What has being overweight cost you? Financially, emotionally

bethany7687

Part of my recovery involves changing my thoughts, being honest about exactly what being overweight did to me. When I put words to paper I change my thinking, when I change my thinking I feel better, when I feel better...I don't overeat.
1. Financially- I have spent thousands on overeating. Binging at $7 each time, conservatively times thousands of times. Lets say 2,000 times. $14,000
Weight loss plans, Jenny Craig, WW, some program at McLean Hospital that was $1,600; Diet Center, gym memberships $3,500
2. Emotionally- I have felt less than for decades. I hated to take my baby to the mall or playground because I was 'the fattest mommy there'. I felt embarrassed when I had nothing to wear to work or to the beach where I live.
3. Relationally- There are no pictures of me and my sons together for the last decade, other than one family photo. Other photos I have destroyed or do not display because of my unattractiveness. If I were to die tomorrow there would only be one picture for my wake and its 5 years old. Sad. Overweight has cost me from pursuing and being in relationships. Especially now, when I am emotionally balanced and healthy after the emotional and spi'ritual work I've done the last 2 years, its hard never being asked out, never looked at twice.
The flip side. I no longer need to spend one dime on weight loss. When my gym membership expires I will be at my goal and I can choose to renew or craft an outdoor exercise plan. I'll probably renew but its wonderful to know that never again will I be driven by discomfort and desperation to spend money I don't have on promises that don't work. My nutrition plan comes from years of experience and some divine inspiration. My motivation comes from my stated goals. I find fellowship here in people I can help and people who respond positively to me.
Emotionally I am in the best place ever. It was a long road. While I was still eating emotionally up until start date, today I choose discipline, moderation and self-control. Often I have to pray for these, that's okay, in my weakness I am made strong. The emotional peice is really about changing my thoughts and practicing exceptional self-care.
Relationally, there will be lots of pictures with me and my children, I will make up for the lost years. And God will deliver to me the desire of my heart and put a wonderful man in my life.
And that's my plan. What did obesity cost you?

4alison4

I love this. I would say what it cost me is simply living "less than" for a good decade. Feeling inadequate, mostly.

ChefJenn

love your post

Before I ever started my weight loss journey back in 2004 ( I had only been over weight for about 3 years/after I had my son) I knew it was not going to be easy to lose the weight I had gained during the 9 months I carried my son and then the emotional eating after his birth.
When I got to almost 300 pounds I decided to have weight loss surgery in Jan 2005.. The mental cost of that is more than money could ever pay for b/c its just more than a life style change.Its not just cutting calories and a work out plan, Its a whole bodily change from your insides out that you have to mentally be ready for realizing you will never eat certain things again in life. Knowing you will suffer from malnutrition and in certain cases end up worse in life than before you started.
my surgery cost $36,000 + plastic surgery to remove all the skin $10,900...... BUT WORTH EVERY DIME.

Emotionally I am still suffering the cost of this surgery and dealing with some regained weight after 6 years from surgery but in time I will lose these pounds too

LazyMogg

Great post!

I can relate to some of what you say, also.

Financially:
The money I've wasted on different diets; foods meant to be healthy options; larger and larger sized clothes; I'm ashamed to say I'm even responsible for damaging a sensor under the seat in my husband's car because of the weight I put on it (that's so awful, isn't it?); wear and tear on the tyres of my own car; constant pairs of shoes because I wear them down too quickly. Then there's medication to control weight related health issues (no matter what other excuse I might like to make).

Emotionally:
The constant thought of being a failure because I haven't been able to control my eating and weight; being called names by last husband and being told the reason for no sex life was because I was fat and ugly (like he was some stunning Adonis!); feeling ashamed of how I look; feeling too ashamed to face the camera or go to the doctor sooner than I have because of being afraid of hearing how it's all down to my being too fat; Knowing that the real me is locked away inside and is battering the door down to get out. Putting up with snidey remarks and people assuming that being overweight = you'll eat anything edible, when actually that's not true as I'm quite fussy. Constant battles with one particular person who buys me food "treats" and then tells me I will have to exercise control and restrain myself even though I say I don't want it - thank you.

FitJoani

First off LOVE this post!!!!
Finacially(from ages 18-23):
-beta blockers for two years and with insurnce it was 9 a month so 216 a year if I did not have insurace it woulda been well over two grand(for two crummy years)
-bus fare for when I was too unfit to walk a mile(and at the time no license) an average of 2600 over the course of a year depending on where I was going(went on for about 3.5 years)
-4 dollars more on larger clothes everytime I needed them well round it out to 250(again about 5 years)
-binges that cost about 30 dollars a pop and it was about 10 days a month I indulged-150(this includes my alcohol)
-miscelaneous expenses I will average about 300 for fad diet stuff that failed and other crap I thought I needed(5 years again)
TOTAL OVER 5 YEARS(AVERAGE)-20,282$-give or take
Emotionally:
I had countless first dates with men who "didnt care about my weight". Been cheated on, made fun of, left out, passed over and struggled with depression
Cost of being healthy???
Beta Blockers-0 dollars
Fad Diet stuff-0 dollars
Gym membership-300 a year
race entry-30 a race one race a month(360)
Binges-0 dollars
Bus Fare-0 dollars
Bicycle-400(over all)
Total-660 a year(cycle not included)
Even better? not feeling like crap every waking moment. Not having a doctor say that my high blood pressure is "not to be handled lightly" People telling me I look fantastic. The same kind of guys who once treated me like dirt begging for my number and me shooting THEM down

bethany7687

Wow loved your post. The cost of eating right and exercising pales in comparison. You said it all. Very motivating.