Super Super Morbidly Obese!!!

SLIM19198

I am classified as Super Super Morbidly Obese (Dont even ask how i got this way ) and was wondering, how many calories and what kind of diet plan should I be aiming for?

I spoke to a dietician who told me I should be aiming for about 3000~3500 calories a doy for slow weight loss, and this DOES NOT include excercising, although that would help!

I am ~252KG, or 39.5 Stone, and about 5"11'.

I got to get something sorted soon, or you know what will happen! (Cos i know what will happen!!!!)

Thanking you in advance for any advice/help/opinions you have regarding this matter!

William

Shield

There are plenty of people on here who will offer good advice.

I wish you the best of luck achieving your goal.

SLIM19198

Thank you

justsomebloke

ok what are your current eating habits like (and don't lie)

Truthfully though at your weight I wouldn't worry about going on a diet. Rather start looking into just eating properly.

SLIM19198

No breakfast, breakfast roll and wedges at lunchtime, dinner at like 7pm, then prolly sandwiches OR takeaway at like 11 (takeaway ~3 times a week!)

Very little chocolate but 4~6 pots yogurt a day!

Nibbling on anything I see all day long (The SEE food diet )

No excercise whatsoever (can barely walk let alone excercise )

Sleep apnea so am always tired and cranky!

celestial

SLIM19198 wrote: »

No breakfast, breakfast roll and wedges at lunchtime, dinner at like 7pm, then prolly sandwiches OR takeaway at like 11 (takeaway ~3 times a week!)

Very little chocolate but 4~6 pots yogurt a day!

Nibbling on anything I see all day long (The SEE food diet )

No excercise whatsoever (can barely walk let alone excercise )

Sleep apnea so am always tired and cranky!

At your weight the fat will just fall off just by reducing your calories and eating properly. AKA just eating properly! Cut out the takeaways completely, give up snacking on all junk and watch it fall off very quickly, i.e. within 1-2 weeks or even sooner.

Then we can work on refining a plan and introducing exercise.

Pugsley

You food seems to be heavily focused on the evening, shift your food intake to earlier in the day, and dont skip breakfast. Eat smaller meals regularly, eating half a dinner about 3 hours apart will keep you full for longer than taking it all in one go, should make it easier to cut down on snacking.

What are you drinking? fizzy drinks contain a rather obscene amount of calories, you can drink upwards of 1000 calories a day without even passing any remarks. Drink water or green tea with every meal, should be aiming for over 2 litres a day.

As jsb said, fix the eating habits part, and what your eating in general rather than getting too specific about, if you start weighing food at this stage it will seem like a chore, eating right is easier than most people think if you bring it in slowly.

SLIM19198

Drink wise I have ~4 litres of either coke zero or 7up free/pepsi max!

Fatloss08

dude all im gonna say is im in the same boat all be it not so heavy but still heavy 21 stone

its tough to lose , but then again nothings ever easy

just drink shed loads of water , 5-6 small meals a day 3 hours apart with the best food you can manage

anything is better than what your eating and drinking at the moment

i buy 12 x 1.5 litre bottles of water in aldi for €4 which is feck all but i drink 2 of them a day

so small steps and good luck

justsomebloke

SLIM19198 wrote: »

No breakfast, breakfast roll and wedges at lunchtime, dinner at like 7pm, then prolly sandwiches OR takeaway at like 11 (takeaway ~3 times a week!)

Very little chocolate but 4~6 pots yogurt a day!

Nibbling on anything I see all day long (The SEE food diet )

No excercise whatsoever (can barely walk let alone excercise )

Sleep apnea so am always tired and cranky!

Ok if you just start with the basics you should be able to see results without having to worry about the finer points.

So lets start at the start. what you should be aiming for is 5-7 evenly sized meals throughout the day. This will help keep you energy levels more even, keep your metabolism high and also help keep you from snacking as your next meal won't be to far away. Also drink plenty of water and try and get more sleep

EAT BREAKFAST. get in to the habit of having something decent before you leave the house in the morning. It will help fill you up for a while and should help the nibbling on food at the start of the days.

Ok get rid of the breakfast roll and wedges. Try and have lean meat sandwich on brown bread instead.

For dinner make sure you are cooking your own dinner with fresh ingredients and that you are not using any processed foods. This should be last large meal of the day and a take away at 11 at night:eek: should be avoided at all costs. These large meals so late at night may also be aiding you in not sleeping properly

Also 4-6 yoghurts a day is a lot. What type are they as quite a few will be loaded with sugar which isn't going to help you.


However the one thing I would suggest is that you start to learn about food and how it works with your body. I would suggest start with looking into low GI foods but the more knowledge you have the better position you will put yourself in and make it easier for you to make informed choices

Caroline_ie

Guys ... I hope you don't mind me recommending you check out www. nutracheck.co.uk

Basically it's a online food diary with forums and professional help. I lost 2 stones I had gained over the past couple of year an a few months. Some of the ladies and lads on the site are or were morbidly obese and I spoke to some of them who have lost 5 or 6 stones.

You need to watch your portions and just change your attitute towards food altogether. That's tough but it will add years to your life.

Ay excercise,, even playing Nintendo Wii will be beneficial at your current size, as the bigger you are, the more cals you burn.

Good luck.

Hanley

Has your doctor talked to you about getting a CPAP for you sleep apnea?

Zzippy

Best of luck OP, it will be tough for a while but its very very doable. I know a guy who lost 21 stone, he was similar weight to you but a bit taller. He got so big by snacking all the time (same as your SEE food diet ) and eating crap food. He joined Weightwatchers and got good advice on diet and nutrition. Started eating healthy whole food, cut out crisps and processed food, and took up walking - yes he didn't walk far at first, but was able to build it up as he lost more and more weight.
I saw a feature recently on Nationwide I think about a male-only Weightwatchers class - might be worth checking it out. I know having a peer group in the same boat, and support and encouragement from them, did a lot for keeping that guy motivated.
Anyway, hope it works out for you, and maybe keep us updated on your progress!

rubadub

SLIM19198 wrote: »

I spoke to a dietician who told me I should be aiming for about 3000~3500 calories a doy for slow weight loss, and this DOES NOT include excercising, although that would help!

(takeaway ~3 times a week!)

I estimated my usual takeaway was 2500kcal http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055209321
I know guys who would polish 1.5-2times that in one sitting. So 3 times a week is 7500.
Do you drink? a beer is around 200kcal per pint. So I used to get around 10,000kcal per week from beer at one stage, down to half that now.

You will have to learn how to calculate your caloires, most people biggest problem is portion size/control. Get a small digital scales and weigh and calculate all your food. Try and stick to food with known nutritional values with calories on the pack per 100g. Most products have this now, if you get loose veg you can check similar branded products for the calorie per 100g. Many online sites have info too.

Weighing food is essential, if you go to a weightwatchers site they may have estimates, but takeaways portions could be 2-3times that portion size. If unsure overestimate.

In my centra a breakfast roll is probably 800-1000kcal, wedges 600-700kcal

6 yoghurts ~1000kcal

Breakfast is the most important. My biggest meal of the day is breakfast.

seamus

At your size, I would strongly recommend a dietician or a nutritionist who will stay with you and basically act as your guide through your weight loss.

While you can do this alone, it's far easier if you have someone who knows what they're talking about and who you can ask directly for advice or help.

Most importantly, it gives you somebody to be accountable to. It sounds silly, but it's much difficult to focus on your weight loss unless you have someone else who is going to ask you about how you're getting on, and who is going to weigh you.
Programs like weight watchers strongly advise going to every meeting, because according to them, "It gives you the support you need", but the actual reason why it works is because you have to stand on a scales and have someone else see whether you've been good that week or whether you pigged out on a chinese.
People who try to do weight loss on their own at home, using nothing but the literature they've been given, will usually fail unless they're particularly driven.

This is why I strongly recommend that you do not try to do this on your own. No offence, but the fact that you've gotten to your size indicates that you have trouble controlling yourself and even worse, you tend to lie to yourself about what you're doing and/or how good or bad it is for you. It's very easy to have another piece of chocolate when the only person who'll know about it is you.

If you get yourself a dietician , you would also hopefully have someone smart enough to not let it fall off too quickly and who will stick with you after the weight is gone. I know a girl who was always quite big, probably > 16 stone and around 5'4". She went to some sort of dietician who had her weighing portions and so forth and her weight fell off, almost overnight. People were stunned by her progress. I think she'd lost around 5 stone in 2.5 months. Then she stopped going to the dietician, and her weight went back on. Every bit of it.

If you can't afford a dietician long-term, then I would strongly recommend weight watchers. They do men only meetings all over the place and you'll be in a room full of guys your size (well maybe not as big, but pretty big too), from all walks of life and of all ages. Additionally, the weight watchers system makes it much easier to control your intake - rather than having to calculate calories and fats for everything you eat, instead everything is assigned a certain number of points, and you aim to eat a certain maximum/minimum number of points per day.

You can request advice and help from people online and post your progress, but you're not answerable to anyone here, and it's very easy to hide your shame.

Colm_OReilly

In addtion to the above, my advice would be to start slow. You didn't put on this weight overnight, and although you can shed a good deal quickly, you won't lose it all overnight either.

Take small, manageable steps. Your body is used to running on your current "fuel" and will give out if you make too drastic a change. These changes are hard to deal with mentally, and you may revert too quickly.

So, make one change today. Say adding some oranges or pieces of fruit in the morning. Do you like eggs, maybe an egg and some fruit in the morning.

Once you're used to this, and it no longer takes effort, make another change. Like cutting down on the fizzy drinks in favour of water, or reducing the biscuit/chocolate (since this is very little you mightn't miss it that much, but it will make a difference)

Continue making these changes, and you'll notice an almost effortless difference (it's not going to be completely effortless!)

As for exercise, you stated you can barely walk. Can you walk at all? Could you walk just a tiny bit more each day? Even 50 feet could make a huge difference when added up (Again, I don't know what your current level is. Maybe 50 feet is impossible, maybe it's attainable, but hopefully you get my drift.)

Best of luck with it. If there's any other questions you have, just ask,
Colm

Piste

Try popping over the the Nutrition & Diet forum where there are members' Food Diaries http://boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1010

You could try posting your diet every day and get feedback and suggestion as to what would be good to cut out/ what could be replaced. You can also readm other people's struggles with their weight and get food ideas from them

SLIM19198

Ok, just a little more info for you guys!

The food I eat is MOSTLY healthy (as in not much chocolate or sugary stuff)

My cholesterol is normal (4.8?)

Yes, I am able to walk but not that far (I used to be completely housebound but not for the last 2 years! (I have lost SOME weight)

I have tried motivation clinics, lipotrim, atkins, cambridge, all with limited success but it all goes back on again!

Things like a dietician and weightwatchers are really disappointing as the do not have a scales that weighs more than 25 stone so it is imppossible for them to judge what is happening! (they say one day they will be able to weigh me, but when you realise that they cant weigh you, it makes it all feel hopeless!)

I am starting with a private dietician soon which should be a big boost for me as they will give me an exact eating plan to stick to!

Any Ideas on how to get weighed regurlarly (So far have used a truck scales (Not very accurate) and a meat scales in the local army barracks (awkward to arrange access to)

Again, thank you all for all the info and help!

William.

ali.c

SLIM19198 wrote: »

Ok, just a little more info for you guys!

The food I eat is MOSTLY healthy (as in not much chocolate or sugary stuff)

My cholesterol is normal (4.8?)

I wouldnt go so far as to say mostly healthy, breakfast rolls, wedges, takeaways make up a big portion of you diet and arent classed as exactly healthy. Not making a dig or anything but if its not chocolate or sugary stuff it doesnt make it good. You need to learn to be able to assess your food choices accurately. Glad to hear you cholesterol is normal though

Any Ideas on how to get weighed regurlarly (So far have used a truck scales (Not very accurate) and a meat scales in the local army barracks (awkward to arrange access to)

I dont know off hand, but it might be an idea to get your doctor involved. I would assume that he/she can advise you of where has these facilities. You do need to have a measure of your progress, as it will help keep you motivated etc. In the meantime you could use a tape measure as a gauge of progress, say measure your waist and a few other points. It is an inexpensive solution untill you find somewhere that has appropriate facilities.

rubadub

Yes, tape measure would be very useful, and photos too. Keep note of how clothes are fitting too.

You would need to consult your doctor but resistance training may be suited to you, i.e. lifting weights. At your size most cardio exercise may be putting strain on your joints. Weights are great for boosting your metabolism and burning fat, also as you get stronger you will probably be able to make your way around a lot easier too, so find it easier to go for walks, or just get around the house. Since you have a high bodyweight you could use this as resistance, e.g. Lean up angled against a wall and try some pushups.

The problem with the likes of lipotrim is that you are essentially starving yourself and you lose a lot of muscle mass, this lowers your metabolism so it is very easy to put it all on again. You really need to change your diet for life, and not view it as a diet.

celestial

rubadub wrote: »

The problem with the likes of lipotrim is that you are essentially starving yourself and you lose a lot of muscle mass, this lowers your metabolism so it is very easy to put it all on again. You really need to change your diet for life, and not view it as a diet.

Hi William/OP,

This is a crucial point. The reason diets and deviations from your 'normal' way of eating (Atkins, lipotrim, etc etc) fundamentally don't work is because you are trying to push yourself too far outside of a mode of eating for it to be sustainable. In other words, the next time you have an eating plan set up for yourself, ask yourself is it realistic. It needs to be something with which you can start slowly, and then build up to get stronger and stronger as you see results. The results motivate you to make bigger and bigger changes. Bigger and bigger changes bring you greater and greater results. Greater and greater results bring you more and more motivation. More and more motivation brings you greater results.......you can see where I'm going with this. Before you know it you've lost a stone. This motivates you to make greater changes to your diet and before you know it you are losing lots and lots of fat. You can't lose.

This is the key mindset that you will want to adopt and the one that those successful at losing fat use - whether they even realise it or not. The reason most people quit gyms is cos they don't make an effort, don't get results, and give up - the opposite of the below and what you want to be doing.

Small changes = results = motivation = greater changes = greater results = greater motivation = even greater changes = even greater results = even greater motivation.......

Check out sparkpeople, it is free and you have the support of people in the same situation as yourself.

Keep on fighting!

Fatloss08

without sounding bad or naeive , but could a person of ur weight use 2 weighing scales ???? its a general question not directed at op

i dunno if its possible , stand 1 leg on each and combine the weight , would that work ????

if not dont pharmacies have them heavy duty ones ???

celestial

Fatloss08 wrote: »

without sounding bad or naeive , but could a person of ur weight use 2 weighing scales ???? its a general question not directed at op

i dunno if its possible , stand 1 leg on each and combine the weight , would that work ????

if not dont pharmacies have them heavy duty ones ???

I'd imagine you'd need to work out the % of weight supported by standing on a scales using one leg only, I'd envisage that it isn't much less than standing using both feet. Once you worked that out as accurately as possible then you could multiply that out to get an estimate of total weight. Hmm.

I think that a tape measure is the ideal way - measuring yourself getting out of bed and use the mirror is the way to go.

Money Shot

It could be your first goal to get below 25 stones, so that you can be weighed. That would be a good target and great achievement to start with. Until then, it doesn't matter about weighing yourself regularly - if you are doing the right things more often than not, you will definitely loose weight. The most important point is that you shouldn't consider it as a diet, but more of a change of lifestyle and way of living that you intend to keep for life.

When you hit 25 stones, you can start a new programme, maybe introducing more exercise. I know it's not easy and it takes time, but you have to look at a point in the future - a year, two years, it doesn't matter, when it will have all been worthwhile.

Some great advice above. Take your weight now, aim to loose 1.5 lbs on average a week, see how many weeks that will take to get to 25 stone. Then go back to weightwatchers a month after that and see where you are. If you're under 25 stones - brilliant, if not, you can't be far off, give it another month and try again.

rubadub

Fatloss08 wrote: »

without sounding bad or naeive , but could a person of ur weight use 2 weighing scales ???? its a general question not directed at op

i dunno if its possible , stand 1 leg on each and combine the weight , would that work ????

if not dont pharmacies have them heavy duty ones ???

That would work in theory, never thought of that before. Only thing to watch is putting more weight on one side than the other, you need to keep an eye on both scales, or get some wood or some other platform to span across them so the weight is distributed evenly.

400lb is 28.5stone. There are several on ebay that go to that.

http://search.ebay.ie/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&catref=C6&sacur=0&from=R10&saobfmts=insif&saaff=afdefault&fcl=3&frpp=50&saslop=1&fss=0&satitle=400lb+scale&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D3&sappl=1&sabfmts=1&ga10244=10425&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&salic=-15&fhlc=1&fsop=3%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search


This one is in the UK,
http://cgi.ebay.ie/SALTER-GOAL-WEGHT-BATHROOM-SCALES-XL-180KG-400LB-NEW_W0QQitemZ360066403827QQihZ023QQcategoryZ33166QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
no post listed to Ireland but 95% of the time if you email UK lads they will post here for a little more, price is very good, Salter is a very good brand.

I'd imagine you'd need to work out the % of weight supported by standing on a scales using one leg only, I'd envisage that it isn't much less than standing using both feet

It is the same weight, try it. I think you are mixing up pressure with weight, the old question "which would you rather stand on you, a big man in flat boots or a small woman in stilettos" The high heel has more pressure, pounds per square inch, so it does more damage.

Petrolium Hat

Op,

Few bits of advise:

1. It's not going to be easy to lose weight, it will take time and consistancy.
2. Don't eat takeaways.
3. Start excersing everyday. Even if it's only a half an hour walk. Do it every day.
4. Eat breakfast, muesili and something with protein is good.
5. Decide and plan what you are going to eat in a day. Stick to it.
6. Don't in breakfast rolls with wedges.


The important thing here really is this is really really serious, you are going to die young if you don't do something drastic man. Keep in contact with your GP. A food diary on here wouldn't hurt in keeping you motivated. If you put in effort, people will be really supportive.


Good luck.