Recent pictures have made me depressed...

shellcarswell

Since I was in my 20s, I have been big but I never really called myself fat, then 4 years ago, due to stress I lost 3 stone in a couple of months and looked amazing and met my fiancé who I am marrying next year.

However, since we met, we have been on a downward spiral and gaining a LOT of weight , this is the biggest I've ever been and I'm depressed!

I'm putting off dress shopping because I want to go from my size 20 (teetering on 22) size to at least an 18 but I really need some help and support!

Anyone fancy buddying up and kicking my *kitten* when I step out of line.
The recent pictures have made me realise that I'm not taking dieting serious and I need to so I'm happy for people who say it as it is! I post regularly about me doing good or bad and need people to knock me into gear if I look like I'm swaying.

It sounds odd but amazingly it does work!
You can see from the before and after why I'm kicking myself so hard. The before pic is only 4 years old and the after is only 4 weeks ago.
I am immensely happy with my life, I just wish I could look better and feel better in myself!


Anyone wanna be a friend?

Moxie42

Looks like this thread got buried! Feel free to add me if you'd like. I also gained a significant amount of weight pretty fast- about 10 lbs a year for 8 years! I had moved in with my boyfriend (now husband) and his roommate, and went from eating healthy most of the time (when I was living with my mom) to eating burgers and pizza most nights, not to mention the amount of beer I was consuming!

One thing though- like many people on MFP I've found that trying to stay positive makes a HUGE difference. I used to think of this as a "diet," and my only goal was to lose weight, and I felt desperate to do so. It made the process miserable and anxiety-triggering. I hated myself and beat myself up for every "failure." Every time I'd end up frustrated and I'd give up. My weight yo-yos and I played with the same 20 lbs for years, but every time I gained more weight than I had lost so really- I made myself miserable for years with the pressure to lose weight and ended up gaining anyway.

Now I try to think positively, and I try to focus more on my overall health and not just the number on the scale. I don't beat myself up if I have an off-day, and I try not to let the scale dictate my emotions. It's something I have to constantly work on, because that does NOT come natural to me, but it helps. For the first time, I'm not hating the process, which makes it easy to stick to.

In your post you mentioned "dieting" and being "good or bad," and needing someone to kick you into gear. I do believe in constructive criticism, absolutely. We don't do ourselves favors by being in denial! BUT there is a way to be real and up-front without being mean to yourself. I have no idea if you tend to beat yourself up or not, but I wanted to mention that just in case. Personally, I know that when I say things like "I was good today" or "I was bad today," that kind of black-or-white thinking gets me in trouble...as opposed to saying "eh, I made some mistakes today but I'm looking forward to tomorrow."

Anyway, welcome to MFP! Wishing you the best!

shellcarswell

Thanks so much Moxie!
I know many are going through the same as me but you sounds like you were in the same position as me!

I am sadly one whom beats themselves up, I have a "bad day" and get out of control and ruin the good work I had done earlier by eating badly for the rest of the day, telling myself tomorrow is another day!

I am pretty much great morning till early evening, eating nothing but fruit and salads and never bat an eyelid, but the second i come home, I moan about work and all I want to do is eat!

I know work is the reason I'm pity eating - breakfast/lunch/dinner are pretty much good/fat less but then I binge on junk - it's as if I suddenly get hungry as soon as I finish dinner - but it's also as soon as I finish complaining about work and relax!

I'm hoping some new buddies open my eyes to how they eat and workout so I can trial their routines and see how I get on

Thanks again and thank you for sharing your story - it actually really helps me think about what I should be focusing on

lilligraz22

Hi there!!! Yup pictures are great motivators. I keep a pic of myself at my fittest on my bedside table for motivation. Feel free to add me!!!

jahillegas_51

Feel free to add me to:)) We got this all day!

ashleighs148

Feel free to add me too, I gained around 4 stone the past three or four years and I have similar pictures. I keep going up and down and falling of track, I need someone to kick my butt too!

kamar1988

You can add me at anytime

MrsBasra

I steadily gained weight during and after my pregnancy and ended up 20kg overweight! I also need someone to kick my *kitten* & motivate me! Add me

Red5092

Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials, and good luck on your journey to better health. It sounds like you have identified your problem. May I make a suggestion? Take a walk when you get home. Air out your work frustrations before you come near food. Then, when you get home from your walk, you'll be more calm and able to enjoy your dinner.

aloughery645

Add me !