PH Losers 2019 - Anyone want to join me?

[Johnniem]

1602Mark said:

Johnniem said:

1602Mark said:

Sorry for just jumping in on this thread but wanted some advice and this seems the most likely place to get an answer.

After a serious RTA, several years in a wheelchair and now reduced mobility (due to left leg weakness) my weight increased massively. It was eventually suggested (by my GP) that I consider a gastric band and I attended the first pre surgery group session at the hospital. Long story short, this gave me a bit of a kick after I decided I did not want surgery or to continue being so big. I'm 6' 3'' and carry the weight quite well but the scales don't lie and am embarrassed to say that on April 1st I was 27st 4llbs.

As of today, using My Fitness Pal and just eating less and better, I have dropped 3st and am seeing some improvements. In fact, over the past week people around me have remarked about the weight loss. My problem is that I appear to have hit a plateau, if indeed that is a thing? It has been 3 or 4 weeks now, where my weight has remained pretty much constant and it's harder to remain positive and maintain the diet. I will though, as I want to lose a considerable amount more, but is there anything I can do to kickstart the weight loss again, or is this a perfectly normal thing to happen?

Thanks in advance.

It seems like you are making great progress Mark but has your doctor suggested the ultra low calorie diet? It is a course run by the NHS and focuses on using 800 calories a day for 12 weeks. It would require you to eat only meal replacements (you buy them on the internet or in your local supermarket) and 250+ gms of vegetable (in whatever form you wish to prepare them; there is much variation if you enjoy cooking!). I did this earlier in the year and lost 4.5 stone in 12 weeks. It was a dramatic loss at first and then tailed out to be fairly even over the 12 week period. It had so many health benefits for me and the new wardrobe is a joy! Some people I hadn't seen for a few months didn't even recognise me.

Many will say that it is a poor way to lose weight as it just goes straight back on after you stop the course. Well, if you eat as you did before then perhaps it does. I am now maintaining weight, relatively easily, at around 13 stone, since the low cal element of the course ended in early May. Half a stone over my lowest weight (since my teens actually - I am 59). The NHS group continue to monitor and meet with you (as a group) for a further year or two after completion of the 12 week diet. You transition back on to 2200 cals a day - ish, over a period of 2 - 3 months and learn much about diet and healthy eating, some of which you wont already know but some of it we all know! Eating healthily is not hard but it does take a mind change if we have destructive eating habits in our lives.

The big thing for me was that the weight loss revived my flagging confidence and I have the mindset now that I never want to become big again. I was 16 stone 9lbs at the start of the diet but peaked in my early 50's at almost 19 stone, prior to my being diagnosed as diabetic.

Talk to your doctor about it. You are easily within the proscribed upper limits of BMI to be allowed to go on the course. Your BMI has to be above 35.

Go on the course and share the experience with others who have the same issues as you. You will do better than some and not as well as others but there is no doubt in my mind that you will lose significant amounts of weight and your attitude to food will change for the better.

Good luck!

Thanks. I will take a look. So far my loss has been by using the 2740 calories a day limit via My Fitness Pal, so a drop to just 800 seems pretty extreme.

It is extreme. It is meant to be. But strangely, you don't feel massively hungry after a few days. Your body gets used to it very quickly. The idea is that after 5-7 days your body realises that it can't get enough energy from the food that you are putting into it so it starts to use stored fat as it source. This is called 'ketosis' (there are threads on this in the Health matters forums). The important thing is that you see results quickly. YOu do need to change your attitude to food. 2740 calories a day is way over a 'normal' adult male intake. Why have you gone down to that? It seems way too high to have any effect on weight. On the ultra low calories diet you can eat stacks of veg (which you should be doing anyway. Veg, half the plate; carbs, one quarter; meat one quarter.

Eat less, move more. See your doctor soon!

[Lemming Train]

Smitters said:

Nice one - congratulations.

GloverMart said:

+1

Great work, LT, you set a target and smashed it. Can't ask more than that!

gregs656 said:

Indeed, potentially a life changing achievement.

mooseracer said:

Congrats.

Thanks chaps, your kind words are appreciated!

Hopefully there'll be success stories to read from you guys in the not too distant future, too?

[mooseracer]

Lemming Train said:

Thanks chaps, your kind words are appreciated!

Hopefully there'll be success stories to read from you guys in the not too distant future, too?

Although not an active poster on this thread - 15.5 down to 11.1. By a different method than you, but it's the results that count

[1602Mark]

Johnniem said:

1602Mark said:

Johnniem said:

1602Mark said:

Sorry for just jumping in on this thread but wanted some advice and this seems the most likely place to get an answer.

After a serious RTA, several years in a wheelchair and now reduced mobility (due to left leg weakness) my weight increased massively. It was eventually suggested (by my GP) that I consider a gastric band and I attended the first pre surgery group session at the hospital. Long story short, this gave me a bit of a kick after I decided I did not want surgery or to continue being so big. I'm 6' 3'' and carry the weight quite well but the scales don't lie and am embarrassed to say that on April 1st I was 27st 4llbs.

As of today, using My Fitness Pal and just eating less and better, I have dropped 3st and am seeing some improvements. In fact, over the past week people around me have remarked about the weight loss. My problem is that I appear to have hit a plateau, if indeed that is a thing? It has been 3 or 4 weeks now, where my weight has remained pretty much constant and it's harder to remain positive and maintain the diet. I will though, as I want to lose a considerable amount more, but is there anything I can do to kickstart the weight loss again, or is this a perfectly normal thing to happen?

Thanks in advance.

It seems like you are making great progress Mark but has your doctor suggested the ultra low calorie diet? It is a course run by the NHS and focuses on using 800 calories a day for 12 weeks. It would require you to eat only meal replacements (you buy them on the internet or in your local supermarket) and 250+ gms of vegetable (in whatever form you wish to prepare them; there is much variation if you enjoy cooking!). I did this earlier in the year and lost 4.5 stone in 12 weeks. It was a dramatic loss at first and then tailed out to be fairly even over the 12 week period. It had so many health benefits for me and the new wardrobe is a joy! Some people I hadn't seen for a few months didn't even recognise me.

Many will say that it is a poor way to lose weight as it just goes straight back on after you stop the course. Well, if you eat as you did before then perhaps it does. I am now maintaining weight, relatively easily, at around 13 stone, since the low cal element of the course ended in early May. Half a stone over my lowest weight (since my teens actually - I am 59). The NHS group continue to monitor and meet with you (as a group) for a further year or two after completion of the 12 week diet. You transition back on to 2200 cals a day - ish, over a period of 2 - 3 months and learn much about diet and healthy eating, some of which you wont already know but some of it we all know! Eating healthily is not hard but it does take a mind change if we have destructive eating habits in our lives.

The big thing for me was that the weight loss revived my flagging confidence and I have the mindset now that I never want to become big again. I was 16 stone 9lbs at the start of the diet but peaked in my early 50's at almost 19 stone, prior to my being diagnosed as diabetic.

Talk to your doctor about it. You are easily within the proscribed upper limits of BMI to be allowed to go on the course. Your BMI has to be above 35.

Go on the course and share the experience with others who have the same issues as you. You will do better than some and not as well as others but there is no doubt in my mind that you will lose significant amounts of weight and your attitude to food will change for the better.

Good luck!

Thanks. I will take a look. So far my loss has been by using the 2740 calories a day limit via My Fitness Pal, so a drop to just 800 seems pretty extreme.

It is extreme. It is meant to be. But strangely, you don't feel massively hungry after a few days. Your body gets used to it very quickly. The idea is that after 5-7 days your body realises that it can't get enough energy from the food that you are putting into it so it starts to use stored fat as it source. This is called 'ketosis' (there are threads on this in the Health matters forums). The important thing is that you see results quickly. YOu do need to change your attitude to food. 2740 calories a day is way over a 'normal' adult male intake. Why have you gone down to that? It seems way too high to have any effect on weight. On the ultra low calories diet you can eat stacks of veg (which you should be doing anyway. Veg, half the plate; carbs, one quarter; meat one quarter.

Eat less, move more. See your doctor soon!

Made an appointment to speak with the GP next week.

Today am down to 24st 1lb, which is the lowest since starting the diet on April 1st. (I kind of wish I hadn't started on that date as people sometimes assume it's a prank or something) I changed my settings on MFP and the daily limit is now 2000 calories. It was MFP that told me the 2740 limit which got me to this point. I'm also making a concerted effort to eat more veg, although I have been doing fairly well with that anyway, but am going to look at meal replacements.

My biggest issue is the lack of mobility. I have a pretty severe left leg weakness and my pelvis and left femur have lots of pins, plates and rods. I can walk short distances with a stick but jogging is out, as is swimming due to a leg ulcer. I've had several bouts of cellulitis because of infection via the ulcer so it's not a risk I can take. That said, I do get about as much as I can. I may be disabled but I work 3 jobs and 50 hour weeks and consider myself fortunate to be able to do so. The best bit about my recent weight loss is I'm finally able to fit in my cars bucket seat and the goal is to fit a Cobra RSR, which are pretty snug.

[anonymous-user]

Can you do weights upper body, there is also a maxhine with sailing handles for upper body, could you use that? I love my food and struggle but just keep making little changes..

[FiF]

mooseracer said:

Lemming Train said:

Thanks chaps, your kind words are appreciated!

Hopefully there'll be success stories to read from you guys in the not too distant future, too?

Although not an active poster on this thread - 15.5 down to 11.1. By a different method than you, but it's the results that count

Big shout out and a for these two showing the way, esp LT

[Robmarriott]

Still going! 94.0kg today, 0.7kg off after a week where I’ve done less running and more eating...

Edited by Robmarriott on Sunday 1st September 12:08

[Stuart70]

Afternoon all - I have reached s new high in my weight and it is time for action.

As I only work from an iPad, could someone very kindly add me to the wiki table?

Stuart70. 6ft1. 108kg. Starting 1/9/19. Approach is rejoining gym, getting active, cutting out booze, crisps, sweets.

More radical diet approach will follow depending on results.
I had a heart scare at the start of this year, had 3 months of living healthily, but an extended summer break has seen the food and alcohol outpace the activity.

I need to change as I am now fat, but I am not actually big built - I am aiming to get to about 86kg, so a fair distance to go...

Well done to all those succeeding, I am hoping the online support/challenge will help with a change in lifestyle.

[1602Mark]

Thesprucegoose said:

Can you do weights upper body, there is also a machine with sailing handles for upper body, could you use that? I love my food and struggle but just keep making little changes..

Yes, there's no excuse for my not doing upper body stuff and am going to start today. I was in a wheelchair for a few years and my upper body really benefited from pushing myself around. Unfortunately, I've gone backwards in that area now I rarely use a chair.

I'm trying to increase my walking distance too, although it isn't easy. Luckily having dogs means I must head out every day but stamina has been lacking lately.

[Robmarriott]

93.7kg this morning, only a small loss this week.

On a more positive note though, I’ve had to buy new work trousers again and they’re a 34” waist! I started the year is 38”.

[Johnniem]

1602Mark said:

Yes, there's no excuse for my not doing upper body stuff and am going to start today. I was in a wheelchair for a few years and my upper body really benefited from pushing myself around. Unfortunately, I've gone backwards in that area now I rarely use a chair.

I'm trying to increase my walking distance too, although it isn't easy. Luckily having dogs means I must head out every day but stamina has been lacking lately.

With weight loss comes other benefits such as being able to walk/exercise more easily, being less prone to cellulitis and other diseases of the 'fat', digestive problems reduce or go away altogether (I now longer take meds for digestive issues) and reduced strain on any poorly joints that limit walking.

You sound as if you are 'in the zone' and committed to the diet thing and believe me, when a significant amount of weight comes off and people really start to notice, your desire to lose more increases exponentially. See your doctor and do the ultra low cal diet. It was a revelation for me. I now am maintaining at around 13 stone (I started at close to 17 st).

JM

[kiethton]

With my stag do in late august, a 3 day (and 20 pint of guiness) business trip to Dublin last weekend and my wedding this Saturday I have fallen off the wagon.

The good news is I'm still over 10kg down from my beginning of the year high's of nearly 127kg but I'm up about 1.5kg from my May low of 114.5kg - my target was 100-110 by the wedding.

Good news is a lot of the diet stuff has stuck - I still eat a grapefruit/nothing for breakfast and a salad for lunch but dinners have changed from salad/no carb back to normal (e.g. risotto, toad, etc) but some of the changes have been maintained - e.g. wholegrain everything. The return to beer (and a lot of wine) - was previously on Gin and Slimlines - has been the big one I think.

Lets get this and the honeymoon out of the way and see if i can get back to work on the weight loss!

[Funk]

Joining this thread a little late but I guess what matters is that I'm in.

I actually started at the gym back in March, going three times a week which I've maintained with only a few skipped days due to being away etc. My main focus was to make it 'part of the routine' to the point where it's automatic and I'm pleased to say that's now the case. I'm not doing any lifting/weights yet, I'm just doing walking and cycling (as I'm aware of putting too much stress on my knees at my current weight), getting my heart rate up and keeping it there for an hour. When I first went I did an hour on the treadmill walking at 3mph and my AHR was around 150bpm. Last week it was down to 126bpm so my general fitness has clearly improved. I've now upped the incline rather than the speed; again this is with minimising stress on my knees in mind. Once I've dropped another few kg my plan is to start doing weights, the plan being to try and replace the disappearing fat with muscle to minimise loose skin as far as possible. My blood pressure's a little on the high side - this morning was 134/74 - but I have bought a decent Omron BP monitor and will keep track of what it's doing.

I knew diet also needed to change but decided to do things one at a time as I know I'm more likely to stick with things if I do it that way. I knew I needed a structure of some sort but I hate cooking and have no interest in it. Several people I know have had great results with Slimming World and the simplicity of it appealed to me in that it's not minutely focused on measuring every single thing, only a few items and overall rules. I'm sure many here will have their views on it but in the four weeks since I joined the weight has fallen off; I'm down 11.1kg just by following the format. It also doesn't feel like I'm 'on a diet' as their 'syn' allowances mean I still have the odd thing here or there which I really enjoy - I'm just more aware of the frequency and amounts. The other thing which helps is knowing there's a weekly weigh-in coming - I thought I'd really hate the 'group' aspect of it but it's actually very helpful and surprisingly motivating.

My goal is to lose 77kg in total. 14% to target so far.

Edited by Funk on Thursday 12th September 13:51

[anonymous-user]

Well done on the First steps. It is always good to get a plan tht suits you, as some diets can be too extreme for long term, and for most gradual changes for the long term will always work better. Keep it up..

[911Ads]

Perhaps a bit late in the year, but could I join? I need motivation and have just found this thread.

After a doc visit and a Blood pressure check of 151/93 3 weeks ago...I have been eating better and walking further at a faster pace. Today's Doc visit and blood pressure at 131/84. Blood tests came back mainly positive too, so just need to keep on it.

3 weeks ago I was 123kg and today I am 119kg. My target is to be under 100kg at which I'll still be overweight but at 6'4 would be acceptable. Not sure how long it will take but happy to log progress.

Thanks
Ads.

[Robmarriott]

Another 0.8kg down, weirdly, it seems to be easier to lose weight now I’m lighter than it was when I was heavier which seems to be a bit counterintuitive. I guess it’s because exercise is easier and I’m not struggling with hunger as much now so I’m not tempted to snack. Still feels wrong though!

[Robmarriott]

Happy with that this week. 1.3kg to go and I’ve lost four stone this year!

[daveenty]

Nice one Rob, I'm not as much down as you but still pleased with a 14.5Kg loss.

Main problem I'm finding is that the diet is tending to play havoc with my digestive system and, coupled with all the tablets I'm currently taking for the heart condition, leaving me with constipation at times. It's more of an inconvenience than anything but will probably ask the doctor for advice the next time I'm there.

[tr7v8]

Just back from a cruise where I ate my body weight in food. Did a bit of gym work as well. Unfortunately added 2.5 kg as well

[MrOrange]

tr7v8 said:

Just back from a cruise where I ate my body weight in food. Did a bit of gym work as well. Unfortunately added 2.5 kg as well

Likewise. Spent 2 weeks eating and drinking my way across Italy and gained 7lbs. Back to watching my weight. Ho hum.