Diet, exercise and mental health

Beatprediabetes

It's no secret that poor mental health can precede weight gain and also be a symptom of it.

People who have lost weight via diet and exercise, and who are generally fit and active, tend to look good and consequently feel good about themselves. Their self-esteem tends to be higher than what it was before their weight loss journey. They also tend to radiate a positive energy.

Conversely, those who have piled on the pounds through poor diet and lack of exercise generally don't look so good or feel good about themselves. Feelings of disappointment and frustration with oneself can lead to low self-esteem and depression.

Depression can also descend upon those who have been attempting to diet and exercise too hard. When dieter's hit a plateau and no amount of calorie/carb reduction or aggressive exercise is shifting the pounds, sometimes a sense of futility can creep in and some people just feel like giving up.

Have you experienced low self-esteem and/or depression when overweight or whilst on a diet and exercise regime to lose weight? How did you overcome these feelings and persevere?

br3adman

I may have before I started eating healthy and exercising. I don't feel bad because of all the exercise/quality nutritional food. I'm not loosing my weight for looks either but simply to feel better. I know most people loose weight for looks but I rather feel awesome personally.

Beatprediabetes

I'm losing weight in an attempt to lower my blood glucose, combat the symptoms of prediabetes and prevent myself from developing full blown type 2 diabetes. I've lost almost a stone so far and feel a lot better (less tired). Looks don't really come into it for me personally, but I know a lot of people (esp women) who do it for body image, and that's okay, as there are real health benefits with diet and exercise too. It's when diet and exercise become an obsession and some people go into overdrive, that's when mental health can begin to suffer.

Dariasen

I changed my eating habits because while in the ER for depression (not weight related) the blood pressure monitor went off like I had won the jackpot on a slot machine. As I started eating better and exercising to lower my BP, I started to feel better mentally as well...looking better is just a bonus.
I also am not on a "diet" just CICO so there is no pressure on myself with forbidden foods.
It's easy for me to go into an "all or nothing" phase and downward spiral if I'm not careful. For example, yesterday I hurt my foot and was tempted to drown my frustration with the right side of the Burger King menu and Netflix. Luckily I paused, came up with a new game plan to work around the injury and will just continue as I have been.