Anyone lost weight to protect themselves from Covid?

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I’m about 1.5 stone overweight and 2.5 stone over where I’d like to be, ie comfortably a healthy weight. BMI is 29.

I’ve been desperate to lose weight for ages and hate the way I look but completely incapable of dieting. Zero willpower. Some health problems make it very hard for me to exercise (can walk slowly). Covid really really should be spurring me on to lose weight, considering we know that it affects overweight people more but so far it isn’t. If anything I’ve gained a little.

Has anyone lost weight specifically to reduce their risk from Covid? How did you do it?

Yes, I’ve lost 4 stone since May doing the Fast 800 diet. I came out of lockdown pre-diabetic and obese and realised that I needed to make major changes. I didn’t properly start exercising until the end of July and even that was just walking but I now swim and go to the gym regularly.

You can do this, just make sure you have the right support and be kind to yourself x

That’s so inspiring - you’ve done amazingly. I did the fast 800 a couple of years ago and lost lots. Actually that’s the last time I was a healthy weight.

I suspect I’m pre diabetic too as my mum has type 2 and about 6 months ago I tested my sugars with her thingy and if I understood it right I was just into the pre range. In denial about that!

4.5 stone since march of this year i have 2 more to go but it has stopped. Need to switch up what i was doing was low fat calorie counting.

Also be careful not to go to low with the low fat as i have managed to give myself gallstones in the process according to the gastro Dr, as they were not there in a scan before the weightloss.

You can do it

I've lost weight during long covid (contracted end of March, still some symptoms) to try to reduce any possible complications from reinfection. I was also v sedentary and put on weight during recovery.

I've been doing the thebloodsugardiet.com BSD 800 low cal, low carb diet since early August. Lost just over 1 1/2 stone, nearly at NHS healthy BMI, still a bit over a stone to lose to target. Stalled a bit now, and a few more carb cravings but surprisingly OK. Read the book, but made up own recipes (vegetarian), tracked calories with My Fitness Pal, carbs mostly under 50g a day. Mostly fast till lunch weekdays, sometimes longer, plus finish eating before 8.

Didn't give up booze totally though! There's a thread in weight loss chat that's v helpful.

2 stone since August... Basically fast 800 although personally am nearer 1000 kcal a day now whilst following low carb principles.
Another half stone to go before hitting 'healthy' weight and would like a little more off for aesthetic reasons. But I am incredibly old,, so it's all pretty slow. X Best of luck. Xx

I have, still some to go though. I was about 2.5 stone overweight abs as I am only 5ft1 it makes me very dumpy looking.

DH has been trying to lose some too, we have been trying for a long time but cv definitely spurred us on to actually do something effective.

We have diarised alternate days for our running, rather than somebody just say ‘oh I will go for a run today’(without actually realising they hadn’t been for about 2 weeks prior) so my diarised days are ties, thurs, sat, his the others, Sunday rest day, we have small children and both work so one has to be home whilst the other exercises.

We started by doing the couch to 5k and from my point of view eating only the evening meal pretty much and sometimes that would be a big salad. Not the healthiest but it needed an extreme at the beginning!

Yes - I've reduced my BMI by 7 points (29.6 to 22.6) since March. The thing that really worked for me was wearing a Fitbit and logging what I ate - helped my figure out when I could allow myself a treat without harming my progress and has also spurred me into being more active. I'd recommend joining a thread on the weight loss chat board for accountability too.

Not only COvID but it certainly shocked me into doing something. My BMI was 43 during lockdown. I’ve lost 3 stone so far and it’s now 37, which is still high but under the 40 mega risk!

Me. I dont tolerate diets well (every time I've tried anything like the fast 800 it works for about 2 weeks then I cant sustain it and put even more weight on) so now I'm trying a different approach and have (very, very slowly but hopefully sustainably) lost a stone. Feel loads better already and now working on stone number 2.

I meant to but also have zero fucking willpower. Trying again

OP, I hope you can find something that works for you. Well done to everyone else whose lost weight.

I don't need to lose weight, but decided when this kicked off, I'd start eating better and get myself more active, hoping it'd help if I got Covid and can't do any harm for my long-term health. Not every day, but taking vitamin D as a boost. Pretty much stuck at it, and much of the exercise I can do away from others.

Yes I have - mainly through calorie-counting.

I’ve lost about a stone in two months. It’s slow progress but I’m going to keep going through November, to lose another half stone or so.

Apart from the Coronavirus risk, a recent blood test showed I was pre-diabetic.

I’ve actually found the dieting fairly ok. I look and feel much better and my pre-diabetes symptoms have all but gone.

I did have a wobble last Sunday, when I fell off the wagon slightly (chocolate, shortbread, cheese was consumed), but I’m back on it now.

Personally, I’m not afraid of catching Coronavirus at all (I’m a Secondary school TA, so quite high risk), but more worried about passing on to my elderly parents. Although they are risk-tolerant about it as well!

Fast800 for the last 6 weeks and 20lbs down. 8 more to reach a healthy weight. The easiest thing about this is after the first week the cravings go so will power is really not needed as you are full and not fighting cravings.

I have! Been calorie counting and using a Fitbit. I've lost 5 1/2 stone since 1st May! I have a history of yo-yo dieting and hope this time is for good. The toughest thing is getting into the mindset to do it. Corona helped spur me on, but also gave me the time to focus on myself and do it. Good luck op.

Yes. Lost about a stone. Didn't weigh at first but started losing weight on holiday as at the beginning couldn't get in my wet suit without lots of squishing, took two adults to pull it up and fasten.

Going for eat less, move more. I have a condition that makes me fatigued and makes walking painful so gradually losing on average a pound a week.

While losing weight I have eaten chocolate cake, scones jam and cream, Pringles, chocolate, kitkats and cheese, just less often and/or in smaller quantities.

I keep trying but losing the willpower and motivation. Christ it's hard. Food makes me feel happy and less anxious, it's always been an emotional crutch. My BMI is about 33 and I'm very worried about that, yet I still eat crap when I get hungry. I don't understand my brain at all.

Yes, I’ve lost nearly a stone and am very nearly in the healthy weight bracket now. Another stone to go to target. I’ve done it very slowly (since end of July) through calorie counting. Also husband and I did C25k and now go running together 3 times a week while DD is at school. I’m also doing yoga every day.

That's very impressive @BlackeyedSusan. My experience is that I only have to think about cake, crisps etc and my weight loss stalls. I am perimenopausal and have the metabolism of a slug it seems.

I am massively overweight but when I realised I would be at a much higher risk of Covid I went on diet. I have thyroid problems so not easy for me to lose weight even on strict diet. I have lost 1 stone and 2 lb so far. I am only losing about 1 lb or sometimes only 1/2 a pound each week but it is mounting up now. I will keep going for sale of kids. I am finding it very hard.

Yes, ive lost 4 stone since April, following slimming world as needed something that educates me to make long term changes, can be tweaked to work for the whole family, doesnt disallow anything, and more importantly is sustainable. Ive done lots of faddy diets previously and rarely stuck to them for long (as i found they didnt fit in with actually having a life!) and i have rapidly regain (plus more!) the moment my motivation slipped.

Yes I have lost two stone to bring myself into the healthy range. I haven't done anything drastic, just cut out junk/takeaways/snacking out of boredom, upped vegetables and increased walking/jogging. Don't feel as though I've been depriving myself of anything and haven't been losing weight particularly quickly but it is sustainable this way.

Good luck to everyone being proactive about this . I hope you feel lots of other benefits too.

I find it amazing after BJ recovered from Covid and he said his illness was worse because he was obese, there was such a perfunctory and short lived campaign to try and reduce the nation's obesity. This was after he declared a "war" on it. Just another thing the government tried for 5 minutes and then lost interest in, even though it could be of such massive benefit.

Yes.. 3 stone! Scared the shit out of me!