I Can't Help Being Fat

randyv99

Time for another obligatory late night post from yours truly. I really am enjoying MFP a little too much but at least it will help to keep my goals and my body in mind at all times. I'd like to switch gears from m incendiary rhetoric of mythical numbers and starvation modes to have a serious discussion about disease of the body and brain that have caused, are a result of, or impede you from being the healthiest you that you can be.

Anyway, I can certainly help being fat, I have made years of bad choices to get to where I am today and will have to retrain my body, mind and soul to live a healthier lifestyle while going through the stress of full time study, work, property management and family obligations.

But there are many of you who despite not making nearly as many unhealthy choices as I have, are having great difficulty with maintaining a healthy weight and attitude and I just want to hear your stories.

Whether you suffer from long term emotional illness, physiologic diseases or genetic illness, I want to know how you've held up to this point and what you plan to do from here. Because for many people, diet and fitness are not enough and their bodies are a prison, unyielding and unresponsive to the care they give it.

Thanks in advance for sharing.

fitnesspirateninja

I am my own worst enemy. There is no reason I can't lose weight with exercise and eating right. Motivation is my biggest problem. I've suffered from depression and anxiety since I was a kid. When I'm in a bad place I have really low energy, I feel crappy, and so I don't exercise or eat right. That causes a downward spiral so I just end up gaining more weight and feeling even worse.

My dad had a stroke a little over three months ago and it scared me. Obviously I was scared that we might lose him, and then I was scared he might not fully recover, but I was also scared about my future. My dad is actually a really healthy guy, but he still had a stroke. And I know that if I don't get in shape, I'm putting myself at risk for stroke, heart attack, diabetes, and more. I will not have a good life as I age if I don't get my act together.

Anyway, I've decided that it's time to get serious about losing weight and being healthy. I'm putting my life at risk - and it's preventable stuff! I've been using MFP for less than a month, and I already feel a huge difference in my quality of life. My anxiety has mellowed out, my mood is much more stable, I have a lot more energy, and I just feel good in general. It's kind of like an upward spiral - now I have the energy to exercise more and feel better.

randyv99

Thanks for sharing that. It's wonderful how your mood and energy changes when you commit yourself to living differently. More than anything, I thing I have appreciated not feeling as anxious about things I have to do or as drained when doing them. Working 3rd shift and just being a night owl in general, it's been hard to stay focused on diet and exercise but MFP has really helped me along the way. Anxiety, depression and our other emotional states are demons that feed our misconceptions of ourselves and it's great to hear that you're not letting thim hold you back anymore but some folks are not that lucky. Even with medication and therapy many are limited by their genetics, their physical disabilities or mental illness in what they can achieve and it's inspring to hear stories of perseverance through insurmountable odds. It really helps me to crush my own mountains back into molehills.

fitnesspirateninja

I sort of hesitated sharing that stuff since I'm kind of embarrassed about it. I feel a little like a flawed or damaged person, but you know what? I am who I am. I'm learing how to take care of myself. Everyone has their struggles in life, and this is mine. My sister has Type I diabetes (just like our dad), She has to manage her diabetes just like I have to manage my depression. We all have to take care of ourselves.