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?

YABVU. The NHS is extremely underfunded. It's one thing if you think you have cancer and can't afford insurance. But you just have 'zero willpower'? There really isn't anything that the GP can do for you. This is not a medical problem per se, it's a problem that you have created and only you can resolve.

Take some responsibility this is your problem, you know the answer, sort it out. I would hope that my GPs are helping people with things that they are needed for, not stuff you should be doing yourself. Sorry to sound harsh - call it tough love 😍

RTT or at least the OP posts before posting you insensitive muppets

I knew somebody who got a referral from GP to a dietician at the local hospital for weight loss. She did a personalised meal plan for her and she had regular consultations for weigh in etc (a bit like a private weight watchers). So this sort of support can exist in the NHS if there was a will to provide it. It would be far cheaper than not helping people to lose weight. Ignore the nastiness Op and take some of the good advice, especially try and get help / support - it is really hard to motivate yourself through such a big challenge. You say you lost 5 stone before, even though it all went back on. That is a huge weight loss and should give you the confidence that you can do it. Tackle the loss first and when you are down to your target weight then figure out how best you can keep it off long term.

Right, I feel I have to say something here. All these people saying "eat less" what a load of nonsense!! If you have been used to eating a certain amount, you can't just start eating less. You will feel hungry and then overeat. Been there, done that. What you need to do is make better choices of what you're eating. I tried several different things, Atkins, ww, calorie counting, eating less. Nothing worked for me. At my heaviest of 15 stone 8lbs, I decided enough was enough, I had a small child then and wanted to be able to do more with her. I joined slimming world and started to learn more about food and made small, but significant changes. It took some getting used to, but once you have the hang of it, it works a charm! I'm now just under 2 stone away from my target and still enjoying slimming world. You can get referred by a GP. If yours won't do it, ask to see a different one! You've already done the hard part - faced up to your problem. I wish you the best of luck. Xx

If you have been used to eating a certain amount, you can't just start eating less. You will feel hungry and then overeat.

They mean eat less calories. You have to create a calorie deficit.

I think chub knows the realities, she's asking for support, not solutions. Something you ladies do I believe. Can't you help her?

Total lack of compassion and comprehension on this thread. Fatties (as OP groups herself) have more than a few pounds to loose. It is a major change in outlook. Major overeating is a form of addiction, and what makes it possibly harder than drug addiction is we all have to eat. Many obese people have been in poor eating habits for much of their lives. It's really REALLY hard to loose weight in a sustainable way when behaviours are ingrained and the body is inured to a high sugar/fat/calorie regime. If you balance investment into medical/mental health support against all the other chronic health conditions that obesity leads to, and it seems obvious that the NHS should be majorly helping these people out. In France, OP would be referred to a dietician. These HPs are more than a slimming group. You meet regularly, have a thorough discussion about your lifestyle, overeating triggers and so on. The dietician then comes up with a personalised plan that works for the individual. Weekly, then monthly follow ups. Seems like a fantastic investments if you ask me. OP, you are not BU at all!

OP - I'd try more diet classes, different approaches etc. Some people love WW, some love SW, some love MFP, some make their own diets. Not all plans are the same so you might find one you like better than another.

Ultimately though, it's not necessarily about eating less but about eating more of the right stuff, then your body doesn't crave the junk as much. It takes a bit of time and you can still have blowouts every now and then but at the very least you could make one day (or two days) a week with your usual food intake, and make healthy choices on the other days? Even if you did two healthy days instead of seven, that would have an effect. Maybe start slowly and see how you feel?

Have you tried eating five meals a day and exercise?
Porridge 100g breakfast for me, sweet potatoes and loads of veg and a small amount of chicken at 10 am
Half a pack of rice and tuna at one o clock with loads of salad
Fairly large jacket potato at dinner with veg and 50g of chicken again
Cous cous and salad 7pm
But at least half hour exercise each day,
Ten mins up hill walking on treadmill (9.5 gradient and about 5km an hour speed)
6 mins cross trainer, 20 mins on the bike and five mins on the rower
I fall in and out of this pattern regularly but my weight stays down
It works a lot better if you can find someone who wants to spend time with you and enjoys doing the exercise. Don’t worry about gyms and what folk think .

This might sound harsh but nothing is going to make you lose weight other than you.
If you have no will power, or even attempt try, you won't lose weight.
If you expect it to be others responsibility for you to lose weight, you won't lose weight.
No one can help you but you.....
All the doctors in the world can come together and plan a specific diet plan and exercise plan but if you can't help yourself, it will never work.
I know this sounds horribly mean but you need to realise that only you can change you, not a doctor.

From what you’ve said it’s really the emotional issue that’s the real issue here. You know about changing diet / portions / exercise already. Therapy would probably be really helpful. Abusive relationships have a massive long term impact and it sounds like your self esteem is really low. It is expensive if you go private but you can self refer to through IAPT for free counselling
www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/Psychological%20therapies%20(IAPT)/LocationSearch/10008

Your GP can also refer you for counselling. Could you see a different person? You could also ask for a referral to mental health services for psychotherapy because this isn’t just about weight - the weight is just a side effect of things like low self esteem and impact of abuse. Food is a coping mechanism and to stop that you will need to work on emotional issues and find new, healthy ways to respond to emotions. Could you explain the full picture to a GP? I.e. how you feel emotionally and about the abuse?

Also if you could give a rough idea what area you’re in we could give some better suggestions? Some services offer free counselling specifically for people who have been abused. There are often local charities doing this kind of thing so search for domestic abuse charities near you - they might be able to help or know someone else who ca.

There is also Beat who run support groups etc and have lots of info about eating disorders - might be worth contacting them or looking at their ‘help finder’ tool on their website: www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk

There are also things like self help CBT books but it might be better to do counselling first if you’ve not done it before. Here are some free CBT based workbooks.... the language and format on these may seem a bit oversimplified and maybe patronising though! But it is all based on well evidenced CBT and other therapeutic interventions that work for lots of people: www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/consumers.cfm

You’re NOT lazy, greedy or disgusting

Ok I hope you are ok and get the support you need.
Please ignore those who are being harsh.
Pop over to the other thread mentioned.
I have and I am feeling positive about losing weight slowly and surely and more importantly keeping it off.
Lost 3 stone before but regained 4.
I know how hard it is op and I got zero support from health professionals.

Op

O and Anyone who used to run as much as you is not lazy.

I do think you should get help from the gp but if paying for a slimming group wasn’t helping then I’m not sure how a funded place would be any different? Surely you would be more invested in it if you were paying if anything?
Some kind of counselling may help with your willpower issue though.
I’ve never been significantly overweight but I’ve managed to lose a few stone in the past on the 5:2 diet. I also have bad willpower but was able to restrict my calories every few days knowing I’d be able to eat what I wanted, within reason, the following day.

Complete the quizzes and you’ll probably get some free help to lose weight. Depends on your local offering www.nhs.uk/oneyou

Also try HealthUnlocked nhs weightloss group

It might not be the case that the GP can refer you to access slimming world or weight watchers for free. These services have in some areas been cut or reduced due to reductions in public health budgets. If you can’t afford the fee then I would try online support and apps- fitness pal is very good and free. Just logging what you eat and tracking your weight can help. Good luck!

Not here to massage you ego. You are fat. Sort it out. You do not need referrals to gyms/classes. My fitness pal is a great app, as is couch to 5k. Take ownership that your weight is your problem. You got that weight.... the GP didn't. Don't think 8st.... think half a stone at a time... make it doable! Good luck

Best advice i have ever been given is. Look at where you have gone wrong in the past. Don't just cut loads of calories straight out, try eating 50 calories less one week and slowly keep doing this so you eat around 1800 calories a aday and slowly lose the weight over time. This way it's more of a lifestyle change than a diet. Don't be too hard on your self.

Eat less and exercise, even if you only lose a pound a week, that's still 52lbs a year. I've struggled with my weight, my whole life, but I am losing weight now and find this simple solution works for me.
You need to develop willpower and take responsibility for yourself. You are a grown woman FGS. Why should the NHS fund your weight loss?

I use Nutra check, a diet app, I downloaded it on to my phone. I list everything I eat and drink each day. Its fantastic. I think it costs £2.99per month, money well spent IMO.
Just aim for 1lb per week, in 2 months that half a stone. That is absolutely do able.

A lot of harsh critics on here, I'd say the fact you've posted on here proves you do have the will to do something about it. You need to find what works for you...I lost over 3 stone on slimming world after a health diagnosis that gave me a scare. It's not easy but the inspiration, practical tips and support that you get at the group are a huge help with the willpower issue, you feel like you're not on the journey alone and the weekly meet up with others in the same boat really helps. For me anyway. I think there is a NHS referral system to SW they your GP, which they can consider putting you on if your health is being affected. People on here saying you'd waste your doctor's time are being unfair and shortsighted. Good on you for facing what is a harsh reality, and for wanting to do something about it - you're already showing you have determination to change things.

I do a brisk walk everyday for an hour. My eating is a crutch due to a traumatic childhood. My older brother is an alcoholic and my younger brother has anger issues, drinks and used to take drugs. I've been through therapy etc, but the only person who can lose the weight is me. Get help if you need to, but again, the only person who can do it is you.
Good luck