GP's reluctance

This is an update regarding Oviva and the NHS in North Central London if you ate interested:
gps.northcentrallondon.icb.nhs.uk/news/update-message-to-practices-regarding-communications-from-digital-weight-management-provider-oviva

And here's a link on gov.uk

www.applytosupply.digitalmarketplace.service.gov.uk/g-cloud/services/677425061410147

Thanks for the links,very useful.

Six yrs ago I joined SW and lost 5.7 stone as did my husband. We’ve managed to maintain our weight loss but I’m of the firm opinion that it’s all about calories in and calories out. You can only loose weight if you reduce what you consume and have to have willpower. I hated being overweight, it limited my lifestyle and I couldn’t buy clothes I liked as they simply weren’t available in my size. I’ve never done keep fit and I’m still overweight at 13.7 st and 5.7 tall but I’m happy and that’s what counts. I know what my temptations are and don’t buy them. All of our meals are cooked from scratch. It just means having to keep track of what I eat every day. Previously I smoked 40 cigarettes a day so willpower is the major contributor to wanting to achieve something for yourself. If you only lost 1 lb per week over the course of a year that would add op to 3.7 st which I’m sure you’d feel good about. All I can suggest is cutting the crap and trying to eat a bit more healthily. Here’s a before and after pic which might give you some inspiration

Well done Hil!
I eat really healthily and cook everything from scratch.
I think my problem is portion size!
If you eat more than you need to eat you will always be heavier than you should be/want to be.

Keeping the weight off is excellent!
🎉

I agree with both Hill910 and Not Spaghetti, but even more important thn cutting calories is making sure that your lower calorie diet offers an eating pattern you are happy with.

There is no point in designng a low calorie diet based on salad, if you prefer your food, hot, and cooked. You need to design your new low calorie diet around the food you enjoy. If you like chocolate then programme a small chocolate bar or chocolate biscuit into your diet and enjoy it, butonly eatone. Put the tim away as soon as you hav abstracted the bisccuit and before you eat it.Eat itin another room with a hot drink.

10 years agoI lost 2 stone on the 5:2 diet - and have not put it back on. intermittent fasting is justpart of my life now.

My husband lost loads of weight on the 5:2 M0nica
I ate the same pretty much and lost an ounce or two!

NotSpaghetti

Well done Hil!
I eat really healthily and cook everything from scratch.
I think my problem is portion size!
If you eat more than you need to eat you will always be heavier than you should be/want to be.

Keeping the weight off is excellent!
🎉

Thankyou.

I think that's a GP talking from their own experience, whilst it may not be relevant to the OP, it's disturbing that happens.

pipdog

The above links are for a different course, this one is called Oviva here is the link oviva.com/uk/en/how-it-works/ and is backed by the NHS but delivered by someone else. The GP might be paid to refer me so will not cost them anything. I am definitely in the obese category with a BMI of 37 and one glance would be enough to know I should loose weight and we have talked about it in the past but I didn't fit the very narrow criteria of the other course, this one is broader and does offer medication if needed, not that I would go down that route. I do understand that the GP hadn't heard of this as it does seem to newish but I gave her a letter that explained everything, (including the may pay £11.50 to the GP). She only glanced at this letter so I had to keep pointing out what it said. The tests she was offering had nothing to do with the referral and I was rather taken aback when she went down that route.

I hope you find something that works for you pipdog.
You mention that the GP may get a token payment from Oviva but are you aware that the NHS would have to fund Oviva for you? I can understand your doctor's reluctance to refer though surprised she did not suggest other options for weight loss. Oviva is a private firm funded by venture capital and aiming for contracts with the NHS. Slick advertising but you may find the NHS digital weight loss programme (good results and free to use) offers similar benefits without valuable NHS resources going to shareholders of a company based overseas.

This is the second time I have approached my GP about my weight and not had any other suggestions apart from SW but would have to pay for it myself and as I said travel 15 mile at weird times to do so, as I have already said I don't like how SW work. I have health concerns that means I can't really exercise, Oviva offers a one to one consultation to find out what type of diet might work for me which is a big part of me wanting to try them. Apparently I don't qualify for any other NHS weight loss programmes as my blood pressure etc are fine and I am not pre-diabetic. This really surprises me as I thought being obese would qualify you for help.

I wouldn't be happy with SW or WW either.
I have no idea if the one you suggests works or not but SW and WW are also private companies Nacky.