5 foot and over 14 stone

[Wobblymama01]

As above 😱

Currently weigh this morning 14.3. BMI just under 40.

I do have an underactive thyroid and the GP days when it's sorted I'll lose weight but it's been 9 months and I'm gaining not losing. My thyroid will be fine for a couple of weeks, then not fine, then fine again. It's never really settled and I'm constantly tweaking the dose. I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid in June 2022.

3 years ago just as lockdown started I was 11.6 and very happy at that weight. I was a size 16 I'm now a 20.

I'm also under alot of permanent stress (caring responsibilities) and I'm a SAHM to school age children.

I did do SW but I don't have the headspace for it.

I want to try saxenda but I don't think they'll prescribe it with an underactive thyroid?

I just feel so big. I've never been this heavy. I don't recognise myself on the mirror. Even my favourite boots wont zip up over my calves now. I can't walk up the stairs without gasping for breath.

Recently a consultant told me my health was at risk due to my weight and I need to see a GP. GP said oh it'll be your thyroid?!

I eat well ( I think) will list a typical day below. I also swim once a week and do 30 lengths in 25 mins

Breakfast (used to skip but trying to eat now) usually porridge sachet with milk and either sliced banana or pear. Sprinkle of mixed seeds for good fats

Lunch either leftovers from previous night, or soup and cheese and crackers. Or ramen. Or jacket and tuna. Normal stuff really.

Dinner things like homemade curry and rice, meatballs and spaghetti, chilli and rice. Just normal meals.

Limit alcohol maybe share a bottle of wine with DH on a weekend. Bag of crisps and share a large bar of chocolate with DH on a weekend.

Any advice thanks!

I can only lose weight with low carb and no alcohol. The 'treats' at the weekend will be ruin any good work in the week.

I'm 5' 1" and I was 14, 4. I was horrified. I'm still very big at just under 13 stone now and I've been following the "Why do we eat too much" advice.

I can only really lose weight by lowering carbs and avoiding all sugar or else I just become completely obsessed by food and end up binging.

You sound way fitter than me though if that makes you feel better at all!

What are your portions like? During the day do you snack much? Do you walk much?

All the usual stuff aside, it sounds like you need to go back to your GP.

I think Fast 800 would work well for you. It's tough for the first week or two but then becomes surprisingly easy. The results are quick (most people lost 4-7lb in the first week and then at least 2-3lb thereafter).

I don't really snack that much, I did used to raid the DC lunchbox snacks but have cut down! I don't walk much as have plantar fascitis and also a disabled child so we naturally take the car more as DC cant walk far.

I think I need to work on portion control, especially at dinner. Often my portion size is the same as my (6foot2, 13 stone) DH. Im trying to add more veg to my plate the old slimming world trick 😂

Work out your energy needs by working out your tdee. Google with give you a calculator tool. Then inout all your food into something like MyFitnessPal. Weigh everything and scan the barcodes to be accurate. Be honest with yourself about how much you are eating. I was horrified when I first did this and realised how big my portions were. It's so easy to do. Oil in cooking was the biggest shock along with cheese.

Ditch the porridge sachets and use proper porridge oats. Much cheaper and less processed with nothing added. I eat porridge every day with some chia seeds and golden syrup. I don't demonise any food. Healthy balance.

Eat normal food but less of it and go back to your GP. You need medical support to do this especially as you were obese to start with before the weight gain. Maybe kẻo a good diary of what you eat and how you feel. Proper portions are actually pretty small for most thing except vegetables which are mostly a lot bigger than we think.

What about intermittent fasting? 18:6.

Eating between 12-6pm or whatever timings suits your lifestyle?

Im a short arse too and was 16 stone at my heaviest. I’ve lost 4stone doing IF over the last 13 months. I still have about 2 more to lose, but I do IF and it’s really the only diet that works for me. I’ve done weight watchers, slimming world, slim fast, all sorts of crazy diets and fasting is the one that suits me.

My bmi was over 40, morbidly obese, and it’s now down into overweight.

I think I need to work on portion control, especially at dinner. Often my portion size is the same as my (6foot2, 13 stone) DH

Do as PO said and weigh out everything & input in my fitness pal. Although what you are eating doesn't sound unhealthy you must Be eating too much of it

I agree about porridge - much cheaper to have actual porridge oats than sachets too. I usually add some frozen fruit - I keep a variety in the freezer and sometimes the bigger berries get a few seconds in the microwave before I add the rest.

Are you able to do swimming at all?

Porridge is amazing and very easy on the bank balance. £1.40 for a kilo from Waitrose essentials range. Lasts ages. Other places have it cheaper like Asda but it had a strange texture and the oats were smaller. Tesco is good too. Using semi skimmed milk keeps ne more full than skimmed although I can't stand semi in tea or on cereal. Skimmed only from age 7 so hard to go back. Asda chia seeds are cheaper than anywhere else I've looked. I let the oats, chia and milk sit for 20-30 minutes before cooking so the seeds swell and it takes less time to cook. 1/2 cup oats, 1 cup milk, half teaspoon chia or whatever amount you prefer. Oats help lower LDL cholesterol levels so all in all porridge is a grand breakfast.

Thanks all for the lovely replies so far.

Re the porridge recommendations, I think the thing I like about the sachets is the are so easy I just use the plain Quaker ones not the flavoured ones.

If I was to measure oats and milk how much would I need? How long in the microwave? I think the sachets are 27g.

Someone upthread asked about swimming. I swim once a week, 30 lengths in approx 25 mins. Id like to go more often but tricky to fit in more at the moment.

I've found some portion recommendations online it said cooked pasta a portion is something like 180g cooked so I think I'm going to start weighing pasta and rice (can't remember rice wieght off top of my head) to see if it's my portion control that's the problem.

I can loose weight by eating no carbs.

No bread spuds crisps pizza etc.

I might have to do that again. Sigh.
Hope you find a good solution.

Nonsense 💯

The swimming is great but one session of exercise a week won't do much for weight loss. Your diet is probably not the main issue unless you are eating huge amounts. What is really going to get the weight off is exercise. Start walking more, as much as you possibly can. You need to factor walking instead of driving into your day. It really does work wonders.

@Callmenat so the head of dietetics and nutrition at our NHS Foundation Trust is teaching nonsense is she? What are your qualifications?

I've gone from 68.6kg to 56.6kg since September eating a diet of normal food just less of it and doing plenty of walking. I understand your foot issues don't allow for this though. I have a gym ball and bounce on that whilst watching tv. It's been great for my thighs and abs. Is that something you could do?

Sounds like she is teaching nonsense 💯 my qualifications are school of life not academic nonsense like that. Ridiculous

@Callmenat oh, that's a shame.

One word. Keto. It works for losing weight

It is a shame. People shouldn't post such nonsense. Misleading as well

@Callmenat quite.