Struggling to lose weight

alice202

SF Supporter
#1
So its the end of January, but still early in a year when I hoped to make a lot of changes. So far the results are mixed.

I want to lose weight, and so far I have lost 2 pounds and gained it back again. I do have the data to understand what is happening because I log all of my eating and exercise. Bottom line: If you don't cut back or move a lot more you'll stay the same. About half the time I am able to restrict my calories to around 1500 - but on the other days I go up to 2000 or more. I've been doing yoga 2-3 times a week, and I do walk the dog a lot.

If I ate 1500 calories every day and did a moderate amount of exercising, I would probably lose a pound a week. The big weakness for me is sweets. Most of my nutrients are right on target, but I am always eating more sugar than I ought to be, even if its fruit. I also eat more in the evening than I should be. What it boils down to is that I reach for something sweet when I need emotional comfort. I reach for something sweet when I am tired or lacking energy. While it used to be the case that I would binge on dessert - I am more likely to eat protein bars - but they are still sweet, and have a fair amount of calories.

So I haven't changed my behavior enough to make a difference. I know that what I need to do is spend even more time planning what I eat - plan for a healthy snack instead of grabbing something sweet. And I need to plan my exercise so that I do something every day.

The other thing that makes me overeat is a lack of sleep. On the days where I don't have a good nights sleep I am much more likely to eat too much.

I watched the show "my 600lb life" several times. Most of the people on it have 4 or 500 lbs to lose and a real addiction to food. I am pretty sure they only show you the success stories. But you see people struggle in major ways to make the changes they need to make to save their lives. I find it inspiring that the people on the show are willing to be so vulnerable about their struggles.

So this month was a failure in some ways, but I have to say its not really a mystery to me. Permanent weight loss involves changing behaviors. I think in my case it will be a challenge to see if I can stop handling my emotions by eating... because that is something I've been doing for a long time.

There are other changes I am trying to make, like socializing more and breaking out of my isolation. I made some strides this month, but not a lot. Once again, its the depression that makes it hard. I can plan to do something but then if I feel badly I will back out of it when the time comes. I hate myself for doing it, but that's what I do.

Well, 11 more months in the year. I will try harder in February.

Alice
 

Petal

~*Mod Extraordinaire*~
Staff Alumni
SF Supporter
#2
Hi there, you can totally do this, emotional eating is a difficult one to control, do you eat when sad/anxious or just plainly out of boredom? I think you do need to kick the isolation behaviours out of the way too, they are causing invisible damage and physical hence the weight gain. Are there any places you could go locally to socialise, are you too rural or do you just not want to socialise?

I too am trying desperately hard to lose weight and in Jan I just broke even, you following what you eat and how much you exercise can teach you a lot.

May I ask do you have a lot of weight to lose?

I started a weigh in thread for 2018 here, feel free to join in : http://suicideforum.com/community/threads/2018-official-weigh-in-thread.142594/#post-1622425

Best wishes!
 

alice202

SF Supporter
#3
Thanks Petal. I need to lose about 70 lbs. Sometimes I am not even sure why I am eating - am I hungry? bored? tired? sad? or just eating because the food is there and I put it in my mouth without even thinking about it... I am really not sure why I keep choosing isolation except that it is within my comfort zone. I live in an urban area so there are lots of things I could join or get involved in- but getting up the nerve to go to something for the first time is not easy. I am reading a book about making permanent changes in your life and basically it means changing the way you think. So I am trying to get to the root of it... to figure out what makes me seek comfort from food.
 

Petal

~*Mod Extraordinaire*~
Staff Alumni
SF Supporter
#4
Thanks Petal. I need to lose about 70 lbs
You're more than welcome @alice202 you can totally do this, we both can :)

I think you need to keep a diary of why you eat as well as what you eat because it can help you keep track of your eating pattern and you can see where you slip up.
Isolation is something I think a lot of us can relate to. I isolate too, way too much, its unhealthy. It's so easy to say we will get out but so hard to physically do.
One step at a time Alice, try 1 new thing a week, your choice of whats going on in your area, google is your friend, just try once and see if its too much for you or you are able to handle it, maybe an exercise class of some sort? Or going to a library since you like reading.
Hopefully the book you are reading will help you out as well, you have us all rooting for you.

Best of luck :)
 

alice202

SF Supporter
#5
Thanks Petal. I've been going to yoga 2-3 times a week and considering exercise. But now I realize it isn't enough "exercise" or the right kind to help me lose weight. So I need to add some REAL exercise. The yoga is at a health club and they do have classes that are more geared toward aerobic exercise and losing weight.

The isolation is a tough one. I make plans to go to things, but when the time comes I don't "feel" like going. Its a mood thing.
 

afterlifepig

Well-Known Member
#7
i'm in the same boat! got to lose about 70 lbs, mostly from my belly. it does not look attractive when i look in the mirror. my face looks good now that i am beardless and just have manly stubble, but i still got to lose that belly if i'm to have any success with the opposite sex.
 

Petal

~*Mod Extraordinaire*~
Staff Alumni
SF Supporter
#9
i still got to lose that belly if i'm to have any success with the opposite sex.
If a woman only wants you for your looks, you don't want that type of woman.

Plenty of us ladies here who like big blokes so they can protect us hehe :)
 

Petal

~*Mod Extraordinaire*~
Staff Alumni
SF Supporter
#10
If you need sweets try baked sweet potato or some berries. :) I have a sweet tooth and those are my go tos
A baked sweet potato....yuuuuuum, thank you for the reminder of them. I eat wedges of sweet potato, the are bloody awesome. Great alternative from normal potatoes. Berries are great too :)
 

alice202

SF Supporter
#11
I've decided to join the health club where I am taking the yoga classes. I love yoga and I will keep doing it, but on its own it isn't going to make me lose weight. The membership lets you take all the classes you want, including some that are oriented toward strength training - and building muscle makes you burn more calories. The classes are at 6:15 am! So it will be a challenge to get myself up and to a class that early. The thing is, if I don't do it first thing in the morning I probably wouldn't get myself over there any other time of day either. So I just have to do it.

One of my yoga instructors teaches the classes. (I can't imagine teaching 4 exercise classes a day, but she does.) She told me that she used to be 60 lbs heavier, after having 3 children. I asked her what her secret was, and she said: consistency. So having her as a teacher really inspires me.

Now if I didn't know her story I would think she was someone who was born thin and beautiful and never had to work at it. I would feel intimidated by her and maybe jealous. But knowing her story makes me feel encouraged and hopeful.

I don't think I'll be teaching any exercise classes, but if I can actually lose some weight I will be delighted.
 

Petal

~*Mod Extraordinaire*~
Staff Alumni
SF Supporter
#12
Good for you @alice202 It's great to have a trainer that has personal experience with losing weight and getting fit. I hope you are able to lose the amount of weight you want to. I hope it helps you and gets you into a routine. 6:15am I think is actually best because you will be less inclined to eat junk food for the rest of the day. Best of luck to you and keep us updated.
 

Petal

~*Mod Extraordinaire*~
Staff Alumni
SF Supporter
#14
Since we are sharing tips and tricks to a healthier lifestyle, here's one: my pharmacist told me chromium is a natural appetite suppressant and totally natural. I bought some, will let you know how I get on with it, might be something you want to look into. You can get it in health stores and pharmacies. :)
 
#15
What helped me a lot was to eliminate all sweets and snacks from the house, if I have something to feast on it's getting eaten even if I'm not hungry. I keep carrots in the fridge if I have that urge to snack on something. Just have to stay strong when going to the grocery store.
 

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