AIBU to want to be slimmer

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I'm currently trying to lose weight despite several serious health issues and complications that make exercising almost impossible. When I go to the GP's they tell me that while I'm overweight/obese my blood pressure, cholesterol and the rest is fine and while I should lose weight not to worry too much about it because I'm not in ill health because of my weight 'yet'. In all honestly I would far rather NEVER become ill due to my weight and lose it all or at least a lot of it so I can avoid this. Am I wrong for thinking that the GP should support my decision and offer support now, surely this would save the NHS in the long run as losing weight 'might' improve a couple of my long term health issues even if only slightly.

I'm walking a mile a day for a week then upping it to two next week, then three and so on till I can't physically walk any further (I have a spinal condition and arthritis is beginning to take in my hips, knees and feet) losing weight and regular gentle exercise should improve mobility here but I run the risk of making it worse if I overdo it. I'm also going to aim to go swimming once a week (when my finances are sorted because right now I'm struggling to afford the necessities) and it's warmer because I'm asthmatic and mildly allergic to chlorine and I don't want to aggravate my chest to then walk out in the cold and make it worse.

I am also trying to meal plan but I have no idea where to start. This should help me to count calories AND save money in the long term because I'll be thinking about what I'm buying and how I'm using it. I know to ensure I have plenty of healthy snack type foods to have and the odd unhealthy treat because denying myself everything will just make me want to quit. I'm buying a mini fridge for my room because I live in a flat share and one of my housemates eats my food (I'm on a restricted diet due to mild allergies and income and can't afford to meal plan or shop generally for her to eat it).

Anyone able to share their favourite recipes? My allergies don't matter because I'm good at finding substitutions for foods I can't eat or altering recipes to improve their nutritional content (I look after a lot of fussy kids so mild tasting veggies that can be blended are your friend .
Looking for soups/breakfasts/brunches/salads and veggie ideas.

I love this soup and make it without chick peas
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/333614/red-lentil-chickpea-and-chilli-soup

Sounds like you have a great plan in place. My two go to soup recipes are butternut squash, carrots (2 depending on size), red onion (1 or 2),garlic, all roughly chopped,2 mugs of veg stock (I use marigold) and a teaspoon of ginger powder. Let it all simmer until soft and then blitz until smooth. The other is onions, garlic, (not green) peppers, sweet potato, courgette, carrot(s) all roughly chopped, a tin of tomatoes and a mug of veg stock with some balsamic vinegar and worstershire sauce. Simmer and blitz.

They both keep in the fridge for a week and freeze really well. The squash/sweet potato make them filling so a bowl does me for a big lunch or even dinner.

Thanks it's just disheartening to be refused support because I'm not yet disabled by my weight.

It sounds as though you are already doing the right things, what kind of support do you expect from your GP?

Exercise is a small part of weight loss, it's 80% diet, so don't push yourself too hard physically if it's painful.

Not sure what extra support you would get from GP - your plsn sounds fine. Weight loss is far more about diet than exercise. Though obviously exercise is great for your overall health

There isn't a lot GPs can do to 'support' weight loss, other than moral support. They can give you a free referral to Weight Watchers in some health authorities. You can get 1 session with a dietitian. (I had this, she was massively rushed and told me to eat porridge every day for breakfast - woo hoo!). They might be able to give you an exercise referral though, eg free swimming, gym or a walking group. It all depends on the area you live in.

I seriously think you need to get rid of this flatmate or move home. How on earth can you prioritise your health when someone is stealing off you? Keeping food in your room won't stop her - she will just go in there when you are out. Plus the noise from the fridge will keep you awake. Not healthy, not positive.

For meal planning, google Meal Prep. There is a ton of resources out there for this lifestyle. There is also a thread on Reddit called MealPrepSunday, where people cook on a Sunday afternoon for the week and then share photos. I used to try to meal plan for the week, and it never worked because I was too tired when I got in to follow my plan, and would just eat breakfast cereal! Meal Prepping on the other hand puts you in full control, you cook ahead for several days, so you have food ready at all times, so you don't need as many actual 'snacks' - you can just have a bite or two from one of your tupperwares. It saves tons of money on lunches, saves fuel, saves waste, you name it. For me it is life changing.

In most respects shes a great flatmate, we share some things like potatoes/onions/veg that will spoil, so sometimes our wires get crossed on what we're sharing and what we're not, plus there are four other housemates who may or may not be taking things from various peoples shelves (no proof for one or the other taking anything).

I intend to meal plan one day a week when I order my food shop and then spend another day to meal prep so I don't have to cook after I've been out all day. I like to have crunchy savory snacks to hand as they're good for when my anxiety spikes. I'm thinking fruit (as a mid-morning snack) veggie sticks and hummus or cream cheese or wholemeal crackers or rice cakes or homemade air popped popcorn (not a fan of greasy foods anyway and if I eat fruit it needs to be in the morning because I don't process sugars effectively which means if I eat them during the afternoon or evening I don't sleep) for snacking. Wheatabix and fruit or eggs and toast for breakfast (don't usually eat breakfast tbh but think once my routine is sorted I'll not have an issue with it) baked or grilled fish or lean protein, mixed veggies or salads plus brown rice or baked potatoes or sweet potatoes for lunch and soups with nice bread for tea plus the occasional square of chocolate. I don't think that completely restricting my diet will help in the long term because that'll lead to binge eating later.

It's not 'support' so much as advice that I wanted, like even have them recommend I look at a particular website or resources rather than trying to dig through a lot of contradictory advice.

Your plan sounds fine however given your health issues perhaps look to do cardio on low impact exercises such as swimming and cycling, it will save your joints a lot of wear. So add in resistance training, ie weights as this is key to building strong muscles and bones especially for older women. The combo of weights and cardio is the only real solution to balanced exercise.

Why are you overweight?

You might have to find out your poison and then find a way of giving it the cold shoulder, sort of snub it in future. Don't go into battle against it, that's the wrong way, you'll wind up further involved.

My poison is chocolate, but I gave it up mainly because I found I needed three fillings, and if I go for the vanity option - white filling - that's £300. Factor in that three small choccie bars a day = around £3 a year, that could be a grand a year! But so far, the weight has come off because I got annoyed at tooth cavities, not thru some anti-weight crusade. A glass of wine might be another poison to coolly snub in favour of something else if that is one of yours.

Walking is okay but if that makes you so run down you happily snack on a small choccie bar when you get back, well, no weight loss will be forthcoming, I've found.

Have a look at the healthunlocked website - its free and there are forums for weight loss and health issues- might be useful..

Yup, food is far more important than exercise for weight loss

So, continue walking if you can, but don't push it too far
Strength training exercise, e.g. resistance bands, if you can't get to a gym, can help build your strength without worsening your pain

The best diet is one you can actually do, longterm, so choose what suits you
and look on it as a permanent lifestyle change, not a temporary diet.
That way, you'll get slim and stay slim

Good luck, OP 💐

Awesome thanks Furrydogmum I'll bookmark that page now .

m0vinf0rward I'm 23 haha. I have a degenerative autoimmune disorder that is known for destroying joints and connective tissues. Excess weight can make this worse but also makes losing weight more difficult. I also have PCOS on top of that and several other milder conditions. I've tried several times to get my GP to check my thyroid but he's refusing because my weight isn't damaging my health 'yet'. Currently in the process of registering at a new GP service because I'm not satisfied with the care I have received there (such as being wrongly taken of mediation I need to control my autoimmune disorder prescribed by a specialist because he didn't know what the disorder is and being taken off my inhalers because I'd not had an attack in a month for me to then run out of them have attack after attack and then be berated by him for LETTING him stop prescribing them) . I do lift weights, much to the amusement of my housemates (they can't lift them at all really ) and my friend who lives down the road has asked me to help him learn to lift properly, (I watched him try once and he smacked himself in the face and pulled his arm, shoulder and chest muscles) so I made him promise not to attempt it again unless someone is there to spot him. Hes a strong/fit/healthy guy but terrible technique and he wants me to help him because despite my lack of fitness ability I'm far stronger than he is and will be able to support the weights with ease, and I wont judge him. He's offered to help me take up train me in jogging/running once I'm confident enough to start (none of my friends want me to attempt it alone due to my asthma).

I think NewspaperTaxis that my poison is lack of control or thought. I eat what I eat whenever I want regardless. I have ASD and poor sensory perception so I can't always tell when I'm hungry or full. So I unintentionally fast and then binge when the stomach cramps actually become painful or I eat because I need to sensory input of chewing. So I'm timetabling my days so there are set times for eating in the hopes I can halt this particular issue and eat at set times when 'I'm likely to be unknowingly hungry'.

Set mealtimes and meal planning sound a good idea in your case, if you can't judge hunger / capacity properly

BigChocFrenzy Yeah I have resistance bands and weights, I'm also looking at buying a yoga ball to improve my balance and help with back pain. I'm definitely looking at a major lifestyle change/overhaul. I want to be healthy and improve my fitness for the rest of my life or I'll end up in an early grave. I can't do anything to get rid of any of my health issues. They're life long things but losing weight and ensuring that my organs and body is as healthy as possible I may be able to manage them better and improve my long term prognosis. The autoimmune disorder I have causes multiple organ failure and cancers in the long term and unfortunately I developed this condition in my early teens and not in my 40's like most people who develop it, so my risks are significantly higher, and it's terrifying me.

A guy I like keeps asking me out and I keep saying no because we're very religious and we don't date unless we intend to marry and start a family. I would love to date him because hes an amazing man but I can't justify saddling him or any potential children with my complex health issues that are likely to develop unless I can get a hold of them before they get any worse. The best way to do this is to totally overhaul my lifestyle and diet. Losing weight will reduce my risks of deterioration for quite awhile, my body and cells will be in better health and my arteries wont become clogged and there will be less pressure on my joints and if I ever need surgery or drastic/recent treatment I'll be in a better position healthwise to manage it all.

I can recommend Slimming World, me being just 2 weeks into it following a GP referral.

Am using it as a way to be re-educated - it has been eye opening.
i gather there are joining vouchers sometimes in magazines - e.g. Bella?

Ate masses of the recommended foods, that you choose, and totally astonished to lose 3.5 Lb in first week while eating lots of food - as in more than usual!

There are some great informative Slimming World pages on Facebook too with lots of ideas - eg “SW at Aldi” using one example.

Roasted Mediterranean veg is one of my favourite meals, just use olive oil fry light spray and veg of your choice
Mushrooms stuffed with vegetable rice or same with peppers
I make lots of layered vegetable bakes and add quark instead of cheese

I agree it’s diet not exercise . Given your health issues do target exercise that’s gentle and so won’t aggravate . Swimming 🏊‍♀️ is the best as will not strain you

I think where you are at , why not borrow or google the Diet doctor ? As I assure you moving to a healthier plant based diet will not only have weight loss benefits but can also possible help (not heal) your other health issues . OP you know the drill !
Reduce processed carbs
Reduce processed meats ( if not cut)
Review dairy carefully
Loads of vegetables
Loads !
Healthy fruits
Loads of water
Less caffeine
Lots of pulses and some nuts
Cut out white sugar

I would really hope following this will make you feeel she’s loads better

If you have PCOS and auto-immmune disorder you could do with learning about the ketogenic diet. It can work miracles on these conditions

What you eat really matters and it’s not just about calories, and especially not just about eating more fruit

As above, google ‘diet doctor’ and ‘pcos’

While I don't want to bash slimming world or the like, I was "trying" to lose weight for years!
I started calorie counting last summer and am over 3 stone lighter. I did join a gym in Feb, but even the personal trainer I see tells me he will help me retain and build muscle but my diet (not "a" diet) that drops the lbs.

People can lose weight faster than I have but I have still been having holidays and boozy weekends... I didn't want to make changes I wouldn't be able to continue.

By tracking my own calorie intake I have gradually learned what keeps ME fuller for longer- we are not all the same!

I suggest looking up James Smith on Facebook... If you don't mind a bit of swearing!

I will add that looking up slimming world and weight watchers food lists still formed the basis of what I ate to begin with - they are the foods likely to satisfy for the lowest calories... Their plans are all about calorie deficits that same as ANY diet, however they wrap it up, and I am not saying they are a bad place to start.
But by actually tracking my calories rather than points or syns, I feel like I have learned more as a lifestyle change that I can carry on without feeling like I am dieting.

I have also learned that it isn't all about "weight" itself. I can fluctuate 5lb between getting up and going to bed, and have been known to drop a jean size when the scales only show a 3lb difference. I weighed every day for a while and it really taught me not to worry about gains I couldn't put a reason to, it just happens. It used to be I would be "extra good" during the week after a gain I couldn't explain (probably deprived myself of lots of nutrition), which I now realise might have been because I ate too much salt the day before and could have been gone the next day anyway.

It sounds like you know a lot about exercise and have a great plan

I would try to go swimming more and walk less, walking a lot can be bad for your joints so I would definitely recommend going swimming more. Good luck in your journey!

Thanks guys, I've googled and saved a lot of links to persue later tomorrow. Hopefully with all this I'll be able to get to a better place physically, and improve my health in the long term.

Thank you all for the help and support

Red lentil and tinned tomato soup. Add whatever veg you want. If you start with onion and curry spices it becomes lentil curry. Lentils are very low in calories.

Losing weight is 70% diet and 30% exercise.
I always find im much healthier and stronger feeling if i exercise. It does me loads of good, but it doesnt tend to make me lose weight. To lose weight i cut calories