oh that this too too solid flesh should melt

If you both want to lose weight, and he wants to avoid Diabetes, The very best thing to do is go low-carb. All carbs convert to glucose in the blood, leading to insulin resistance, so cutting out high carb foods help to keep blood glucose in a steady range.

It does mean no bread, potatoes, rice and pasta, and definitely no cakes and biscuits! It also has the effect of losing your sweet tooth, no bad thing!

Good healthy fats are also essential, and filling, meaning no cravings for those oh-so-hard to resist snacks.

Fruit should be eaten in moderation as they too, are high in natural sugars.

I’ve been eating this way for 4 years now - lost two stone, and am much healthier than I was before (almost pre-diabetic).

It sounds hard to do, and may take a few weeks to adjust, but believe me, the benefits are enormous.

I wonder petunia whether your DH is on any medication that could have a side effect of making him hungry?

I have spent long periods on steroids and eventually realised they made me hungry, constantly. I gained quite a lot of weight. I also couldn’t leave snacks alone, if they were in the cupboards.

I don’t buy snacks now and have significantly increased our fruit intake. Yoghurt has replaced ice cream. We do very occasionally have a cake or pastry and it feels like a real treat. I stay right away from crisps (my particular weakness).

Could you have some conversations about it with your DH? He may be defensive at first, but do persevere. Presumably he realises he is engaging in self sabotaging behaviours. Could some snacks be built into your meal planning as rewards for small successes? If you count calories, you could work out the calorific value of some of his favourites and occasionally include them.

I think all eating plans work best with occasional treats built in. ? Best wishes.

I am a type 2 diabetic and trying (not succeeding) to keep things in control. Anything sweet is my downfall. I am unable to snack on nuts or anything with much fat in as I have another health condition. I really struggle trying to find a snack that isnt loaded with sugar and/or fat.
I love fruit but there again can become too much sugar.
I have been to see a dietician but she didnt come up with any ideas/suggestions so that was a waste of time.

I sympathise /empathise with your situation.
I have put on weight under lockdown and especially as we are shielding so haven't got into a routine of regular exercise.
We encourage each other too to have a snack or a drink.
DH has already been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes but it doesn't seem to be a problem since he lost 4 stones, by taking strong chemo drugs, which I do not recommend as slimming tablets. his blood was much like syrup before that
I keep telling myself as soon as things get back to normal and I can see my friends at the sports hall for badminton, pilates etc the fat will drop off. won't it?

I think the only thing is to not have snacks in the house and learn to love water and apples.
I lost 2 stone with weightwatchers about 10 years ago but it all went back on.

I’ve got half a stone of Lock Down Lard to loose before I start to make another attempt at loosing the rest. I’m very short of clothes which fit so I have to do something. I certainly slipped into very bad snacking habits last winter and it continued.

What works for me in the past is cutting down on things containing fat, especially animal fat, which cuts out biscuits, crisps and all nice things like that. I snack on nuts - to which I am addicted so I put my ration (about eight walnut halves) in a dish each morning and mints, plain popcorn, a daily square of plain chocolate in the evening and the very occasional jelly bean. I think its a case of finding what works for your personal metabolism and will power.

DDiL gave me a tip last week. If you cut up pitta bread into triangles and bake it in the oven (it turns really quickly so you need to stand and watch it), you get low calorie Doritos.

Reduce down a tin of chopped tomatoes and add Lea & Perkins, herbs and black pepper to spice it up and you have a very low calorie dip.

DL was told by doc his risk of diabetes/heart attack was high if he didn't lose weight. So he agreed to lose weight, but being a man (in his 70's) still doing physical work, liked/needed to eat heartily and snack frequently. So we tried Rick Gallop's the GI 'diet', on the advice of a friend whose DL had the same problem. Snacking now a thing of the past. It's not a diet where you feel a bit deprived; you can eat loads - just the right stuff. It works on a traffic light system; red=foods to avoid, orange=foods to eat occasionally; green=foods to eat as much as you want, all clearly explained and why in his book. I know you're not asking for diet help, as you've worked out a plan, but how to stop your OH snacking. This works and it's so easy. We still eat lots and don't want to snack. Good luck with whatever you decide to do to help him.

BlueSky, yes just 2 meals a day as I don't really need more. I eat to live now as opposed to living to eat.
At nigh on 80 I no longer need the quantity as not being as active as I once was, any surplus leads to fat settling which I don't want/need.

DH and I were both several stones overweight. My excuse was my thyroid medication, he didn’t have an excuse . Just before lockdown I was told I needed both knees replaced. I was advised to try and lose a bit of weight.
I decided to give it my best shot, and he decided to join me. We are taking it very seriously.
We eat mainly fish, chicken, fruit and veg. all in many different forms. I have one slice of bread each day, he has two.
Breakfast I alternate between 45gm muesli and an individual portion of porridge with fruit.
Results? During lockdown I have lost 2 stone, OH has lost nearly 3 stone. We still have a long way to go but hope to be nearing our targets by Christmas.
We have been self isolating throughout lockdown, but for the past 2 weeks we have walked for an hour every morning. My knees feel much better.
It’s really helped that we’re doing it together, discussing meals etc.
OH is responsible for lunch, I’m responsible for dinner.
It’s worked really well for us.

Good for you Ellan I admire slender older ladies as I think it helps healthwise for various reasons. I'm not tremendously over weight but still carrying some surplus.
Well done Kassi and DH!