WHY CAN'T I LOSE WEIGHT?

Hi everyone. Thanks for all those useful comments and advice. I made a mistake with the 1500 calories - that's what I tried to stick to before I started the serious dieting, but aimed below 1000 for the three years of dieting. It was relatively painless cos hubby joined me but he hasn't put much on since.

The internet doesn't help in that it tells me I need 1,400 cals a day to survive in a warm bed, and the NHS site suggests an intake of around this in order to lose around 2lbs a week so maybe I've just not been strict enough.

Yes, it is a marathon. I'll check out all your suggestions.

Meg

I’ve started the diabetes prevention course that Urms has mentioned and have lost a few pounds by reducing carbs and increasing veg. We have had a Christmas break and I have eaten norty snacks, so have probably put some of those pounds back on! Our next meeting is on 10th January, so after New Year I will get back on track.

HowVeryDareYou like you, I can’t walk very well, due to a brain injury. Check out the Different Strokes Online Pilates Class on YouTube. It’s designed by stroke survivors and you should find something you can manage. Losing weight will help your mobility so it’s worth sticking with it. Wishing you all the best with your recovery.

Is he on insulin MerylS? Insulin makes it very difficult to lose weight.

MadMeg
I’m ok with my weight but I’ve watched my OH struggle for years. He’s extremely active, doesn’t have a sweet tooth, has a drink now and again has the same size meals as me, I’m 8st.
Yet he could literally make weight eating an apple ?
He was diagnosed with type2 and realised that although he loathed the thought of going to the gym he had to do it.
It was hard, not physically as he’s still a very strong man but mentally.
It worked ? He goes everyday for an hour and actually enjoys it, not something I ever thought I’d see.

DH and I started the Fast 800 diet last February by July I'd lost 19lbs and DH 21 lbs, we didn't join the 'club'. I bought 2 recipe books and we followed these, the recipes are varied and very tasty. Along with walking it's been an easy way to lose weight for us. We have both put on a couple of pounds over Christmas but will soon get that off. If it ever stops raining.

I’ve got 2st to lose ? and a diabetes prevention course starting at the end of January.

I remember years ago a nurse saying “you don’t just wake up fat on morning. It comes on gradually with bad eating habit so make sensible changes to your diet and watch the pounds come off gradually. It’s not a “diet” it’s a reset”.

1,500 calories a day is quite a lot. How active are you every day?

I need to lose a lot of weight, but am recovering from a stroke (July) so although I can walk, I can't walk miles nor walk fast. I can't do the exercise classes I used to enjoy. I'd trying to limit my calories to 900 a day before Christmas, and will get back on the diet again by this weekend

I think this thread is especially for me. During the past eighteen months while being sole carer for increasingly ill DH I have comfort eaten for England and need to shed several stones as I pick up some sort of normal life now that DH is in a nursing home. Slimming World has worked for me in the past but think that 16/8 would suit me, especially as at the moment I have no interest in food and wouldn’t cheat. So thank you all for the nudge I need!

I follow the Ketogenic/Low carb way of eating and it really suits me. I have zero sugar, no bread, potatoes, rice or pasta, but eat butter, cheese, cream, fatty meats and leafy greens. I am never hungry and don’t crave sweet foods. I too had my thyroid removed some years ago. Although fruit is said to be healthy, it contains huge amounts of sugar, I used to eat a lot of fruit, now just have a few berries occasionally. My friend is a nurse and she struggles to convince some of her diabetic patients to cut down on the amount of fruit that are eating. It might be worth looking at this as carbohydrates and sugar are the main cause of weight gain. Good luck.

I too found the 16/8 worked beautifully for me. The other help was that I didn't aim too high. 1lb a week for a year and I was sorted. Bonus is I didn't put any of it back on and I think that was because I grew into much healthier eating habits gradually and they became my norm. I ate less of everything but excluded nothing. This was nine years ago and I bless the day someone on here mentioned the 16/8. Happily it fitted perfectly with my lifestyle. The other bonus I had was that, with the gradual loss, nobody noticed and it didn't become the topic of conversation. Wonderful. Fact is, had anyone suggested that I would be eating the things I do now (and loving them) I would have laughed them out of court. Weight loss has been life changing for me. I thought I was fit(ish) and healthy(ish). Not so. The improvement has be dramatic. All inspired and motivated when I was told I was going to be a GP for the first time all those years ago.

I wanted to size 14 for my sons wedding four years ago.

I followed JoeWicks “Lean in 15” and it really did work. I was never hungry.

Basically it’s cutting the carbs and weights for toning.

My husband's GP prescribed him a free 12 week course at Slimming World. He's lost 3 1/2 stone so far and has finally understood what he can eat and what he should avoid. He seems to enjoy the cameraderie of the weekly meetings.

I personally find it easier to use the 16:8 method of eating.

Something will click in your mind, but an eating plan where you feel deprived will only leave you feeling resentful and won't be sustainable.

Good luck ?

It might be worth looking at some of the Michael Mosley books or videos. I agree that 1500 calories is potentially quite high, as we get older our metabolism slows and we need less. I probably live on 1200 calories a day and I eat quite a restricted diet and need to watch it or weight creeps on.

I also don't mean to sound discouraging but walking may not be enough exercise to lose much weight. You really need cardiovascular exercise to a significant rate to raise your metabolic levels. Again, Michael Mosley is good on this. You probably hate the thought but a couple of gym sessions a week, with a trainer if you can afford it, will help. I was once 2 stones over weight and it took a very determined effort to lose it and keep it off. Good luck.

I have recently lost a stone on 16/8 regime .

With Christmas over it's a good time to start a new health and fitness regime. My thoughts

Walking is good for general health and helps to clear your head, keep fit, good for the bones, etc., but alas it does very little to reduce weight - takes about an hour to walk off two pieces of toast! I walk every day for at least an hour and find it helps me psychologically to keep on the straight and narrow, diet wise.

As has been mentioned there are various clubs, diets, just try to choose one that suits your tastes. I do a combination of low-carb and calorie count, all logged on MyFitnessPal.

1,500 is quite high - it's amazing and sad(!) at how little we actually need to function well. I'm a believer in getting a good result quickly to get off to a positive start, so drastically reduce my intake, this gives impetus and encouragement. As you found out. plodding along on one pound loss a month is soul-destroying and hard to maintain.

Stock up with the relevant foods and don't buy what you know are your weakness.

Dieting takes effort and discipline - not easy I know! But worth it.

That’s a great idea Sarahmob. I’ve always found that losing weight within a supportive group (or thread) is a really good way to get started.
I am still working on getting rid of that “lockdown stone”.
Good Luck to us all.

If you want some support in your ongoing efforts to lose weight, I recommend the ‘I’m a pear’ thread. Great bunch of losers who are really friendly and encouraging ?

I m not overweight but at the top end for my height and feel sluggish so need and want to lose weight at least half a stone but when you live alone it’s very easy to use food as a companion and I know I do
So you have all my empathy and hopefully we ll all get there

Maybe insulin resistance?

I couldn't lose weight. I switched to a Mediterranean diet. It's now falling off.

I sympathise Madmeg I need to lose weight and have trying for over a year but decided I need support and a fresh approach so I joined Slimming World. Might a fresh approach work for you?

I realise it sounds too simple but the best way I managed to lose almost 2 stone was smaller plates and portions, no desserts or snacks or bread. Plenty of water it worked for me. I know it’s not easy but you can do it.

It's very difficult. I have thyroid issues and it makes it so much harder to lose weight. I try to stick to three meals a day and no snacking.

I’m dieting at the moment and my Calorie intake is between 900/1000 calories a day.
My normal Calorie intake is around 1500 and I can’t lose weight on that.