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I have a chronic pain condition and I really need to lose weight!

7 replies

Muscari · 24/10/2023 09:05

I used to be active, into running and being outdoors, but as my condition has worsened so I have become more and more sedentary, and I have put on more and more weight. Having been fit and slim all my life I am shocked to admit that I am now 4 stone over my ideal weight, all gained in the last 5 years. I can't just blame the fact I'm sedentary either - I use alcohol as pain relief and eat crap when I'm feeling low. I don't know where to start in terms of losing weight and feeling better about myself. I can't exercise, I am single and live alone, currently not working due to my health issues so very isolated. It all feels over whelming and out of my control. Can anyone offer some words of wisdom? I need to do something.

OP posts:
DelilahBucket · 24/10/2023 09:12

You don't need to exercise to lose weight. Start by making one change, personally I'd go with the alcohol as that will affect so many things from sleep, to mood, to hunger levels and cravings for unhealthy foods. It isn't really relieving your pain. Do you know what is causing your pain? Often I find doctors are quick to throw meds at you without actually dealing with the cause.

Verbena17 · 24/10/2023 13:38

I’ve gone down a dress size in 3 months and have alleviated my awful foot and ankle pain in the process.

The reason I did it was because I was about to be diagnosed as diabetic type 2 and so had to make significant changes. The outcome was weightloss and so much more energy - alongside almost non existent pain!

It wasn’t easy but I quickly got into eating a very low carb diet. I removed pretty much ALL processed sugar from my diet (with the exception of low carb wraps in case I feel like a bread type product). One wrap has 14g of carbs.

So it’s now really easy - I just add carbs to any meal. That way, by eating proteins, healthy fats and low carb fruit and veg, your body will choose to burn fat before carbs and you will lose weight. I can’t really go full keto as I don’t have a gall bladder and so find it tricky to digest some fats but other than that, it’s pretty good.

An example brekkie is 1/2 bowl of no sugar&no fat Greek yoghurt with berries and a spoonful of almond butter. Sometimes I’ll have an apple with skin grated into it too.

For lunch a low carb wrap spread with mayo with gem lettuce, avocado and cucumber. Or a tin of oxtail soup without any bread.

For tea, something like spag Bol with no spag and I put lots of veggies in and sprinkle cheese on top. Or salmon with veggies or roast chicken without pots.

I also have a high protein (20g) Arla yoghurt most days which is super filling - I top it with blueberries and a tablespoon of flax seeds. They do contain sugar but because I’m eating so much less food in general, I seem ok with one of them.

Simply by eating this way for 3 months, my HBA1C came down 7 points!

But the quickest thing I noticed was lack of inflammation /pain.

Unabletomitigate · 24/10/2023 13:56

Exercise is not the place to start, you can add that in when you start felling better. You need to get control of your diet and your drinking. But then you knew that!
Try to go whole foods, I swear by low carb, but that might be useful second step. Start with decent home cooked meals. Treat yourself to good food! Make it and enjoy it.
Alcohol is way trickier. I find I have to avoid my triggers and keep busy otherwise I drink out of boredom and habit. Some nights I have a long bath with a book, others I can make a pot of nice tea for in front of the telly.
You can do it. Small changes, celebrate the victories and don't obsess about set backs.
Good luck!

Seaoftroubles · 24/10/2023 19:37

Agree, you do not need to exercise to lose weight, it can all be done by your diet alone. Others have made great suggestions but make a start by ditching the alcohol completely. Then cut out sugar (replace with stevie or xylitol) or and you're on your way!

Twilightstarbright · 24/10/2023 20:20

I’ve lost 40lb on ozempic combined with diet changes. I have joint problems and losing weight has helped a lot.

Taptap2 · 24/10/2023 20:28

Can you walk? I have a chronic pain condition and I have started using the NHS app active 10, just 10 minutes of brisk walking. It has actually helped the pain and my mental health. Even when I’m in a lot of pain I do 10mins walk, more when I am feeling better. Walking early in the morning helps with depression and low mood. My sleep has improved even though I thought it was the pain waking me up. I have pain in my feet, walking is hard but I’m pushing through it. I have also put weight on in the last few years due to the chronic pain and having to take steroids. I have also used alcohol to deaden the pain and I’m cutting down but it’s hard.

scoobydoo1971 · 25/10/2023 00:04

Bin all alcohol at home. If it is not there, you cannot drink it. You save calories, sleep better, better liver function, better ability to cope with pain etc and save money. Go swimming. Council pools often offer discounts for people not in work, or disabled. Burn calories while supported by water.

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