45 years old and 47.5 BMI. I need help

UKTigerlily

Kayalana99 wrote: »

I'm going to go against the grain here, I don't think joining a gym is going to help unless you are committed in the first place - what I mean is, a good proportion of people join the gym only go twice and get stuck in a 12 month contract but your problems rely on food, drinking and not getting enough exercise, my solution is to just take up walking, and perhaps move into running as the weight starts to drop off - which it will, if you control your eating.

Signing up for a 12 month gym membership is not going to make your problems go away, you need to have the right mindset to cut back on the food intake and start getting out and about more ~ also you mention feeling self concious, perhaps after getting your energy levels up you would feel better about yourself, as you wouldn't be struggling on a treadmill (no matter what weight you would be at this point, taking the time to go out walking and building yourself up gradually then knowing you can commit to a gym makes more sense)

It's only my two cents, and I hope I don't offend as I don't want to come across as give up before you start ~ I just think people who want to lose weight naturally get pushed to go to a gym when their is no need for it, if that's what you want to do in long run as a hobby why not? But just don't think that because you want to lose weight it's the first point of call.

I see what the above is saying and agree in part, but for me, the gym was the best place to weight train (which is probably the most important thing for losing weight, at least over cardio etc tho ANY exercise is great! Also, being almost your weight, OP, I wanted to minimise the risk of excess skin. It won't get rid of it completely but 5st 10 down and looking good)

Lots of gyms don't have a 12 month contract, mine does but also has other options to pay monthly etc plus the gym gives inductions so weights are used safely

barbarawright

MyFitnessPal is a good free (I think - it might be a couple of quid) that can calculate the calories in everything and also how many calories you burn off by a particular activity. So you can work out that walking 3 miles earns you a couple of chocolate digestives. Once you've used it for a couple of weeks, you do get a good idea of how much you need to cut down to lose weight and also which foods you like are actually low calorie. I found it pretty helpful

Chickvic

Two years ago at 39 I weighed 22st 10lb and had a BMI of 45 as well. I had tried lots of diets (classical yo yo dieter ) then I discovered the 5:2 diet as well. I looked at it realistically and thought I could be good for 2 days and I was, the first week I lost 6lb and the second week I lost 5lb. That was one hell of a motivator! I bought a treadmill and started walking on that - I was way too self conscious to attempt anything outside. After a couple of months I started the C25K and I haven't looked back! It took me a year but I lost 9st and have kept it off. I even discovered a love of running and if you knew me you'd know what a massive shock that was I have run half marathons and have my first marathon in October. Start with the little things, I also used Myfitnesspal and recorded everything I ate and drank that was also helpful. I fast occasionally now, don't use Myfitnesspal anymore and have kept the weight off for over a year. Go for it and post on here if you need to - we can all support you!

UKTigerlily

Chickvic wrote: »

Two years ago at 39 I weighed 22st 10lb and had a BMI of 45 as well. I had tried lots of diets (classical yo yo dieter ) then I discovered the 5:2 diet as well. I looked at it realistically and thought I could be good for 2 days and I was, the first week I lost 6lb and the second week I lost 5lb. That was one hell of a motivator! I bought a treadmill and started walking on that - I was way too self conscious to attempt anything outside. After a couple of months I started the C25K and I haven't looked back! It took me a year but I lost 9st and have kept it off. I even discovered a love of running and if you knew me you'd know what a massive shock that was I have run half marathons and have my first marathon in October. Start with the little things, I also used Myfitnesspal and recorded everything I ate and drank that was also helpful. I fast occasionally now, don't use Myfitnesspal anymore and have kept the weight off for over a year. Go for it and post on here if you need to - we can all support you!

Congratulations, it's great to hear of someone losing so much and keeping it off! Someone in another SW group has lost 11st and kept it off for two years so you & her give me hope that I too can when I get to target in another 10-12 months maybe!

theoretica

I find the easiest way to change my eating is to change my shopping habits and start carrying more food. If I fancy a snack and have pumkin seeds or apples right there and no biscuits in the house I will eat what I have. If I want a drink and there is only tea I will drink that. If I am at work and have a banana with me I will eat that rather than going out to buy something. You would obviously need your wife's support for the 'none of that in this house' items.

Have you considered changing the type of chocolate you eat? I get decent quality 70% stuff and a single square goes a long way. Less sugar in it and a stronger taste so I eat less.

fred246

Main thing is to change your eating habits forever. No diets. Have 3 meals a day. No snacking. No night time eating.
Breakfast - Porridge with fruit.
Lunch - Big salad. Chicken or tuna with lots of salad. Tiny bit of dressing.
Dinner - Normal main course with portion control. Unsweetened natural yoghurt with fruit.
Avoid sugar - it's TOXIC.
Have sparkling water in the pub.
All the above may sound rotten. You will get used to them.
You need to exercise. Join a gym. Consider a personal trainer for a course to get you going.
Good luck.

Money_maker

My friends son goes to a gym which is open 24/7 so going at unsocial hours would reduce the number of others in there when you are. You may need to forgo the swimming pool though.

As others have said, you need to address your eating and drinking first.

Might be an idea to get the OK from your doctor first before starting anything physical.

Rolandtheroadie

Amysdad70 wrote: »

I wasn't always fat.

I used to have an active job and play American Football. I got married and then just kept getting bigger.

I am now 45, 5ft 9ins and 23 stone. I have high blood pressure and sleep apneoa. My relationship with food is awful and i honestly hate myself.

My knees cause me intermittent pain and of course my back is not healthy either. To be completely honest, I would love to lose weight but seem to be a slave to refined sugar. I used to smoke over 10 years ago and I am adamant that giving up chocolate is way harder than giving up smoking. Especially when I have had a drink...

When drinking, I just want to eat. Chocolate, crisps, cheese etc. I have heard of salad but I am not a fan.

I am booked in for a full health assessment at a Nuffield hospital on Monday and I am dreading it. My boss has paid for it because I have a stressful job, which I am very good at, and I swear he thinks that I might die soon. Especially as stress also makes me want chocolate.

I daydream about going to a gym but would too self conscious to do it. I used to enjoy swimming but would never get undressed in public now.

Does anyone else understand my ramblings? Have you been here and got out of it? Have you been to a gym as a fat person?

I'm 41, 6ft2, 24st 2lb and a BMI of 43.

Blood pressure is borderline high, Type 2 is in the post (have been encouraged to take metformin but dont as I'm confident it'll go away with weightloss) I drink too much and eat all the wrong foods, especially after drinking.

I'm building up to the big push to change, and I've subscribed to this thread to see how you go and hopefully do something about my own predicament as well.

I have went to the gym before, and will again.

I normally went after getting the kids to school, when it was quite quiet, although working shifts helped this.

I've a wee weekend away planned from tomorrow, I'll definately be in the pool. I've happily used my local pool, and will do again.

So whats my own plans.

The alcohol needs to go meantime. I drink too much. Stopping it for a while wont do me any harm. Jason Vale, Kick the Drink Easily might be worth a read. Dont agree with everything he says but theres some good stuff in there about your association with drink and drinking.
I'll be changing my eating habits. Others have said dont diet, thats true. You need to change for life, not just for a wee while. The other morning I had porridge for breakfast, some grapes through it and some honey over the top. It was great and will become a regular breakfast.
I'm planning to eat 3 square meals a day, perhaps a healthy snack or 2, drink plenty of water and wont eat after 7pm.
I'm also hoping to sleep more, my sleeping habits are terrible, and I wake up frequently during the night with either acid reflux and thirst.

I know what to do, I've just never got round to doing it. Theres always an excuse.

So good luck with what you're hoping to achieve, and never hate yourself.

fairy_lights

barbarawright wrote: »

MyFitnessPal is a good free (I think - it might be a couple of quid) that can calculate the calories in everything and also how many calories you burn off by a particular activity. So you can work out that walking 3 miles earns you a couple of chocolate digestives. Once you've used it for a couple of weeks, you do get a good idea of how much you need to cut down to lose weight and also which foods you like are actually low calorie. I found it pretty helpful

I second the recommendation for myfitnesspal. If you're not sure how much you should be eating, or don't know how all the calories in your food add up it is amazingly useful. And it is free too, so it's worth taking a look at.

Upsidedown_Bear

Another recommendation for myfitnesspal.
They have a very supportive forum as well