Food Addict with A LOT to Lose

virgogrl73

I'm a 40 year old single female and have been on a diet my entire life. I feel I have a serious food addiction, mostly fast food and am embarrassed to say I'm 453 lbs. I have so much weight to lose, it almost seems it isn't even worth the effort to try. Can you imagine losing 100 lbs? That would be fantastic for most people but for me that would put me at 353 lbs which is just as bad.

My weight has gotten to the point that it has really interfered with my life. I'm stuck at a dead end miserable job. I've tried to find a new job but after having a great phone interview once they see me in person it's over. Plus I'm limited in jobs because of all the student loan debt I have. ALL my friends are married and have kids. I see them once in a while but most of the time I'm by myself. My family says I need to have weight loss surgery.

I have bad arthritis in my knee which limits my activity. I realize all of this is sad and depressing. I have seen a counselor but it didn't help, just wasn't my thing.

I guess I'm having a pity party today. What do you do to stay motivated if you have a lot to lose?

MetosDescentIntoMadness

i can relate to being a food addict. I was anorexic for most of my teen years but decided i had to stop when i got pregnant with my first child. When i started eating after YEARS of starving i quickly became addicted to food. I gained 100+ pounds while pregnant. I love to eat but still feel guilty and worthless when i do so...(not saying you do but that is me) It is hard to stay motivated when you have a lot to lose. But the most i can say is dont give up. When the pounds start to go down on the scale it is the best feeling. that was my motivation. being able to buy smaller clothes was also my motivation even it it was just one size down and it was still tight. lol. and even if you lost 100 pounds and weight 353...girrrrl thats 100 pounds that youve lost!! that would be amazing! every little bit counts as awesome.... dont give up! :happy:

tamwins

It most definitely is worth trying. No matter how many pounds, we're all here to lose it! Don't feel like you're alone because everyone here has a similar goal, and that's to improve our fitness, health, and well-being. I can understand the addiction to food. During my junior year of high school I had serious depression for various of different reasons. I was already overweight, but the relationship between depression and how food made me feel made me pack even more pounds. But it takes one moment to turn it all around, and that's basically the moment where you decide that you can do it. It's been almost one year since I've been on MFP and overall, I feel happier and healthier from when I started. I'm still not at my fitness goal yet, but that's okay because I'm extremely proud of my progress. My family, my friends, and most importantly, I noticed a change in myself.

I want to note that I failed MANY times from the time I started to now. I used to only eat 1200 calories per day (as MFP suggested) without exercise. For me, I don't think I was consuming nearly enough calories and nutrients per day. I lost some weight, but with a price. I was constantly exhausted everyday. I was starving. I wasn't exactly happy. I was getting into an unhealthy mindset. What helped me the most was when I admitted that I needed help. I did my research, I saw a nutritionist, and I had a best friend that I could confide too because she understood what it was like to want to lose weight. She also had an eating disorder in the past, and recovered. Seeking out help can be embarrassing, but it really got me back on track. I'm out of uni for summer, and decided to start running again two weeks ago. I haven't lost a SINGLE pound since I started, which frustrated me, but I realized that I feel so much healthier that I don't even care.

(Also putting this in here, around the holiday season, I started gaining again because you know...holiday parties, candy canes, Christmas cookies, etc. If you gain weight, that's okay too. It's just reminding yourself to not give up even if you made a mistake)

Regarding the surgery thing, I'm not a doctor, but I was listening to the radio while I was driving (most likely NPR because I also have NPR on), but weight loss surgery can be beneficial. More than exercise and diet if you're trying to lose a lot of weight. There was something about the procedure that boost further weight loss after the surgery. I'm not saying you HAVE to get surgery, but it wouldn't hurt to ask a doctor and do your own research.

What's important is that you do what is most comfortable for you.

Food motivates me a lot, but mostly healthy foods. I love feeling like I have control over my diet. When I go to the supermarket, I make it a goal to buy "feel-good foods". I have huge sweet tooth. So big that it's disgusting. To satiate it, I buy all my favorite fruits and yogurts. Of course, I do treat myself to that chocolate cake sometimes. Don't deprive yourself! Basically I buy foods that will tempt me. Also, I love cooking and it's fun to find healthy recipes online to try out.

I've said a lot, but I just want to let you know that I'm rooting for you! I hope my journey so far will help you with yours. If you ever need a friend to talk when your feeling unmotivated, lonely, or whatever, you can talk to me and a bunch of other users here too!

Best of luck!