Is it possible for morbidly Obese to lose the weight?!

[OneMoreStepAlongTheRoadIGo]

I've started on my own zoe-eque plan to try and eat healthier and lose the ton fo weight I need to... BUT...

I keep hearing that it's near impossible for those morbidly Obese to do this without surgery or drugs. I dont have access to those although I wanted to try this way first.

Is this true? Is this lifestyle factors which I want to change or is it something metabolic? Like the fat is another organ thing?

Id love to hear from anyone who has done it and kept it off.

Or anyone who knows these things.

Of course it's possible. It's hard to keep it off but of course you are capable.

Yes you can loose weight, as long as you're in a calorie deficit. You can do this!!!!

I used to be 15 stone. I started off with the 5:2 but did it 4:3. I lost 5 stone. I maintained it until lockdown doing 2 fast days a week but increasing my calorie intake to around 800-1000 a day.

During lockdown I put on 2 stone. I have managed to lose a stone and half and am now doing the plant thing and bought Tim Spector’s book. I’m feeling healthier and have cut out rubbish. I don’t crave it any more.

start by small things and you will get there good luck.

Edit: I’ve tried weigh watchers. Slimming world, Dylan, hay diet and loads more.
Only thing that worked for me was the 5:2 which I still do with the plant diet.

It is possible. But I’ve heard that the NHS won’t pay for loose skin removal if you lose the weight naturally, whereas if you lose the weight from a gastric band they will pay for skin removal.

Dylan??? Dukan!

Of course it is possible. Even with loose skin, your quality of life will be improved not to mention health. You just need to be very patient as you'll get times when you don't lose any weight or inches despite eating right and working out. You have to change your life basically and learn other healthier coping skills.

Any if the other methods for weightloss include significant changes to eating and exercise. They are the foundation of weightloss. Good luck. I mean that sincerely being morbidly obese is bloody hard..

I was 23 and a half stone. I'm now down to 17 and a half stone. I've managed this in a year. I'm hoping in another year I'll be at my goal of 14stone . Ir can be done but it is hard work

Why are people obsessed with loose skin on this site!!!!

OP statistically its unlikely, thats what is meant by 'not possible'

But it is possible, just incredibly hard, lots of factors work against you. It also depends what you mean by morbidly obese, the category goes across quite a wide range, you might be only a few stone overweight dependent on your height, or you might be 10 stone overweight.

I've changed what I'm eating quite a bit the last 3 weeks, but it's Listening to experts that seem to have a caveat for morbidly Obese.

Both Tim Spector and Chris van tulleken (my current favourite person) have said its less than 1% chance without surgery or drugs. And they're the people who seem to be talking sustainable longterm change...

So my brain is saying "if even they think there's a less than 1% chance is this futile."

Those of you saying "of course" have you looked into it? A good Google suggests that research shows its near impossible.

How many of us would start a treatment with a 1% success rate.

I did wonder if maybe it was a medical thing - the fat becomes another organ/homeostasis type thing?

I dont want surgery but if its literally the only thing that works maybe I ought to?!

My bmi is 50 and I think I've started down the right path of change with food, but I've been on drugs that made me weight gain too (coming off now).

I also find that not having things in the house that I like helpful. Eg I don’t buy biscuits or crisps I like but still have stuff in that I can offer if someone comes over.

Yep it's possible, I've gone from 19 stone (BMI somewhere in the 40s) to 11 stone in 15 months. For me it's been no alcohol, lots of exercise (whatever you can manage) and much smaller, regular low-carb meals with nothing in between, particularly sugary stuff. Hunger is a challenge - haven't quite cracked that one! - but the weight loss makes it feel worth it. Good luck.

@bellac11 I'm 10 stone overweight ... 😭

And yes currently I'd take "lose skin" if it meant I was healthy/could move better etc.

@delilabell well done! What's helped you keep on at it? I am trying to tell myself that getting down to what I used to think was crazy overweight would still bring changes.

I also keep hearing this and I think well....what do we do then?!?

Everyone seems to be on some sort of tablet or injection on this site. How much do you have to lose? I started with a BMI of 43 and am currently down to 32 (5 stone down). I have another 3.5 stone to lose to be 'normal'. I've done it with diet and exercise. Im thinking maintaining is going to be as hard if not harder but am determined.

Come and join us on the 10 stone to lose thread...if that's anywhere near what you have to lose?!

@squashi that's so encouraging to hear. Well done. I'm starting a few stone higher but would be happy if I end up a "bit obese" rather than the extreme I am now.

You say hungers a challenge- are you constantly hungry? Are you following a plan?

@chalky well done! Yes I've over 10stone to lose andI was getting my head around "small steps" and "making change" but it's every now and then I'll hear someone I respect say its near impossible (ie Tim spector last night) and panic that there's some physical reason why not.

Or if I need to just plan for surgery .

Yes I was 10 stone overweight, BMI of 47

I had a gastric sleeve. My doctor had been talking about it for ages and ages and I thought for some reason that I couldnt/shouldnt, but on exploring it, its becausse I couldnt ever consider I was going to be successful at losing weight and something clicked and I thought, 'I deserve to be healthy'. Ive probably got about 30 years left, I dont want to spend another 3 decades 'just going to do it this time' and then failing again.

I read all the information you have also read. Do bear in mind that 1% is 1 in every 100 people, so thats a lot of people who are successful without surgery. I also dont know how that is measured anyway, so other posters on this thread who have been successful, they're not on some list somewhere so the stats might not be that accurate. On the other hand, how many are going to keep it off too. That also counts for people that have surgery.

I cant tell you the difference its made to me and my health, too many positives to go into

There are non surgical options now like the balloon and the non surgical sleeve which is reversible.

Yes it’s absolutely possible.

I did it.

I lost 9 stone with keto. I left my job and retrained as a clinical dietician and now I help people like you.

Yea it’s possible.

The reason the numbers for success are so low is because diet culture is so fucked up.

There’s so many people pedalling the ‘secret to weight loss’ it’s damaging.

To be morbidly obese (which includes me at one point) you have to have issues around eating. There’s emotional issues, possible health issues or knowledge issues (not understanding portions sizes etc).

Most people don’t tackle those issues. They just eat less. Which means they eventually fall off the wagon and go back to their old habit. I reached out to the Gp after putting on about 6 stones. I left an abusive marriage, became a single parent, had to move area, the pandemic hit then my mum died. The only help the go gave me was for someone to speak to me regarding how to cook healthy meals and cooking classes. I used to be a competitive athlete, I know how to eat healthy. I used to own a restaurant, I know how to cook. I needed help with dealing with my emotions, stress and exhaustion. Not telling how to cook.

I have had to do that alone and The weight is coming off and I am getting back into new habits.

weightloss surgery and tablets have a lot of side effects. They aren’t a magic bullet for the morbidly obese either.

Ok I'll admit I haven't made small steps - I've gone for it. Extreme situations call for extreme solutions right? I've done the Fast 800 and followed it pretty much completely. I started on 20 April. So 5 stone in 5.5 months.

I'm desperate for this to work. I don't mind being a bit obsessive about it - I feel like I need to be as if I relax I'll go into free-fall. I also realise it's basically a diet for life. Which is utterly miserable, but so is the alternative!!

Two of my friends went from morbidly obese to a healthy weight in their 40's using slimming world and running. They've maintained their weight and running for at least 5 years now, that includes the pandemic and injuries. They have no dc's though which must make it easier.
They used to walk the parkrun route when no-one was around before they even tried walking with people and gradually built up to jog/walk then jogging and running. They go to a running group too.

My sister was 10 stone overweight. She lost it over 18 months. Tracked everything she ate so was in calorie she needed to be, weighed everything.

she started walking, not far at first but she did an hours loop everyday, gradually the pace quickened so the hour took her further.

she now hill walks and 4 years on has kept the weight off. I don’t see her putting it back on.

And also, as pp said, we aren’t all on a list.

I would have a look at the study. Look at what sample size, where the data comes from, how they measured ‘success’ and so on.

Not true. In most cases neither is funded as its considered cosmetic and not a heath need. Its sometimes funded if get skin fold infections/sores etc and v rarely due to the mental heath impact... but makes zero difference as to how it occurred

Op you can def lose weight yourself and it's likely to be more sustainable if make lifestyle changes. Most I know at the more extremes of bmi lose quicker than those less overweight. Good luck theres so many health benefits

I did the fast 800 and lost 5/ stone
but my body couldn’t keep it up ,it was like something I couldn’t control took over and I just needed to eat ..it was bizarre
so back to square one
I have downloaded the nhs healthy eating app .and I log my foods and they tell me how much to eat ,I also swim every day ,and I’ve bought an exercise bike .
my bmi is also 50 I’m so ashamed,but shame won’t get the weight off .
im just taking it one day at a time ,because that’s all I can do

For every expert there is an opposing opinion by another expert. Studies can be swayed depending on the agenda of funders. If an opinion doesn't serve you, disregard it. It's genuinely not good for your health to be told it's hopeless and pointless.
Experts were telling us cereal breakfast is excellent, bacon and eggs are bad and then this advice was turned upside down. It makes sense to work on changing your lifestyle. Even with surgery there are loads of people who put the weight on back again. Changing your lifestyle is free and the only permanent weight management solution. Drugs are not sustainable and have side effects.
You can find another inspiring expert to listen to if those ones are depressing and discouraging. We don't have to sit back and absorb what they tell us as the only truth.