Desperate.....need help

Andreadodsworth1805 · July 2016

So I am looking to the experts....you. OK I am 36, quite heavily disabled with psoriatic arthritis and quite immobile. I have reached desperation over my weight. I need to do something drastic and quickly. I am on the NHS waiting list for a gastric bypass but it's a 2 year wait. I have been doing slimming world for the last 3 years and it has been a huge fail. I have looked into the Cambridge diet but as a mum and wife I just can't take that amount of money out of the pot for me. I currently hate food. Would gladly never eat again so motivation isn't a problem. I take amitytripline and methotrexate which both cause problems with weight loss. I have decided that I am cutting the amitytripline down as much as possible as of today so hopefully might start losing again. I have checked with my docs before anyone tells me to. So I am 5ft 2inches and 21 stone. Might help you understand that I am desperate. Am I said my mobility is limited but in the process of trying to find a disabled access pool so can go swimming. Mfp is putting my calories as 1470. Realistically do I need to drop that? I am asking you.....the experts who live and breath this. Also looking for some friends to help keep me going. Thanks in advance for any input xx

T0M_K · July 2016

i would suggest checking other places on the internet for calculating your BMR. look up scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

are you not under any doctor care that can tailor a plan for you? if you are on a wait list, i would think you have some medical support that can aid you. you MUST track everything you eat. weigh your food. stay within a medically advised calorie limit. if you are heavily disabled, i would think you could have a doctor create a diet/calorie limit for you. you sound desperate. seek help that you can actually see and talk to and dont do this alone.

godlikepoetyes · July 2016

First of all, breathe. You can do this, even if you aren't able to move about a lot. But if you're like me, as you lose you will be able to move more and more. I felt quite disabled until I lost weight. I started out at 270, had all sorts of health problems, most of which have improved with my weight loss.

Second, your calorie settings. Unless you are quite short (you didn't give your height), you have set your goal at a 2 lb (convert) a week. This is too fast and you will only get frustrated if you eat so little. Set your weight loss to 1 lb a week. If you lose the weight slowly you are much more likely to keep it off. Most people who lose quickly gain the weight back, and then some.

Third, weigh your food (in grams), and measure all your liquids.

Fourth, record every single bite every single day. Never skip your logging. If you're like most of us it makes a difference psychologically. Be honest with your logging. Learn how to do it properly. For instance, don't pick the lowest calorie count for a McDonald's quarter pounder. Instead, go to McDonald's website to find out the actual calories. Use your common sense. If one entry for a brownie is 100 calories and another is 700, then do a little research. Learn to use the Recipe Builder. This is very important for accurate calorie counts. Record EVERYTHING you eat.

Fifth, do not restrict the types of foods you eat. There are no "bad" foods or "proper" foods. Just eat and record what you eat. Gradually, you will likely move toward less calorie-dense foods, i.e. fruits and veggies, but if you're like so many of us, over-restricting foods is the kiss of death.

Sixth, move. I know your body hurts. I've been there, but even if you can't get out of your chair, you can move and groove to some music while you're sitting there. I chair dance all the time because I have a bum knee and some days it just won't work. Movement will make you feel better. I have arthritis and fibromyalgia and it took a long time for me to embrace movement and when I did I discovered that it does, indeed, make me feel better. Movement changes my perception of my pain.

Seven, find friends who will support you. This can be difficult. If there is no one in your life, then hang out on MFP and find people who have lost weight and kept it off who will offer you support and advice. But don't listen to the nutcases--you'll hear all sorts of weird nonsense and that brings me to my last point--

Educate yourself about nutrition. I'm assuming you're in the UK. Find out the most respected books written by respected medical doctors and nutritionists and read those. In the US, we have a paleo fad and a gluten-free fad and a low-carb fad. Some of our doctors have embraced these fads and perpetuate the nonsense. So do your own research. It takes time to cut through all the crap floating around, but consider this--in the 20th and 21st century mainstream nutritional advice has changed in small ways, but some core ideals have remained the same--eat your fruits and veggies, watch your portions, and be moderate in all things. These small truths have not changed and are unlikely to change.

Good luck. You can do this. Your case is not hopeless and you do not need to wait for gastric bypass to succeed. You may find that you lose all your extra weight while you are on this waiting list! My best hopes for you.

CattOfTheGarage · July 2016

Hang in there. I agree that a medically prescribed calorie limit is better than mfp's standard allowances in your case - once you have a calorie limit from your doctor or dietitian you can enter that into mfp manually.

I also agree you should be aiming for a slower weight loss, possibly as slow as half a pound a week, because with your limited mobility you will not be able to take much exercise, so a fast rate of loss will leave you with an unsustainably low calorie limit which will cause you to quit.

I understand your desperation and your feeling that you "would gladly never eat again" but don't let this lead you to set unmanageable goals. You may feel like you never want to eat again, but your body disagrees, and if you try and fight it head on by starving yourself, you will lose that fight. Slow and steady wins the race, as well as using all the tools at your disposal, and good medical advice is your most valuable tool.

Unfortunately, general practitioners are often not very knowledgeable about nutrition and weight loss, and the same is true of specialist consultants. Try and get a referral to a dietitian, they really know their stuff and will be able to advise you on a good calorie goal and tips on how to achieve it in your specific situation.

What is your experience of trying to lose weight in the past? That would be helpful to know, because there are a huge number of things to learn which can make the difference between weight loss being gruelling and impossible, or a completely achievable goal.

Read, read, read the archives here, they are positively dripping with good advice and valuable experience. And seek out myfitnesspal friends who have similar challenges to you in regards to mobility and medical issues, there are bound to be plenty on here and having some people who can join you on your journey could be a huge help to you.

You can do this.

Andreadodsworth1805 · July 2016

Thank you so much for your answers. Some really great advise to get me going. I am 5ft 2 and did select 2lbs a week but I think at this stage I need to be grateful for a loss instead of desperate to see big numbers. I hsve some slimming world for a long time which is a healthy eating plan but it is free foods instead of weighing and measuring and I just simply have lost nothing over the last year. I am a bit of a control freak so think psychologically doing it this way will help me as I have the control here with the weighing and measuring and counting. I think I need science at this point to help me get some faith in myself again. I really don't want the gastric bypass. I want to do this myself. So of I need to plod along at half a pound a week then that is what I have to do. Thank you so much for taking the time. All your replies have been amazing x

CattOfTheGarage · July 2016

Andreadodsworth1805 wrote: »

I think at this stage I need to be grateful for a loss instead of desperate to see big numbers.

Bingo. Weight loss is a long game. Too many people drop out altogether through trying to do it too fast. And if you like science, calorie counting is the method for you.

capaul42 · July 2016

Best of luck with your journey! (As I have no advice other than what's already been said)

dlkfox · July 2016

You can do it! Lots of great advice on this thread.

grenachegirl · July 2016

Hi
Firstly I'm not an expert, far from it, but I've struggled with my weight from my teens, I'm 43 now. I too have mobility issues, a type of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis and fibromyalgia so I know what it's like to be in a lot of pain, I've also lost 3 inches in height due to the spinal issues so I'm also 5ft 2. I'm currently on anti-tnf treatment which I inject fortnightly, without it my life would be seriously curtailed. But it's still incredibly painful to walk or stand for any length of time, I started walking at Xmas, small distances + at a very slow pace. I've worked on increasing the distance + pace and I'm now enjoying it, but it wasn't easy.
I've also dabbled with slimming world with mixed results, but I find the precise nature of counting every calorie much easier.
Please don't be disheartened, plodding along is good, at first I lurked on these forums taking in all the advice + tips I could get, within weeks I was getting results which kept me motivated.
We can do this, even with these horrendous mobility issues!!! And just know - you are not alone.
C xx

meritage4 · July 2016

there are many chair exercises.

kommodevaran · July 2016

I think your eating habits and your relationship with food should be your number one priority, it would help you to work on that first. Move now if you can do it without hurting yourself, but you need to focus on one area at a time; you can get the traction from exercise when those things are more settled. You have to eat and you'll be eating several times a day for the rest of your life, so you better make that enjoyable. At 21 stone and sedentary, your TDEE is possibly around 2500, and 1470 calories per day would amount to a weekly loss of 2 pounds on average. At this stage, it's important to get some weight off you, so I'd say go for it. Just be sure you are eating properly - you have to be strict at such a low intake, so no luxuries, but no starvation either - a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, lean protein and dairy, some fats, and some whole grains. Pick foods you like, or at least, don't try to force down foods you hate. Anything you can do with real food and an intact stomach, will be better for you than shakes and surgery. Please be kind to yourself.

Gena575 · July 2016

For movement, just try to get in 10-20 extra steps a day for a week. Then up it. No need to be out jogging or jumping rope! This link, while geared to the older set, has some good low-no impact moves that maybe you can do 1 or 2 of a day. Something is better than nothing! http://www.grandparents.com/health-and-wellbeing/exercise-and-de-stress/chair-exercises

And as to food, give yourself a good allowance...set mfp to 1lb a week and focus on that for a bit or while you wait for a dietician appointment. Eat foods you like and try to pick some that have good protein and fats simply because they help most folks stave off hunger longer. Weigh and measure, log even if it's ugly and celebrate even the tiniest victories. Oh, and drink plenty of water! No need for some randomly chosen gallon or 8 cups. Drink until your urine is sort of pale. Water helps lubricate all your parts...and more water means moving more to pee! Win win! Lol!

VintageFeline · July 2016

I just want to make a quick point about your medications, they are not causing any issues with your attempts to lose weight other than potentially appetite increase and that would only apply to the amitriptilyne. So as long as you get your calorie intake accurate your medications will have no impact on your loss. If they are working for you and effective, no need to come off just for weight loss purposes. I think the "free" foods of Slimming World have tripped you up and have caused you to eat more than you realise.

However, due to the potential appetite increase, if you find after a few weeks aiming for 2lbs loss you are still hungry despite making dietary tweaks then you have room to up your intake a little. It will slow the losses but make it more sustainable.

And keep coming back here for support.

MaybeLed · July 2016

Every journey starts with a step, or whatever quote you like.

As like me you have the joy of the NHS, go back to your GP. There are plenty of schemes available that promote a healthy lifestyle.

Including (but not limited to) free help/weigh-in groups, referrals to dieticians, (in the UK dieticians are the only ones with proper qualifications and a protected job title) free gym membership and referrals to specialist councillors.

as @godlikepoetyes says, get support around you from people here. but get your information from MFP with a touch of cynicism.

http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/loseweight/Pages/Loseweighthome.aspx

The NHS is a wonderful resource.

Andreadodsworth1805 · July 2016

Sorry only just seen these replies thank you. I can't do chair exercises due to surgery in both shoulders, elbows and wrists. My body is an utter nightmare. I do a little walking with crutches. I did 4 weeks of 1470 calories and put on 2lbs and I did not cheat or not be accurate. Two different doctors have told me amitytripline is a problem and no one can find another reason for nothing working. I spent two weeks in hospital recieving a nasal tube feed and should have lost considerable weight. I lost half a pound. My doctors have referred me for a gastric bypass as they genuinely can't suggest anything else. But the waiting list is 2 years and I am pretty desperate. I know the only exercise I can do is swimming but my local disabled access pool is currently closed. Feeling a little hopeless. Please don't think I haven't tried because this has been going on over a year.

girlwithcurls2 · July 2016

Keep calorie counting, and when you can get into a pool, even pool walking or jogging will help. In the meantime, if you were reading what you wrote from a friend's perspective, would you be so hard on that person? Be your own best friend

You are worth it. You have every right to a happy life. Think of weight loss as a plan for the rest of your life. You don't need to see big numbers drop or make this happen fast. Get up each day and make good decisions. You can do this.

luveydov · July 2016

I am in a situation very close to yours. I have RA and fibromyalgia (and likely chronic fatigue.) I have been trying to get to a "normal" weight ever since my first diagnosis many years ago. I don't know if it is the medications I have taken over the years or the diseases themselves, but my energy expenditure is incredibly low. Of course some of it is low activity, but I have had periods of really good cardio and weight lifting with no weight loss. I have done MFP using 1,500 calories and gotten nowhere. Going lower just wasn't doable for me.

I am on a medically supervised diet now and have finally started losing weight somewhat steadily. It is a very low calorie low carbohydrate diet, using high protein packets of food provided by my doctor's office. My understanding of the science is that the low carbohydrate makes the low calorie possible because it reduces appetite. The high protein helps to maintain muscle mass. Fat consumption seems to be moderate, usually working out to what MFP recommends.

So, the packets of food are quite expensive, but I've found that there is an extensive internet presence of groups that use less expensive alternatives available through mail order. Google "Ideal Protein Alternative" to find what I am talking about.

You can also find the Ideal Protein protocols online. Print this out and take it to your doctors and see what they have to say about it.

Also, regarding your other med. My GC recently prescribed a low dose of generic prozac which had the surprising affect of reducing my binge type eating and eating when bored, sad, anxious, etc.

Good luck to you.

geneticsteacher · July 2016

I am on a low dose of Amitriptyline (migraine prevention). It has not prevented me from losing weight.

Weigh and log everything! Ask your doctor for a suggested calorie goal. I started at 1200 calories (I am old and female) here and really didn't have a problem with it. ANY movement will be beneficial. Post-surgery I started with simple chair yoga. Good luck!

e9196tep · July 2016

I've been on methotrexate 2 weeks and I'm having a hard time getting my calories over 1000 due to nausea. Taking other DMARDS for RA as well as prednisone. The fatigue is intense so exercise is always an afterthought. Just log everything! It's a long term effort. It took me 2 years to lose 40lbs. Slow, slow,slow. But the persistence pays off eventually. Just keep at it. ❤️

Desperate.....need help

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