Posted on 04 Mar 2021 Views 1817 Comments 24

No, I’m not lazy!

Dealing with chronic illness and my weight gain.

By Katrina Ferguson-Moffat

For me, it took 4+ years to figure out what was going wrong with my body and boy that was hard work. Test after test, scan after scan, doctors appointments after…. yes, you catch the drift!

I have diagnosed Chronic Fatigue and was literally "fit to overweight" in a matter of a couple of years.

My journey has totally knocked me on the butt, especially physically as well as mentally and emotionally. To be honest, I"ve only really come to terms with it myself.

Katrina For those who know me I am a conservative, "none of your business" sort of person but I have now found that sharing my story and talking to others actually heals me in the process of accepting it, gradually figuring out what is wrong and adopting a new, "normal".

At my very worst, I was hospitalised and becoming non-responsive to people. I literally wouldn't be able to mutter a word because I just couldn't get the words out I was too, "tired" to. I sometimes couldn't even lift an arm!

It's not something I can control. So, it's about learning ways around it, and especially I need to now tackle my weight gain.

I don't spend my days eating fast food, jam tarts or milky drinks. I like to think I have always kept a well-balanced diet throughout the years. But I am absolutely aware of my weight gain and have climbed the ladder to the "overweight" BMI category. The low-level of exercise from what I used to do has certainly contributed to this.

I've done so much homework, so much studying of my illness and the contributing weight factors. I've paid so many visits to Dr Google and Web MD (by the way, if you want anything but the worst-case scenarios I wouldn't recommend visiting these platforms! If you're worried about anything go and see your GP… honestly!)

I've learnt that just some of the issues relating from chronic illnesses are, for example;

Slow metabolism
Medications (I have too many to name!)
Exhaustion/Fatigue
Chronic Pain
Gut imbalances (especially common with IBS/IBD)
Nervous system issues… I can go on.

These all, unfortunately, can lead to weight gain with illnesses and are just a mere few to name. So much more can contribute to those scales inching forwards.

Working out/exercising is a complete no-no for me, and I understand for many of you too. Just the thought of it leaves me in a hot, sweaty mess. So, I would recommend that Slim & Save is a perfect diet because one of the great things about it is that you don"t necessarily have to stretch a muscle at all!

I'm often speaking to our Slim & Save members on the telephone and through our Facebook Group Page, and I hear your stories, many of you struggle with your weight due to suffering from chronic illnesses and whatever they might be, fibromyalgia, diabetes, thyroid issues, PCOS, arthritis, mood disorders, whatever they are, believe me, I'm behind you and screaming to say, "I know what you're going through" or "I know what it feels like" without you thinking I'm being patronising.

Now, I get used to checking in with my body, and I must say that medicines have saved my life! And it is coming to a time where I am thinking about my weight more often and wanting to do something about it but, it's been a long while just to get this far, and I know it's still a mini-battle with my mind.

I guess I just want you to know that I hear you!

Whatever your story might be, be proud and know that you're great and most of all, be happy. The admin team here at Slim & Save are totally behind you, no matter what. The ladies are amazing, and we know there are struggles, bumps in the road and days where you think you just can't do it. But don't let anything pull you down, be strong.

For me, just sharing this is a hurdle but it's a bit of a way to get you to know me too. So, now you know.

You can do anything you set your mind to, and it's okay, not to be okay. If you have a wobble, it's completely normal to freak out and vent about it but do forgive yourself, learn and move forward. I know change isn't easy but rise to the occasion, adapt and overcome.

What hurdles do you encounter and how do you deal with them when it comes to your weight loss? Leave your comments below and we will choose a winner to receive 20 chocolate shakes!

By Katrina Moffat, Slim & Save Customer Care Team

Win 20 Chocolate Shakes!

Post your comments below and you might be the lucky winner of 20 Chocolate Shakes!. We will pick our favourite comment on Tuesday 9th March 2021 at 4pm.

Comments on No, I’m not lazy!

Sue Bunce 11/03/2021 00:23

Thank you Katrina , and everyone else , for sharing such personal stories .
The fact that you are all here , doing whatever you possibly can to make both your physical and mental health as good as it possibly can be is inspiring and humbling to me , as someone who enjoys relatively good health , and is still struggling to stay on plan .
You are all totally awesome ladies x

Helen Mawson 08/03/2021 14:52

People's weight loss journies are so personal and yet so inspirational. I reached my goal this morning and stumbled on your blog. Reading it has been a revelation for me.

I don't really know why I started reading, I thought 'I'm lucky that I don't have any chronic health issues, it won't apply to me". As I read the mist cleared and I realised that I've been overweight (often seriously) for most of my life, not due to large portions and unhealthy choices but to the low self esteem that always led back to these.

For 42 weeks I've stuck to the plan and kept a diary of my thoughts and feelings to motivate me and help me address my bad habits. Looking back on this today I've noticed so many improvements in my physical health and a general improvement in my mood but I have only bought 1 new pair of jeans (size 12) and am clinging onto the size 22s. I am now moisturising my skin, and have painted my nails once, but I haven't been near a hairdresser in over 3 years (I've occasionally trimmed my own fringe!). It's my self esteem that's the big hurdle I need to get over. I need to learn to value myself if I'm to stay in the size 12s!

So, as I start my re-feed I'm going to set some new goals; to keep up the moisturising and add a home pedicure alongside the manicure, to wear perfume and treat myself to some new clothes (and work on being able to let go of the bigger ones!), to accept and enjoy compliments and once I'm able I'm going to join a tennis club and hopefully make new friends and I'm going to book that long overdue appointment to have my hair restyled.

Thank you Katrina - I'm inspired, as I now realise our mental health is every bit as important as our physical health.

Tracey Scofield 07/03/2021 20:27

Oh Katrina what a wonderful and inspirational read that was. Well done for being brave enough to open up and share your story.
I love hearing other people's problems and difficulties that they're going through as we can get far too wrapped up in our own difficulties. It can really make you appreciate and learn from others.
I'm a very private person with regards to my weight and literally never talk about it. I did lose 11 stones 14 tears ago with a different diet but with an abusive marriage, mental health issues, miscarriage a lot went back on. I know you have to really be in the right head space to lose weight but SNS has really helped in so many ways. You don't need to think too much about your next meal which I think can be very hard. Spending lots of time in the kitchen prepping with all the temptations there. Other diets don't emphasis the importance of water intake enough. I used to drink about 500ml all day but I'm up to 3.5 litres now and it becomes a habit. The Facebook group is fab whether you want to comment or not you don't feel like you're in this alone and Admin support feels so genuine which is not always the case with other slimming clubs etc. All these factors have made me feel like I can achieve this this time and I'm so looking forward to hopefully being able to have a little brother or sister for my little girl and enjoying life and all that it has to offer.
Thanks for sharing your story Katrina and being so honest xx

Lynne WILLIAMS 07/03/2021 11:16

Well done

Nicky Osborne 06/03/2021 18:19

Thank you for sharing, especially as you’re a private person, you must’ve found it difficult.

I’m blessed with excellent health but have turned to food for comfort through a horrid divorce seven years ago and my daughter getting sudden onset Tourette’s which intensified to a severe level in a matter of months. Watching her go through so much pain and trying to prevent her hurting herself leaves me emotionally drained and feeling useless.

Her condition has meant that we have become incredibly close though and whilst she can’t leave the house (or even get out of bed some days), she is my absolute rock and my supporter on my weight loss journey. I am determined to lose the weight this time as I want to be around for her as long as possible. She is so determined to succeed in everything in life and if she can succeed with all the pain and embarrassing moments, then I can lose this excess weight.

The support on sns is so amazing, both from the team and on Facebook, I really feel like I can do it this time.

Lynne WILLIAMS 06/03/2021 17:04

I have kidney disease stage 3 and have been eating rubbish for the past two years. I needed something to steer me to eat better and look after myself. Realistically I need to lose a stone. You are right, you can do anything.

Joanna Rance 06/03/2021 16:52

Thank you for sharing this. I have wondered if the admins have followed the diet, and it's nice to know that you are also on a journey.

I too have also suffered from suddenly not being able to exercise when it was a massive part of life. 3 years ago, I was doing 11 exercise classes a week, body attack, pump, metafit, zumba, clubbersize, spin, all high intensity classes plus I was doing a lot of hiking with my husband and dog. I then had a routine vein operation on my leg, I was told I'd be unable to exercise for 6 weeks which at the time I was gutted about. To me, 6 weeks felt too long, but 6 weeks went by and I was in pain just walking nevermind trying to squat, lunge, jump or run. I went back to the hospital where they found that during the operation, the nerves in my leg were burnt. I won't be able to ever exercise like I used to, although there is the hope that the nerves may one day repair themselves.

It's taken me a long time to get my head around the idea that I wouldn't be able to go back to my friends at the gym and do all the classes I enjoyed. It also had a massive impact on my social life, I stopped going on nights out with my friends: wearing heels and dancing is painful. I have to sit most of the time. I felt awful and my confidence took a massive hit. I just wanted to be at home. The weight soon started piling on, and the more weight that went on, the more I wanted to stay at home. I started feeling embarrassed about how I look and felt like people would gossip about me getting really fat.

I have moaned to family and friends about my weight and despite them knowing about my leg, their advice is to 'eat less and move more' - it disappoints me that they assume I'm lazy, but unfortunately society seem to think that fat = lazy.

I'm glad slim and save have this diet in place, there's lots of choice, it's nice, affordable and like you say, it's a great way that people like me and you can lose weight when exercising isn't an option. The Facebook groups are brilliant too which is such a bonus!

Wishing you wellness and health Katrina xx

Lynne Nyikos 06/03/2021 09:21

Katrina, reading your story has made me focus on why I have failed to succeed. I have refused to accept I am now a different me, it has taken me a long time to realise that it really is okay to feel this way.

Eight years ago I started Slim & Save and achieved my dream - size 18 to size 10, I could shop wherever I wanted for clothes, wore a swimsuit and felt good, I could eat out without guilt, I was active and joined the gym, socialized to the max (even at 52!!) - life was amazing, I was never going back !!!

Just months after achieving my dream I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer and a whole year of major surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed. I was convinced I was going to lose even more weight because 'cancer makes you lose weight' - I couldn't have been more wrong, my weight started spiraling upwards again and I was too ill to control it.

Once my treatment was over, health anxiety became my new normal - every ache, pain, spot or lump anywhere on my body had me consulting Dr Google to find out what type of cancer I could be facing next - it was a terrifying time in my life.

For the next year or so I constantly felt tired, depressed, gaining more weight and a whole host of other symptoms - I wrongly assumed these were late effects of chemotherapy and embarked on an endless round of yo-yo dieting - always coming back to S&S and failing miserably every time.

I was then diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency (more pills!) and finally told my thyroid had just about stopped functioning - probably caused by the radiotherapy treatment. It took 18 months to get the medication right.

By this time I was almost back where I had started with my weight and my confidence was at rick bottom but, for the sake of the outside world including my family, I painted a smile on and tried to get on with life.

No-one ever can truly know what lies behind a person's smile and that was definitely true in my case.

I have now had counselling to address my extreme health anxiety - I can now say that whilst my worries have not totally disappeared and probably never will, my irrational thoughts have subsided considerably, I now dont spend the majority of my waking life over thinking about my health.

The pandemic caused me to have a mild recurrence of anxiety but then, at Christmas when my weight was totally out of control I decided that the reason I was failing miserably to be successful was because I was refusing to face the fact that I may never get back to where I was 8 years ago.

I am 8 years older, my body has changed and my metabolism will never be the same again - the ultimate light bulb moment for me was accepting that this is not my fault and I cannot change things.

However, I can improve them and re-adjusting my expectations has made a massive difference to how I am dealing with my current S&S journey.

It has taken a long time but accepting my 'new normal' has given me a renewed enthusiasm for making my life better in every way.

It takes courage to share a personal story so thank you for sharing yours Katrina.

Lucie 06/03/2021 08:20

Thank you so much for sharing your story. As with so many with a chronic hidden disability you go through so much yet are always so helpful and positive on the fb group and the help chat.
I use the fb group to get past any hurdles, reading posts and comments always helps. This is why i have been able to get to week 8 without a blip, before joining the group i had never managed more than a week before!

Carol Pearce 06/03/2021 07:57

Thank you for sharing your story. It helps us to realise that we all have our own problems and battles and it's ok to wobble sometimes. None of us are perfect.