Obesity Discussion Forums

[elderboots]

It has been a while since I have been on here, so here goes. I need all of the positive reinforcement I can get right now! Two years ago I weighed only 150. I ate right, exercised daily. Had a great job that most would kill for. It was hard work but it was good pay, and very rewarding. Three years on the job, and I hurt my back. I have had 4 back surgeries so far, my last being in October. That is why I have been gone for a while. When my last back surgery I was at 250, and flat on by back again. I am starting to bounce back from the last surgery, but now at 280. I have struggled with weight gain all of my life, and just two years ago I was finally happy. Then it all slipped away. Not being able to workout anymore, or run every morning, the pounds started to pile back on. I have no support, or any form of help. When I tell my spouse about it, I am usually told to stop crying about it. If you have never had to deal with weight you cannot begin to understand the HELL that people go through. My blood pressure has gone way up, and my health all the way around has deteriorated. I feel as if I am at the end of my rope, and not far from hanging myself with it. Day in and day out there is no one to talk to. I have to try to turn things around, but this time I am not sure if I can. I just need someone to be my friend. I need someone to understand. PLEASE HELP!

[Halelani]

I so understand your situation. I went through a similiar episode a few years ago, first I broke my leg skiing, (and gained about 40 pounds) and then was in a car accident a year later (and gained another 40 pounds)...a couple of months ago I thought I just couldn't take it anymore, i mean i was so depressed because i couldn't exercise and it seemed like a downward spiral...and I didn't have any support system...At the beginning of 2008 i joined this group in hopes of getting some encouragement and it is working but it is still a difficult struggle for me. These people on here are compassionate and they care because they know the struggles, the pain, frustration and hurt. You are not in this alone, we are all here for a common purpose, to become healthier through weight loss, exercise and a healthy diet. Somedays I have to take each hour at a time, somedays are better and I can take them several hours at a time, but not a minute goes by that I am not challenged by obsessive thoughts about food. In three weeks I have lost six pounds, doesn't seem like a big deal but 2 pds a week is right on target for keeping it off forever...now I just need to exercise more. I'm self employed and a stay at home single parent. My business has plummeted due to my inability to work consistently over the last few years due to these injuries I've sustained that I mentioned earlier. So it is even more difficult for me to address overweight issues due to the stress factors. And so here I am on this board, and we will offer you suggestions if you ask, and we will provide you with support. Hang in there, it will get better. Halelani

[elderboots]

Halelani, thank you! Kind words are so good to hear right now. I would like suggestions on what is a good and safe diet. I don't want a quick fix, I want to be healthy.

[Halelani]

For me it's hard to address the call of the food when I'm in pain (physically and or emotionally) and when I'm stressed...I just want to reach for a soothing mouthful of food. But I find what works for me is something that distracts me, and keeps my mind and hands busy...cleaning out a closet and putting aside things for charity...cleaning the bathroom (hey i just did that)! Brushing my teeth, chewing sugarless gum. For me I have had to train my body and my mind into understanding when I'm hungry and when I'm just looking for a food fix. I found that the first few days are the hardest and then it slowly becomes easier, both mind and body start becoming syncronized. Pain meds for me skew my mind and the signals are harder to identify. My son was on anti-inflammatories and steroids for a while and boy did he put on the weight!!! And he was hungry all the time! But he got better after he was off the steroids and the pain meds...I got somewhat better after I came off the drugs too. For me, writing down in a journal helps. Every bit of food, emotion, and exercise goes into it and any thoughts I may have at the moment. Counting calories is the easy part, keeping the food intake within those planned calories (say 1500) is the hard part, but for me, writing it down helps. Because of the journal, I have found what times of the days are more difficult for me, what stresses me etc. I can then somewhat control my eating pattern since I kind of have a heads-up on what triggers my desire to eat. Exercise helps since it pumps those happy-making endorphins into my blood stream, and with a good set of headphones and some upbeat music, well my mood suddenly becomes better...whether it's scrubbing the bathroom again, or taking that walk I've been procrastinating about. It's a mind and body approach, take one moment at a time...beginning now and write down what you just ate, when and if you can, why you ate what you just did. Don't try to analyze it, just do it...and you may see an enlightening pattern develop and you may surprise yourself...if I can support you in anyway, I will do my best, I'm not a nutritionist and I'm not a psychologist, but I know what it's like to loose 60 pds since I did it about 10 years ago.

[elderboots]

I know allot of what you say is very true. Since I hurt my back, and have been unable to do anything, all I think about is food. I am still on allot of pain meds for my back. They don't help! Also numerous rounds of steroids. I think all the meds I am on are working against me too. It's hard to stay doing something when you think about food. Especially if you can't do very much about it. I am trying to walk more and more. The Dr. said that I would never run again like I used to. That bums me out when I think about it. I have got to try to find things that I CAN DO, and do them. I feel like I am trapped inside of something that I cannot get out of. I don't think, walk, talk, or as most people say even act like myself. Sometimes I just wish I could just bust out of this shell, and go back to being me. I don't even know who I am anymore. Allot of mixed feelings lately. Everywhere you turn in America there is food. Food for every occasion, no matter what. Every holiday is around the dinner table. Sometimes I just want to plug up my ears, close my eyes, and just block it all out. I think I am going to have to train my mind more than my body. If only I could keep the mind occupied, I would be in great shape.

[Halelani]

Try going to the YMCA or a gym and just use their facilities...get into the habit of going, even if you just decide to sit in the sauna or swim in the pool. Our minds love routine. Then when you feel more comfortable use the equipment...I know it's hard because when I go, I feel uncomfortable about what people will be thinking about me. Go when there is the least amount of people. Or get into the routine of going for a walk, try 10 minutes at a stretch, just to get into the routine. Try to get a just a "nail" underneath the edge and keep working away at it...perseverance will pay off.

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by elderboots

It has been a while since I have been on here, so here goes. I need all of the positive reinforcement I can get right now! Two years ago I weighed only 150. I ate right, exercised daily. Had a great job that most would kill for. It was hard work but it was good pay, and very rewarding. Three years on the job, and I hurt my back. I have had 4 back surgeries so far, my last being in October. That is why I have been gone for a while. When my last back surgery I was at 250, and flat on by back again. I am starting to bounce back from the last surgery, but now at 280. I have struggled with weight gain all of my life, and just two years ago I was finally happy. Then it all slipped away. Not being able to workout anymore, or run every morning, the pounds started to pile back on. I have no support, or any form of help. When I tell my spouse about it, I am usually told to stop crying about it. If you have never had to deal with weight you cannot begin to understand the HELL that people go through. My blood pressure has gone way up, and my health all the way around has deteriorated. I feel as if I am at the end of my rope, and not far from hanging myself with it. Day in and day out there is no one to talk to. I have to try to turn things around, but this time I am not sure if I can. I just need someone to be my friend. I need someone to understand. PLEASE HELP!

I'm sorry to hear that your spouse is not very supportive, that's usually the best person to go to in times like this! We're all here every day, so feel free to come here and vent or chat! It's very hard to make progress when you don't have the support system behind you, but that's what we're here for, to be each others' support!