Which Slimming Club is Best (I'm complicated)

Unity

I've just had a referral from my GP to a Slimming Club and I have a choice between Rosemary Conley, Slimming World and Weight Watchers. I've also got a referral to a gym.

This unfortunately is where it gets complicated on many levels. Firstly I'm wheat and lactose intolerant and on a low-fibre diet from hospital (now discharged) for bad IBS - so any ideas on which would be best?/

I'm also disabled with cervical and lumbar sondylosis, scoliosis, bulging discs a painful bone cyst in my femur and arthritis plus osteophytes which restricts the blood flow to my brain, so sudden movements have on occasion caused temporary blindness. I've also had fibromyalgia and CFS (dxd by rheumatologist in 1994).

This being said I am not permanently reliant on my wheelchair and I am really keen to make this work, having already lost over a stone without help.

I'd be really grateful for any advice on a) which club regime would be best and b) if there's any fitness trainers reading this - am I likely to be able to do anything in a gym, apart from watch :D.

Thanks for reading .

Skintslimmer

Can you eat lean meat, quorn and non-starchy vegetables? If so try slimming world red days. Include white pasta and rice, all in unlimited portions, and do their extra easy.

If you want to eat a variety of food but not huge portions, try weight watchers or rosemary connoley.

If you have to be so careful you have to read everything on the packet, and are not bothered by the need to chew, what about slim fast?

Has your GP ok'd you for gentle walking and/or swimming? I'm not an expert but I would imagine these are the best gentle exercises for a bit of a delicate body.

x

Unity

Skintslimmer wrote: »

Can you eat lean meat, quorn and non-starchy vegetables? If so try slimming world red days. Include white pasta and rice, all in unlimited portions, and do their extra easy.

If you want to eat a variety of food but not huge portions, try weight watchers or rosemary connoley.

If you have to be so careful you have to read everything on the packet, and are not bothered by the need to chew, what about slim fast?

Has your GP ok'd you for gentle walking and/or swimming? I'm not an expert but I would imagine these are the best gentle exercises for a bit of a delicate body.

x

Thanks very much for your reply - it's handy to have an idea of what sort of things the various clubs offer. I can eat lean meat, but most veg and fruit is off-limits even broccoli and courgettes which are my favourites . I asked the dietician how anyone can be healthy on such a restrictive diet and she admitted it isn't easy. The pain meds (morphine patches) also mean I have to take large doses of Senna and regular Movicol. I can have rice, but only white - when I love brown and wild because it has a taste . Pasta is off-limits in the normal sense although I can manage the gluten free stuff from Sainsbury's. I may be coeliac, but it can't be confirmed without putting a camera down my throat and that is the one thing I can't contemplate :eek:. I am no wuss, I regularly have injections in my spine under local anaesthetic and my pain threshold surprises physicians - my one phobia just happens to be choking .

I can swim, but only breast stroke and my doc has ruled this out as the leg movement makes my spine dip at the wrong place :embarasse. I hope that the gym might include a pool and that swimming lessons may be an option, if I could learn how to do the crawl. I have tried many times, but I can't get the hang of it and suspect the cervical spondylosis stops me getting my arms up in the right position. My favourite exercise apart from squash and swimming was always walking, I would just set out and go for miles - but alas it's no longer on the cards.

I did say it's complicated - but hopefully not insurmountable . it's not so much a 'delicate body' - more of a trembling wreck :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:. I normally tell folks who love exercise to be careful or they too could end up with a body like mine .


Thanks again.

Lizzy

Well Weight Watchers has a points system. You are allowed so many points depending on how tall you are, how old, how active etc. All the other diets will work but I feel that the points system could be good for you because YOU can decide what you want to eat (or can eat). Then point it up yourself. Many foods at WW are point free. Its not I can't have this and cant't have that you can have everything just point it up. If you can't make it to a club (try to for extra support) WW do it online as well. You will be given all the information you need to start pointing.

As for exercise, can you walk in water as in aqua airobics but at first your own very gentle movements. If you can stand in a reasonable amount of water it will take the weight off your limbs and spine and you could work out your own routine or an instructor might help. Could this be an option.? The freedom water brings is fantastic but can also be used for good resistance exercise.

Just some suggestions. Good Luck

elfen

Unity, I'm lactose and gluten intolerant, and I follow my own form of low carb diet....I don't think it would be suitable, as I eat a lot of fruit and veg, and you're on a low-fibre diet.
Could you ask your GP to refer you to a dietician who might be able to help you a bit more?
Rosemary Conley may be best fitness-wise as I know her DVDs have a specific exercise for those in a chair

ailuro2

The gym part is to get your heart pumping a bit faster to help you burn fat. My biomechanics podiatrist favours stationary cycling as it can be done without stressing my feet like walking on a treadmill or real cycling, but of course might be ideal for you as it can be done sitting down. It's great for burning calories too - as is the cross trainer which he also recommends as it's very easy on the joints and feet.

I do WW online it works and lets you eat whatever you want as long as you don't go over the points.

Unity

Lizzy wrote: »

Well Weight Watchers has a points system. You are allowed so many points depending on how tall you are, how old, how active etc. All the other diets will work but I feel that the points system could be good for you because YOU can decide what you want to eat (or can eat). Then point it up yourself. Many foods at WW are point free. Its not I can't have this and cant't have that you can have everything just point it up. If you can't make it to a club (try to for extra support) WW do it online as well. You will be given all the information you need to start pointing.

As for exercise, can you walk in water as in aqua airobics but at first your own very gentle movements. If you can stand in a reasonable amount of water it will take the weight off your limbs and spine and you could work out your own routine or an instructor might help. Could this be an option.? The freedom water brings is fantastic but can also be used for good resistance exercise.

Just some suggestions. Good Luck

Many thanks - there's some great suggestions there, the points system does sound like a good idea and I love the idea of aqua-aerobics.

elfen wrote: »

Unity, I'm lactose and gluten intolerant, and I follow my own form of low carb diet....I don't think it would be suitable, as I eat a lot of fruit and veg, and you're on a low-fibre diet.
Could you ask your GP to refer you to a dietician who might be able to help you a bit more?
Rosemary Conley may be best fitness-wise as I know her DVDs have a specific exercise for those in a chair

Thanks for this. I did try a low carb diet, but I felt ill on it precisely I think because I couldn't eat the fruit and veg. It's bad luck as I love lots of veg and pulses but they do not love me .

ailuro2 wrote: »

The gym part is to get your heart pumping a bit faster to help you burn fat. My biomechanics podiatrist favours stationary cycling as it can be done without stressing my feet like walking on a treadmill or real cycling, but of course might be ideal for you as it can be done sitting down. It's great for burning calories too - as is the cross trainer which he also recommends as it's very easy on the joints and feet.

I do WW online it works and lets you eat whatever you want as long as you don't go over the points.

My DH sees a biomechanics podiatrist too since finding his hamstrings have shortened due to slight spina bifida that went unnoticed in the 50's. Stationary cycling sounds like a possibility for me, is the cross-trainer one of those machines that's like cross-country ski-ing but up off the ground? That would be ideal I think. I will enquire at Weight Watchers whether I can join now and maybe follow on-line after the surgery, until I'm fit again.

Thanks to you all for your help. :T:T:T

Snow_Angel

Hi Unity

Congratulations on the weight loss so far. You seem like a very determined and positive person in spite of your chronic health problems.

I'm afraid I can't advise on your diet choices but, as I'm a Physio, I was just wondering if your GP or specialist had referred you to the Physio in your local hospital? They would be able to advise you on exercise choices after assessing you fully. I have to admit, hydrotherapy/aqua aerobics sounds ideal for you. I think the stationary cycle may put too much strain on your lower back due to the 'stooping' type position they put many people into. Having said that, my gym has recumbent style static bikes which you sit in rather than on, so your back is supported.

Good luck with all your hard work :T

Unity

Snow_Angel wrote: »

Hi Unity

Congratulations on the weight loss so far. You seem like a very determined and positive person in spite of your chronic health problems.

I'm afraid I can't advise on your diet choices but, as I'm a Physio, I was just wondering if your GP or specialist had referred you to the Physio in your local hospital? They would be able to advise you on exercise choices after assessing you fully. I have to admit, hydrotherapy/aqua aerobics sounds ideal for you. I think the stationary cycle may put too much strain on your lower back due to the 'stooping' type position they put many people into. Having said that, my gym has recumbent style static bikes which you sit in rather than on, so your back is supported.

Good luck with all your hard work :T

Thank you for your reply. I've also been referred to a gym so I'm looking forward to getting the details on that. I've seen the recumbent bikes and they look like a really good idea.

I rang Weight Watchers, but what a shambles :mad:. I told the person I spoke to that it was a GP Slimming Referral and she said just to turn up to the class in my area where I'd be given vouchers. Unfortunately when I arrived I was told I'd been given the wrong information on the phone - and that I couldn't join until I got the vouchers through the post. I'd been told that I'd get the vouchers at the class so I wasn't that impressed tbh. I got back home and phoned again, only to be told that I still can't register because the major surgery will mean I can't use all the vouchers within a sixteen week period. It's unfortunate since the surgeon I saw wanted me to lose weight before the op.

I guess it's back to self-motivation :rolleyes: ho-hum :embarasse

Snow_Angel

You may find this thread (and subsequent ones) very helpful for motivation and advice. x

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2355475

Unity

Snow_Angel wrote: »

You may find this thread (and subsequent ones) very helpful for motivation and advice. x

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2355475

Thanks for this. I suppose I should have known that there'd be a dedicated thread on here, since there is for just about everything . I've had a quick look and now I'm off to study it in more detail.

Cheers :beer: