Hello...I am so lost and scared

jeffrodgers1

Hi Michael,

First off, Congratulations! You have made a decision to change your life for the better. That is the hardest thing to do but always remember "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step".

When I first started my journey, I weighed 325 and was morbidly obese. My doctors read me the riot act and were close to putting me on Metformin for diabetes and medication for high blood pressure. Those were dark days in my life. I know weigh about 225 and run half marathons... took time, but it can be done!

My advice to you is as follows;

1. Seek medical advice from a specialist on the subject. No lying, you are what you are, but to get where you need to be, you will need help and sound medical advice is the best place to start.

2. Ask yourself why you eat and analyze what cravings you have and why\when you eat. Sometimes knowing why you eat is as important as knowing what you eat. Do you crave crunchy foods? What healthy alternative can you replace them with? Do you crave something sweet? Do you eat when you are bored? What can you do to prevent the boredom?

3. Baby steps... remember that it took you years to gain the weight. Set small goals and treat yourself with non-food rewards. Rome wasn't built in a day and you won't see the weight dissappear all at once either. A healthy weight loss for most people is 1-2 pounds per week.

4. Move it to lose it. Weight loss is often seen as 80% diet, 20% exercise. Find low impact exercises that you can do that will get your blood circulating... even if this means in short increments. Any exercise is good exercise. Even doing arm curls with a couple of cans of soup will help.

5. Log everything that goes into your mouth and look closely at labels. Opt for whole healthy foods over processed foods. Try to eat a balance of fruits and vegetables (I often advocate 5:30 -> Five servings of fruits and veggies a day, and 30 minutes of exercise per day)

Feel free to add me as a friend. I know what it feels like to be "that guy" and would be happy to help where I can.

Cheers!

stealthq

At the risk of getting lots of "hate mail" like responses, have you considered weight loss surgery? I was 386 when I had my surgery. There are 5 kinds so if you are interested, make sure to do your research, but I was so immobile, that exercise was not an option at all.

...

Not hate mail, I promise. But the OP should consider that exercise is not actually required to lose the weight, especially at first and with a significant amount to lose. That shouldn't be the reason he would opt for surgery.

gabbygirl78

The fact that you have posted this and joined MFP shows your sincerity in helping yourself. This is the first step Michael. You can do this. It will not be easy always but right now you just need to set small goals so you don't get overwhelmed. The best thing I have learned after joining MFP is your body burns calories at rest so you don't have to starve yourself to lose weight even if you are unactive . What you need to do now is focus more on logging your food intake and staying under your calories. I have problems with my joints so i was unable to exercise when I first started and I am still limited to my exercise , but I feel so much better after only 16 lbs gone. You have to start small and stay focused. Stay motivated and find support. You have great support on here. I started out with 150 lbs to lose and I am down 16 so I still have a way to go. Feel free to message me if you need to ... I'm on mostly during the day during the week. Good luck in your journey and I am sending you a friends request. I would really like to support you and see your progress. I see an awesome testimonial in your future Michael!!!

running_shoe

Welcome! There's lots of support and good advice here for you, Michael. Grab on and get started. Good luck to you!

whisker84

Michael,

Are you getting the sleep apnea treated? That's very important, while you start working on your other goals.

Best of luck. You have friends here.

commodus192

Just wishing you luck - looks like others have given some wonderful things to ponder over for now. I wish you much success and thanks for the friend addie!

likitisplit

Weight loss is done in the kitchen. You are going to need something else to do when you get bored or lonely. Trolling on the main message boards seems to be a popular choice here.

Exercise is done for fitness. This article might give you some perspective on how easy your initial steps can be to start incorporating a routine in your day.

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-6802/5-Exercises-You-Can-Do-While-Stuck-in-Bed.html

jodyblanchard

Dearest Michael, We all understand your feelings here. There is a terrific book I'm reading called "It Starts with Food". You can find it on Amazon for about $12-15. If you aren't able to do that I will happily send it to you as soon as I finish it. You can private message me with your address. Please add me as your friend. Start logging every bite you eat even if your aren't ready to start changing your habits. That will be a lot of information about what you are eating and how to change it to healthy choices. We are all here together. It starts today. Love, Jody

redheaddee

Congratulations on taking a step today and reaching out. Sometimes the first steps can be the hardest. I have nothing to add that hasn't already been said, but I wanted to say good luck to you.

doc19822

I am blown away at the out pouring of love & support here. I have allowed this to affect so much of my life. one of the things I always wanted to do, is go to the fair with my daughter and ride the rides with her. I have refued doing this because
1. I doubt if I could walk up and down a midway anymore
2. if we did find a ride that could let me on, if it bumped or mvoed me I could really hurt my little girl.
Now my little girl is 15, and I do not have much time left to go to the fair with her!
a little about me. i was a radio DJ untill a car crash took my career from me. The good news is, I have found internet radio! I do a music show called the 70's ballroom where I play the best and the worst of 1970's music by request.
I also do a talk show called Let's Talk! I have had the pleasure of interviewing some really great guest. last night I interview mark metcalf who played Neidermyer in the Animal house movie. he was also the father figure in the Twisted Sister videos!
next weel I have Richard Moll who played Bull on Night Court as my guest.
I have actually thought of doing a radio show about *ME* and the struggles I am facing with my health and my weight. As another way to be held accountable. but I kind of doubt folks would tune in, as I am not much of a celeb.

bf43005

Welcome to MFP. Don't ever give up because you are always worth it. Start small because you don't want to hurt yourself and get set back. Try walking a few minutes a day, one minute this week and two minutes next week and so on. You can also get some very light hand weights, like 1 lbs. You said you do radio so if you have a few free moments just lift the weights a few times. Anything is better than nothing. It's hard to stay motivate so make sure you surround youself with people that care about you, friends and family are great but if you don't have that there is always support on here. Friend request me or anyone else. When you are feeling your most down go on the Community page and look at some success stories to boost you up. Just remember that it doesn't happen over night but nothing worth doing is ever easy! Best of luck!

bunnybutler29

Hello Michael, Though I do not know what you are going through directly I can relate, because my father is in the same situation. He is now 57. He was once a very active man and then went through a very painful divorce. After that is when everything went to hell and he started to eat for everything. When he was bored, when he was happy, all through his depression. He couldn't walk to the bathroom without being out of breath and in pain. The list can go on and on and it hurts me to see him in the situation that he is in. A few years ago he talked to his dr about starting a diet that worked just for him. I was amazed at how much and what he was able to eat and still call it a diet. At first he started out just moving in the chair. Lifting small weights while sitting in the chair and lifting his legs while sitting. Basically using your own body weight as part of your workout. It actually worked after a few months of his diet and exercise he felt soo much better mentally and physically. He was happy and proud of himself for losing weight. He would always tell us to look at his stomach and notice how far it got from the steering wheel of the truck. That was his way of keeping track of weight loss. Scales as you know don't go that high. I was very proud of him. I may not know you, but in a way I feel proud of you. Your post is just the beginning. You are on the right track. You know your weaknesses and know your bad habits. Now is the time to try and fix them. Not all at once, but one by one you can get on track and get your fitness back to healthy. I have faith that you can do it and here at MFP you can find friends and motivation to help you on your journey. I hope that you stick with it and wish you luck. If you want you can add me I keep an open journal. I try to log daily and try to be a good motivator.

Unknown

Hey mike - you're not alone and I'll do anything I can to help. I've lost 262 pounds.

If you'd like my cell phone number please send me a private message, we'll get this fixed.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1092179-in-19-months-i-ve-lost-262-pounds-new-me-new-life

Pangea250

Michael, oh my gosh, how you NEED to know that you are not alone. You are not lost, because you have been FOUND here. Being scared is okay, because it is what spurs us on.

Please go here http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1092179-in-19-months-i-ve-lost-262-pounds-new-me-new-life and read this post. It's one of the most heartbreaking yet inspirational things I have ever seen. It describes how I felt on the inside. I think it describes how you feel on the inside. That man found his way. You too can find yours. His blog, if you want to read more (and you should!) is at www.gainsthroughloss.com .

Take the advice you have received here, but mostly, get to see a doctor, then get a plan. Eat less, move more. Even if you only move a little more. You'll be able to build on it over time. And the Michael who walks around the couch and then sits back down kicks *kitten* over the Michael who never got up. Kick some *kitten* today!

Never ever forget how you feel right now. Take your emotions and use them to spur you on. Everyone who has lost weight here had to start somewhere and we know how overwhelming it is. But it gets no better by doing nothing.

Congratulations on doing something! Feel free to add me as a friend here - I'd love to be there for you!

doc19822

And by the way, Michael, rockin' beard!

Oh I know...I love looking like a mix of Tommy Chong & Jerry garcia!

ShadeBlossom

Hi Michael!

Arthur's story might help inspire you, too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448

He was disabled and told he'd never walk unassisted again. Now, he runs.

Whatever you do, don't give up. While you have breath, there's hope. Banish the word CAN'T from your vocabulary. You're stronger than you think you are.

Best of luck to you.

Edit: I have no idea why I devolved into bumper sticker slogans at the end, there, but I swear it was all sincerely meant!

Pangea250

Hey mike - you're not alone and I'll do anything I can to help. I've lost 262 pounds.

If you'd like my cell phone number please send me a private message, we'll get this fixed.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1092179-in-19-months-i-ve-lost-262-pounds-new-me-new-life

Okay, Kyle, now you've made me cry. Thanks for popping over here so quick. You are amazing to offer your personal help to this man.

Nar1965

Michael, I agree with everyone here who has said you've already taken the first step! You can make this happen, it sounds like you are a very cool person with so much to offer. I'm going to check out your radio show and will look forward to continuing to hear about your journey. You can do it!

josephinabonetto

I listen to internet radio a lot. Post your stream!

Why not start a blog about your struggle?

I log everything, and I still weigh everything too. It becomes second nature.

I don't do an awful lot of exercise to be honest. A minimum of 30 mins a day. Usually walking. I have Sciatica since I injured my lower back in the 90s.

I only count 1 weigh in a week. Every Wednesday morning, though I do sneak peeks from time to time.

I set myself milestones, anything I can think of, and also a specific event to be a certain weight for (Bruno Mars show on 8 Oct).

Different people do it different ways, and that is how it should be, with no judgement.

prettigirl01

I really have not been in your situation so theres not much I can say but I will pray for you. keep coming to this site every day all day if you can. there are so many wonderful and motivating people on here. whens the last time you've seen a doctor? try to get medical attention before you start working on losing weight. a doctor will tell you what you can and cant do because right now you feel as though you cant do anything. I understand what you mean about eating when youre bored, watching tv and reading a book. I do that as well. youre going to eat whats in your house so if you get rid of the junk and replace it with healthier options, that might help some. get rid of the sodas and drink water. even if you are unable to move just by the fact that you wont be drinking sodas anymore will help you tremendously. I wish you nothing but luck. you might be surprised at yourself in about a year how far you've come if you change a few things