI).

Last year I had some health issues. My GP said I'd benefit from losing weight. Just eat less and move more were her words.

I have tried. However I struggle to control what I eat, and have zero willpower.

I did go to a well known slimming group previously. It made me ill, though I did get down to 13st. But it wasn't sustainable.

I asked my GP for help. I was told 'all they could do was refer me to the nurse, but she would tell me the same. That was all they could do and there was no other help available.

I have heard of people locally being referred to a dietician, or sent to slimming group for free etc. Aibu to expect something similar, or certainly some kind of help beyond trite advice?

Hi OP (((HUG))) This thread makes for some sorry reading. Nonetheless there has been some great suggestions too. You do appear to have internalised a lot of hurt due to being abused. Do the kindest thing for yourself and lay the blame & shame at the feet at those who’ve hurt you.

OP you ARE a worthwhile person who has been through the mill relationship wise. Let yourself heal (be it with a practitioner or by self reflection). Concentrate on increasing your self worth and self esteem and that will assist in your quest to eat more healthier and become slimmer. Baby steps. One step at a time you will do it!

(I won’t refer to you by your user name as it’s another aspect of you internalising your self loathing). Change your user name to GorgeousnessInTheMaking

Oh yes bluepears, just what this thread needed, a dose of biting political satire

Op you will feel hungry when you start reducing your portions. It's normal as your body and brain is used to a certain amount of food. Have some nuts for snacks rather than biscuits and a lot of water. Losing that much weight takes time and it's not about 5.2 or 18.2 or whatever latest fad there is. It's about eating a bit of everything but less of it. Start slowly. Also you do not need bread if you are eating pasta. As for exercised you can do a few push up or press up in the evening, and arm curls using water bottles. You do not need to go out or spend money.

@Chubbychubchub
But I'm never going to lose weight by going for a couple of extra walks. Running 15 miles a week toned me. I didn't lose any weight from it. I need to control my diet.
Quite. I have no idea why people assume it's easy to lose weight through exercise. You would have to run much more than 15 miles a week to lose weight and even then it's all to easy to eat more to compensate. As you've said, once you've lost a bit of weight then you will naturally find it easier to exercise. But exercise for your health and fitness, not for weight loss.

I could try 16:8
If you can fit it around your lifestyle then it's certainly worth a go. Most people find the first couple of days are a bit tough and then it suddenly gets much easier. Once 16:8 is working for you then you can even narrow your eating window further. The warrior diet has a four-hour eating window. Some people even do OMAD which is one meal a day. Or you can stick to 16:8 and have a longer 24 or 36-hour fast every week or two. There are lots of options, here's a beginner's guide and Jason Fung is the big name associated with intermittent fasting. Once caution would be that if you're only eating two meals a day then you do need to make sure that your micronutrient needs are met so you would need to have sufficient fruit and vegetables, not rely on carby foods that don't contain much vitamins and minerals. As I said before, please do feel free to PM me if you want to chat about which approaches might be best for you.

You said you mainly drink diet Coke, I suggest you try to cut that out if possible as it affects your brain's ability to detect sweetness (meaning you need more sugar to get the same effect), it increases your hunger levels, and it disrupts your gut bacteria (which can make you absorb more calories from your food). I put a fruit teabag (Sour Cherry or Raspberry Lemonade) into a two-litre bottle of fizzy water and drink that instead. It has a flavour if you don't like plain water, but no artificial sweeteners.

Your description of comfort eating seeming like a form of self-harm suggests that binge eating could be a problem for you. The book Brain Over Binge might be worth a read.

You have had lots of great advice on your thread. Maybe you could make time to go through it and note down the suggestions that you think will work for you, and ones to explore in more detail. I also recommend that you head over to the weight loss topics and get some support in there without all the nasty comments this time.

Sorry I have to disagree 're running/walking. Toning up is definitely better for you. You might not see a change in the numbers on the scales but your body fat percentage will be going down, which is more important.

Move more, it stimulates fat burn.

So smugness is best curbed, especially when you've only ever experienced one of those states of being

I'm not smug. I was trying to help. If I eat too much I put on weight, so I don't ever let myself put on more than about 7lb. Can't afford a new wardrobe of clothes for a start!

Sorry you are not feeling so great and that you are getting a bit of a hard time on here.

I think I can understand how you feel. My weight has been up and down over the past 10 years. I was up until 5 weeks ago, 2 stone overweight. That is loads for me. With just 2 stone I find it difficult to exercise and run and don't feel good about myself. You want to do something about it, but your mood is low and you don't feel confident jumping up and down.

I joined Weightwatchers online 5 weeks ago and so far have lost 10 lbs in 5 weeks. It basically just dropped off with little effort. I have never done SW. My inlaws do it but it sounds a massive faff. You get a number of points for each day and you spend them on food. I actually eat more now than I did before my diet. Some food is free, no points. For example, I just had a dessert of yoghurt and fruit. It doesn't count. I've drunk wine and ate chocolate. All it does is make you re-evaluate food and what you are eating and find some replacements. For example, I used to eat loads of Hagen Daars. Now I eat Belgium Chocolate frozen yoghurt which is a fraction of the calories and just as nice! You can save points, then splurge them on whatever you want.

When you first look at losing weight it seems like a mammoth task and you cannot see an end goal. It just looks to much of a thing to beat. I get it. I am only able to lose weight when I am really motivated or I get a massive kick up the arse. Once you see a kilo come off, it motivates you to carry on. I take it 1kg at a time. I give myself a 3 month goal, then another and I don't look at eh big picture. Another way to do it is to tell yourself, if I lose 1kg this week then I am treating myself to a manicure etc. Learning to love yourself takes a while and can't be done overnight.

Looks like your looking for some sort of surgical help.

A close member of my family had a gastric bypass and I tell you it’s not nice or easy.

She had it due to severe health needs and brain injury.

If you can try and loose weight via food and exercise it will help you both physically and mentally

Doctors help alcoholics, drug addicts and smokers. They should also help people who need to lose weight.
I bet plenty of the judgemental people on here love a booze up and probably some smoke or are recreational drugs users. But people are often catty about people who cannot control their weight - not quite as 'glamorous' as being a lush or a druggie.
Yes, any help from the NHS costs money, but it will save much more money in the long term.
The weight loss chat group recommended on here sounds worth a go.
Good luck!

We all know basic stuff about food. But a lot of us need some support. Weight is a very real health problem but there is little help in the NHS. I was told the nurses are not dieticians. Slimming groups are great if you keep losing weight but if you eat compulsively they don't know what to do. Loosely this is a mental health issue but help here has all but disappeared unless you are a danger to the public
I have had trouble with my weight all my life. When I am on top form it's easy but when I am low it's impossible.

Not an answer but I'm on your side

Wow, lots of unhelpful people adding their two cents here. First of all, yoyo dieting is worse for your health than being obese. Secondly, the vast majority of people who lose significant amounts of weight put it back on, so if you lose a lot of weight you are probably going to yoyo. This is not because you don't have willpower. It is because your body is fighting to return to the weight it thinks you should be, no matter how deeply you disagree with your body about the right weight for you. Medical science has yet to find a way to convince a person's body that it wants to be thinner, so you are fighting yourself every step of the way, and the further you go on that journey the harder your body will push back. A lot of people think you can diet to lose weight and then "eat sensibly" and maintain your new weight, but it just doesn't work that way. Most of the fat people I know are perpetually on a diet and eat much more consciously and conscientiously than thin people. That's not to say that eating sensibly isn't a good idea, but you should eat sensibly for good nutrition, not to lose weight. And you should exercise for the health and mental benefits, not to lose weight. The only proven method for keeping a large amount of weight off, if you really have a severe weight problem, is bariatric surgery, which I'm surprised your doctor hasn't discussed with you. It doesn't always work, but it does for some people. It's not the solution for everyone (I wouldn't do it, personally) but if you truly feel your health is poor and it's worth the risk then it's worth specifically making an appointment with your GP to ask for a referral to consult about it. Good luck to you, whatever you decide to do, and don't beat yourself up about your weight. Being fat is not a character flaw and you have done nothing wrong.

Take a look at RH Fitness on Facebook - they are all about no nonsense dieting and escaping the dreaded yo-yoing. £3.50 a month and you need a fitbit (or equivalent) with a heart rate monitor (so that you know your daily calorie burn) and My Fitness Pal on your phone to track your food. You do need to work up your daily steps to quite high but then your calorie burn is higher so you can eat more and maintain it over time. Really sound advice and no gimicks. Good luck! There is no easy way, if there was there wouldn't be any fat people. You don't need medical help, you need yourself to correct what you've done wrong over thw years and to change your life for the long term.

OP - you sound like an intelligent person. You know what you need to do to lose weight. Use more calories than you consume. It’s that simple. However your issue is your willpower which you admit. As others have said your GP can’t help you with that, but perhaps a counsellor can. They will help you understand your relationship with food and why you overeat. You could ask your GP to refer you to a counsellor, you may be waiting a while. If you can afford to see one privately it’s definitely worth considering. Joining a slimming club or other group of women who have the same goal and shared experience may help. The point is this is with YOU to change, no one else. You know this tho. Good luck!

Get a Fitbit and walk 10,000 steps a day.
Buy a calorie book and learn how many calories every food you eat has.
Start substituting high cal options with lower.
Have a weekly meal plan and stick to it.
Weigh your food.
Weigh yourself every day, then week.
Use smaller plates.
Throw every temptation (chox, cakes, biscuits etc.) away.
Have salad treats and low cal options in your fridge.
Have a couple of 'soup' nights and don't add lots of bread. Have one small roll.
Two Weetabix, skimmed milk and sweetener with an apple for lunch is a good kick start for a diet. Then salmon or chicken with a small salad when you have lost a couple of stone.
Start now.
And it isn't a diet, it's forever.
Good luck.

I use MyFitnessPal and a Fitbit to count steps. I find I often lack willpower too, but find it useful to make a 4 week chart and then tick off the targets i’ve reached that day (currently amount of sleep, amount of water and calorie limit). It’s useful to have an end in sight, and I find this can be enough to get me up and running into new habits. To start, why not try to say that each day you’re going to go for a 10min walk? Doesn’t have to be fast, and it’s just about starting small towards healthier habits. Have you tried finding a local dieting group on FaceBook? Good luck!!

Fecking hell BOOP How do they physically cram so many calories into a chicken sandwich?!

There is a "sea change" in dietary advice that may be of interest to you

Nutritionists are now suggesting Low Carb High Fat ( LCHF ) diets

That means: cut out virtually all carbs, like bread and anything with lots of flour and sugar. Reason: carbs turn into sugar which creates body fat and also makes you hungry, and then you eat more carbs

High Fat means eating moderate amounts of natural fats, like butter, olive oil and oily fish like salmon. If you eat the right amount of fats and protein you will feel full sooner and eat less

It may seem counter-intuitive - but it works !

You can learn more about this online at: www.diabetes.co.uk
Take some time to read their Recipes and Case Histories - mind-blowing

If you are Diabetic and follow their advice you will need less and less Insulin - some people have completely ended Type-2 Diabetes within 12 months with LCHF diets

If you eat the right amounts of protein, like eggs, fish and meat you will not feel hungry

I often make myself just a 2-egg omelette for breakfast and then don't feel the need to eat anything for lunch. No cereals or toast ! Lots of tea all day, but no sugar !

Sometimes I eat a protein bar from a health food store for a mid-day snack

Then for supper I have a piece of fresh salmon with lemon juice, salt and pepper, which I microwave for 1 minute per piece. I add broccoli, tomatoes and beetroot as vegetables and then have fruit for dessert

Doctors don't understand Nutrition, so you may want to take other professional advice. To find a Nutritionist, search online for: BANT I would contact 10 of them and find one near you that suits you

Hope that this helps
.

It’s all about mindset, you need to reframe you attitude to loosing weight rather than perhaps feeling you are loosing out you need to look at what you will gain. More energy to do stuff with your family. Longer life expectancy. Reduced chance of type 2 diabetes. You need to work out what motivates you. Slimming world is great do try it I like to eat so it suits me because I can cook for the family they just don’t realise they are also on the diet. You should pay for it yourself because if you are committing to it financially you have a vested interest in the outcome. Are you motivated by the carrot or the stick.
If you are motivated by the carrot make a chart and say once I have lost my first stone I will treat myself to a massage or whatever is your thing.
If it’s the stick make a deal with someone who will hold you accountable. Set realistic goals for instance in the first month I will loose 6lbs or I will be made to eat dog food or something equally hideous.
For exercise set yourself a goal like signing up for fun run with a friend. Also leave reminders in the places where you are likely to fail such as inside the biscuit tin saying when I loose xx amount of W eight I will feel fantastic. Sadly there is no replacement pill for willpower but if you find one you could be very rich.

You GP, local diet group or dietitian will all give you the same advice. Eat less, move more, calorie controlled, low-fat etc etc. Problem is it doesn’t work. It’s the advice that’s been given for the last 30 years and yet the population is getting fatter and diabetes etc is on the rise.

This is far more effective and stops the insulin response and hunger pangs.

www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb

You seem to know what to you need to do not sure why you want the GP to do something.
At the end of the day, it’s about diet and exercise so you need to exercise more and eat less.
one option could be to cut something out that you enjoy slowly rather than abruptly so that you don’t feel like you a missing out. For example if you enjoy a couple of biscuits after an evening meal, may be swtch to one, cut down sugar in brews if you have it.
If you make one change to your diet one week and then do one a different week it may help. Make switches and try and resist.
Stating that you have no will power and using it as an excuse is not a good start.
It’s not going to happen overnight and therefore you will need to keep plugging away at it.

Just to add, my husband had type 2 diabetes. I never thought he would do it BUT he started the Low carb high fat diet. He has lost about 30kilos, no longer takes metformin and has been told that the diabetes is in remission. He knows that he has to do this diet for life , but really what other choice does he have? I thought he had no willpower, but he clearly has. If he can do it, so can you!

I'm not overweight, but reading this thread upset even me. Seems some people have a real trouble with empathy.

Going to an Overeaters Anonymous might be a step to nudge you in the right direction. If you google them, they have meetings all over the place.

Running isn't the best option, but there are so many other ways to move. I'd recommend finding a body positive yoga class, and doing a gentle form of yoga to start off, like Yin Yoga. It's helpful to stay in tune with your body, become more aware of your body signals.

Try to body up with someone so you can hold each other accountable. Reward yourself with a healthier snack after a whole day of sticking to your plan - I use dark chocolate for that purpose. :)

You can do it. Break it down into little steps and small goals instead of ' I want to be 11 stone'. Start with a few pounds over a couple weeks and so on.

All the best!

I haven't read the full thread, so some of this advice may already have been covered.

Firstly, it's really disappointing your GP was so unhelpful. There is help available, although some areas are really rationing it. Given the weights you gave, I would suspect you could be a candidate for bariatric surgery (i.e. gastric band), though other options might be encouraged first depending on your circumstances. I suggest you read the NICE guidance on management of obesity: pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/obesity/obesity-overview#path=view%3A/pathways/obesity/obesity-overview#path=view%3A/pathways/obesity/obesity-overview.xml&content=view-index

Consider how it relates to you and then make an appointment to see your GP specifically about your weight (if you are at a group practice, you might try to see a different GP - have a look at their website and see if any of the GPs list an interest in weight management, or diabetes). Come armed with what you would like from them, that you think is reasonable based on the NICE guidance and your circumstances. If you don't get it, ask what the referral criteria for specialist services/ bariatric surgery/ drug treatment are for your CCG. If necessary write to the CCG to clarify this.

Alongside this, try your local council. Public health is now a council responsibility, so you should find details of what weight management assistance they provide on their website. This may include weight-loss class referrals, exercise referrals, nutrition classes, walking groups.

Lastly, don't forget the NHS website. There is a lot of info on weight management on there, although perhaps a little old-fashioned.

Good luck!

Why do you need someone to hold your hand. You're a grown adult presumably. It's no one's responsibility but yours.

OP, I don't know if anyone's mentioned this book before, but I highly recommend it. It's helping me out enormously and I've been fat and thin and fat again for years: The Diet Trap Solution by Judith Beck. It's cognitive behavioral therapy specifically for people trying to get the weight off and keep it off permanently.

Good luck! :-)