Weight loss and chronic fatigue

[MooMa83]

Hi, I have ME/CFS and am overweight, which I know is not helping my symptoms. I need to lose a couple of stone at least, but am really struggling. Firstly when I'm fatigued I crave sugar and all manner of highly processed foods. Secondly it is difficult for me to find a sustainable level of exercise. And lastly the energy of healthy meal planning and cooking isn't always there. I cook healthy fresh meals for my young family....shephards pie, spag bol and the like but they're not diet friendly and I haven't got it in me to make separate meals. There is probably an emotional element to the eating as well....I can have a tendency to feel low and binge. If anyone with chronic fatigue has managed to lose weight successfully I would love to know how you managed it. TIA x

I'm on this journey now. Dont know my weight however I've gone from a size 14/16 to a 10 (I'm 5ft so it showed).
I can't exercise at all (use a wheelchair or stick) so have concentrated on diet alone.
So I have a family meal plan of 2 weeks meals that doesn't change.
Online delivery.
I batch cook for the most exhausting days so only need to warm things up.
We have curry's, chilli, spag bol etc but I control my portion size. Measure out rice/pasta etc.
I've found the opposite of what the cf service told me (eating 5 meals a day will give me more energy). I've stopped eating breakfast and just have a cup of tea (so not fasting as such). I then eat lunch when I'm ready (could be 11am could be a bit later) lunch could be tomatoes and mushrooms or scrambled egg on toast, soup and a roll, small portion of left overs, salad with chicken/ egg and crackers.
Tea is a portion controlled family meal today is marinated chicken breast, homemade wedges and vegetables. Snacks are fruit (if i need the sugar), crackers, humous and veg sticks, i dont tend to eat in the evening as it doesn't help my sleep and have a hot drink if I'm hungry. I think I realised that it was my portion control that was too much as I am no longer active.
I think it's probably different for everyone but I found the things that worked for me and then looked at how I do that while making sure the rest of the family eat well and for us it's just a smaller portion for me.

@Plinkplonkplinkplonk123 well done on your achievement, that's amazing! That's a good shout about portion size, and I think I could also try not eating breakfast. Do you get cravings when you're fatigue is worse? If so how do you manage them? I think the fortnightly planning is something I could try too. I normally plan for the week but it's always different and I do a physical shop once a week.

Also on a side note...has losing weight increased your energy levels?

I try to eat fruit for the sweetness if I'm craving or salty crackers and a hot drink. I definitely crave more when I'm fatigued. Because I struggle to get out of the house if its not in I can't eat it (which also helps). I buy the kids snacks that I don't like.
Not noticed any improvement in my energy levels but feel that it's helped my digestive system.