Obesity Discussion Forums

[EnglishMuffin]

And I am an addict. I'm addicted to amazing foods and sitting down.

I'm going to try to get serious about weight loss and I started this morning. I'm 327 lbs. and I'm only 5'9''. Oh, I'm also only 21 years old. I've been over weight since I was probably about 3 years old. So I've never known the joys of being healthy.

But recently things have gotten worse. I'm so terribly depressd about it. It's affecting my life in so many horrible ways. I just got a new job and I don't want it because it's in a pharmacy and I'll have to see people I don't know constantly and I'm so self concious. I've been with my boyfriend for over 3 years and it's getting harder and harder to let myself be intimate with him. I haven't gained any weight recently. I've been about the same for over a year. But now for some reason, I cry myself to sleep everynight because no matter what I do, I can't stop eating. I also don't go to the gym like I should because there's so many people there. It's intimidating. I have no will power what so ever and I think it's killing me. Literally. I can barely walk up my stairs anymore whithout gasping for air for the next 5 minutes. When I do go to the gym, I can barely do a mile. It's a fight to make it that last lap.

I don't know why I'm so down about this now. But it's getting worse by the day. My boyfriend can't take it anymore because I'm always in a bad mood because I hide sadness with anger. I'm at the end of my rope. I know I'm gonna fail at dieting and I'm not going to exersize. For SOME reason, I just can't make myself do it.

[hoping2succeed]

do you have stairs in your home? I do, and I was very upset when I would get winded by climbing them. So, I made it a week long goal to climb them several extra times a day so that the few times a day that I had to climb them I would not get winded. It worked. By the 3rd day I was no longer winded! Can you try this?

Also, what about surgery? I was so distraut and hopeless about my overeating that I thought that I would get signed up for surgery. Come to find out, I started dreaming of thinner me, and I started thinking of life after surgery and without binging. Then I realized that maybe I could do it without surgery, so that is where I am now. I am trying and losing without surgery, but if I fail, surgery is an option for me. I pray that it doesn't come to that, but I have to get this weight off. I have high blood pressure, high cholsterol, and I had gestational diabetes with my 3rd and fourth pregnancies, so I am right around the corner from diabetes as well.

[EnglishMuffin]

Wow, I really never thought to do something so simple.I'll definately be running up and down my stairs all night now! Thanks!!

I'd LOVE and I mean LOOOOOOVE to have an operation. I'd really like to get the lapband instead of the bypass because it is reversible and there are less risks involved. My problem is...I don't have insurance. Lol. But I start a new job next week so within the next 3 months I should have it and I can make an appointment with a doctor to figure everything out. I'm hoping in 3 months, I'll be well on my way to 160 lbs. Thankfully, my blood pressure isn't very high. I smoke (I know, I'm the unhealthiest person EVER) and I'm borderline high BP and my doctors aren't too worried. Diabetes runs in my family like crazy. My immediate family alone consists of 6 diabetics. I've been tested several times and I montior my sugar weekly to watch for bad signs. And I've never had my cholesterol tested but that's something I'll do in 3 months!

But thanks so much for your help. It really means a lot to me!

[hoping2succeed]

My blood pressure is just borderline high too, but my doc put me on a pill about 5 years ago because of my weight, high cholesterol, and family history.

[EnglishMuffin]

Weird. Everytime I've gone to a doctor, they said it wasn't anything to worry about yet. No one wants to put me on meds. Fine with me though. But I have a family history of it, too. Hopefully once I get to losing a few pounds I'll be in the normal range anyways.

[hoping2succeed]

All docs are different! And, you are YOUNG . Plus, I already had three kids when they put me on a blood pressure pill. And, he told me it was to reduce my overall risks. He said he was more of the cautious type.

We are both going to lose some weight and become so active that blood pressure problems will be a thought of the past, along with all of our clothes that we get too small for!

[EnglishMuffin]

I can't wait to be too small for my clothes! That's kinda a big motivator. Shopping for new clothes.

I'm gonna be like that guy on the Bowflex commercials that says, "I gave all my fat clothes to my fat friends". Except...I don't have any fat friends. Lol.

[angelsbreath]

I had high blood pressure last year and my doc put me on meds. I decided then that I had to do something. I couldn't believe that I was only 27 with high blood pressure, I felt so disgusted with myself. I lost twenty pounds in two months then and my blood pressure has only been moderately high since then. I'm not sure why I gave up then with the weight loss, but I'm glad I didn't gain any of it back and that I've decided to try again. Diabetes is also very rampant in my family and I constantly worry that I too will become diabetic, that's a very scary thought. I quit smoking three days ago and I'm hoping that will help me along in my journey. Wishing the best of health to everyone!

[Chrisydj]

Originally Posted by EnglishMuffin

I can't wait to be too small for my clothes! That's kinda a big motivator. Shopping for new clothes.

I'm gonna be like that guy on the Bowflex commercials that says, "I gave all my fat clothes to my fat friends". Except...I don't have any fat friends. Lol.

OH I HATE that part of that commercial. It makes me mad. I would hate to be the friend he gave the clothes to. I have given alot of my clothes to my sister but I tried not to make her feel bad when I told her she could have them cause they were to big for me. And then some of them were to small for her. It made me wanna cry for her. But it has inspired her to start making small changes and she is losing a little, but that commercial still bothers me.

Anyways we can all do this and we can all stick with this. It's not a diet it is a new way of life. I carried around a note pad with me to write down all my foods so I could document them until i got my IPhone and found apps that will let me do that. It helps to know how much you are eating. Plus I got a pedometer to keep track of how much I'm actually moving/walking, over 10,000 steps a day is considered active and I strive for that every day....although I fall short, WAY short some days. We just have to keep moving and keep counting calories and paying attention to portion size. And keep posting on here for support and to give it.

Oh I also wanted to comment on thinking that surgery is like a Plan B "if you fail". Why even consider failure a possibillity? If you have a bad meal or bad day or even a bad week. Don't give up on yourself. Just get back up and dust yourself off and go at it again. We are all human and we all give in to temptation at some point. Just realize it when you do and say to yourself " I am going to do better tomorrow and I'm not going to let this get me down, because I deserve to be healthy and happy!" It helps me. Every morning when I get up I go through something like that. I struggle with it due to having low self esteem. You just have to fight it and realize that you deserve to be healthy and you are worth all the hard work. And when people start to notice the changes in you you will too. And it will feel SOOOO GREAT!

Ok I THINK I'm done rambling on. I just love this site and others like it. I love all the support and comradarey (SP?) And as corney as it is I get all warm and fuzzy inside reading alot of the posts on here.

Thanks everyone for supporting everyone!

[hoping2succeed]

Chrisydj- keep rambling! That is why we are here!

why surgery is my back up plan: I don't know about you all, but this battle with my weight has been a major issue in my life for a long time. And, for me, I feel that it is like a switch in my innermost being is either on (eat healthy, be smart, resist the evil temptation of the yummy food) or off (eat what you want when you want because nothing else matters... you can do it, just figure out what you want next, and plan a way to get it. You don't care about anything except how bad you want it!!!) I have prayed for control of the switch, but never have felt like I am really in control of it. My experiences with failing to keep the switch turned on have led me to many places of dispair. One of those places was when I decided that I was going to have to have surgery. Somehow, that reality sunk in and the switch turned on. So, for now I am going to keep my plan B (surgery) in place. But, as I make it further each day, I am that much less in a place of dispair. Hopefully, I will be able to let go of my plan B and be confident that I am in control of my desires and my actions.

I AM HOPING2SUCCEED!!!!

[Chrisydj]

Originally Posted by hoping2succeed

Chrisydj- keep rambling! That is why we are here!

why surgery is my back up plan: I don't know about you all, but this battle with my weight has been a major issue in my life for a long time. And, for me, I feel that it is like a switch in my innermost being is either on (eat healthy, be smart, resist the evil temptation of the yummy food) or off (eat what you want when you want because nothing else matters... you can do it, just figure out what you want next, and plan a way to get it. You don't care about anything except how bad you want it!!!) I have prayed for control of the switch, but never have felt like I am really in control of it. My experiences with failing to keep the switch turned on have led me to many places of dispair. One of those places was when I decided that I was going to have to have surgery. Somehow, that reality sunk in and the switch turned on. So, for now I am going to keep my plan B (surgery) in place. But, as I make it further each day, I am that much less in a place of dispair. Hopefully, I will be able to let go of my plan B and be confident that I am in control of my desires and my actions.

I AM HOPING2SUCCEED!!!!

I would like to say I understand, but I've not been battling my weight all all that long. To be honest this is the first time I've done anything about it. I had always been thin until I got divorced. And it wasnt that I ate alot or all the time that caused the weight gain it was the not eating for days and then eating a few thousand calories in one sitting and then not eating again for days. My body went into survivor mode and stored EVERYTHING as FAT because it didnt know when it would get more to eat. And I knew I was gaining but I didnt care because it didnt seem to be affecting my weight. But once it did it scared me into action. I'm positive that I'll be able to make my changes life long....but then eating more often is alot easier than eating less often from what I've seen/heard. I'll be praying that you'll be able to keep control of your switch.

[hoping2succeed]

Thanks, Chrisydj! And, I greatly appreciate the prayers.

[EnglishMuffin]

You guys are great! I'd use the lapband as a back up plan if I don't manage to lose like, 100 lbs. in 3 years. That means it's impossible. Or I've stopped trying. But I'm staying positive this time! I'm gonna make it to 160 by may 2010! Yay!

[wildwoman]

Melissa i postes this on the other thread you started but wanted to make sure you saw it, I think you can do it without surgery........one of my good friends DIED having that surgery........it is VERY risky! Her name was Margo and she was only 28 years old...........try hard at just eating healthy and exercising..........like your life depends on it (cuz it does!) before you do anything like surgery!

Quote:
Originally Posted by EnglishMuffin
Angelsbreath- Thanks for sharing! I started on that diet this morning and by 3 pm, I'd only eaten like, 300 calories! And I wasn't full, but I was satisfied. So, I think this is going to work out pretty well for me.

ok so hear me out.........I checked out your stats and you need 2,403 calories a day to sustain your current weight........you need to subtract about 500 calories from that to provide you with enuff food to loose weight and still KEEP YOUR METABOLISM BURNING HIGH.........you should be eating around 1,903 calories a day......I know we are programed to think that the less we eat the better, but that is NOT true..........you will shut down your bodys fat burning process if you eat to little.......it will make it harder to loose fat in the end.............you need to feed your body healthy meals of around 317 calories six times a day...........YES that is right you need to eat every few hours.....you will not be hungary and you will burn fat like crazy..........add in 20 min of cardio three times a week and add some weight lifting.........the more you build your muscle the more you will burn fat.........muscle takes more calories just to sit on your arm than a blob of fat on your arm takes to just sit there! Make sure you watch your sodium intake as this will have a HUGE effect on your success.............you are making a great effort, I think you should be getting resulsts for your effort.........check out this site for a lot of good info Muscle & Fitness Hers
good luck, i will be watching your success!!!
kerrie

[chubbymommaNdallas]

wildwomans advice is really good...calorie couting is an excellent way to go...with calorie counting I have control and am educating myself...it is very internal and therefore, all about you...it doesn't rely on your payments to personal trainers, gyms, or meal delivery systems, your grocery bill will go down and save you money actually

I would also like to encourage you to read about the power of whole foods..they satiate your body for far few calories than anything processed out there, are many times cheaper than processed foods and are readily available to you..also excellent for your health and appearance in a plethora of ways

I also use Alli and have had success with it while I work their program..if you choose to go this route, do things as they suggest and what is above and you absolutely WILL see your results..Alli helps to create that ever so important "calorie deficit" that wildwoman mentions..

Good luck. You can SO do this. You are so very worth it.

[hoping2succeed]

EM- How is it going???

[EnglishMuffin]

Things are going pretty well. I still have sooo much trouble going to the gym though. I don't know how to work on that! Its so hard because seeing results takes a long time and without results, I feel like I'm not doing anything even if I am.

I REALLY appreciate everyone's input! You guys are making me feel so amazing. Like I have personal friends that understand me. But calorie counting is SO hard because usually my boyfriend and I go out to eat. Of course I've been chosing better now. I'll get a salad or a turkey sandwich on whole wheat instead of a Big Mac and a 10 peice McNuggets. But usually, they don't have calories listed on menus! So I get so confused trying to figure out what it might be, I feel like maybe I shouldn't eat the rest of the day to be safe. I'm so confused, it's ridiculous!

Oh, also...I have NO will power and NO self control. So when someone tells me I can eat 6 times a day, my body says "Well then eat 6 full meals a day!" As in, like 4,000 calories worth! I don't know how to help my self control without making myself go insane.

ALTHOUGH...My boyfriend said today that he was seeing a bit of a difference when we were laying in bed the other night. But I think it maybe just him trying to be nice or helpful, to motivate me more. I don't know. Tomorrow's the day I'll weigh myself. I'm not gonna expect too much because I've been slipping slightly with foods and I've all but stopped working out. But if it's good news, I'll let you all know first! If I'm gone for like, 4 days it's because I've dug a hole and don't plan on coming out. Lol

Thanks again for all the support, ladies! You've helped in a way you can't imagine!

[wantobeabutterfly]

Originally Posted by EnglishMuffin

instead of a Big Mac and a 10 peice McNuggets. But usually, they don't have calories listed on menus!

This is my favorite meal. Most places have calories and nutritional info on there web sites. might help to know before you go, or when you get back.

[wildwoman]

hey girl.......here is how i do my meals.....a palm sized portion of lean meat.......a fist sized portion of a complex carb., (potato, brown rice, yam, oatmeal ect) an a big bunch of veggies.........six times a day! It does not have to be complicated.........just keep a few simple rules in mind.............later!

[hoping2succeed]

Yep, we just gotta decide to let the fast food go! It really is liberating to realize that we don't need it! And, eating out is such a challenge! Throw some ff or light salad dressing into your purse and get a salad... unless you research and plan ahead before you go.

I look at the fast food and the other restaurants as a "BIG NO WAY!" for me because right now I am trying to get healthy, and I know that they will prevent me from obtaining my goal. I am happy with this choice right now. In the past I resented not being able to enjoy certain things, but right now, I am just so happy to be focusing on me, my health, and my happiness. I am so thrilled that my happiness is no longer coming from food.

Good luck, girl!