I can't leave my house anymore..

Willaway

No exaggeration, none of my clothes fit. I weighed 170 back in early 2012 and felt comfortable (I'm 5'9 w/ a fairly large build). I exercised, was active, went to work etc... then my husband and I separated, I had to begin taking care of a family member (who's better now, thankfully), lost my job, lost my friends, my car was repossessed... and during all of this I ATE.

I ate brownies and cake, burger king and McDonald's, I snacked all day and stayed up late, depressed, watching TV and eating.

I'm turning 24 this March and I'm 227 now... that's almost a 60 pound gain in about 9 months.. and none of my clothes fit me. My jeans won't button, shirts won't cover my stomach, dresses don't zip up... I walk around in means shirts and sweats and don't have much money to spend on new clothes (since I lost my job) and I don't like the way I feel.. but it's hard to break out of the emotional eating, you know?

I'm not sure how to go about losing the weight.

etmadly

Finding the willpower to overcome emotion is tough, but it can be done. You found it in yourself to take care of said family member and now it's time to take care of yourself. You may think it's hopeless right now but attitude is everything and based on what I just read the true tough times are over and it's "me" time. Thinking of getting yourself in shape before anything else may seem selfish, but in the end it's just as selfish as feeling sorry for yourself and being an emotional wreck.

I'm 23 years old myself and my mindset is that I truly have the world at my fingertips in the same way that you do. We are young and that's something we need to take advantage of because some people don't even get that. You are your own masterpiece and that is a luxury that not everyone is granted, so if you aren't going to do it for yourself then do it for those who can't.

I've personally battled my own weight loss problem and wasn't able to do anything worthwhile until I got my head straight. Again, attitude is everything and nothing of significance will ever be accomplished without a positive one. Here's a little motivation that helps me out every time I think about slipping up.

Whenever I see that fast food sign, those sweets, or ANY weakness and think that I may want to indulge in....I think to myself that it's okay because no one will be surprised if I fall off, and that pisses me off enough to push those things away and remember that I am the only person that controls me, not them.

matt2442

unlocking the door is usually the first step

triciab79

You can do this! Its a new start. You will still have hard times so you need to find a new way to deal with them. Give up the fast food. Right now that is the drug of choice for you so you have to walk away from it to get your life back. Its not forever just until you get control of you. I went from 218 to 118 in less than a year so one year from now your could be half of you and yet more of you.

rompers16

unlocking the door is usually the first step

This...and then keep walking, and walking and walking. That's how I lost the first 30 lbs.

castell5

Hi, Tips for success? Well, this is more then tips, it is how I did what I did and how I did it in the past.
Losing the weight was never my problem, it was always maintaining it.. but with this site, I am going to master that.

I think you should eat at least 1600 or 1700 but here is what I did.
It's kind of long.. hope I don't bore you.

When I first started trying to lose weight, I did what I did in the past, what I knew worked.
I was at one time 161 and decided then, that was too fat, so I took, it down to 128.
This was WAY before My Fitness Pal.
I just did my own thing. Years ago, I was in Weight watchers when they offered it at my job. It cost too much to do their program, but I knew what the basics of it were, so I kind of used that for myself to scale back my calories.
Typically, I was eating about 2 cups of Raisin bran for breakfast, then I would have a slimfast shake, not the premade cans of junk they sell, I would use the chocolate powder and I'll tell you why.

I have no belief in the SlimFast program at all, but I don't like milk and I know I need calcium, so I would use that powder instead of something high calorie, like Nestle Quick, to be able to drink milk. But I created a way to have this that I really like and have been doing it for about 18 years!

I peel ripe bananas, freeze them, and every day for lunch, I would measure 2 cups of skim milk into a blender, add two frozen bananas, and a full scoop of the slimfast powder. This is actually very delicious and it served it's purpose for me.

When I worked in an office, that would be my dinner, not my lunch and truthfully on a really hot summer day, if you whip this up and drink it down, it fills you up almost instantly (due to the banana) and it cools you off! So for calcium, lower calories, and a delicious drink, I"d make this..

Now, back to my story. This is all Pre - My Fitness Pal.
I had the Raisin bran every day (I don't mind eating the same thing every day, but you don't have to)
I had Slim fast with 2 bananas and 2 cups of milk every day
Then I ate what I considered to be a healthy dinner.
Chicken breast baked or steamed with a healthy portion of rice and beans.. this is an example.
I did this, or close to it from May to September. I went from 177 to 139 doing this.

Then I joined MFP. at the end of September. It took me down immediately to 1200 calories. Well guess what? I was far exceeding 1200 calories with what I had been doing, what had been working.. but it seemed like a good site, it showed me that I was getting way too much calcium, and not enough protein on a daily basis, so I started to make adjustments to my food.

I still use the Slimfast shake but I use one banana, not two and sometimes, if my calories are going too high, I cut back one cup of the milk and use water. I call them Slimfast (1) and Slimfast (2) - this one being the water/milk version.

I stayed in their 1200 zone and the weight went from 139 to 135 by November 9 so in just about 5 weeks, I had taken down 4 more pounds and was thrilled to meet my goal weight! So thrilled that I kept doing that caloric intake.. and then I got down to 132.. This is great right? Yes, but LOGIC came back to me.

Eating 1200 calories a day, I was going to bed hungry every night. I didn't like this.
I realized that previously I was intaking about 1800-2100 calories and I was steadily losing weight.
Then at the end of DEC, I was at a bed & breakfast with my husband.
It had a nice jetted tub. So of course first morning there, we hopped right in.
About 15 min's in the tub, I felt really thirsty, got out grabbed a robe, got a water and came back.
I said to my husband "I don't feel right, I hear buzzing in my ears" I sat on the edge of the tub, thinking I need water.
Buzzing increased, vision got sketchy, so I sat down on the floor trying to shake it off, I leaned against the tub.
Next thing I know, my husband is slapping my face calling my name.

I felt like I was being pulled from a dream.
He said I fainted, scared the witts out of him, he wanted to take me to the hospital.
I said, no, I think I need food and I'll be ok.

I ate.. a decent breakfast and I was fine, but a few weeks later, I got an intestinal virus and again, I almost fainted.
My husband said "you are starving yourself, you aren't eating enough, think back to when you did it on your own"
So I did and he was right.
I raised up my calories to 1410

Result: I am much more satisfied in the day, I do not go to bed hungry, and I am still losing but slower. Mostly because I am running out of fat to lose, but at 1410, I am still losing... so summed up.

I've seen many posts on the message boards saying 1200 calories is too low.
I have proof from myself doing it on my own eating way more then 1200 calories that I could lose weight.
I don't go to bed hungry anymore and I am happier, much happier for it.

Hope my story didn't bore you, but my strong recommendation is: EAT at Least 1400 calories a day and exercise daily.
You will lose weight. I promise.

upgetupgetup

Here's what. Losing weight will be the easiest thing you've had to do in a year. Very little of what you've described was down to you. But your body, and the food you put into it, are things you can actually control, to some extent.

All that stuff - the stress, the losses (which are really a lot for one person, in such a short amount of time), the food - just went into you, or through you. You can reverse that flow. You can take your energy, and literally exert it into the world, with power. You can rebuild your body.

So my tip is to think of it like that. This is about getting strong again, and food is fuel.

Sofitin2013

Huge hugs!

I can relate to a lot of what you said....

You CAN do this. The choice is yours. You are in complete control here. You need to make healthy choices, log your food and work out...even if it is just walking. That's it. Don't be overwhelmed.

I gained 60lb over two years and was very down in the dumps and feeling really bad physically. I have lost 25lb since Jan 1st. I feel so much better - and now I have control, and a plan.

If you get on track with your weight loss you will feel happier and more confident and then you can tackle the job hunt and everything else.

Don't waste your young and "fun" years at home, eating, sitting around and missing out on life...you're deserve more!

XDiet_SlayerX

1. Get your macros in check. Start eating well and do your best to stick to it.
2. Exercise every day. Go outside and start walking. Have a jump rope? I recommend jump roping since it burns tons of calories.
3. Workout and start this new life of yours for YOU and only YOU. Once you have that focus and drive everything else will come back into place. I am not sure if you are religious or not and it's none of my business although you need to understand that God wants us to take care of our bodies. Also understand if you don't believe in God that some higher power such as the Universe is testing you right now to see how strong you are. These struggles are what form mountains and successful people. I've been through trials of depression as well from a child to an adult. I've always found a way to a more positive life. Those friends that left you should be nonexistent now. Do not let someone who walks away play on your emotions. Understand that people leave to teach us a lesson that we can do better. Find a better group of people. You will.
4. Find a motivational source such as certain websites that have images and success stories.
5. Understand it takes time and patience. Take photos once a month and see your progress the longer you stick to it. There is no better feeling than progress.
If you have any other further questions or need support shoot me a message anytime. Take care and keep everything I said in mind.

Reema_capricorn

I am 25,unemployed and depressed and getting out of the house for a run becomes hard sometimes but its important to me to be in shape.So what do I do? I turn on my PC and log onto youtube look for JM,insanity,blogilates or www.sweatn.com and choose whatever I want to workout to for free! you should try it! you will feel the difference and your clothes will fit!

lillenisse

Finding the willpower to overcome emotion is tough, but it can be done. You found it in yourself to take care of said family member and now it's time to take care of yourself. You may think it's hopeless right now but attitude is everything and based on what I just read the true tough times are over and it's "me" time. Thinking of getting yourself in shape before anything else may seem selfish, but in the end it's just as selfish as feeling sorry for yourself and being an emotional wreck.

I'm 23 years old myself and my mindset is that I truly have the world at my fingertips in the same way that you do. We are young and that's something we need to take advantage of because some people don't even get that. You are your own masterpiece and that is a luxury that not everyone is granted, so if you aren't going to do it for yourself then do it for those who can't.

I've personally battled my own weight loss problem and wasn't able to do anything worthwhile until I got my head straight. Again, attitude is everything and nothing of significance will ever be accomplished without a positive one. Here's a little motivation that helps me out every time I think about slipping up.

Whenever I see that fast food sign, those sweets, or ANY weakness and think that I may want to indulge in....I think to myself that it's okay because no one will be surprised if I fall off, and that pisses me off enough to push those things away and remember that I am the only person that controls me, not them.

^^^^This!

Just take it one step at a time. One change at a time. All those little steps and changes will eventually add up to huge leaps and transformations.

If you are really serious about changing your lifestyle and would like some support then please feel free to add me as a friend. :flowerforyou:

Markguns

1. Get your macros in check. Start eating well and do your best to stick to it.
2. Exercise every day. Go outside and start walking. Have a jump rope? I recommend jump roping since it burns tons of calories.
3. Workout and start this new life of yours for YOU and only YOU. Once you have that focus and drive everything else will come back into place. I am not sure if you are religious or not and it's none of my business although you need to understand that God wants us to take care of our bodies. Also understand if you don't believe in God that some higher power such as the Universe is testing you right now to see how strong you are. These struggles are what form mountains and successful people. I've been through trials of depression as well from a child to an adult. I've always found a way to a more positive life. Those friends that left you should be nonexistent now. Do not let someone who walks away play on your emotions. Understand that people leave to teach us a lesson that we can do better. Find a better group of people. You will.
4. Find a motivational source such as certain websites that have images and success stories.
5. Understand it takes time and patience. Take photos once a month and see your progress the longer you stick to it. There is no better feeling than progress.
If you have any other further questions or need support shoot me a message anytime. Take care and keep everything I said in mind.

What he said and...

"Same thing" happened to me only I was working out and healthy then I quit and gained 50 lbs in 6 months! You have to just get down right hoping mad and go do it! When it comes right down to it, we are usually our own worst enemy. I could only wear my gym clothes so I took a second set to the gym and wore those home! I've lost 24 lbs in 2 months. Once you start getting exercise, your mental outlook will improve, I promise! Exercise releases endorphins, ever heard of a runner's high? Like it says on the door at Golds, showing up is half the battle! :drinker: If you can't join a gym then start walking for 30 mins a day. More if you can handle it. Other exercises are all over the web. Livestrong is a good site to look on, as well as videos on U-tube. Food control is a challenge too but once you really start looking at what you are eating it becomes easier. Stop wasting money at fast food places, make you own food from healthy fresh foods. It's better for you and cheaper! I find it easier with exercising as I can eat more on exercise days. :bigsmile: Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare: Slow n steady wins the race. But you have to start the race. If you can't do both start off controlling your food intake first. :flowerforyou: Big Bonus in your favor, you are still young! :happy: You can send me a friend request if you like & I will help ... kick your butt out the door, jk. :bigsmile:

sz8soon

I'm 5'4 and started at 225- talk about not feeling comfortable with yourself!

Thing is, its only going to work if you are truly ready to make it work. It takes effort and a ton of it. Sometimes its more mental effort than actual physical effort, but it's taxing either way. At times I felt like I was busting my butt and working so hard and the scale woudln't move- then all of a sudden a few pounds would come off. But the truth is- I got to the point where it didn't matter what the scale was doing because the more I focused on me and my health the more I began to love me a little bit more. It was something that no one else had any power over- it was all up to me.

Check out some consignment shops or clothing exchanges where you turn in clothes for store credit to shop in there store to get a few things you like. Shop the clearance racks right now- I just got 3 work outfits- entire outfits at Kohls for under $75.00 and they are all mix and match items that I can integrate with clothes I had.

It's one step- one day at a time.

kelly_e_montana

Well, I just lost about 50 pounds and I know how you feel. I've been thru it on multiple occasions. The first thing I would say is just visualize yourself healthier and thinner and then act accordingly. I lost my first 35 pounds with simply eating clean, not even counting calories. I focused on 6 small meals per day because I get hungry often, and that helped keep me from having binges. It worked for me. I also tried to eat less processed, high-fiber, high-nutrient foods and lean proteins. Not everyone has to do that, but it's what worked for me. I also decided to think of exercise not as something I was doing for weight loss but something I was doing to get healthy, be stronger, be more active, and have better stamina. So, I focused on things I like, such as walking and hiking. Now I am finishing C25K. I also finished 30 Day Shred. While I have only lost 50 of my 80 pounds, I went from a size 18/20 to a size 10/12 and from huffing and puffing while walking around the neighborhood to being able to run for a half an hour straight.

If nothing else, make a deal with yourself to walk or exercise 30 minutes per day most days per week. Choose things you LIKE. Then, add on mini-challenges to keep yourself motivated. Once you drop one size, you will have more motivation and confidence to do more. Honestly, I started up again with Leslie Sansone videos. I did one mile and progressed to 2 miles. Then I did three. Now I run. It doesn't happen over night. There's no finish line. There's only today. What are you going to eat today that will make you feel nourished? What can you do today to exercise that will be a first step?

You don't have to do it all at once. And again, visualize the accomplishments you want. Picture yourself as healthier. Then live that way each day, one day at a time.

Take the money you are spending on fast food and junk to reward yourself with new outfits as your sizes go down. Don't wait. Look good at every weight, and you will feel better!

chooriyah

Lots of very good advice on this thread. Just wanted to send you a cyber-hug. It sounds like a truly horrible situation and I know how it feels to be out of control, disgusted with yourself, have eating be just about the only thing to make you feel happy. Just know that by making some small changes, you CAN turn this around. And you will be so so so much happier.

tubbyelmo

Oh, I see myself in what you have written, and I have since managed to get control of my weight, still a bit to go but I already feel so much better about myself.

My marriage was crumbling, then my Dad died very suddenly at only 67, whilst away on holiday, and my Mum just fell to bits, so I was looking after her, I split from my husband and that was messy. I lost lots of weight at the start and then the comfort food put it all back on and more, much more!

You have already done the first thing that helped me, finding this website, and after that I logged food every day and started walking each day for around 45 minutes to an hour.

You can get control back, and you certainly have the ability to conquer the emotional eating, just give it a try, and no better time to start than today.

fatjavotte

10 years ago I got horribly depressed and put on 90lbs in a few months, including 70lbs in 6 weeks (I ate over 10,000kcal/day). I didn't leave the house except to get some food, spent my days watching TV without bothering to get dressed. Of course I lost all my friends and dropped out of university.
Telling myself "I'm going to lose 50 / 70 / 90lbs didn't help at all, because it was too much.
My first step was getting dressed and leaving the house for a short walk. First it was only for 5 minutes - I was so heavy, I had lost lots of muscle, and I was convinced that everyone was looking at me and mocking my weight.
Being outside helped me a lot. It took me years to get better, but I did it, and even though my weight still yo-yos I am not depressed and house-bound any more.

vorgas

I love that the advice to a lady to embarassed to leave her house is people telling her to go for walks.

How about some basic exercise dvds? Get some for what you like doing. You can probably pick up a few good ones on the cheap. Zumba, step aerobics, balance balls, yoga, etc

Look on craigslist for a Total Gym (or whatever it is that Chuck Norris sells). You shoud be able to get one for a hundred bucks.

Get a stationary bike and ride it while watching tv.

If you cant affor any of that stuff, look up a home workout routine online. Plenty of bodyweight exercises you can do. Heck, even some light calistenics would be good.

And yes, you should try to eat healthierand moresensible amounts. But changing your body from a thing at rest into a thing in motion is the best way to start.

Good luck on achieving your goals!

fatjavotte

I love that the advice to a lady to embarassed to leave her house is people telling her to go for walks.

I disagree. I was too embarrassed too. But I did it, even if I just went to the end of the street first. It is not about exercise - it is about sunlight and fresh air that can act as huge mood lifters.

KANGOOJUMPS

WELL i say get that *kitten* out there, go kick some butt!
gain some will power,
get your body hot!
DO IT NOW!

Godscanvas

I am an emotional eater..When things are good,I do well..When I am depressed i eat. I've lost 3 babies thru miscarriage 1 baby thru complications at 20 weeks, Lost a home from a flood, etc..I ballooned up to around the 240's. In 2010 I lost a bunch of weight, then after losing our home and many of our belongings and being "homeless" living thru the generosity of our church who lent my family of 7 a home for almost 4 months while we tried to figure out where to live and what to do, I gained almost all if not all back. Now I am back on track and have lost 40lbs since last April. I've gone thru alot of "crap" lately as well and gained 9 lbs back but now I've lost those 9 lbs plus 2 more so far and still working on it (I've a lot to lose) My Point- You are Not Alone...AND YOU CAN DO THIS!! I'd love to be added as your friend so I can support you thru this!

MaraDiaz

You found MFP, that is a great start. Now record every single bite you eat even if you know you shouldn't have eaten it. That is a start.

Also, thrift stores, Salvation Army, and Goodwill for workout clothes. You can either buy the rest later or lose enough to fit your old clothes, but you need workout clothes that fit so you can, as someone else already said, go for those long walks. I hope you have a pair of tennis shoes around, that is the one thing you should try to buy new if not.

MarincicS

Step 1: Fill out your profile here, including current weight, rational goals, etc.

Step 2: Log EVERYTHING. Every bite, every sip, every tablespoon of oil in the pan, every shake of grated cheese, all of it.

Step 3: Drink a ton of water

Step 4: Walk walk walk. If you can't leave your house, pace pace pace all around the house, up and down the stairs.

Step 5: Start to pay attention to all of your food measures - each line item for each meal. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to switch from salsa in a jar to fresh salsa the moment you discover the crazy sodium in that jar. Simple choices like that are easy and they'll pop out all over the place once you start looking at your food journal!

Repeat Steps 2 - 5 daily.

Don't think any further than that to start. Don't make yourself promises you have no idea how to keep. Just do step 2-5 again and again and in a few short weeks, you'll feel amazing control you had no idea you had!

Good luck. You can definitely do this!!

howchrisgothergrooveback

Read "The Body Fat Solution" by Tom Venuto. Then read "When Your Body Gets The Blues" by Marie-Annette Brown. I was looking for inspiration to start changing my life and both of these books spoke to me!

kelly_e_montana

Okay the other thing is in response to the person who said that she doesn't know why we are telling you to walk when you can't leave your house. You can leave your house. I weighed more than you and was only 5'5" and left my house to stand on my feet 9 hours per day at work. You are not physically incapable of leaving your house. You can leave your house, and you will leave your house. I agree with the poster that said that being outside and getting some sunshine and fresh air is a great mood booster. If you can't make yourself do it today, start with walking videos. Then set a date to start walking outside. It is your choice to whether to stay inside or to start changing. You got this!