Slimming & exercising on little/no money

[Scotslass171]

Hi everyone. I'm 4'11" and about 12 stone and I really need to lose weight. I have a few health issues and I'm sure if I lost weight it might help with them. I get so jealous when I hear/read of people who have lost loads of weight and they look absolutely gorgeous: I even got jealous of a friend who lost weight!!! I have always been big - when I was a child I was more or less the same weight as one of my friends who was taller than me. I have managed to lose weight/tone up by dieting and exercising before but I always put the weight back on. I have even been prescribed weight loss pills from GP which worked but I stopped taking them. I'm not eligible for bariatric surgery though when I mentioned this to a doctor a few years ago they agreed with me!!!! I don't have much money: am on UC so once I have paid for the basis there isn't much left so I can't afford to join a slimming club or gym. I have myself for being this size but feel I can't do anything about it. I have zero/little motivation or willpower. I would appreciate any help anyone can give. I look forward to hearing about any suggestions etc. Thank you for reading this and sorry if it's a bit long but I just need to offload my emotions etc. Than you

Btw I'm in my late 40's and menopausal

I've lost over a stone in 7-8 weeks just eating 1400 calories and 10,000 steps a day
You don't need the gym or any fancy classes

Hi. Walking is free. Or you could use a couple of tins of beans as hand weights? YouTube also has loads of free exercise videos.
Why did you stop taking the pills?

I've lost nearly 3 stones this year by doing Intermittent Fasting, working out to YouTube videos, and walking.

I'm post-menopause and also can't afford classes and gym.

Walking is a great free exercise, I don't listen to anything while walking but you could listen to podcasts or music etc
Don't know if you were also looking for suggestions of cheap healthy food options too but the following foods I still find good value (just watch portion sizes)
Bananas
Eggs
Chickpeas (can be made into a lovely curry with some onions)
Lentils (make lentil soup with red lentils and green lentils can be made into bolognaise with some tinned tomatoes)
Carrots- can add to the soup and curries or have as snacks
Rice
Frozen veg can be reasonably priced
Baked potatoes
Beans

(Sorry I'm vegetarian so not sure of there is good value meat and fish out there)

The willpower is the difficult bit and is the reason most people spend money on diet plans and exercise classes. Everyone knows about “eat less, move more” but actually doing it is not that simple if you have crap willpower (I do!)

Free things that have helped me with willpower:

Couch 2 5K. It’s really good for willpower IME because you follow a set programme where you are meant to go for 3 runs a week. If you skip one then you find it harder next time. If you follow the programme it really works which is rewarding. There is also Couch 2 Fitness (also free) which is video exercise classes rather than running, but I haven’t tried it.

Not buying things I tend to snack/binge on. For me it’s biscuits and nice bread. So I don’t buy these unless it’s for a specific meal/visitors, just sandwich bread for the freezer.

Make myself have a glass of water or cup of tea if I feel peckish. Often I’m actually thirsty not hungry.

Go to bed earlier so I don’t do midnight snacking.

Buying more veg so I have to eat them before they go off (I really hate binning food)

Basically work out where YOUR willpower weaknesses are, and then work out fixes for those.

Remember most of losing weight is about what you eat. Exercise important for health but only a small element weight wise.

Hi,

I’ve lost 2.5 stone and not spent money. I calorie count/use my fitness pal. Do 10,000 steps a day and workouts on YouTube with Lucy Wyndham-Read, she does a monthly challenge that I follow.

What does your diet and exercise consist of at the moment?

You don’t have to spend money on a gym or weight loss programs.