I need help losing 9 stone

[Kimmyangel]

Please can anyone help me. I put on around 9 stone in about a year and half due to depression and this has basically knocked my confidence below zero. I don't see any of my friends as I'm so embarrassed no1 knows has seen me apart from my immediate family, I have a family wedding in July which I am trying to get out of. I know people will suggest Cambridge diet but I can't afford that, I'm in desparate need of advice please help

Come and join our thread here- not a crash diet, but a bit of support and sensible advice.

Louise Gittleman's Fat Flush diet works. It's the one I usually follow and the only reason I'm not on it at the moment is that I can't afford all the extra fresh fruit and veg I'd need to buy.
It does work quickly, but you have to be strict with yourself.

have a look here

I think you need a bit of a mind set shift. I would recommend not trying to think about losing 9 stone by July- thats a really tight target and only doable if you follow a silly meal replacement diet that will not benefit you in the long runa nd you'll probably gain weight again when you start eating normally. Your best bet is to join a slimmers club like weightwatchers and gain a healthy attitude to food and eating and agree sensible goals. 18 months to gain 9 stone means to me that you'll probably do well to lose 9 stone in that amount of time, not 3 months! If you lose it that fast, you'll probably end up with bingo wings and a hanging panel of skin on your belly. Also, consult your GP- they have good contacts for good diet clubs.

Its not just about dieting- you need to do exercise too. Start with walking twice a day for an hour each. If you have a dog,a ll the more reason to do it. Aim to be sweaty, a bit red and not capable of conducting normal conversation.

Aim to drink loads of water per day as well. Good luck- keep us posted.

I agree with Elsa, set yourself a realistic target.

I did Weightwatchers a few years ago and they advise a weekly weightloss of 500g - 1kg is healthy and doable. That means about 2lb a week. Obviously, when your starting weight is high then you will loose a lot in the first weeks.

Say 1kg a week, that mean 4kg a month. In three months 12kg - just under 2 stone.

If you put on 9 stone in 18 months, then you will probably loose weight a bit quicker than that. Aim for 2 - 3 stone by July.

Thanks guys just want to clarify I know it's impossible to do it by July I was hoping more march next year. What do you think? What's the most effective eating plan any ideas for healthy meals?

I found that cutting out snacks helped, or substituting healthy ones for the unhealthy ones. Am eating corn crackers at the moment.

Cutting back on fat, small amounts of meat, lots of veg, pasta/rice/potatoes.

Treat yourself to something that you really like once or twice a week.

Do you walk or swim?

Go to weightwatchers and they will have some really good recipes. Lots of water, tonnes of veg to fill you up, less of fruit as its sugary. Swap white stuff bread, pasta, rice for brown stuff- wholemeal. Eat as much veg as you like, some fruit. A piece of meat no bigger than a pack of cards. 2 oz of carbs in a meal. Snack on natural nuts and dried fruit, rice cakes and cottage cheese. If you are desperate for chocolate have one square of the dark stuff. It won't feel great at first, but you will get so used to it, that cheapo milk chocolate trash bars will taste cloying. Cut out cream, butter and swap milk for skimmed. Low fat natural yoghurt's good too for maintaining calcium. Jacket sweet potatoes instead of normal potatoes. Beware low fat ready meals- they tend to be low fat but high in sugar. Do lots of exercise.

I wonder, with wanting to lose so much weight, whether it would be worth starting with the GP?

I went to my GP (I have a similar amount to lose ideally) and, although she has been brilliant with my PND and anything else I've seen her for, she wasn't particularly helpful over this, didn't suggest anything and I came away no further on.

Has Anyone had a good experience with weightloss and gp, Ive seen every gp at my surgery and have tried to tell them that my weight goes hand in hand with depression ie it's making it worse and no1 seems to listen. Also I suffer terrible insomnia so any help will be grateful ( except for the endless gp advice of a warm drink and some exercise it doesn't work for me!)I don't do swimming, the problem I have with walking is I can only do 15 minutes as I get excruciating back pain, I think the weight gain was so quick it shocked my body.

Hi Kimmy

There are lots and lots of resources out there to help you lose weight. Unfortunately nothing to help you stick to anything! Which is my problem. I have 6 stone to lose and keep starting and stopping various diets.

You need to exercise but that will become easier as you lose weight. A bit of a vicious circle in a way but it will get easier. It has been proven that short bursts of exercise are as effective as longer ones. I have read of people who started by only being able to walk to the end of their block. So you can walk for 15 mins. Do it. Do it at least 3 times a day.

What are your weaknesses with food? With me it is bread and biscuits and crisps etc. I can snack on them all day long.

There is a low carb thread on here which I am supposed to be doing but I changed again today (!) to a different plan. Low carb does work though and it can be done MUCH healthier than people think.

SLimming World or Weight Watchers are both also very good. You can go to meetings or do them on-line. TEsco also have an online diet site.

Or you could devise your own plan. Say porridge for breakfast, snack of fruit and some almonds or something mid morning. Soup or a salad or sandwich at lunch. Another snack of fruit - I like oatcakes with a banana. And a sensible dinner. And nothing after dinner.

I think things like Weight Watchers are good because the resources are great with regards to nice tasty recipes etc. - depends if you are into cooking.

I did weight watcher when I was like ten stone the problem I have is I'm so embarrassed I don't want to go anywhere. I go to the shop and I have to look at everyone to see if anyone I recognize is there if it even remotely looks like them I hide?! what's this fat flush plan about anyone? I really appreciate all the support x

I don't know about the Fat Flush plan but you can do Weight Watchers on-line. You don't have to go to an actual meeting. Same with Slimming World.

All true. I'm going to Rosemary Conley because it's also an exercise class. I paid for a whole year up front and I still don't stick to it. Since last Nov I've lost a stone, which is peanuts considering my size. I want to TTC next month and should have lost more but I just cannot get motivated. I started low carbing but after three days I was so desperate for tea and fruit that I caved in. It's so so hard.

hi kimmy

its doable on a low income. i'm low carbing ,i know this works for me as done it before,so giving it a go again

need to lose 4 stone.

gentle exercise....a quick walk each day etc....as you lose weight you'll be able to manage more

what are your food weaknesses?

Kimmy go to your GP and get refferred to WW, this will give you 3 months free with them. I have 7 stone to lose, it is going very slowly but is fitting in with my family and their eating habits and doing stuff with friends.

Thank you I'll have a look at the book. My weakness is cheese and cos I can't sleep the late night boredom kicks in, any tips on insomnia as I think it will help weightloss. You are all brilliant I'm glad I'm not alone x

am intrigued that yuo managed to put on so much weight so quickly. how did that actually happen ? have you though t about what your relationship with food is based on ? watching the paul mckeena dvd , i can make you thin', just to consider the role that food has in your life might help. his is not a diet, but just makes you think about why we all eat what we eat.
please just start. hopefully the weight loss will inspire you. i think you could lose quite a bit by july.

you may indeed need ww, or low carbing or something more dramatic. but i like the fact that paul mckeena lets you eat what you want when you want. nothing is denied. but you have to listen to you body to ask why am i actually eating this. says the woman who can easily scoff 3 packets of crisps in one sitting. don't listen to a word i say !!

You will know from previous experience whether you will find the structure of WW/SW helpful (even if you do online rather than classes). I am 1.5 stone into a 5 stone planned weight loss. I count calories and fat grams (I have high cholesterol so am v. careful about saturated fats). I aim for 1500 calories per day/1lb weight loss per week - i.e. a good breakfast (porridge or wholemeal toast and marmalade or low fat yoghurt and fruit) a sensible lunch (sandwich or salad) and sensible dinner (e.g. baked potato, fillet of fish, and veg) with healthy snacks - fruit/veg/rice cakes etc. Think of exercise as being as much for health as for weight loss at the moment. You might find the practice nurse more useful than the GP for weight loss advice.

The WW cookbooks are useful even if you don't do WW IME.

I am not counting calories or points as such, just cutting down drastically on certain foods.

The idea of low-carb is not one that I like as I feel that everything in moderation is a much better starting point.

If you deny yourself cheese, you will crave it so much that instead of eating just a small slice, you will eat half a lb.

Start by reducing your portion sizes. I have two small slices of homemade (wholemeal) bread for breakfast with scape of butter and a tsp of marmelade.

Lunch (or dinner) is often pasta with LOTS of veg and a wee bit of chicken or salmon or beef.

Second 'meal' is either Special K or sandwich with ham/beef/chicken and lots of salad, again on wholemeal bread.

You could do something that suits you rather than trying to fit in with something that whoever is selling the book or the weight loss programme.

Low carbing means you can snack on cheese!!

Can't help much with the wieght loss thing athough when I need to shift some weight (have just lost 3/4 of a stone) I use the low-fat diet which seems to work well for me. I'm not sure how good it is for your health doing it long term though.

But the insomnia. Can you identify what triggers it? Are you worrying about things? If so, write them down as a sort of 'to do' list for the next day. Sometimes the worry about worrying (iyswim) can be enough to stop you sleeping.

Check your room. Is it too hot/cold? Are your bedclothes comfy? Is your bed comfy? Do you have a tv in there? If so, don't watch it.

Stop drinking any caffeinated drinks after about 4 or 5 pm. DOn't drink alcohol in the hope that it'll send you off to sleep- it may do for one night but it'll be poor sleep and will disrupt subsequent nights. Don't eat anything heavy too late in the evening. Have a light snack later on with a cup of warm milk (I usually have a couple of very plain biscuits).

Have a warm - or hot- bath. Switch off the television half an hour before going to bed/ the time you plan to be sleeping. Read a gentle book.

MAny people use lavendar pillows (I hate the smell, myself) or drops of lavendar oil on a hanky near the bed. Try chamomile tea. Actually some gentle exercise is extremely helpful.

Erm... what else have I tried over the years.

Try a change of scene. SLeep upside down in the bed. Have a ritual as a 'trigger' for your mind to know that it's time to sleep(works for babies, can also work for adults)

Get a bit cold before getting into bed and take a hot water bottle. The sudden change in temperature can help.

Try herbal sleeping pills. I sometimes use Kalms herbal which are quite good.

Failing all of that, go to your gp. Don't be fobbed off with advice of a hot drink. Tell him you've done all that and need more help. I used Zopiclone for several years (not all the time, just for the periods when my insomnia was at its worst) and it was a lifesaver.

Get your sleep sorted first. Anything else will seem much too hard if you're struggling to stay awake.