Stress eating

[QueenBing]

My BMI has ballooned to 33.8 and I am thoroughly miserable. I know it’s through comfort eating. I’m a single mum and a teacher and try as I might I just can’t seem to find the energy or time to exercise at home. Add into all this I’ve been ill recently with whooping cough, I’ve had 3 courses of antibiotics and 2 courses of steroids which have made me feel rotten. I’m vegan and in the past I’ve done Slimming World, Weight Watchers and Exante. The Exante is a meal replacement diet and it’s great for a kick start but I just can’t motivate myself to do it because I’m so stressed and tired. The doctor has prescribed vitamin D supplements as my levels were so low so maybe that explains the tiredness. I just need some motivation to get started!

Vitamin D deficiency really does leave you lacking energy, wait for your levels to increase a bit before stressing about exercise, although you can lose weight with no exercise at all tbh but you do have to be very focused diet wise.
Also it’s worth noting:
Having inadequate levels of vitamin D may correlate with unintentional weight gain. A study on women over the age of 65 found that participants with a lower vitamin D level experienced more weight gain. A systematic review of 23 different studies found similar associations between vitamin D deficiency and obesity.

The Vitamin D deficiency could be behind your weight gain as well as your low energy. How low was your level? Mine crashed to 23 and I was needing to nap every afternoon just to make it through the day and was carb loading like crazy because I was so tired. My levels are finally on the upward curve and not only am I starting to feel more energetic but I'm also slowly losing weight.

My level was 15 so really low. I’ve started the supplements now so hopefully I’ll feel the benefit soon.

Oh wow, that is really low! It's no surprise you've felt so tired and low. You really will notice the difference when the vits kick in!

Hiya 👋 I'm vegan too and my BMI was recently over 30. I don't have kids so appreciate I have the luxury of time so do go to the gym. I've signed up with an online coach and get 10,000 steps in a day (often just pacing around the house if I don't want to go out). I take a daily multivitamin as I've had low B12 in the past. When I'm tired and can't be bothered to lunch prep I just have Huel shakes. You definitely need to be in the right mindset to make permanent changes. It's tough to get going!

The Exante meals I have are like a Huel type thing. I’ve been quite good today! Exante apple porridge for breakfast, a vegan Philadelphia and tomato sandwich for lunch and an Exante mushroom risotto for dinner. Need to keep it going! The fatigue definitely isn’t helping and I’m also doing a phased return at work while I recover from whooping cough so my days aren’t really as structured as I’d like. I’m out for dinner with some friends on Friday night but I’m not drinking so that should save a few calories.

Oooh I might look into those Exante things then. Be kind to yourself - it's hard enough when you fighting fit to build momentum around finding the healthiest path for yourself.

They’re not bad to be honest, cheaper than Huel and really quick and easy to make. They’re not gourmet but they do the job!
I’m hoping once the vitamin D level increases and I’m fully over the whooping cough I’ll have more energy to get the weight off.