Former Athletes that Got Fat...

Michifan

I was very athletic from High School through 30 - lifting, running, tennis... 12 inch drop from chest to waist and never had to worry about counting calories - sometimes I had to remind myself to eat even more protein. I've always had a slow metabolism - which to me allowed me to go longer and harder. After 30, I was working more and working out less - but still active and still relatively fit.

At some point there was a change and in hindsight I now know that it was something affecting my chemistry. I still don't exactly know what happened, but i started becoming depressed and got tested for low testosterone. That helped the depression, but I started to gain weight - and I didn't have the energy or desire to work out. A few years later and I'm a different human being - I find out the testosterone was converting into estridol - my doctor was just throwing testosterone and while my eating habits and workouts weren't what they were - I couldn't understand the weight gain.

I fired the doctor, have an endocrinologist and am under a medical weight loss program that is not only giving me the energy I used to have so many years ago, but I'm dropping weight so much easier than my attempts in the past (which was trying to pound out the weight with excessive workouts which triggered depressions).

Anyway - I'm wondering for those of you that spent most of your years lean and athletic - and found yourself clinically overweight - did you have any anger/frustration/negativity along the positive course of losing weight?

I know every day I am on track to my goal - and I honestly feel that there is nothing more I can or should do to get there in a healthy way. I feel good about my progress - but at times I feel shame and frustration that I was lost / let myself go for so long. I can blame my chemistry for some of my morass (more *kitten* - he he), but I know that I didn't take control of my body until now.

It's not that I am not proud of my accomplishments - its just that I feel that I shouldn't be needing this accomplishment in the first place. And I know that it isn't positive and I do my best to counter the negative with positive thoughts about how good I feel, how healthy I am and how I'll feel even better when I get back to my natural weight.

I'm just curious if this feeling is unique to me - or if someone else has had the same experience.

laceyf53

It's like I wrote this topic myself. I was a Marine in my early 20's, varsity swimming and junior ocean lifeguard in my teens, as well as lifting weights in high school and dancing when I wasn't swimming. I am used to 2+ hours a day of hard work outs and being able to eat whatever I want.

Even in high school, I was probably 23% body fat - I was my lowest while in the Marines at 21-22%. I am insulin resistant and have always had low blood pressure, low body temperature, slower metabolism. I kept up with it with huge amounts of exercise, but never addressed the eating habits.

After I got out of the Marines, I was working a sedentary job and the weight just started piling on. I got if off again with a lot of hard work, and then gained it all back and then some. I finally just got tired of trying, and that's how I reached 244 lbs. It's embarrassing and sad really, considering how much I know about proper nutrition and fitness. I have good self esteem and try not to beat myself up about it, but I am disgusted with how fat I am. I don't take pictures, I avoid old friends, etc.

I am also on a medically assisted weight loss program, mostly because I want the speedy results and to really enforce the good eating habits. Even though I've lost 10 lbs in 2 1/2 weeks, I feel like you do. It's like, why did this even have to happen in the first place!

Michifan

The good thing - for me - is that the weight is flying off. I'm eating a low calorie diet, but it is all whole foods and well balanced. Plus vitamin and mineral supplements. I started by walking 3 miles a day - then 4 - then increasing my time. I'm never over doing my walks - not putting any pressure than to just walk my route and not let my heartrate get high (especially because of the food intake).

When I do have an extra good walk day (or bike weekend), I don't give myself materially more food. I am not trying to trade off food and exercise - at least until I get closer to my goal and my heart and body can handle it. However, losing the pounds makes the exercise easier on the body.

Good luck in your journey. I think we are definitely on the same path - and its always good to know that we aren't alone in how we see the world.