11 stone+ to lose.

[poison_glitterkisses]

Hi, I'm Emz and I'm new. I have 11+ stone to lose, which may seem like quite a low goal weight of 112-120 at 5ft 4, but I'm disabled (ME, EDS Hypermobility type) and within healthy limits it would be better for my mobility to be lighter...less dislocations, more energy and likely to get bk on my feet outdoors, at least til my EDS gets too bad (or during an ME relapse), and when it does I'll be lighter to lift or transfer, can have a smaller (and cheaper) powerchair than my current one etc.

Have had a problem with my weight since my health issues started aged 8 and have had a few years of being quite slim for me at about 12-13st/ size 14-16ish, but that's still not a healthy weight. I have now exceeded my previous highest weight and have been taking solace in the one thing I can still do when I'm more ill than usual...EAT! But the more I ate the more I struggled with my health- a vicious circle. I spent my 18th birthday truely huge and unwell for it at around 18st7lb and that was a wake up call. Back then I was more mobile and had youth on my side and I managed to lose 6st or so...

I hit 30 at New Year and I spent it bigger and sicker than ever, and after a few months of doing a mean ostrich impression as I continued to gain I realise I have to turn this around...So on Tuesday, when my supplies arrived I started on Kee Diet (rapid burn/ketosis). It's only Friday and already got the scale moving in the right direction (had a rough Thursday and had to see if it was doing anything to stop me finding something to munch) and am now in Ketosis.

It's a big weight to shift, but I can see here that others have managed to lose more than I need to so I'm in good company. I just have to remember with every pound lost I'll be making my life easier.

 

[TracyGWill]

Hiya! I too have ME, as well as osteoarthritis, so can empathise. I started this time with 10 stone to lose and am halway there. Can I ask, did you consult your doctor before embarking on this eating plan? It really doesn't sound like a very good idea to do one of these dodgy fad diets when you have serious health issues; I wouldn't contemplate it for a second. You'll be far more likely to put it all back on, and end up with even more to lose next time unfortunately. Slow and steady is key to keeping it off, losing about 2lbs a week.

I've been reading a book called Eating Less by Gillian Riley, which makes a lot of sense to me in terms of addictive overeating, and I'm hoping it will help me break that vicious circle that 95% of dieters end up in.

I don't mean to sound preachy, but us ME sufferers have got to stick together!! xx

 

[Pookie 1999]

I dont have any health issues apart from high blood pressure but i did have 10 stone to lose.

I started off at 276lbs and am now 230lbs its very daunting having that much weight to lose its better if you break it down into smaller goals that are quite easy to hit it keeps you motivated .

Good luck on your weight loss journey you'll find lots of help and support on here.

 

[BigBurd]

Your goal doesnt matter, the fact that you have one is great and you are already 1/2 stone closer. Well done!!. My mother has Me and although she has had a gastric band to help with her weightloss she also did something called the lightening process which she is raving about helped her get her life on track again. An old work colleague also did the course and has so much more energy. I thought I'd share as it may be something that could help you too.

keep at it xxx

 

[Emmaline]

I started off at 276lbs and am now 230lbs its very daunting having that much weight to lose its better if you break it down into smaller goals that are quite easy to hit it keeps you motivated

Quite agree with these sentiments!

Hi Emz, First of all..welcome to the forum!
Have had the same experience with the problems of being over weight and disabled as with me it has been my bad back and excess weight obviously makes it much more painful. Also have polymyalgia, which is similar to fibromyalgia but in my arms and shoulders instead, plus being spinabifida as well, which is now troubled with arthritic problems. Am barely able to move in the mornings and it's not till about 11 that I manage to get in the least bit mobile.

Sorry..that's a lot about me but just wanted you to know that altho' I don't have ME I do know what it is like to be in pain and not be able to do all things you would really like to be able to do.

It's great that you are tackling this problem now as the older you get the harder it is to get the weight to shift...believe me...I do know!

Take care and all the very best to you...

 

[poison_glitterkisses]

Hi everyone, Thanks for your lovely kind words of support. It's great to see people further down the path, still losing and still sticking it out. I look at all these stats and progress and see possibilities! Well done to you all.

I've never had the best relationship with GP (often the case with ME) and she prefers to just throw pills at me than deal with me. my medications, including Diazipam (valium) and various opiate pain meds have gone unmonitored for 7+years, and I'm getting no support there. I see several alternative therapists, have friends that are nutritionists and generally work my way through most things myself (and avoid taking my addictive meds when I can).

I have had small discussions with my GP about weightloss options and basically her opinion (as on everything) is I'm clearly not motivated enough...Erm excuse me I'm often so motivated it's my downfall, causing relapses trying to go to college or keep up with daily life independantly. Weightloss surgery is unlikely to be an option, not necessarily because of my ME, but the EDS means that surgery can be dangerous as my tissue is likely to tear or rupture, so I'm quite limited in my choices

Because I'm so sedentary, to decrease the calorific intake to a level I am actually losing really does need to be done in ketosis as it staves off the hunger. Bonus being it has given me a lil extra energy, and less pain, meaning it doesn't take me hours to manage to sit up let alone move. The neuro part of my ME is quite severe, I can't cope with light very well, some types even cause seizures (damn modern light bulbs) and sensory overload occurs very easily...Tho I've not tested my limits I certainly seem to be improving there slightly too.

Between the effects of the ketosis and the natural ingredients giving my system a break from toxins and bad chemicals I think this diet is quite beneficial beyond weight loss.

I already have a regime of supplements I take for my conditions and general health so I'm confident I'm not missing anything vital from my diet, and am in the process of double checking each supplement won't kick me out of ketosis (god bless the internet). Any signs of a problem and it's back to a sensible basic diet for a week or until the situation has been remedied, and I'm not afraid to chop and change diets at my needs change/have my week off ketosis after 12 wks etc.

With such a lot of weight to shift like you all said I need smaller milestones and rewards to keep me pepped up. After I've finished double checking my supplements, drawing up my goals is my next priority. As food was my usual default reward for EVERYTHING I'm open to suggestions.

 

[jennifer121]

Hi Big bird,
Im curious to know what is the lightening process that ur Mum found so useful...jen

 

[poison_glitterkisses]

Look up The Lightning Process on wikpedia.
for some it seems to work, for others it can cause severe relapses, often further down the line. This is one of the many reasons why it's debatable if CFS and ME are indeed the same beast or whether some people diagnosed actually have other illnesses causing their symptoms such as the case with Esther Rantzens daughter Emily, who contary to what's written in the LP wiki, did LP and then relapsed further down the line only to find Coeliac was responsible for her symptoms. if you look around the internet some sites are pro and some anti Lightning process. I could go into more detail but it's probably best to make up your own mine. Personally tho I give a wide berth to anything that claims to have cured cerebral palsy, and subscribes to the psychosocial model of illness and disablility and blames the person for being ill/remaining sick (which is so in vogue with our current government and is an insurance company/benefits agencies wet dream). However, glad to see it has been helpful to Big Birds mum.