The weight struggle

[Twisterdog]

Originally posted by LorraineO
I lost 150 lbs so far

HOLY COW!!! That is fabulous! Congratulations! I'm SO impressed! I've lost 65 pounds since September, and I thought that was great!

Good job to you, too, Uabassoon!!

The ONLY thing that works for me is exercise. And I HATE to exercise. Dieting alone just does NOT work for me, I get discouraged after a few days or weeks and give up. But if I'm exercising as well, it seems to me more like getting healthy as opposed to just "dieting". Plus, if you are sweating away on the treadmill, you simply don't want to stop at McDonald's on the way home and lose all that effort!

Also, I refuse ... absolutely WILL NOT ... go on a "diet". Pointless in the long run. Now, if you have ten or twenty pounds to lose one time, sure, a quick diet will work. But people like me, with a lifelong problem with and addcition to food simply cannot "diet". It doesn't work. Going ON a diet implies that you will someday go OFF the diet ... and the weight comes back, plus more.

I like to eat. I have issues with food, I know. Food is my friend when I'm lonesome, my entertainment when I'm bored. Sad and pathetic, yes ... but it has taken me a LONG time to even admit it. So, I basically eat whenever I want to, and as much as I want to still. The trick is not how much or how often you eat, it is WHAT you eat. I eat fruit and vegetables now, instead of chips and popcorn. You get used to it. Honestly. I refuse to starve myself. Not going to happen. But you can eat a LOT of carrots and still lose weight, trust me.

Believe me, anyone who is discouraged, I know this sounds like a cliche ... but if I can do it, ANYone can do it. Truly.

[PJ's Mom]

I'm the same way with food. It's comforting and gives me something to do when I'm bored. I don't know if there's any way out of that mind set, but it's almost always been that way for me.

Has anyone ever gotten to the point where they just don't care anymore? I've reached the point where I sometimes say, I'm healthy, and food makes me happy so, who cares if I'm a little overweight. Maybe I'm just making excuses for myself.

I started Atkins again yesterday and lost 3 lbs. Instead of being happy, I regret not having the food I really want to eat.

[CatMama78]

Atkins is not healthy. No carbs is not healthy. Maybe try South Beach instead if you want to go low carb route. I think the bottom line as far as weight goes is do what makes you happy, what you are comfortable with. If you are a relatively healthy person, ie get in your fruits and veggies and get in some walking every once in a while, then don't worry about the poundage. I say this, but I admit I am weight obsessed when it comes to myself . Everyone's body metabolizes things differently. We are all beautiful inside and out!

[PJ's Mom]

I know it's not too healthy, but it's the only thing I've found that works for me. It keeps me controlled better than anything else I've found.

[ParNone]

I finally decided a few weeks ago, that I had to do something. After 6 months of living off of vending machine food due to my job, I not only gained weight, but I was really starting to feel bad.

I'm not so much doing a strict diet as trying to eat healthy. No more Cokes, No more vending machine food and no more total junk food (Ex. yesterday I was craving a Burger for lunch, so I had a Jr. Burger and a salad and water to go with it vs French Fries and a Dr. Pepper. My craving was satisfied and I still got some healthly food in my body). I felt unbelivably bad the first week while all that sugar and caffeine was getting out of my body, but I'm now starting to feel better, so the next step is exercising.

Maybe we need to get together an internet group again of those of us who are trying to get healthy. And maybe I can get Judes to design us a t-shirt. When we reach our goal, we can get a shirt that says something like "Me and My dog walked our butts off", with a butt shot of your skinny rear and your dog's walking down a path.

Par...

[PJ's Mom]

Originally posted by ParNone
Maybe we need to get together an internet group again of those of us who are trying to get healthy. And maybe I can get Judes to design us a t-shirt. When we reach our goal, we can get a shirt that says something like "Me and My dog walked our butts off", with a butt shot of your skinny rear and your dog's walking down a path.

I like that idea as long as my shirt can have someone elses skinny rear on it.

I think I've forgotten how to eat healthy. I never drink sodas with sugar, so at least I'm doing that right.

[luvofallhorses]

Robin,

You are a beautiful person inside and out and I am not just saying that. ((((((((hugs to all of you))))))))))

I feel a lot like Robin does, I used to be 110 lbs and after I was put on depression medication my metabolism wore down on me. I have been asked if I was pregnant, I have been asked if I was my cousin's mom, etc. I would rather be asked like the old days if I was anorexic. This subject is hard for me, too, but Dawn it's okay. I do wish that a lot of us lived closer and we could do a weight program together and never were alone. Whoever said this I forget 'It's nice to have a friend beside you' I don't know if that was the exact same quote. I know this may sound cheesy but it be cool if there was such thing as we can get together and live togther with our furbabies in harmony, in Pet Talk Land

I used to think of myself as beautiful, but now I just don't feel beautiful/pretty because I am overweight. I can't even get a boyfriend these days...but my animals love me for who I am I don't need a guy to say I am pretty



I have tried and tried to lose weight but it doesn't work I love junk food TOO much *sigh*

[MariaM]

This is sooooooooo ironic. Some have posted how they went to the store to buy healthy food and came out with junk...

Well I came on the computer to look up healthy stuff, and instead came to Pet Talk. Now thats not the greatest comparison, but it was putting the healthy stuff aside.

But, when I came on here maybe 15 minutes ago, I WAS going to go on and try to see what average weights for people my age and average amount of calories you should be eating a day, how much exercise I should be getting, what amounts of what foods etc. etc. etc. Instead I came to PT lol. But I will go look that up...as soon as I look up something on eBay.

Yes, I've been trying to eat healthier and lose weight. I want to lose at least 5 pounds soon...more would be really nice. But 5 is my goal, and once (IF) I accomplish that, then I can work on more. I guess I feel if I start low and accomplish it, then I can accomplish more too.

-sigh-

I'll just keep trying. Maybe I'll come back with some motivating thoughts or quotes or something...

Edit: I don't know if this is that accurate but I saw it on the news...

www.mypyramid.org

(it might be .com)

[wolflady]

Wow, I'm surprised at how many people have trouble with weight. I'm right there with all ya'll! I know exactly what my problem is, it's just so hard to overcome it. I love food...all kinds of food. Eating is a pleasure, and there is a world of ethnic foods available to explore. I love all the things that are bad for you: pastas, breads, etc.

I used to be such a fit person. I was in excellent shape in college because I walked everywhere, was in the marching band (talk about a workout!) and doing step aerobics. I guess I just took it for granted that I could eat whatever I wanted and still be a size 7. I didn't take into consideration all of the physical activity that I was doing on a daily basis.

Now that I'm out of college and sitting on my big butt all day long, the pounds have packed on. I hate it. I feel gross and look gross. I have no energy and I hate that. I know if I was to lose 40+ pounds, I would feel so much better. I miss having energy. It's just so hard when you commute 3 hours a day (1.5 hours each way), and work sometimes 10 hours. By the time I get home I'm exhausted and don't want to do anything but eat and go to bed. Also, by the time I get home...it's so dang late that I don't want to spend the time to make a healthy meal. It's like I'm back in college and thinking...ok, what do I have in the pantry...mac-n-cheese? Ok...that's fast and easy to make...

*sigh*

For the past several months, I have been making an effort to go to the gym. In my previous company, I got back into decent shape, but I was also very good about going to the gym on a consistant basis. When I lost my job, I stopped going and the pounds packed right on.
I finally sucked it up and got on the scale a few weeks ago. I was shocked at how fat I'd become. I was in total denial. I weigh more than my husband, who is 6'3"!!! I never thought that possible. Needless to say, I was more depressed than ever and I'm determined to lose weight.
I have gotten discouraged though, because I have been going to the gym regularly for the past several months and have not noticed a difference at all in the way my clothes fit. I have even been better about my food habits. Since I haven't seen any results...I figure...what's the point? Maybe I'm not doing a good weight-loss exercise? If anyone has tips, that would be greatly appreciated.
I like to go to the gym at my lunch hour because 1.) it gets me out of my chair and out of the building and 2.) it's about the only time I can squeeze in with my nasty commute and all.
I typically do 30 minutes of elliptical machine and then maybe around 10 minutes of various weights (machines...not free weights) in the weight room, then I take a quick rinse in the shower and go back to work.

Is this not a good routine for losing weight? I'm just so desperate to feel better physically as well as emotionally. I hate the way I look and feel and want to make it better.

**hugs**

[wolfsoul]

Originally posted by CatMama78
Atkins is not healthy. No carbs is not healthy. Maybe try South Beach instead if you want to go low carb route.

I watched an article on 20/20. They compared three diets -- Atkins, South Beach, and another I don't remember. The people who did Atkins surprisingly turned out to be the healthiest when the diet was over, not to mention they had lost the most weight. Their bad cholesterol was alot lower than the people who did the other diets. It's surprising because you would think that all of the saturated fats from the meat would just make your cholesterol worse.

[PJ's Mom]

Wolflady, congrats for trying so hard. You're coming along better than I am.

Don't we all wish it was as easy to lose weight as it is to gain it?

Maria, we'll be waiting for those motivating quotes.

[jazzcat]

Since misery loves company scoot over cause here I come. I'm right there with many of you. I've been feeling lousy about myself. I've been fat all my life but 10 years ago I lost around 90 pounds. Unfortunately during the past 10 years I've gained back most of it. Three weeks ago I made the mistake of trying on some clothes and got really ticked off. It ended up being a good thing because I immediately went to the grocery store and loaded up on healthy food and started a diet and exercise program of my own making. Hubby and I have been walking 5-6 times a week and in the past three weeks I have lost 13 pounds. The down part is that I'm only back to where I was last summer because I really packed it on the past year but at least those new pounds are gone.

I'm already feeling better about myself and I'm very motivated. I just hope it lasts but I think it will. I'd love to lose 65-70 more pounds but my immediate goal is to lose 17 pounds by the fourth of July. I do better setting short term smaller goals.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

It is amazing to know how many people have a "weight struggle" . Congrats to all who succeeded to loose weight!!

I feel a bit in a hopeless situation. Since I am on anti-depressives, I started putting on weight. Nothing is wrong with the way I eat, and I exercise more than enough. Still, everytime I get on that scale, I gained weight. Now, that is even MORE depressive... . Last week I tried on my summer pants, and NONE of those still fits...8 I have no idea what to do about it. I asked my neurologist to me off the medication, and she prescribed me another brand. Let's hope it works

[PJ's Mom]

Congrats, Lori!

I'm feeling so motivated ny hearing all of your stories. I'm off to the store to stock up on healthy food, and when I get home, all the unhealthy food is outta here.

[RobiLee]

I would like to apologize for my extremely whiney post earlier. I don't know why I let that all out like that. I'm very sorry. Thank you so much for all of your kind words and all of the support. You guys are great. I'm sending out big hugs to all of you. Lets all keep working at this together.

Love and Hugs....Robin