Ace Lifestyle/My Weigh Matters NHS program

pinktoesjb
pinktoesjb Posts: 302 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I have been referred to this programme by my doctors in the UK currently on the plan with the weekly 1-2-1 sessions.
I am seriously doubting this programme. I see low carb, low fat and low protein, serious restriction on foods that aren't that high calorie but are quite filling and weird ok status given to other stuff. I think it is the protein restriction that is killing me. I feel like total crap since I have been doing it- teary, irritable, very low energy levels, frequently want to beat my partner to death etc.
Is anyone else on this plan? I don't really want to throw it out just yet but I'm not sure it is sustainable. I thought I had lost around a kilo in the first two weeks but was informed by the people who run it that this is not so and I was only 100g down. Water, time of day, whatever, I don't feel like it it working. I am just finishing up week 3 and scales at home say I am down 2kg since starting.

Replies

  • ClosetBayesian
    ClosetBayesian Posts: 836 Member
    I'm definitely not familiar with the plan (I'm in the US, not the UK); having said that, you said the plan is low carb, low fat, and low protein. How is that? That's all three macronutrients; the plan has to tilt in favor of one of the three. Is this a medically-supervised VLCD? Have you been tracking what you're eating? How many calories are you getting in?
  • pinktoesjb
    pinktoesjb Posts: 302 Member
    Hi,

    Basically it is set into portions, they say don't count calories but I have been doing so alongside it.

    Of a day I am allowed 2 protein servings-1 serving is a deck of card sized piece of lean meat, 2 eggs or a fish fillet
    2 fat servings literally a tsp of oil
    3 dairy servings 1 serving is 200g non fat yoghurt or cottage cheese, no fat milk, reduced fat cream cheese tbspn.
    Whole carbs are up to 7 a day but very small servings so 1 serving is 2 tbspns cereal, about half a baking potato, 2 tbspns cooked cous cous.
    Serious restrictions on anything high sugar or fat to the point that 1tsp honey wipes out your allowance for the day. Light/baked crisps etc count in this category so do avocados, bacon etc. You are advised to get bulk from vegetables and some fruit but less fruit than veg.

    I guess looking at this written down I have opportunity to increase the carbs a little.
  • ClosetBayesian
    ClosetBayesian Posts: 836 Member
    Added: Just looked at your food diary; nevermind re: the VLCD; it's not. It really doesn't look like it's really low carb, fat, or protein, either, to be honest.

    How many calories a day were you eating before this? Is it just the deficit that's too sharp for you?
  • pinktoesjb
    pinktoesjb Posts: 302 Member
    if you take yesterday as example I was around 1400 cals and I was double on the protein allowance for the day and over on serious restriction items from having mayo on lunch (which we had out and was the best option I could find).
  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    Ace Lifestyle is a local name for Aglian Community Enterprise so not national. But the NHS weight matter program is.

    As ClosetBayesian says, your diet looks good. Reasonable balance of P/F/C.

    If you post your weight and height we would have a better idea as to what is a decent calories per day for you to target.
  • pinktoesjb
    pinktoesjb Posts: 302 Member
    also yesterday as example I had double the allowed fat amount.
    I'm 5'6 88kg
  • ClosetBayesian
    ClosetBayesian Posts: 836 Member
    How many calories a day does the program suggest? What are the limits on carbs, fat, and protein?
  • pinktoesjb
    pinktoesjb Posts: 302 Member
    no calorie counting on this programme, suggested 'portions' as I have described above.
  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    edited March 2016
    OK, 35yrs old, female, height 168 cms and wt 88 kg.

    If you are sedentary (little to no exercise) 1lb per week loss is about 1400. But at this value you would need to eat back exercise calories.

    Another way to look at it is if you exercised 3-5 times per week then you would eat 1975 and lose 1lb per week (but not be eating back the exercise cals).

    I prefer not to count exercise cals (because I tend to be wildly inaccurate) but it's a matter of preference.

    So, looking at your diary you seem to be pretty much spot on with your calories going in but the NHS program seems to be pretty low fat (you ate 64g of fat yesterday and doubled the NHS recommendation). I'm generally a fan of the NHS and don't want to bash them or contradict any information that may have been given to you based upon other illness/health factors that we are not aware of on here. But, I would say that 30g of fat is too low for an overweight (but otherwise healthy adult) and chasing this figure is possibly what is causing you to feel so crappy.

    My advice would be:
    • Continue logging your foods
    • Do not be frightened of fat - it is not your enemy
    • Incorporate (within your daily calories) a little bit of the foods you like
    • take your food diary summary to the next NHS session you have and discuss it with them

    best wishes
  • HealthyGinny
    HealthyGinny Posts: 821 Member
    Hi, I don't know the program, I am not from the UK, but from what I can read in your post and see in your diary, either you are not really following the programme you're talking about or the programme is actually ok. I see a lot of protein in your diary (not only counting yesterday, I went back 2 weeks), and a lot of carbs, and an okay amount of fats. Yes, maybe it's not really fun (no cookies, no ice-cream, etc.) but from what I can see you have a good P/F/C ratio . If it's only a matter of a diet that is not sustainable for you (if you need a bit of sugar, or more variety) then yes, ditch the program and stick to mfp.
  • pinktoesjb
    pinktoesjb Posts: 302 Member
    Thank you. I didn't add that I try to get in 3+ half hour runs per week plus yoga and on this I am feeling exhausted and the prospect of running is just sheer dread. Perhaps I will ask them if there is a recognised area to scale up in.

    I love the NHS too but I'm just wary of a one size fits all nutrition plan that only differs between men and women without age, activity etc.
    StealthHealth wrote: »
    OK, 35yrs old, female, height 168 cms and wt 88 kg.

    If you are sedentary (little to no exercise) 1lb per week loss is about 1400. But at this value you would need to eat back exercise calories.

    Another way to look at it is if you exercised 3-5 times per week then you would eat 1975 and lose 1lb per week (but not be eating back the exercise cals).

    I prefer not to count exercise cals (because I tend to be wildly inaccurate) but it's a matter of preference.

    So, looking at your diary you seem to be pretty much spot on with your calories going in but the NHS program seems to be pretty low fat (you ate 64g of fat yesterday and doubled the NHS recommendation). I'm generally a fan of the NHS and don't want to bash them or contradict any information that may have been given to you based upon other illness/health factors that we are not aware of on here. But, I would say that 30g of fat is too low for an overweight (but otherwise healthy adult) and chasing this figure is possibly what is causing you to feel so crappy.

    My advice would be:
    • Continue logging your foods
    • Do not be frightened of fat - it is not your enemy
    • Incorporate (within your daily calories) a little bit of the foods you like
    • take your food diary summary to the next NHS session you have and discuss it with them

    best wishes

  • pinktoesjb
    pinktoesjb Posts: 302 Member
    I am trying to follow it but frequently going over on the protein and fat allowance.
    HealthyGinny wrote: »
    Hi, I don't know the program, I am not from the UK, but from what I can read in your post and see in your diary, either you are not really following the programme you're talking about or the programme is actually ok. I see a lot of protein in your diary (not only counting yesterday, I went back 2 weeks), and a lot of carbs, and an okay amount of fats. Yes, maybe it's not really fun (no cookies, no ice-cream, etc.) but from what I can see you have a good P/F/C ratio . If it's only a matter of a diet that is not sustainable for you (if you need a bit of sugar, or more variety) then yes, ditch the program and stick to mfp.

  • HealthyGinny
    HealthyGinny Posts: 821 Member
    pinktoesjb wrote: »
    I am trying to follow it but frequently going over on the protein and fat allowance.
    HealthyGinny wrote: »
    Hi, I don't know the program, I am not from the UK, but from what I can read in your post and see in your diary, either you are not really following the programme you're talking about or the programme is actually ok. I see a lot of protein in your diary (not only counting yesterday, I went back 2 weeks), and a lot of carbs, and an okay amount of fats. Yes, maybe it's not really fun (no cookies, no ice-cream, etc.) but from what I can see you have a good P/F/C ratio . If it's only a matter of a diet that is not sustainable for you (if you need a bit of sugar, or more variety) then yes, ditch the program and stick to mfp.

    Then maybe it's just not for you? No shame in that, the best "diets" are the ones you can stick to. I love mfp because i try to respect my macros but the day i want a lot of carbs (I am a carb monster), well I make room for them, still respecting my cal goal and I still lose.
  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    HealthyGinny wrote: »
    pinktoesjb wrote: »
    I am trying to follow it but frequently going over on the protein and fat allowance.
    HealthyGinny wrote: »
    Hi, I don't know the program, I am not from the UK, but from what I can read in your post and see in your diary, either you are not really following the programme you're talking about or the programme is actually ok. I see a lot of protein in your diary (not only counting yesterday, I went back 2 weeks), and a lot of carbs, and an okay amount of fats. Yes, maybe it's not really fun (no cookies, no ice-cream, etc.) but from what I can see you have a good P/F/C ratio . If it's only a matter of a diet that is not sustainable for you (if you need a bit of sugar, or more variety) then yes, ditch the program and stick to mfp.

    Then maybe it's just not for you? No shame in that, the best "diets" are the ones you can stick to. I love mfp because i try to respect my macros but the day i want a lot of carbs (I am a carb monster), well I make room for them, still respecting my cal goal and I still lose.

    ^^agree with it all and added emphasis to my favourite part.

    Also, I'm a fat burner - carbs I can cut but fat - nope! But it shows that despite this, both HealthyGinny and I can use MFP to hit our goals.
  • HealthyGinny
    HealthyGinny Posts: 821 Member
    StealthHealth wrote: »
    HealthyGinny wrote: »
    pinktoesjb wrote: »
    I am trying to follow it but frequently going over on the protein and fat allowance.
    HealthyGinny wrote: »
    Hi, I don't know the program, I am not from the UK, but from what I can read in your post and see in your diary, either you are not really following the programme you're talking about or the programme is actually ok. I see a lot of protein in your diary (not only counting yesterday, I went back 2 weeks), and a lot of carbs, and an okay amount of fats. Yes, maybe it's not really fun (no cookies, no ice-cream, etc.) but from what I can see you have a good P/F/C ratio . If it's only a matter of a diet that is not sustainable for you (if you need a bit of sugar, or more variety) then yes, ditch the program and stick to mfp.

    Then maybe it's just not for you? No shame in that, the best "diets" are the ones you can stick to. I love mfp because i try to respect my macros but the day i want a lot of carbs (I am a carb monster), well I make room for them, still respecting my cal goal and I still lose.

    ^^agree with it all and added emphasis to my favourite part.

    Also, I'm a fat burner - carbs I can cut but fat - nope! But it shows that despite this, both HealthyGinny and I can use MFP to hit our goals.

    Exactly!! you do whatever you want with the cals you are given and you lose weight. Some people will say that IIFYM is better but honestly, to lose you only need to eat less than you burn, whatever the way...
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    pinktoesjb wrote: »
    I have been referred to this programme by my doctors in the UK currently on the plan with the weekly 1-2-1 sessions.
    I am seriously doubting this programme. I see low carb, low fat and low protein, serious restriction on foods that aren't that high calorie but are quite filling and weird ok status given to other stuff. I think it is the protein restriction that is killing me. I feel like total crap since I have been doing it- teary, irritable, very low energy levels, frequently want to beat my partner to death etc.
    Is anyone else on this plan? I don't really want to throw it out just yet but I'm not sure it is sustainable. I thought I had lost around a kilo in the first two weeks but was informed by the people who run it that this is not so and I was only 100g down. Water, time of day, whatever, I don't feel like it it working. I am just finishing up week 3 and scales at home say I am down 2kg since starting.

    How can something be low carb, low fat and low protein. This looks like a typo.

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