Bmi 40+

[FriendOrFaux]

Hi all.
I have just been to the GP for help regarding my weight.
He measured me and my bmi is 42.
I have tried lots of things to lose weight and failed in all of them. I stopped smoking 5 years ago and gained lots of weight, Though I was big before (dress size 16-18).

Doc suggested keeping food and activity diary and I go back in 3 weeks.
Blood pressure normal.
No sign of diabetes (was tested in November.)

I wish I could afford a gastric band, I was hoping doc would prescribe Orlistat but he said no as its available over the counter.
Does anyone have any experience if it works, or any words of wisdom? Feel like I wasted my time seeing the gp.

I don't think it was a waste of time. I also think the doctor's idea of keeping a diary of what you eat and how much exercise you do is a good idea, especially if you download everything you eat into an app eg. mfp which will tell you how many calories you're consuming. Of course you would have to be totally honest about how much you eat on a normal day. The diary could be useful for identifying where the extra calories are coming from. Are your meals higher in calories than you think. Are you mindlessly snacking, if so what time of the day is the 'danger time'.

There's a long running thread on here. I think they may be on no7 by now. It's for those who have 100lbs, or more, to lose. They could help to support you because they will understand just how hard it is to lose a lot of weight.

Here is my journey, just to show you how entirely possible it is for you to be a healthy size 10 by Christmas.

My story is very similar to yours as it happens. I gave up smoking Jan 2013 and weight crept up, although I have always been overweight and was 12st (and size 16) when I got married 15y ago and before having children.

I lost 8 stone in 12 months without doing anything fancy. I eat normal food but ensure it is healthy. 3/4 of any meal is vegetables, the rest low fat protein (meat or pulses for example). I don't eat breakfast, I don't snack, I cook from scratch using whole foods - nothing processed at all (so no bread, no pasta, no freezer meals).

I have 4 children (aged 4-14) and we all eat the same dinners, so they all have much healthier diets too.

I have also embraced exercising (given that my aim was to "be healthy" and exercising is part of that). But don't be put off by the idea of exercising. Most of my weight loss is down to the food I eat, rather than exercise.

Thank you for the replies.
Fate destiny - that is AMAZING!!!!!!!

I'm going to print off some food diaries now, and do a similar spreadsheet to yours.

I would love to lose 8 stone, that would be an absolute dream.
Have you found it easy to maintain?

So far, yes. I indulged over Christmas, but those kinds of treats are part of a wider healthy lifestyle. So while I put on half a stone over Christmas, and may well do the same on holiday or whatever, that is in the context of a healthy diet and daily exercise all the rest of the time.

I don't feel like I've "finished my diet" now im a healthy weight. My diet is what it is now, it won't change. I won't go back to how I used to eat so there is no "finished dieting" - it's a long term thing.

My aim is to maintain within a stone but always on healthy BMI (which is under 10st4 for me). So my current aim is 9st to 9st7 to maintain and go no more than 10st during indulgent times. I hope over this year to drop that to 8st7 to 9st to maintain and no more than 9st7 during indulgent times.

Hi Friend. Come on over to the 100lbs plus club in this forum. Fate hangs out there too and she's right, it's so completely possible. I'm 95lbs in to my weight loss journey (I'm aiming to lose 8 stone so I've got about 18lbs to go). But I'm sat here now in a size 10 shirt which I never thought would happen.

I'm just an ordinary person. If I can do it, so can you.

My BMI is 40.2 (hangs head in shame)
I am using my fitness pal to track what I eat
I got a shock at the Gp and hadnt realised how bad it had got. I have lost about 4 pounds in two weeks so far but it seems a never ending task
GP also did a blood test which said I am low iron what ever that means and I am going back for full results next week
Also just been prescribed Orlistat but have heard some horror stories about the side effects LOL

Use myfitnesspal, be absolutely HONEST with what you put in there. Eat as you would do normally for a week, be in for a shock for how many calories you are consuming.

Then calculate your TDEE. Aim for a 40% protein intake daily, balanced, healthy food. don't bother with yet another faddy diet, just stick to a calorie number & eat proper food. Keep away from sugar, keep away from processed carbs. Stick to the numbers. Unless you have some sort of medical condition, & as long as you are in deficit every day, you will lose weight. It's really that simple.

It's a long, gradual process, which will teach you a whole lot more than having an operation, being given a drug or whatever to lose weight. It goes on gradually, it comes off gradually. It will help change your relationship with food for the future too.

What is TDEE.?

tdeecalculator.net/

TDEE is used for giving an idea on how many calories you burn on a day to day basis. It will give you a starting point to work from, then minus a figure to achieve your deficit. As you lose weight, your TDEE drops & you adjust your deficit accordingly.

You can plug the numbers straight into MFP to aim for.

Oh, and never eat your exercise calories back either. Aim for the same number regardless.

My BMI is over 40. I know what I should be doing but my eating is so disordered now and I feel so debilitated by my size it just feels hopeless now :(

My dr prescribed me orlistat it works well it some slightly horrible side effects but if you can put up with that your ok. Some doctors say no but if you try another they might say yes. I did ask another doctor first and he said no.

Mommy moo
Do you think it helped with weight loss

I’ve mentioned it before, investing in a smart scale is really helpful.
There will be times when due to muscle or salt the numbers don’t reflect the care and attention your putting into your weight loss.
The smart scales and iPhone apps help you see and understand a bit more about the process and not get discouraged.
Remember it’s about portion sizes and good food choices.

Yes I do. I'm unable to exercise due to health issues but my weight was going up due to certain medications and again health issues. And from beginning of jan to now I've lost 3kg it's not a lot but slow and steady is better than fast. And my doctor is happy with it.

Another vote for the 100lbs thread - loads of people at different stages who all understand this is a long haul BUT definitely do-able. It took me just under 18 months to get 70lbs off. I am grappling with the "final" 14lbs now but it's challenging in a different way. I was not as hard-core as Fate so I'd say I had pasta/rice/potato pretty much every day ...but in rather different portions than before! I did cut right back on bread. I didn't start exercise until I was about 3 stone down, but do now find it's a fun and important part of my week (I aim to run 3x per week, life permitting).

Does your GP practice have anyone who offers weight loss support? One of the practice nurses specialises in this at my practice, so she was there for regular check ins / chats / to keep me going. I found that really helpful. Good luck, you can do this!

5 stone is amazing Magickeys
It does seem daunting when you have so much to lose. I am breaking it down into smaller chunks and taking it a stone at a time.
(I had porridge and berries for breakfast and I am feeling hungry)