Trying to lose weight gained during depressive episode

chloalixa

Hi, I’m Chloë!

To keep a long story short, basically I got depressed, ate all my feelings away, stayed in bed all day and gained 30 or so pounds that I’m still struggling to get off 3 years later. I’ve tried other fitness/weight loss apps, but nothing seemed to work. Although I’m in a much better place than I was in the past, I still get depressed and that makes it really hard to get out of bed and be motivated to exercise. I often use food as a coping mechanism and when I’m sad I don’t feel like eating salads or other healthy foods but rather highly caloric foods like pizza, burgers, pasta, etc. I immediately regret it afterward as I feel nauseous and have no energy, but I don’t know how to stop. Basically I’m just looking for the motivation to get back at it and exercise again and learn ways to manage what I eat and practice eating healthier so I’m not feeling sick all the time. I know I can do it; it’s just a matter of getting started!

kommodevaran

To lose weight, you just have to eat less. You don't have to exercise or eat healthy to lose weight, you just have to eat less. But you have to eat less.
No app in the world will work if you just try, you have to use it properly. MFP is basically just another tool to help you eat less.
You should stop dividing foods into healthy and unhealthy. A healthy diet is balanced and varied, and you can eat anything you want in moderation. It's smart, and often necessary, to plan and schedule meals.
In return, you have to stop using eating as a coping mechanism. It doesn't work, as you say, you overeat, regret it and feel nauseous and lethargic.
Exercise can be a way to get back some energy, make you feel better, and make you want to eat better. Exercise doesn't have to be an hour in the gym. It can be a walk around the block.

chloalixa

Thank you for your response. You’re exactly right that it comes down to eating less. I don’t know why that never occurred to me. I guess I’ve just been brainwashed into thinking the only way it’s going to happen is if I eat healthy and exercise. Portion control has always been a big problem for me and I tend to eat until I’m overly full and sick as I mentioned above rather than satisfied with the meal. You’re right about using food as a coping mechanism too. It doesn’t work. Literally at all! I need to work on finding other coping outlets that don’t involve food so that I can help myself feel better. I’ve been making a serious effort to get 10,000 steps or more every day, but that means nothing when I’m still eating a lot and not watching my calorie intake. It’s going to be a definite process and change isn’t going to happen over night, but I’m taking your advice to heart and am willing to try it. Thanks again!

doppysmum

Sounds familiar! I lost 3 stone in 2016 felt fantastic. Then last year had the year from hell when my husband got ill
We couldn't walk the dogs or take the kids out or do anything and I felt like the only fun i had in a day was eating. The rest of the time was looking after him working full time and doing everything he used to help me with on his own. I rang my sister one night and told her I didnt want to live anymore and everyday got slightly better since then. It was talking about it and asking for help.
Things are slowly getting back to normal but I'm left with all the weight I have gained back and so annoyed with myself. But at least I'm still here. As are you. So yay for us and let's do this xx

cmriverside

Well, you've made the first steps. Now every day try to build on that. When I started losing weight I was in the same headspace you are and had created the same bad habits. Habits take time to break and there are many steps along the way, so try to celebrate your successes no matter how small they are.

I spent time in this forum reading instead of eating. It changed me and the way I behave with food. I learned so much from those who posted on these forums, not just about food and exercise, but how to deal with my own moods and relationships with others.

One day at a time, lovely. At least you caught it at 30 pounds. I had to lose 70 to get to a healthy body weight.