What more can I do?

[AntsDeck]

Hi,

I want to lose 10lbs or so. I currently weigh 10 stone 12 and I am 5ft 3. I am very disabled, so can just about walk a few steps, but mainly use a wheelchair.

I am veggie and don't eat fish or eggs either and I also have some serious bowel conditions that mean most fruit and veg is off limits to me.

I don't know where I am going wrong, so I am hoping some of you clever people can help

My usual daily food is:

Plain porridge oats and sweetener for breakfast
2 bananas at lunchtime
Cauliflower rice (so just cauliflower blitzed) with plain pasata and a sprinkle of low fat cheese, or home made carrot and coriander soup, followed by fat free fromage frais with sweetener
Skimmed milk in tea and coffee and 1 cup of Options hot chocolate a day. Occasionally, I also have a couple of my DH's diabetic, sugar free biscuits

Not sure how many calories this adds up to and I know it is far from healthy and balanced, but this is what I have to work with.

Despite this, I cannot seem to lose any weight. Any advice very welcome.

TIA

I would try putting everything into myfitness pal (free website) and see how many calories you are eating daily and ditch the sweetener, they are terrible things...use honey instead.

Maybe try and replace the bananas with something else? I find bananas are full of sugar and don’t keep me full for long. I’ve been trying to reduce carbs and increase protein - maybe low fat cottage cheese or chick peas if you can eat them? Or something quorn or tofu based instead?

The lack of veg is quite concerning. Could you go to your GP and ask to be referred to a nutritionist for one or two sessions? Just to help you put together a healthy eating plan accounting for your needs/preferences? As PP said, tofu would be a good shout (great source of protein and minerals), also pulses eg chickpeas and lentils (I'm a veggie too, we have to really pay attention to these items!) I'd be concerned you're not eating enough calories to be honest, and certainly not enough varied nutrients therefore your body is not burning things very efficiently. I agree, download MyFitnessPal and track for a month to see what's happening.

Have you seen a doctor about your bowel issues? It seems odd that a doctor would just write off somebody as never eating fruit and veg, there must be some alternative options there...??

Finally, what is the nature of your disability? (Not one to answer here if you don't want to, just to think about and assess what's possible.) Eg if you are upper body mobile you could do arm, back, shoulder exercises, also seated core workouts. I think YouTube would be your friend here, there must be others out there like you who are smashing it and want to share their techniques with the world! Even the smallest exercise will kick-start some calorie burn.

I think it all sounds achievable but will need some new habits, that's all Good luck!!