Morbidly Obese and looking for support and help

staceysforster

I am currently 22stone 7lbs and have half my body weight to lose, I am looking for people who are on a similar journey to share things with or people who an help inspire and motivate. I find it difficult to move, I have muscle and joint pain all over and am on a rather limited budget so can't afford gyms etc.

Any help/support would be appreciated, and willing to add to friends x

Stacey

GiveMeCoffee

Reasonable calorie deficit, log your food accurately and honestly. Learn portion control, moderation, and patience. Find an activity you enjoy doing. Because it needs to be repeated have patience. You don't have to cut out any food groups, you can eat what you always have just less of it. Any changes you think of making, make sure you ask yourself... if it's something you can do forever, if it's not rethink the change. Also, don't try to be perfect go for consistent. 80% good choice and don't worry about the other 20%

Read these they will help:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide?hl=logging+step+guide

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here?hl=so+you're+new+here

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

Good luck

lewispwest

Here's some advice from someone who was in your position:

1) Log Accurately. Even if you don't log it, your body still knows you ate it.

2) It doesn't happen overnight. Be patient and it'll disappear.

3) If you fail on one day, write it off, get back on the wagon tomorrow. Don't do the whole "well this whole week is a write off"

4) Find things you like that are within your calories goals and it makes it much easier.

5) There is no shame in walking being your only form of exercise. Took me months before I was comfortable running and even now I have to wear an ankle brace because of the pressure my weight put on my joints.

Good luck.

Anahita_Swims

you can add me i went to the doctors last week and they weighted me and told me i was morbidly obese so i have about 56lbs to loose about the doctors said 4 stone that wouldn't have been so dishearting if i hadn't been working hard and lost 3 stone isn already

Anahita_Swims

ps when i started i started with just going on a walk each week making 1 change at a time so i started with flat 4 mile walks in pretty places and i can now happly walk for 12ish miles un and down hills and scramble up cliffs


with diet i started buy cutting one things at a time first reduced sugars in my coffee then stopped drinking fizzy drinks and then squash focused on not eating to much processed food though if you read my diary its not great atm

staceysforster

I am starting by walking, flat walks first so that it doesn't strain on my hips as much, as well as the food intake.
I am scared.. does that make sense? I am scared people with poke fun at me, I am scared that I am so used to the person that I am that I will not like the person whom I am going to change into....

GiveMeCoffee

I am starting by walking, flat walks first so that it doesn't strain on my hips as much, as well as the food intake.
I am scared.. does that make sense? I am scared people with poke fun at me, I am scared that I am so used to the person that I am that I will not like the person whom I am going to change into....

I understand the fear, its normal when we are making a change. But if you don't decide to change everything all at once, it's really not that bad. While it was scary at the beginning, the fear of staying fat was scarier to me

When I started I was 285 lbs, I couldn't do any exercise. I was on medical restriction that I was only allowed to stand for 5 minutes at a time. What I could control was my calorie intake. Log your food, in the beginning focus just on the calories, once you get that under control you can start worrying about everything else.

Anyone that would make fun of you is not worth having in your life. One step at a time, one choice at a time. Read the links I gave earlier they will help.

Cerakoala

Here's some advice from someone who was in your position:

1) Log Accurately. Even if you don't log it, your body still knows you ate it.

2) It doesn't happen overnight. Be patient and it'll disappear.

3) If you fail on one day, write it off, get back on the wagon tomorrow. Don't do the whole "well this whole week is a write off"

4) Find things you like that are within your calories goals and it makes it much easier.

5) There is no shame in walking being your only form of exercise. Took me months before I was comfortable running and even now I have to wear an ankle brace because of the pressure my weight put on my joints.

Good luck.

+1

I will also add just start with small changes. Don't overwhelm yourself. I started by changing one thing at a time, first was calorie intake, then adding exercise, then switching my diet to not so many processed foods. I picked one thing at a time until it became a habit and something I naturally started doing. Then once I was comfortable I moved to the next. For exercise I could barely walk 5 minutes at my heaviest without my back and knees hurting and being in pain so that is where I started. I spent the whole first year of my journey walking. I started with 5 minutes and over the next year built up to an hour and increased pace. This can be done I promise you. It is going to take a lot of motivation and want on your end but it can be done Remember anytime you have a bad meal its a bad meal don't let the next one be or sabotage your whole day because you had one bad meal. Make the best you can of the rest of the day and start fresh tomorrow. As long as you never give up or never walk away you will never fail. Best of luck on your journey

kimondo666

1. Set your goal. "Eat healthy and exercise"

2. Remember that "what other thinks of you" is not important, what is important "is what you think of yourself".

3. Lifestyle change is most important. Weight will follow after that. Not the other way around.

Feel free to add me as friend.

Anahita_Swims

I drive out into the middles of nowhere to walk i walked with a stick for a long time i still do on my bad days I even have one in my classroom for emergencies its hard not to feel judged but walkers are really nice i mean really really nice they all say hello and mostly are 60+ so like to see people out and about

185dengbiqi

I am in the same position and i used to weigh 21 stone 4 and now i am down to 17.6 stone but i am finding its so difficult to be motivated, I do leslie sansone 3 mile to 5 mile walk at home you can find the full workouts on youtube, i love it because i can do it at home and theres not lots of complicated dance moves just walking and side stepping, sometimes i do it in my pjs.

mabelbabel1

Hi!

You've been given some great advice already and the links provided really are worth reading.

Just take it one day at a time, don't slash your calories drastically.
Make small doable changes.
Don't stress about not being able to exercise much yet, that will come gradually in time and you don't need to exercise to lose weight. Right now all you need to do to start with is calculate your TDEE (see the sexy pants guide in the links provided) and make a sensible deduction from that.....small steps at the start will pay off big time in the long run.

So often people rush in, slash their calories to nothing, exercise like a mad thing, then wonder why after a month, their weighloss has stalled, they feel like death, their hair and nails are falling apart and because they hardly eat anything they can't cut their calories or increase their exercise so they give up.
Please don't be another one of those.

Be patient, be kind to yourself and the results will come.

Take a look at my profile and if you'd like to add me just drop me a message.

midwestdawn

I am starting by walking, flat walks first so that it doesn't strain on my hips as much, as well as the food intake.
I am scared.. does that make sense? I am scared people with poke fun at me, I am scared that I am so used to the person that I am that I will not like the person whom I am going to change into....

Sometimes (not often) when I'm out walking people yell unkind thinks to me as they drive by...I wear headphones now.

Timelordlady85

everyone has already given you such great advice already but feel free to add me on here. I log in daily and keep an open diary and don't worry what anyone else thinks, this is your journey. stick the positive people on here and ignore the immature ones.

dejavuohlala

Log all that you eat and drink on your MFP diary. Get some good supportive friends on MFP and make sure that you support them also as it is a two way thing, You will be surprised how motivated that make you when someone gives you positive feed back. Have an open diary so that your friends can help you with food choices and and alternatives. It takes a little while to get used to the site but if you have friends on here they will help you out. You have come to the right place for one it is free and very supportive the best things to get you started

very good luck

Carol

JulieFinn

Add me, please! I'll try my best to give you encouragement!

kerrilucko

Everyone has to start somewhere and anyone that is unkind to you for it is an ignorant *kitten*. I run on a treadmill in my garage to avoid having an audience at this point.

Mpol2

Here's some advice from someone who was in your position:

1) Log Accurately. Even if you don't log it, your body still knows you ate it.

2) It doesn't happen overnight. Be patient and it'll disappear.

3) If you fail on one day, write it off, get back on the wagon tomorrow. Don't do the whole "well this whole week is a write off"

4) Find things you like that are within your calories goals and it makes it much easier.

5) There is no shame in walking being your only form of exercise. Took me months before I was comfortable running and even now I have to wear an ankle brace because of the pressure my weight put on my joints.

Good luck.

This man knows what he's talking about....if you listen to this great advice from a person with an amazing success story, then like him, you will be walking yourself into much happier and healthier future :flowerforyou:

LibertyBelle_75

I've been in your shoes! When I started my journey two years ago, I was classified at super morbidly obese. Today I'm classified as overweight, and as strange as it sounds, I couldn't be happier. I still have about 25 pounds left to lose but I know I'll get to "normal" eventually. It has not been easy though! I've had days when I've just wanted to throw in the towel. I've often questioned why I have to work so hard at managing my weight while others just seem to skate through life unscathed. I've had days/weeks/months where I completely went off plan. But I keep on keeping on, and this is the mantra I've coined for myself: I might slip up, but I will NEVER give up.

Listen to these great folks of MFP; they've offered some great advice here! You've got this!

Lettee4

Hi, i've sent you a friend request

i started off morbidly obese and now im obese. i lost the majority of my weight so far from not going to the gym. i'd say weight loss is 90% diet, 10% exercise, so just do what you can exercise-wise . i say just majorly focus on sticking to a diet plan that suits you rather than worrying about being in pain from exercise if thats an issue for you .

i didnt join a gym until this year, before that i lost heaps of weight just going for walks, did yoga from youtube videos, and i bought a couple of weights and gave my best shot at jillian michaels 30 day shred workouts which are also on youtube. it is possible to get fit on a budget

lewispwest

i didnt join a gym until this year, before that i lost heaps of weight just going for walks

I remember Stephen Fry saying he lost an absolute tons of weight just walking continuously whilst listening to audiobooks!

Theotherkels

Add me . I started out with over half my body weight to lose....slowly chipping away at it. I've been where you are, with the foot and joint pain and limited exercise options.

The other posters have it right, start small...it'll get easier and friends here can help you on your way

pennyk54166

You have been given so much great advice already. Above all, be kind to yourself. Anyone who judges you does not deserve your time or energy. Find people that you want to be like and befriend them. Have you tried any movements in a pool? the water can be very kind to joints etc.
Any change in life is scary. That is human nature. BUT think of your life a year from now if you don't change a thing. That is what scared me into starting my journey. Remember this is not a temporary thing, it is a lifestyle. Good days, bad days, etc. We are all here to support you and cheer you on. Please send me a friend request if you would like.
When you stand at the bottom of a hill, and you look up, it is so overwhelming. That doesn't mean you don't go up the hill. And if you get a flat tire on your car, do you honestly think, o well and slash the other 3??? I hope not. One step at a time. Even a novel has chapters.
Changing your lifestyle is not punishing yourself. It is treating yourself with the respect that you deserve. No matter what happens...never ever ever give up!!

dejatoo2

I'm not a forum person but I saw your post and had to reply. Don't give up! Don't be afraid to start! I have at least 70 pounds to lose and I've already knocked off about 20 plus pounds--but it's been agonizingly slow, but steady. But I've dropped two dress sizes already and the health benefits have been astounding. My cholesterol is now within normal ranges. I have arthritis and my inflammation levels are now perfectly normal--they used to be 3x normal. And who cares what anyone thinks? At least you're out there trying. I'll echo what everyone else here has said. Log everything you eat & drink--it really makes a huge difference. Log your exercise time too even if it's really minimal (like walking the dog). I found out that I'm actually a really competitive person and that I like knowing I can beat my set calorie count each day (I don't always, but I strive for it). Same with my exercise log. Start slowly-make simple changes--like changing from white bread to whole-grain. I went from colas to diet colas to green tea. Just simple exchanges at first made it easier for me. And if you have a setback, recognize it for what it is--a temporary setback-it does not mean you've failed. I blew out my knee a few months ago and that really slowed down my exercise time and weight loss but I never gave up watching calories and I was able to maintain while my knee recuperated. No, it's not going to be easy or instantaneous,it's a work in progress--but you can do it.

davidgaia

You've done the right thing by just being here!

Follow the other posts here,

1. Count Calories and ensure you don't up your sugar intake by eating low fat food.
2. Learn about the nutritional composition of the foods you eat
3. Talk about the way you feel and ask yourself why, when and how much you eat.
4. Chart!!!!!! It really helps with motivation...
5. Weigh yourself regularly (once a week same time)
6. Get active, walk a little extra each day
7. Set yourself achievable goals
8. Prepare for the bad days
9. Set yourself realistic goals
10. get a stepper (like fitbit)

I've managed to reverse Type 2 diabetes by going Vegan, I have lost 5 stone since Christmas last year, by restricting Calorie intake to 1200 a day ( If you want to go for a better pace, then you should calculate how much you eat daily at the moment, BE HONEST!! Then set yourself a target of around 1500 a day for a woman) I restricted my daily intake by this amount because my initial challenge was to get blood sugar under control, this has been accomplished, and my HbA1C is now 5.2...this is normal..

Set yourself a target of getting to Gym and consider joining classes, if you want there are plenty out there, and it always helps with motivation.

Imagine the body shape you want to have and believe in attaining it, you will achieve it.

Have fun and good luck!!

davidgaia

Totally understand, remember you are who you are and this will never change, you are merely changing the body to allow who you are to shine even more, and for longer...

trm68

go to youtube, look up Leslie Sansone: one mile walk, 2 mile walk,3 mile walk, etc. She only walks with some extra cardio thrown and it works and you do not have to use a gym, works for me....

katrinadulce

I am starting by walking, flat walks first so that it doesn't strain on my hips as much, as well as the food intake.
I am scared.. does that make sense? I am scared people with poke fun at me, I am scared that I am so used to the person that I am that I will not like the person whom I am going to change into....

I lost 112 pounds with diet, time, and walking.
The bad news is that you will get the occasional look from some idiot who wonders what you are doing in a gym or walking around in public in workout clothes. But honestly, most people won't say anything to you. If anyone actually does, it will likely be a fleeting remark by someone whom you will never see again.
The good news is that most people are too wrapped in their own **** to pay any attention to anyone else.
Also, once you start walking and keep walking or if you go to a gym and KEEP GOING, anyone who sees you will eventually recognize you as a regular walker, as a regular gym member, as someone who is serious and committed to moving more, and you will eventually become just another face in the crowd.

*Focus on nutrition and habit forming first:
Don't try 50 things at once, don't try crazy calorie restriction or magic potions. Eat real food and enjoy what you eat.
*Add things before you take anything away:
Plan once a week or twice a month to add one new thing to your diet. Make cauliflower rice instead of grain rice, and see how you like it. Try tofu in a way you have never had it before. Buy a curry a friend recommends. Keep the things you like and think will fit into your lifestyle, and scrap the ones you don't. After you have a wider variety of new and interesting and healthful and REAL foods to choose from, start reducing and/or eliminating things that no longer fit into the life you are making.
*Get moving and keep moving:
Pain is something you will have to live with for now, but you can't let it stop you from moving. You are going to have to push yourself, but you don't want to derail your efforts by ignoring it entirely and hurting yourself. I would suggest shorter distances more often. I don't care if you walk 2 miles or 1/2 a block. Get up and do it twice a day, and build up to 5-6 days a week if you can. TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. Tell him/her that you are moving more and that you may need help trying to distinguish between pain and injury.

*Finally, Be not afraid:
"Wherever you go, there you are." You can change what you do, how you act, how you move, and how people see you, but you don't really change who you are. I always felt as if being morbidly obese forced you into this odd place where you were either invisible or a spectacle. Often both at the same time. Most of that is due to how people treat you, but some of it is how you allow yourself to be treated. Either way, it is restrictive. I feel better now than I have in my entire life. I always felt confined before. I have less back pain and more mobility, I am less insecure and more confidant. I less restricted in what I can do, less restricted in what I can wear, and no longer concerned with or limited by the perceptions of others. I am FAR freer to be who I am and have always been, and finally comfortable with who that is.

let1179

You can add me, I'm in the same morbidly obese category, just getting walks in for now. Some days come easier than others, as with everything in life. It's not easy, but it will get easier and better! We will do this!

Florida_Superstar

I just wanted to encourage you and wish you the best in making progress toward weight loss and improved health. I agree with what everyone else said -- especially that most of weight management happens in the kitchen, not the gym, so focus on diet before exercise. But one thing that no one mentioned (or I didn't see at least) is maybe you should consider talking to someone about why you overeat...so you can deal with the underlying reasons. You mentioned budget, but if there is money for this, I think it could be helpful. I'm glad you found the My Fitness Pal community. Good luck! :flowerforyou:

happyfeetrebel1

I'm going to echo the others. I had such horrible knees and feet that I could barely move. Leslie Sansone has some great videos for walking, it's her 'walk of the pounds' line, and they're fairly inexpensive on Amazon. I did those in my living room when it was yucky outside, and I walked my street when it was nice.

I also did the aqua aerobics for cardio, to take the impact off my feet, is there a pool somewhere you can use? Even 'running' across the pool will be helpful, and it won't hurt you.

Lastly, log everything you eat and keep it to a reasonable goal. Don't set up something you can's stick to. I am extremely carb sensitive due to a pancreas surgery, so I eat a LOT of cottage cheese, greek yogurt and chicken. See what works for you.

Good luck