So sad. Need help. Any kind of help
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yirara
Posts: 9,389 Member
Guys, I'm super sad at the moment. All the hard work, and currently I'm throwing it all away. It's so easy: just eat less, log, and the weight will come off.
I lost weight successfully 2014. Kept it off until sometime last year when I fell into a depression (my husband left me and my mom died of cancer among other things). I wanted to get rid of this extra weight again just to leave this terrible time behind me. It worked.
Now something changed and I can't stop eating. I have one or several medical issues but it's uncertain what they are. I know eating salt helps against feeling miserable and these terrible munchies that comes with it. But a second problem with this is that my brains go absent. Thus I can't even remember to have some salt and get over feeling so miserable. Once I do I've overeaten already and sit around with an aching stomach.
So basically I'm back at my depression weight now. I'm so sad for being reminded of that time again. So annoyed that I can't be healthy and don't even have energy to work out. I can't run which always helped against depression due to problems with my bunions either. And if I don't stop now I'll just continue gaining weight. I sit on the couch every evening with a hurting stomach and can't lay in bed comfortably. My GP just did a blood test, which apparently was normal (morning cortisol, potassium and sodium). And basically I think I just want to cry.
Help!
edit: I'm not depressed. But I feel very low on energy, confused and hungry for such extended periods of time, especially in the first half of the day that it's difficult to focus on anything.
I lost weight successfully 2014. Kept it off until sometime last year when I fell into a depression (my husband left me and my mom died of cancer among other things). I wanted to get rid of this extra weight again just to leave this terrible time behind me. It worked.
Now something changed and I can't stop eating. I have one or several medical issues but it's uncertain what they are. I know eating salt helps against feeling miserable and these terrible munchies that comes with it. But a second problem with this is that my brains go absent. Thus I can't even remember to have some salt and get over feeling so miserable. Once I do I've overeaten already and sit around with an aching stomach.
So basically I'm back at my depression weight now. I'm so sad for being reminded of that time again. So annoyed that I can't be healthy and don't even have energy to work out. I can't run which always helped against depression due to problems with my bunions either. And if I don't stop now I'll just continue gaining weight. I sit on the couch every evening with a hurting stomach and can't lay in bed comfortably. My GP just did a blood test, which apparently was normal (morning cortisol, potassium and sodium). And basically I think I just want to cry.
Help!
edit: I'm not depressed. But I feel very low on energy, confused and hungry for such extended periods of time, especially in the first half of the day that it's difficult to focus on anything.
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Replies
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Be kind to yourself. Take a week and just focus on eating nutrient dense healthy foods. Fuel your body give it what it needs. At the end of the week ill bet youll feel good enough to make another small change. Rinse and repeat. Focus on self kindness not self hate and everything else will follow23
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Are you getting help from your doctor? There are meds that help with depression. Sorry you are feeling so sad. <hugs>3
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JaydedMiss wrote: »Be kind to yourself. Take a week and just focus on eating nutrient dense healthy foods. Fuel your body give it what it needs. At the end of the week ill bet youll feel good enough to make another small change. Rinse and repeat. Focus on self kindness not self hate and everything else will follow
Well, this has been ongoing for over a month now. I've been trying to get it under control, and to just be kind to myself. It's just not working. I've lost control somehow. Then over the weekend I made the mistake of cooking something high in protein that I've been eating over the past four days. Protein doesn't keep me very full. I should have avoided it. So everything got even worse. But I'll be back to much more carbs now. So hopefully that will help.0 -
I really think you should see someone. Ive been where you are and its really ok to ask for help. Be kind to yourself, do things that interest you and know that its ok to feel all your emotions. As far as losing weight, go slowly, choose a non aggressive weight loss goal per week to start with to give yourself time to get into it. Take care x7
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L1zardQueen wrote: »Are you getting help from your doctor? There are meds that help with depression. Sorry you are feeling so sad. <hugs>
Antidepressents won't solve this problem. I'm sad, not depressed. Actually, considering the options my GP mentioned as potential reason for my health problems, antidepressants might be contraindicated. And I need as much of a clear head as possible to be able to work and not also lose my job.4 -
I really think you should see someone. Ive been where you are and its really ok to ask for help. Be kind to yourself, do things that interest you and know that its ok to feel all your emotions. As far as losing weight, go slowly, choose a non aggressive weight loss goal per week to start with to give yourself time to get into it. Take care x
Thanks a lot love
My goal is at the min anyway as I'm not overweight. It's just the bit of depression weight from last year that I feel I need to lose again. But now I'm in a situation that I will be overweight again if I don't stop eating now. Also eating at maintenance doesn't work. The more I eat early on, the more I've eaten in the course of the day.2 -
Can you make what you have for breakfast something with a high salt content?
Getting some in early in the day may help with clarity.
Maybe a cup of bullion, Bovril, Marmite, or Oxo to sip on as you get ready. Or a couple of boiled eggs with salt.
V8 with an extra shake of salt.
If you can plan your day so each meal or snack has extra salt it could help.
Concentrate on your logging, not how much you are eating. Maybe set yourself to maintenance and call it a win every time you can come a hundred cals or so under.
Give yourself non calorie treats.
Can you swim, water jog or aqua fit instead of running, or, if you are up for it- go to the gym and try the rowing machine a go. If you enjoy the competivness of a race the concept2 site has great ways to compete with others.
Sorry that you are so blue. Wish I could help.
Cheers, h.9 -
Note, the health problem I've been going through at the moment has been present for at least 25 years, but for the past 3 months or so it's there nearly every day instead of 2-3 days every few months.2
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middlehaitch wrote: »Can you make what you have for breakfast something with a high salt content?
Getting some in early in the day may help with clarity.
Maybe a cup of bullion, Bovril, Marmite, or Oxo to sip on as you get ready. Or a couple of boiled eggs with salt.
V8 with an extra shake of salt.
If you can plan your day so each meal or snack has extra salt it could help.
Concentrate on your logging, not how much you are eating. Maybe set yourself to maintenance and call it a win every time you can come a hundred cals or so under.
Give yourself non calorie treats.
Can you swim, water jog or aqua fit instead of running, or, if you are up for it- go to the gym and try the rowing machine a go. If you enjoy the competivness of a race the concept2 site has great ways to compete with others.
Sorry that you are so blue. Wish I could help.
Cheers, h.
Actually, that is a good idea with changing my breakfast around. I can do a bouillon at least! I'll pack some buillon blocks for tomorrow. I still need proper crusty bread in the morning as it keeps me full the best (fat and proteins, and lose grains don't offer much satiety)
Sports: no access to a gym or pool. It's currently all too expensive and too far away. I think British people on benefits have more money than me on a PhD stipend in an expensive city But hey, I chose for this and love it! I love bodyweight workouts and think every morning: Can't wait for the evening (I will literally crash into this health problem if I work out in the morning), but by then my tummy hurts too much or I'm still too tired. Oh well.. I think I will work out tonight though as I'm fairly ok today. 
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Every day is a fresh start. If a strategy is not working try something else. I found this resource to be most helpful.
https://www.bullpub.com/catalog/Living-a-Healthy-Life-with-Chronic-Conditions-4th-Edition2 -
Posting was a huge step in the right direction! Recognizing an issue is the first step toward change. I like to say it's a giant leap!
Congratulations on realizing there is a problem! Now you need to fully define the problem, determine the end goal, and set incremental objectives to achieve the goal. None of this needs to be done alone...create a team with input and support. This may include family, friends, MFP, your doctor, a nutritionust, etc...
Although much more personal, we can apply basic problem solving techniques to issues with physical and mental health. It adds structure to the issue and creates a path to success.
Best of luck on your journey!6 -
Every day is a fresh start. If a strategy is not working try something else. I found this resource to be most helpful.
https://www.bullpub.com/catalog/Living-a-Healthy-Life-with-Chronic-Conditions-4th-Edition
thanks a lot Quite an eye opener to realise that I'm apparently having a chronic condition now. I guess if you feel miserable out of nowhere every few months you just forget about it.. 0 -
funjen1972 wrote: »Posting was a huge step in the right direction! Recognizing an issue is the first step toward change. I like to say it's a giant leap!
Congratulations on realizing there is a problem! Now you need to fully define the problem, determine the end goal, and set incremental objectives to achieve the goal. None of this needs to be done alone...create a team with input and support. This may include family, friends, MFP, your doctor, a nutritionust, etc...
Although much more personal, we can apply basic problem solving techniques to issues with physical and mental health. It adds structure to the issue and creates a path to success.
Best of luck on your journey!
Thanks hun. This might sound very impersonal to some, but for me, being a very logical person, scientist and a (fairly mild) aspi it's something I can easily understand and that makes sense to me.5 -
I am not aspi but I find a lot of comfort to treat personal problems as a logical puzzle to be solved. Takes the debilitating emotions right out of the equation.4
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Focus on the positive, success is never final and failure here is not fatal. Avoid fried foods, unnecessary carbs (breads, a lot of dairy, high fructose corn syrup, cocktails, etc.), restaurants, snack machines, but rather go for the basics you prepare for yourself: proteins, fruits, vegetables. If you're on the go, grab a low calorie protein bar for a boost (like Quest). Life is short & precious, there are many things to spend time enjoying and no time for worry:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’...your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:25-3313 -
I worry that you're turning to the masses for a second opinion. Please be careful and get plenty of exercise1
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There are many issues that could be contributing to this. I would personally see a counsellor as it sounds like you're eating emotionally. Also, it's not normal to have brain fog this much which is also a symptom of depression (I have been there for many years and I had this myself). I would suggest seeing your GP again and a mental health professional. Salt should not help with mental clarity either, too much salt is very bad for your health and can contribute to hypertension. Working out an appropriate meal plan with a dietician and going for short walks every day can help a lot for your mental state and weight loss. Please consider seeing any of these professionals. I am currently studying for my degree in nutrition. Also, low iron intake or anaemia can possibly cause the lethargy and brain fog you are describing. If you get to your GP and describe your symptoms they should be able to help.2
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Oh one other thing too. I am so sorry for the loss of your mother and your separation. It sounds like you may be grieving as well, which can cause many of the things you are describing. Another reason to seek medical advice.2
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mywayroche wrote: »I worry that you're turning to the masses for a second opinion. Please be careful and get plenty of exercise
There are many benefits to posting anonymously, especially to a forum of people with similar interests. We are humans here and many of us are trying to help.
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So much great advice here already I just wanted to mention another possible helpful solution to the salt craving. I crave salt all the time, no idea why but I find plain salted popcorn a reasonably low calorie snack that helps. If you like Nori it is also useful, healthy and reasonably low in calories. Hang in there, we're all here for you.1
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