Where do I start? Losing weight on a budget

[nadine90]

My weight has been steadily increasing since late 20s. Combination of factors, I assume my metabolism slowed, comfort eating after a bad breakup, lack of childcare to go to the gym (single parent), financial difficulties etc. I seemed to stop gaining at the 14 stone mark and have sort of settled into it. Well I stepped on the scales yesterday and am now over 15st - at 5 foot 5. I’m so annoyed at myself for getting here and struggling to know where to start to tackle this. I need to lose at least 5 stone to get back to a healthy weight/size. I’m a student on a low income, I can’t afford weight loss injections (I really wish I could!). I don’t drive, I have an expensive gym in walking distance (still half the price of injections), cheaper council ones a bus away (which I’m not sure I’ll stick to going to). I could walk for free, but how much walking is enough in lieu of gym/classes/swimming etc. Two very fussy kids to feed. I’ve got into such a rut. I know common sense is eat less cals than I burn. I’m wondering how other people on low incomes have kickstarted their weight loss journeys? Have you any tips? Any recommendations for filling, low cal/high protein AFFORDABLE recipes I can cook for just me? Snacks to replace chocolate? Thanks in advance!

I think I could manage IF, I might give that a go next week and see how I get on. I can definitely go without breakfast, it’s the evening after I’ve took my med that I imagine I’ll struggle x

Up your protein, by a lot

start the day with a really good breakfast, whatever time that is, I love chia seeds, yogurt, berries, nuts etc. it’s delicious and if I start the day well I tend to continue well

To lose weight exercise is the least important thing. It's beneficial for all the reasons you say but it won't really cause weight loss.

also Recent research has shown that exercise has a similar impact on appetite as weight loss injections

What research?! Exercise increases appetite. I exercise, and I'm on weight loss injections. The only thing that affects the appetite is weight loss injections.

This is what I was going to say. Definitely the cheapest way- and the easiest, if you have kids to feed as well. You could combine 16:8 and 5:2. (I also have to regularly low carb in order to lose weight, but I'm perimenopausal).

For me, it's teaching me to be more mindful and just makes me more accountable. You log your meals each day and you can take a picture of them and upload it and it will tell you roughly how many calories it was and how many you have to be in a weight-losing zone. It also has lots of quite good and sometimes witty short eating psychology lessons which tell you what sort of eater you are (and what your triggers are.) It invites you to name your Inner Bear (the one that tends to make bad good decisions): that's the kind of cheery thing I like though it might or might not appeal to you. FWIW I have lost about 3 pounds in a week already and while I am sure it won't be that easy forever, it's a good start.

I agree about the intermittent fasting - it may not be the quickest way but I think it’s probably the easiest to maintain in the longer term,which is what you want. Don’t spend the next ten years yo-yoing.
Two things to remember -
You didnt get to 15st overnight so don’t expect to lose it overnight.
And 14st feels better than 15. Then 13st feels better than 14. How do you eat an elephant - one bite at a time!

I lost 20kg in 6 months with a combination of
HIIT free from You Tube
Intermittent fasting - ate what I normally ate but skipped breakfast and ate dinner earlier.
Gave up buying crisps
Cut wine to once a week

It cost me nothing extra and took only 30 minutes a day.

Try slimming world,
Walk - aim for 10,000 steps a day.

You can do it too! I am quite fond of one step solutions, so the pattern I chose worked for me, but you can cook all kinds of things for your family. I used to use quark, sweetener and Highlights hot chocolate powder sachets and put it in ice cube trays for my children to have as treats. There are very few things that you can't turn into a Slimming World version, even afternoon tea etc. Take your time, enjoy your food and don't worry about your family. This is your journey and you can do it.

PS sounds as though your friends are trying to spare your feelings, but your family are exactly the reverse. The groups are great for friendly rivalry and a certain amount of support, but you need to learn to be your own support system (clichéd as it sounds).

Sorry to hijack the thread, I have just such vivid memories of the experience.