I'm really struggling to lose weight and I know it's the main contributing factor to my GERD. Anyone have any tips on how I can lose weight without making my symptoms worse as everything I've tried makes me feel even worse?
Hi Abbie,
I recently lost enough weight around my stomach which has significantly reduced my silent reflux symptoms. I did it using the myfitnesspal app. It's a really intelligent way of losing weight as based on what you say you want to lose a week( I said I wanted to lose 1 pound a week) it gives you the number of calories you should consume each day to achieve that. What I found happened was I still generally ate what I normally do but my portion sizes got smaller and I tended to eat more fruit, vegetables and nuts to satisfy any urges to snack instead of reaching for crisps, chocolate or biscuits. You do have to input everything you eat so the app can track your calorie intake but it soon becomes part of your routine. Don't be disheartened if your weight fluctuates; persevere. It really works. I am now feeling lighter and less prone to reflux episodes. My skin has improved and I can wear my skinny jeans again without it pressing on my stomach. I do still watch what I eat to ensure I don't aggravate the problem, like limiting spicy and fried food and only having alcohol ocassionally, but losing the fat around my waist and stomach has made a significant difference. If you need any more information let me know. Best of luck.
Thank you, I'll definitely give it a go!
Slimming world is a good diet to follow and you get the support of the other members in the class. Your Doctor can prescrible membership for 12 weeks so you can see whether it suits you without spending any money to start with.