Really lost as what to don

[checkedcloth]

I really would appreciate some advice. I’m currently 11st 6lbs (I’m 5’4) and would really like to loose about 7-8 pounds. My clothes feel tight and my face looks bloated.

I’ve been diagnosed as peri menopausal (I’m 43) and I know that loosing some weight would help with the symptoms

I’ve been trying to loose this weight for about 2 years, but go round in circles.

I cut out snacks / crisps and booze for three weeks this month, and lost 1lb. Utterly disheartening.

I seem to do well if I don’t eat carbs, but then I don’t know how to fit that in as part of family meals (DCs and 7 and 10). DH doesn’t need to loose weight and cane essentially eat anything.

I have a really stressful job in the NHS, regularly do on calls, and commute for 2 hours a day in total so I’m pretty knackered. Being able to organise myself re a diet just feels impossible in all of that. DH doesn’t help - I asked him to get some low carb soups for me at the supermarket, so he bought home potato soup. So I’ll have to organise and cook everything for myself

However I need to do something - but just don’t know where to start.

That's great that you lost 1lb. Keep going and make any small changes you can.

Just have a slightly smaller portion of cars at family meals maybe? Fill half your plate with salad and veggies, then have a little portion of carbs.

I would look into HRT. It completely cured my bloating and I personally believe it helps a lot with maintaining your metabolism, not to mention helping with sleeping.

I do low carb, I just eat the non carb part of the meal and add veg or salad. It's actually really easy.

If you've only lost a pound in three weeks, then you're not at much of , if any, of a calorie deficit. That pound could be a natural fluctuation. So if you can't low carb, then basically you're into calorie counting unless you do something like slimming world of some other diet plan.

Right now, you're basically eating the right amount to maintain your weight.

As a nurse I hear you with the being knackered and stressed part! I escaped the NHS 7 years ago (after 15 years on the wards) when I was obese, knackered and stressed. I know how hard it is too take care of yourself when you're exhausted. Since then, I've managed to lose weight and keep it off. I echo what others are saying, either don't eat the carb bit and have extra veg/salad instead or at least halve the portion of the carb bit. Well done for cutting out the snacks/booze, even if you haven't lost much weight so far, your body thanks you 😊

I've come to the conclusion that the booze and snacks are what make me put on weight, but avoiding them only gets me to maintenance.
I've been doing 16:8 as a form of intermittent fasting, I wonder if 5:2 might work for you - doing the '2' on days when you are off and have a bit more thinking time?
I CBA to cook seperately so have been making a few healthier versions of family meals (sneak some more veg in) and then serving myself a modest portion with a big heap of extra veg - the Steamfresh pouches are good for getting an easy additional serving of mixed veg. For example tonight we had cottage pie, but I put some celery, leek, mushrooms and spring onion into the mince bit and then topped it with mashed swede and carrot (in a bag from Iceland!) instead of potato, and then did broccoli for everyone and an extra steam bag of veg for me. I'm not calorie counting or weighing but on the few days I have entered homecooked meals into MFP a big dinner as long as it contains lots of veg is about 500-600 cals.

Thank you all for the replies. I will look at how I can get the carbs reduced at family meals for me.

Yes - agree I could calorie count, and due to my commute I’m not moving as much as I used too hence I’m not burning the calories

Yep - NHS nursing means that by the end of the day there is absolutely nothing left to give emotionally or physically

Could you tell us a bit more about some of your typical evening meals, and perhaps we could make some suggestions?

I make one change at a time. So no more cereal for breakfast, but full fat Greek yogurt, berries, nuts and seeds. Then I replaced sandwiches for salads (I really wasn't eating enough vegetables). Then I gave up Diet Coke (couldn't believe how this helped with perimenopausal symptoms!). And so on...

I also love the Four Pillar Plan for general health/life improvement.

Our main meals are, for example, spag Bol, scampi & chips, chilli with rice, lasagna.

DH and DC’s like that sort of thing - and to be fair DH does most of the main meals in the week as I’m home late.

Going to look at the four pillar plan.

My problem is I am too exhausted at the weekend to spend anytime strategically thinking and planning what meals I should eat for the week coming. I’m regularly working 50 hours a week plus on calls. Am broken!

You don’t sound overweight, you sound pressured to lose weight, you eat healthy and have a good hard working job?

Yes, i don’t think it’s your eating that’s causing your problems. Something has to give in a situation like this and it sounds as that’s been your health.

Thanks all - that’s helpful insight. I do think I eat a lot of carbs though and certainly I hardly drink any water which isn’t helping.

I suppose I keep thinking that I can sustain this level of work on a low fat, low carb diet!

I do like the idea from the poster above about changing one meal at a time though - thanks you

Things like spag Bol or chilli is easy to remove the carbs. Just have veg or a salad with the mince instead. On nights where it's things like scampi or lasagna you could knock yourself up something seperate.