Does anyone need to lose weight for serious health reasons?

[RedDoughnut]

I don't mean a few pounds to reduce diabetes risk and that sort of thing.

I weigh nearly 18 stones. I want to chat to fellow very heavy people.

I was told I need a hysterectomy but I'm too fat for the NHS gynaecologist to add me to the waiting list.
I'm constantly bleeding and anaemic again despite an iron infusion just 4 months ago, I'm definitely taking solace in food and I'm too knackered ( and often messy due to bleeding ) to move
Meanwhile I now have fatty changes in my liver.

So it's getting pretty serious.
I have lost about 7lbs and I have a voucher to go to Slimming World for 12 weeks for free.

It's all very well to lose weight to look better or feel a bit better but I think I'm in medical trouble because I'm fat.

Is anyone in a similar boat?

I’m almost the same weight and it worries me very much but I’m finding it very hard to get the motivation to lose.

I’ve got a number of little things wrong that I think are probably connected but I haven’t got the time/energy to see a doctor - my dad has cancer and my partner is having tests for something potentially serious, I don’t feel like I’ve got the headspace to find out I’m not in good health as well.

I know I need to lose weight and I know what I need to do but life just keeps getting in the way 🙁

I'm 18.5 stone. I've had type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis for 20 years. I recently had a load of tests because I've been suffering from memory problems and they're saying it's due to my high blood sugar - it's affecting the circulation to my brain, which will cause brain damage and ultimately vascular dementia. The 3 types of medication I'm on aren't helpng, I need to lose the weight to get the diabetes under control, to save my brain.

Oh and I have high blood pressure too.

Time for a big change, somehow....

Yes, I was heavier than you and had WLS, I lost weight prior to that in preparation and in total have lost six and a half stone

My main issue was blood pressure, was very high and despite being on medication seemed still too high to my mind (although doctors kept saying it was ok, it wasnt ok, not sure why they do that)

Anyway the blood pressure has plummeted, one day I hope to come off the meds

Also prior to all this, about 18 months before I gave up bread/bready type products and pain in my joints got better.

My knees and arthritis in my foot is not better however, inf act they're worse, not sure how that has come about given there is far less weight and pressure on them

Im also slightly worried because Im on PPIs for stomach acid, a common side effect of a gastric sleeve and theres a report this morning about it causing dementia, bloody typical

Good luck OP

Don’t underestimate how much you can transform your health just by what you eat.

a website called Diet Doctor is a really good place to learn about how good food can heal many conditions including t2 diabetes

Take your time to understand the mechanics of how food can heal and maybe it will motivate you some more, it suddenly becomes possible when you understand the mechanisms

I've been diagnosed with non alcoholic steatohepatitis too, during lockdown. Told that the only treatment is to lose weight. It concerns me that they haven't tested me for pre diabetes or having t2 as often they can go hand in hand.

I was 14.12. Lost a stone using the 12 week slimming world referral scheme and another stone since. But I still occasionally get the same nagging ache by my liver which reminds me that I have not lost enough weight yet.

I don't want it to progress. A family friend had it (q severely -he wasn't fat but had a large round belly that was solid to touch) and developed liver cancer. NaFL raisea the risk of developing liver cancer so I want to lower the risk.

I'm going to get healthier.

I'm going to lose weight.

I weigh more than you and its affecting my mobility. I just dont know where to start (having tried diets before and ended up fatter etc.)

I would start by making small changes. Otherwise it can feel very overwhelming.

Reducing the amount of ultra processed foods would be a good start. What is in the food we buy is quite scary.

Reducing carbs is important too. Generally they can be replaced with healthier versions.

the Freshwell App is free and very useful about carbs.

The Glucose Goddess method might help too. Reduces cravings and keeps blood sugar stable. You can follow her on Instagram.

Concentrate on eating in a more healthy way rather than a strict diet as you are more likely to stick to it.

And if you do go down the Slimming World route try and ignore the whole low calorie, low fat and low sugar foods they push. Low fat natural or Greek yogurt with berries is much better for you than a Muller Light.

Yes I need to lose weight and generally get healthier to help with my epilepsy. My weight isn’t directly causing seizures, but eating better/exercising will help in the long run. Plus easier to get me up after a tonic-clonic!

Calorie counting with Nutra-Check with intermittent fasting is my favourite way. I am officially starting today so looking forward to seeing how we get on!

I'm going to use Slimming World as a means to evidence to my gynaecologist I'm serious about losing weight for the hysterectomy.

I don't want to go down the route of Muller lights, babybel cheese and making cakes from Weetabix.

I can do it if I stay in the right mind space.

Does anyone want to join me?
No diet plans involved, just do what suits you to try to turn our health around.

Here is a positive story to hopefully encourage you about my sister. She was very overweight at 16 stone and 5ft 2. As well as diabetes she had a lot of other health issues. She lost six stone.

Hers was mainly emotional eating, she got out of the very negative situation she was in, her marriage. She stopped eating the chocolate and biscuits she ate every day and went low carb and with much smaller portions, I think she bought smaller plates. I have dinner plates I bought a couple of years ago and also some that were DH Granny’s from the 1960’s. Modern dinner plates are much bigger, it’s quite shocking when you look at them side by side.

She did also go along to a weight loss programme, I can’t remember if it was slimming world or weight watchers. DH had only ever known her fat, he said he would never have been realised it was the same person. She remarried and seems very happy, she has kept the weight off for about six years now.

Good luck, I was relieved when she lost the weight because she was making herself so unwell.

Similar weight. I really need to shed the weight. Am starting to panic that I’m lining myself up to be a diabetic. I feel awful and disgusting and really need to sort myself out.

That sounds like a sensible plan @RedDoughnut. Slimming World can work if as you say you avoid the Muller Light mindset. Although a piece of fruit and a Babybel is my afternoon snack of choice! Not the low fat Babybel though.