Help escape morbid obesity

[Tesoroxx]

Is there anyone who has actually managed to loose weight naturally and reach a healthy weight from starting morbidly obese.
I got reffered for a gastric band by my gp as my bmi is 53 they said it's unlikely I could loose weight on my own but my mental health meant I was rejected from going any further is there actually any hope? Thanks.

wegovy Injections?

Yes of course you could loose it. Start by reducing calories , drinking lots of water and walk. Whatever you can and slowly increase, build up slowly.

Not avalible in my area sadly

Hi @Tesoroxx are you on Instagram?
I recommend looking up Half of Carla

She lost 13(?) Stone on Bodyslims but also worked on her mental health/food addictions.

She has also talked about it on most recent Left On Read podcast, on Spotify

I use Bodyslims myself, I really rate it, but it was Carla's story that got me started

You need to build a team.
GP - blood tests to check for deficiencies and referral for co-morbidities.
Dietician - they won't solve anything in one session but it is good to start a relationship
Mental health team - for diagnosed issues and disordered eating
A coach or PA - maybe available via social services
Physio - to get you moving

It is tough, very tough.
I used to do the coach job, there are not many of them around due to lack of funding. You need to find a place (in your head) where you can work with all of the above to work at being healthier rather than get upset and repeat the usual spiral. Little steps to get your MH and weight stable plus no mad diets.

BMI currently 46. I do a mixture of following Slimming World pretty well to the letter and having a lessen known injection private.
First injections were most powerful (don't get me started on the nhs I wouldn't ever now take a prescription from them I've heard so much contradiction it makes me want to throw up I've just had an argument getting accu-chek strips from my surgery for a monitor they provided) weight loss has slowed now but get good blood results for the diabetes.
I'd built it up to exercise a bit more 5/6 days a week (walking, swimming and aqua aerobics) as I don't want to venture near a gym. We did a new routine at AA yesterday and I'm paying for it today!^^ so yes starting off has to be slow.
I don't own scales at home. If it takes me a long time so be it.

One thing to remember is our metabolism is all very different.

Hope you find your way through.

Yes you can do it without bariatric surgery if you are able to keep the focus and momentum. I use apps like my fitness pal to keep track of my calories and I'm very strict about ensuring I input them accurately so nothing is missed out. I find it helps motivate too. I started as morbidly/severely obese and am now in the obese category which is the one below morbidly obese. I'm now aiming for overweight and from there I will work my way carefully to healthy weight. Keep your goals realistic and aim to initially drop 5% of your current weight, then up it to 10% when you get there. Slow and steady and you will get there, no fad diets or injections needed at all. Good luck to you.

My GP gives me Ozempic. My BMI was 52 now it's 40. I've still got a long way to go but I'll get there slowly. If you lose weight too quickly your skin goes baggy anyway so better to lose it slowly. Ask your GP for Ozempic.

Perhaps you could tell us more about what caused your weight gain? Suggestions may vary based on if it is from mental health problems, emotional eating, food addiction or physiological causes?

For me personally the ONLY successful way to control my weight has been fasting and keto (which is a kind of fasting by depriving the body of glucose) the appetite control you get after about day 10 is essential.

I say this as someone who isn't particularly slim much of the time(size 14) but would be worse off without these tools.

I went to my GP with a BMI of 60, to be dismissed with a 'No funding available'. I was so annoyed I went away and lost 8 stone by myself.

I put it back on and more though, so eventually had a VSG (self-paid).

Even gastric surgery isn't a total fix though - I put weight back on with each of my 4 children, which I've now lost via diet and exercise. Surgery is a tool which you have to choose to use. I can eat 10 digestive biscuits but not two apples!

It’s definitely possible, I lost 8st with Slimmmg World, but I was doing a lot of exercise to maintain that. I don’t have dc so only bought/ate what I needed and wasn’t tempted to eat unhealthy foods. My mistake was thinking I no longer needed to attend classes and I started putting weight back on. You need to change your lifestyle, not just ‘be on a diet’ forever more, although SW allows you to eat quite a lot of food still.

Would you consider surgery? I know you said your mh prevented it previously, but if you’d consider therapy, you might be referred, although NHS waiting lists for weightloss surgery are up to 3 years. Maybe join this group and read up on private UK surgery. https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheFriendliestGastricSleeveBypassGroupUK

I’m 5 months post surgery and 6.5st down, still have a way to go.

@IrritableVowel I am on instagram I'll have a look at that page thanks.

Just for people who have said they get wegovy from their gp- do they prescribe it directly because when I asked I was just refered to the weight loss service which apparently has a two year waiting (weighting) list

Well done in your weight loss. what sort of thing do you eat in a day?

My fitness pal is a great way to track diet and exercise

Friends have found Bodyslims helpful

My BMI was 54.4. It’s now 50.

As a morbidly obese person calorie counting etc is a fool’s errand.

I have lost nearly 2 stone and not counted a thing. A combination of low carb, no ultra processed foods and some intermittent fasting can help you lose weight whilst staying full.

Look at:

Jason Fung
Diet Doctor
Fasting Method
Tim Spector
Michael Mosley

All have YouTube

Calorie counting is an absolute hell if you have disordered eating (and you do with a BMI that high) - you need to reset your hormones and fire up your metabolism and cutting calories alone is not the way to do that.

This was my experience too. GP said I had to be referred to the weight loss service and they would then decide if I could have it

I thought most places weren’t using gastric bands anymore because of all the issues with them. It seems that most surgeons go for the gastric sleeve now because it’s more effective.

Can you start by sourcing a psychologist that specialises in weight and food issues? They can help you unpick your thought processes around food and give you tools to help change the way you think and approach it.

You can do it, definitely. I’m sure that it’s possible. How did you reach this point, OP? Others with more knowledge than me will give you good advice on the basis of your answer, I’m sure.

You can, but you need to accept it will be a long and slow road. Start with self care, looking after yourself, small amounts of exercise, eating well, being socialable. Reduce calories and up exercise gradually. The main thing is wanting to be good to yourself and knowing you deserve a long, happy and healthy life. I don't binge eat junk anymore because I don't want to harm myself.

I don't eat until noon. Then either 2 scrambled eggs and 2 1/2 fat sausages and a hash brown or a slice of wholemeal toast and 2 x scrambled eggs. Satsuma or apple mid afternoon and dinner. Sometimes a small portion of wholemeal spaghetti and Bolognese of minced steak and chopped tomatoes with squirt of garlic puree and herbs. Or salmon cooked in lemon juice with 4 baby potatoes and carrots and peas. A small 4 Oz steak and 2 x vegetable or small portion of tagliatelle and sauce made from dry frying bacon lardons, straining, then adding to a pot of creme fresh and add a small knob of Gorganzola cheese. Sometimes I just have fruit for breakfast and homemade vegetable soup for lunch with no bread. Basically low carb, low fat and lots of protein, vegetables and fruit. If I'm hungry I eat an apple sliced up or a bowl of vegetables soup. I make winter vegetable, potato and leek and tomato and red lentil.

@MooQuackNeigh a mixture really I've always struggled with binge eating I'm also autistic what doesn't help that mixed with a misscariage I gained 7 stone in 2 year then got pregnant with my youngest and gained another 3stone

@Merryoldgoat thank you I will look in to all of them

@WhichEllie I am currently in therapy, what has been tough as I get passed around and no one seems to be able to help. my current therapist seems to have the goal of sorting my mental health to be rereffered to the bariatric team as another one who thinks surgery is the only option what makes me feel like I have no hope doing it on my own.

I am sorting myself out from monday (away at the moment)
Intend on doing calorie control (nutracheck)
Also have issues with binging so intend to set up binge boxes with calorie counted stuff in for 'those' occasions.

Also hona try up my exercise (though I do have an active job so at least do a bit)

Feeling confident.