Help ! Unmotivated over eater !

JordanLMyrick

Hi , my name is jordan. I am 26 and a mother of small children. I don't get a lot of sleep and never have any energy. Last year I lost over 50 pounds going from 220 to about 170. I was so close to my goal and I never have felt better. I recorded everything I ate and walked the treadmill for an hour for up to 6 days a week. I also incorporated workout DVDs a few days a week. I was very motivated and felt amazing. Then I ran into serious money issues and quickly lost all motivation I had , and I blame my lack of energy and motivation on my money problems. In reality I believe this was an excuse to eat whatever I want and quit working out. I gained all the weight back plus some. I have terrible self esteem and my body, and face display it. I have horrible acne , no doubt from my diet choices. In short , I need help. I don't know where to start. I don't feel like I could workout like I did before. I am tired all the time and have to willpower to make good food choices. I would really appreciate no rude comments , because as I mentioned I have very poor self esteem and it will only further my low self confidence. I would appreciate some advice , success stories , anything anyone is willing to dish out to help me get off of my unhealthy butt and make this life change I desperately need. Thank you all so much , and I look forward to your responses. Jordan.

neveragain84

Well, understanding that a change needs to occur is a very good start. Don't come thinking you have to change every little thing right this second. It can pull you down and make things feel overwhelming. Start small: maybe exercise a little more than you do, maybe cut down a part of your diet that is unhealthy. Drink 5 sodas a day? Maybe cut back to 2... do you have seconds at every meal? Eat just one helping. Again, start small.

Most importantly, understand that life happens. Sometimes you get knocked down, but only you have the ultimate choice with your body. You, alone, have the ability to either let your situation drag you down or be that inspiring kick in the pants to motivate you to get where you deserve to be.

I had issues like anyone else: I was obese, suffered from depression (and took meds for it), always felt tired, and was abusive to my body. It was only after my doctor told me that I had 3 months.... 3 MONTHS.... to take control of my body.... or I would become diabetic. It was only then that I realized what I really had and what I didn't want to give up. I didn't want to become diabetic or take medication or check my blood everyday or die. It was exactly what I needed to motivate me. Mostly though, I have motivated myself.

YOU have to want it. Look at my ticker down below. Although I don't need to lose as much weight as many others on this site, my weight loss has surely saved my life. You can do it, but you have to fight for it.

ETA: one major goal was recently achieved. I got my results a few days ago for my updated blood work: all is fine! My risk of diabetes has been greatly reduced, but I'm not giving up and neither should you!

He1loKitty

Hey Jordan! It sounds like you do know where to start (no snark intended, I am absolutely sincere)! It sounds like you actually have the tools and the knowledge but not the motivation. Or maybe you do you have the motivation because you've signed up on MFP and you're looking for a change! So you are already off to a great start! Give yourself more credit!

You previously lost weight by recording everything you ate. Well you can start doing that again on MFP today! Right now, go log what you've eaten today. There is no time like the present, just do it! You will have no choice but to start making better decisions when it comes to your food if you have to log it. Also, if you don't think you have time or money to walk on the treadmill for an hour a day, start jogging in place at home, do sit-ups, push-ups, jumping jacks, squats. You'll be surprised how far those moves will take you. Do three rounds of 20 sets each, or build up to it. Or look at the forums here for home exercise ideas. There are all sorts of free exercise videos on demand and online.

I know how hard it is to get started when you feel like you have such a big mountain to climb. But you can do it and the best part? You have already started!

cherys

Hi Jordan,
I think you could start by increasing your self esteem. After all, why would you bother to go to that much trouble to look after someone's health if you don't really care much for them? I'd face this as a chance for an all-round 'feel good about myself' programme, not just a weight loss one. Some motivational tools you might find helpful:

Get a notebook or open a file on your computer/phone and write down in it everything you've achieved that has been difficult. Everything from year dot to now. That includes learning to walk and talk as a baby yourself, having and raising your gorgeous children etc This proves to you that you are capable of seeing tough stuff through and succeeding.

Next make a list of reasons why it would be great to have good health and energy:
e.g. to be less ratty with the children, to have more energy to play with them and enjoy their company, more energy at work etc. To set a good example for healthy living.

Next make one small step towards increased energy and better health: the best first step is drinking 8 glasses of water a day. Do this for three days. Then keep doing it but add the step of eating 5 portions of vegetables each day too. Not fruit (you can have that too, but focus on increasing your fresh veg intake.) That way, you are getting a lot of fibre and nutrients in your diet and it may make you feel less hungry.

Try a day a week of healthy home made food. Sub fried chicken for lean skinned breast or thigh with salad leaves and raw veg sticks not fries. You could go on a juice fast for a day a week or a raw food fast (just fruit veg and seeds) These would all be to help you feel healthy and to help educate yourself into making good, loving choices in your food, rather than being on a diet which can feel like a punishment if you are so tired.

Next find a way to get active with your children at weekends - nature or city or mall walks, play parks, cycling, swimming, ball games in the park, anything you like enough to want to do it again. Do it for a couple of hours every weekend whatever the weather. If you do it together, that's better motivation. Get them to help prepare very healthy food and try out healthier versions of things they like.

Remember tiny things add up. Exercise doesn't have to be expensive and time consuming.Ten jumping jacks while you wait for the microwave to ping, twenty while you wait for a kettle to boil, hand weights (use tinned food cans if you have no weights) as you watch tv etc. All these tiny changes are steps in the right direction and will help you get lean and strong and energised.

All this stuff - it's not a weight loss programme. Someone else can give better advice on that than I can. There's some real experts here. But it's the stuff that goes alongside successful long term weight loss. Making positive changes towards a healthier life, changes that feel like you are introducing good things, not denying nice ones, if that makes sense.

Finally, each night in your notebook, write down a few things you felt thankful for each day and at least one thing you did well that day however small. This will be a good treasure trove of rewards and treats in life that aren't food based: ways to feel good about yourself and feel comforted and sustained which don't involve fat and sugar!

Sorry - that's a bit of an essay. But all this stuff has helped me and my family get fitter, closer and a whole lot happier too.

lyz924

Hello Jordan. I think we may be on the same journey :-) I lost 75 pounds a couple years ago (238-163), gained all of it and then some back after some big life changes (moved 1600 miles and pregnancy). I have recently started really focusing on exercise and eating better. As far as where to start, just start with tracking your food. Once you see what you are eating, pick something to change. Doesn't have to be a big change, just something manageable. Do that for awhile then change something else. All the small changes add up. Add activity slowly, walk a little when you can then add something here and there. Again, these small changes will add up. Don't expect to jump in like it was before; I made that mistake after having my son and was injured for weeks and could barely walk. It won't always be easy and there will be times when the decisions you make won't be the best, but the most important thing is to keep going. You (and I) know what it is to be so close to your goal weight then back slide; just remember...YOU CAN DO THIS!
Feel free to add me too....I log on everyday.

cuinboston2014

Hey Jordan!

When I started losing weight I was a 23 year old single parent to a toddler, going to school full time, working full time, finding myself in and out of abusive relationships. Talk about no motivation, no self esteem, nothing. And I was always fat so I figured I'd always be that way.

I lost 100 pounds. I woke up one day and decided i need to take that control back. It's my life. It's not for some man to make me feel liek crap. It's not for myself to make me feel like crap. It's time to live. YOu get one life, so live it!

I started by walking on the treadmill when my baby slept or taking her in the stroller when it was nice. I woudln't touch foods that didn't have nutrition facts on it or that I didn't have time to portion out. I ate a ton of oatmeal, protein bars, lean cuisines, and uncle ben's brown rice packets.

And once I lost 2 pounds I started feeling good. Like I finally had control. If I can do it - so can you!! I now run marathons, lift weights, and I'm happy and healthy. I'm not at the weight I would like to be at yet but I am damn proud of where I've come from and kept it off.

You have to look at yourself with respect. YOu have to give yourself credit. Start small. Start by talking a walk OR eliminating one food OR whatever you want. Most people can handle it better this way.

It's also SO HARD to make good choices on no sleep. Almost impossible it seems. When I'm overtired I eat more and I eat more junk food. Sleep is just as much of a priority as exercise and diet.

And, remember when you lost weight before? Remember when I bet you had more energy after a good workout? Remember THOSE feelings and know that you can kick butt!

JordanLMyrick

Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. It is inspirational , and eye opening. I appreciate the advice as well. Good luck on your journey.

knra_grl

Hey Jordan! It sounds like you do know where to start (no snark intended, I am absolutely sincere)! It sounds like you actually have the tools and the knowledge but not the motivation. Or maybe you do you have the motivation because you've signed up on MFP and you're looking for a change! So you are already off to a great start! Give yourself more credit!

You previously lost weight by recording everything you ate. Well you can start doing that again on MFP today! Right now, go log what you've eaten today. There is no time like the present, just do it! You will have no choice but to start making better decisions when it comes to your food if you have to log it. Also, if you don't think you have time or money to walk on the treadmill for an hour a day, start jogging in place at home, do sit-ups, push-ups, jumping jacks, squats. You'll be surprised how far those moves will take you. Do three rounds of 20 sets each, or build up to it. Or look at the forums here for home exercise ideas. There are all sorts of free exercise videos on demand and online.

I know how hard it is to get started when you feel like you have such a big mountain to climb. But you can do it and the best part? You have already started!

+1 - you can do it again - you did it once which proves you know how - stress can contribute to how you feel physically - but exercise will alleviate the stress and make you feel better :flowerforyou: