Advice regarding trying to loose weight.

Slimming clubs were always a nightmare for me too, constant weighing and guilt trips just made things worse.

Honestly, what made the biggest difference recently was moving away from solid meals when my appetite crashed. Ever since starting Mounjaro, cooked food and meat completely turned my stomach.

I started keeping a tub of Shake That Weight in the cupboard just to get something complete in on days I couldn't face actual food. Their soups go down so much easier than a heavy dinner and at least I know I'm getting vitamins and protein instead of skipping meals entirely.

Definitely much easier than counting points or going to weekly meetings.

My advice is always avoid sugar as I inadvertently lost 2 stones when cutting it out. I refused anything with it and read every label from tom ketchup to sliced bread (don’t use ketchup but….) and anything that had more than 10g per 100 g of sugar as carbohydrates I didn’t touch. It was amazing how the weight dropped.

Only eat if you're hungry and regular times and not out of boredom, comfort etc.

Also don't have junk food, biscuits etc at home and then the temptation isn't there. If you do want a treat, walk to the shop to get them.

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We all know about not sitting for too long and to move more. But after having a daily walk, doing housework,gardening or shopping how do you incorporate more moving into your life, what do you do?? Genuine question.🤔

HettyBetty is right. Eat less. Move more. It is the only way. Much of today's food is calorie-laden. Back in the day, all food was cooked from scratch, alcohol was only available in pubs and most work was physically demanding. Hardly any overweight people back then. As a child, our cupboard had no snacks in it. In fact, I don't think we had ever heard the word snack. If we were hungry between meals all there was on offer was an apple or perhaps bread and butter.

Try to base your diet on wholefoods. Keep away from ultra processed foods ( look at the ingredients and if there are things you don't recognise in the food don't buy it )
Fruit, vegetables, nuts,seeds etc are great for weight loss.
Good luck

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.

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.

Thank you Wheniwasyourage 😊

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.

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!

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

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.

Join a walking group?

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

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.

Happy birthday Patsy. 🎂

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.