Advice regarding trying to loose weight.

Get support with a group, makes it so much more easier.
Doesn't matter which group" Sliming World or WeightWatchers" they have already worked out the nutrition, what works, ready with advice, and sharing with others makes it doable . If you stick to it, it will work.

Ask your GP if they think it right for you, the GP's are able to give you a "voucher" or referral letter and I believe you get several weeks free.
Good luck. 🍀

I joined Slimming World some years ago but found it to be mundane to say the least. Everyone sat in the same place every week and saved seats for their friends - heaven help you if you sat where you shouldn't! People would starve all day, get weighed at the start of the sessions and then stuff their faces with all manner of biscuits and chocolate. Then there was the round robin when everyone had to disclose why they hadn't lost weight that week.........it was all rather pathetic actually.

My mantra now is 'eat less and move more' and I just don't buy all the crap foods that I know will pile my weight back on. Yes, I allow myself the occasional treat but I know my limits and it is working for me.

I second Astitchintime although I've never joined a slimming club I know lots who have. What I realised is that new members often lose a lot of weight whilst attending the clubs, but don't really manage to keep it off afterwards.
I feel that's because these clubs are run as a business, so if everyone lost weight and kept it off they'd cease to make profits.
I never joined because I resent having to pay for something you can do for free- as the saying goes, Move more, eat less.
My weight has crept up again and I would love to know if there is a kind of 'buddy' system where you could partner up with someone in a similar situation to youself and compare notes etc.
I'm not aware such a site exists.
Meanwhile I need some self-motivation.

I agree with Astitchintime there is no magic club or solution to losing weight.

If you are ready to do so, smaller portions, cut out biscuits, cakes, snacks and reduce alcohol intake, along with moving more (which could just start with longer walks) you should start to see some reduction in your weight.

There are so many free apps with exercises on one I think is called lazy fit.

Good luck, remember it’s just shedding the lbs it’s keeping them off, slowly and steady is the way to go.

I’m with Astitchintime too.

I and loads of friends have tried SW multiple times. It is so boring hearing all the excuses people make for not losing weight this week. I used to take my knitting or crochet. Then all that half hearted clapping!

We all lost weight but put it back on when we stopped going.

I now use a smaller plate and cut down a bit on portion sizes. I don’t cut anything out.

I think it’s in my genes to be a bit overweight, my Mum was always watching her weight as do my female cousins who are now in their early 80s. But we are all healthy with no serious illnesses and we all wear quite well.

I went to WW just to get weighed. I did follow their plan, never bought their products and never stayed after the weighing, I concluded that I knew more about nutrition than the WW woman after the first session!
The regular scale horror kept me on the straight and narrow. I lost what I wanted to and have put a bit back on.
I was having a chat with a friend and wondered if I started a weekly weigh in in the village hall would anyone come? If you are overweight and financially struggling the cost of going to a WW or SW is probably not an option.

With Astitchintime.

Low fat meal options, or small portions of ‘normal ‘ food, use a smaller plate.

No snacking, 1 small potato per day, 1 slice of bread, obviously no sweets, biscuits or cakes.
Start a hobby so there aren’t too many idle moments when you are bored and want to eat, if you feel hungry have a glass of water and only eat at meal times.

There are many thousands of low fat meals online if you want to cook.

Move around more!

I stuck a couple of photos of myself on the fridge door, I’d been very unwell many years ago , had a big op and didn’t recognise myself in a family wedding photo! That did it, I was horrified and I’d lost the weight in a few months and ripped up the photos.

Although I’d like to weigh less I’ve been stuck at 10 stone for a long time, it’s my fault though, I should follow my own advice!

Good luck.

My neighbour was told that her cholesterol was high but rather than taking statins, she cut out cakes, sweets and biscuits. She lost two stone. I admire her will power.

As a veteran of most of these slimming clubs and diets I can say that what is work I by for me now is logging in daily to Nutracheck which counts everything I eat scientifically in the easiest way I've ever seen. Additional my I go to a weekly independent support group where the leader discusses one important healthy eating subject with us. There is no round robin or targets or any of that nonsrnse. It's half the price of SW. I am losing weight steadily. No foods are banned its healthy eating and moderate exercise.

There is a gransnet forum for diet and exercise where there will be lots of suggestions for you.
Good luck. It isn't easy.

Mid 60s here.

Eat less, move more.

Accept that a few hunger pangs won't kill you. I rarely eat after 5 pm, unless we have guests, and always go to bed feeling hungry.

Have carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes and celery in the fridge if you get that peckish feeling. I do eat chocolate every day, a smallish quantity of very dark chocolate. Never more than I'm going to burn off in a run or long walk.

I'm a natural size 14 but prefer to be an 8. I have a long term condition, not related to weight or diet, which means I get regular health checks. No worries about anything.

I am blessed with huge amounts of willpower though.

I have no right to suggest anything, as I have never had a weight problem. However, I am fortunate to be healthy and fairly active, although slowing down now that I’ve reached the age of 77 (today 🥳). I’ve heard from friends that the slimming clubs are pretty mundane, and expensive. If you’re able to a daily walk would help, don’t sit for too long and ‘eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re satisfied’ is sound advice. A word with your GP might be advisable before starting a new weight loss regime.

Happy birthday Patsy. 🎂

The problem with trying to lose weight is that you become obsessed with food. Planning what you can and can't eat, counting calories, being 'good', feeling bad if you eat something 'naughty' is all so counterproductive.

Thank you Grammaretto. The sun is shining for me! 😄

Join a walking group?

It is useful to know the calories in food, honestly write down every thing you eat for a couple of days then look at the calories, you will be surprised at the calories in some items.

Once you know the calorific values look for lower alternatives eg a plain biscuit instead of a chocolate one, dont use mayo and butter in a sandwich etc . This way you are not on a diet but changing your eating habits for life.

Get a Fitbit and cross reference calories consumed and calories used up. It really spurs you on to walk more.

Happy birthday, Patsy70!

The 5:2 worked for us, and we occasionally still use it if there we have been making pigs of ourselves for a couple of weeks over-indulging. It gives very quick results, which encourages you to keep going and continue to lose weight gradually. The best bit of it is that you don't think about food all the time, which seems to be a problem with other diets. Smaller plates is also a good idea. Good luck!

I used Slimming World about ten years ago and lost 3 st, but like others, after the first week I just went to get weighed, it kept me focused. I’ve put on about half a stone over the years then a few pounds down, a few pounds up. For about five years I’ve followed the 16:8 way of eating, it works for me, it helps that I don’t have a sweet tooth.

Thank you Wheniwasyourage 😊

My husband was told to lose weight by the doctor and was offered 12 free weeks with slimming world. He didn't want to go alone so I went with him, I have struggled since my teens with weight but managed to lose 6 stones quite easily. We never stayed for the meetings, just the weigh in. Compared to the old red and green days, SW is very easy now and it does work but you have to be meticulous because it is an exact science for example an apple will be free but if you cook it, it will have a syn value because your actual eating and digestion will differ.

I’ve lost nearly seven stone since December 2022 and am still trying to lose the last half stone. I did this by calorie counting and giving up alcohol. I wrote down everything I ate. I also swim four times a week. It’s not a quick process and exercise is essential.

I have been left with a horrible lined tummy though and the weight won’t shift from there. I look ok dressed though! Gone from a size 22 to 12/14. My local charity shop has done well! It can be done with determination. The diet is for life, I think it is imperative that people don’t go back to their previous eating habits. Good luck. If I can do it anyone can. I’m just hoping it won’t all go back on! I am 68 if that is of relevance.