Anybody here severely obese?

Sweet_Misery_

I am close to 400 pounds...ugh. Latest is 385, I am 5'10". I so badly want to lose weight and need to. I feel overwhelmed to even start. Every time I do, I end up losing motivation by the third or fourth day, if not sooner. I have looked through a lot of the success stories pictures because I thought they would motivate me but honestly it just made me so jealous of everyone because I would love to even look like most people's BEFORE pictures! I don't know how the hell I let myself get like this. I am 23 years old. I saw a pic yesterday of me when I was 15, I was around 215. At the time I thought I was a fat cow and wanted to lose weight and wanted just to be under 200. Now I think I look downright SKINNY in that picture and would kill to look like that again...UGH!

Anyone started out very, very overweight? What has worked for you? Thanks

sunman00

The 'success stories' forum on here is full of stories & pictures of people who have lost fantastic amounts of weight, I'd highly recommend reading lots of those, a read more every day for more motivation, good luck

nomesw84

I started out at 300 pounds and am 5'7" having tried many times to lose weight only to put it all back on again plus some more!

The difference for me this time is that I'm seeing it as a lifestyle change that'll I'll keep up forever, this time rather than thinking 'I suppose I should lose some weight' I'm thinking 'I am going to lose this weight'. Now I'm doing it for myself, not because other people have told me I should.

If you stick to it and really give it your all you WILL look not just like those before pictures, but after some hard work, sweat, tears and even a set back or two, the after pictures. Remember that it's a slow process, some weeks you won't lose, some weeks you might gain but don't use it as an excuse to give up!

Feel free to add me if you'd like some support.

trud72

Hey honey,
I started out nearly 400lb also, :noway:

dont give up all hope it is very doable
just start with little things like walking everyday it gets rid of quite a lot of cals and is great cardio even just to the end of the street and back you will just find yourself getting further and faster belive it or not! :bigsmile:
eating wise try to have the meat/fish on your plate and pile the rest with veggies as many as you want to start with!!!! cut down on potatos and dry cook everything too! :noway: (roast potatos,wedges ect)
steam veggies/fish ect it all REALLY helps!
and I am sorry but water :grumble: it helps you fill up and flushes the fat away some x
good luck x

also set small goal for yourself every 10lb and treat yourself a pair of earings or a day out not food or booze tho!
just remember exersice daily!

280faster

#TeamGetOutOfThe200s! and 5:2 fasters

Hi, I understand a little of how you feel since I was 312 on Jan 1st, and have now dropped to 273.6. Joined here only 2 weeks ago, starting the 3rd week this week, and am feeling currently strong. I joined the teams above and dip in and out of the community postings, since I am still finding my way about.

I am trying the fasting, although I do eat a higher amount than the calories advocated (I'm bigger, so I use more - that's my excuse), and am finding it surprisingly 'easy'. Loads of vegetables seem to be the key here and food really begins to taste better after those 2 days. Looking forwards to roast duck though - my treat when I get to 268!!!!!!!!!!

If you would like to join in the groups, or friend me then I would be available. Whatever you do - good luck and I hope you come on your journey with us.

triskaidekaphile13

I was over 300lbs and I am 5'8". When we lived in Wales I was prescribed exercise through the Exercise Prescription scheme they have. I was sent to a local gym at no cost to me and assigned somebody to work with me. She was absolutely fantastic and I got down to 238lbs and maintained that for over 5 years until July of last year when I decided I would lose the remaining weight. I'm currently at 180lbs and still losing.

I started out by just moving more. It was hard at first because I got out of breath so quickly. I had very poor mobility and when they did the assessment for stretching and reaching, my joints were terrible. Even walking on the treadmill at any sort of incline was very hard work. I went to the gym three times a week and did walking and some weights and resistance work based on a plan given to me. I was encouraged to move more at home and work. Stairs were a nightmare but I tried to do at least one flight and then use the lift. I was given advice about portion size and soon discovered my portions were nearly double what they should have been. I decreased my portions gradually but didn't calorie count or log my food.

Gradually I started doing more varied exercise and was able to start Pilates and Yoga for my mobility. I found having a large stomach in the way made a lot of Yoga quite difficult. We moved away from Wales and I had to leave the gym. I got a pedometer and started keeping track of my steps and we bought a Wii and Wii Fit and I continued to use that for balance and mobility. Seeing my weight on the screen every day helped me maintain when I got to 238lbs. If it started to creep up I knew I had to cut down for a few weeks.

Last July I felt ready to work at this again. I was a UK size 26/28 when I started and was down to a UK 20/22. I took the opportunity of working away from home for a period to log my food and start being more active. The people I was working with didn't know me before and so being more active and eating healthily is just who I was so it was a fresh start. I completed C25K and now regularly run and have completed a 5K. I'm down to a UK size 14/16 and continue to log daily. I've just been on vacation to France for two weeks and been under on my calories every single day. I'd logged on MFP for 310 days continuously when we went away but no connection there meant I'm back to 0.

I don't recognise the person in the photographs of me at my largest. I'm starting to recognise the person I see in the mirror now. I'm at my lowest weight for over 20 years and I'm 44. I love wearing a FitBit and seeing my daily steps. This morning I've been on the computer and doing sitting down chores and know that I've got 10,000 steps to do today that aren't going to do themselves. I can run up stairs and run for a bus and climb a hill and not be out of breath and that's such a reward.

I don't deprive myself of anything. I eat around 1800 calories a day including eating back my exercise calories. I only log exercise on FitBit not on MFP but log all my food on MFP. Every single little thing. My diary is open to friends and I'm certainly no angel but try to keep track of protein and fat consumption as well as overall calories. Therapy really helped me understand my unhealthy relationship with food. I was ready to let the weight go and that has made a difference.

You need to find goals that will motivate you, not other people's goals. What works for them won't necessarily work for you. I was morbidlyobese and wanted to be overweight. Now I'm overweight I want to be in the normal range. My goals and targets have changed over time as my goals now would have have seemed impossible in the beginning. I have no interest in wearing a prom dress or a bikini and have no children to inspire. I want to be fit and healthy and reduce my risk of cancer and diabetes.

Good luck to you. Give yourself time to change and gain new habits. Don't measure yourself against other people or their success. Find what works for you.

Tansy98

I started on here in Jan at about 242 lbs (I'm only 5'1" so any extra weight really shows). Before starting this year I was very obese, very unmotivated and hated how I looked and felt. I had always promised myself I would never be a 'calorie counter' and that I didn't need any help to lose any weight. Then in Jan I downloaded a free app and thought 'oh well, I'll have a look at it, probably won't stick to it anyway' - I couldn't have been more wrong about either sticking with it or being a calorie-counter. I have stuck with mfp for nearly 6 months now, the longest I have ever stuck to any diet or exercise plan and I count everything I eat, even if I have a bad day. It makes me accountable for everything I eat and helps me make decisions on whether I should really eat that or not.

Has it been an easy journey so far? No - there are days I still want to eat things I shouldn't, and days when I do anyway, and later regret it. I am learning that each day is a new one, if I don't do well today, I'll try harder tomorrow.

Do I look amazingly thin and fit yet? No - most of my family and friends haven't really noticed I've lost any weight yet (though I've lost about 35lbs so far). But, more importantly, I have noticed changes in myself - I have so much more energy, I feel a lot lighter and I'm pretty sure there's a lot less chins when I look in the mirror.

Have I learned to love exercise and become a gym-junkie and can't wait to get out for that early morning run? Absolutely not, there are still days when I have no desire to exercise at all, though I have learned to enjoy going for walks once I'm out there. I've also accepted the fact that I will never be a runner and complete a marathon - I do what is good for me, not someone else.

Why am I telling you this? Because I feel you are where I was 6 months ago - and I didn't think I would still be here now when I first looked at this app. I can honestly tell you that, no, it will probably not be easy, and no, it is not a quick fix - the success stories on mfp are amazing, but remember those people have usually been working at their changes for a year or more. I can't wait to be one of those success stories one day, but I have now gained enough knowledge to accept that it will be a long time before I will reach that final goal - I set myself smaller goals of 10kg (about 20lbs) at a time, I reward myself in some small way, then I set a new goal.

Lastly, I have found the community on mfp amazing - I never imagined I would befriend total strangers on a forum, but I have made some amazing friends on here who have supported and motivated me every step of the way, and picked me up (figuratively lol) when I've been down or had a bad day. My advice would be to join a group, make some friends and give it a go, there really isn't anything to lose - except maybe some weight lol.

Good luck, and I wish you every success. I hope to see you, maybe in a year or so, with a success story of your own. Sorry this was such a long post, but I hope it helps

ocmitchris

I started out around 410 (I'm 6'3", male, 33 years old). I've tried dieting in the past, but without much success. I'd stick to it for a month or two, and lose 10-15 pounds, then put it all back on plus some.

What's worked for me this time is not looking at it as a diet, but as a lifestyle change that I'll be living with the rest of my life. I had to realize that I couldn't eat and snack like I always had if I want to be healthy. I need to drink water. I need to exercise.

I keep track of EVERYTHING that goes in my mouth. If I'm making the kid's dinner, and try a bite or two, I log that.

Buy a kitchen scale, and learn to see everything that you're eating.

Invest in a good bathroom scale. I typically weigh myself every morning, first thing. Seeing the weight drop steadily is a huge motivation. Being 385, you're at the top end of what most scales can do without buying one specifically for larger people. If you can, spend the money to get a high capacity scale online so that you can start getting accurate readings right away, so you know exactly where you're at and can track your progress. When I first started, for the first few months I couldn't even get a reading on the scale. That was very frustrating and demotivating. Looking back, I wish I had just forked out the $100 or so to get one that I could use.

Try not to eat out very often, but if you do, learn how to spot the healthier options on a menu.

Learn proper portion sizes. I was eating 4-5 servings each meal without realizing it. There's a good chance you're doing the same.

Paying attention to everything that you're eating will make you think about your nutrition, and you can see how much what you're eating will take to burn off later.

Don't starve yourself. Eat most, if not all of the calories that you're allocated for the day. Try to use them on healthy, minimally processed foods.

On holidays and special events, treat yourself. Just make sure you get back to your healthier ways quickly.

If you have a bad day and go over your calories, don't get discouraged, just try to do your best to get back on track.

Realize that the weight loss will be slow, many times much slower than you would like, but it will come off if you stick to a plan.

Find a gym that you're comfortable at, and GO.

Try to find a friend or family member to diet with. Have someone that you can talk to.

Take measurements of your body, and pictures every few months. You won't see much difference if you look in the mirror every day, but comparing yourself to where you started is a huge motivation.

If you start getting burned out after losing some weight, go to the store. Find a flour sack, or buckets of pork fat. Compare how much weight you've lost to those. You can see how much fat you've lost, and see how much you're not carrying around with you everywhere. Visually, this is VERY motivating to me, and helps me see just how far I've come.

Most of all, you have to REALLY want to get healthy. Be 100% committed, or don't even bother. To be successful, this is a lifestyle change that you have to decide to make. No one else can do that for you.

It's hard at first, but if you stick to it, and view it as a new lifestyle, you can succeed. It won't take too long, and your body will stop craving the crap that you've been eating. Exercise won't kick your butt so bad, and will even become enjoyable.

Good luck

CarolineLittler

Yes and no. I started gaining weight age 7, I was 322lbs at my heaviest. and 5'6 and that was in my mid twenties. I have tried every possible method of weight loss from the usual slimming clubs, specialised diets, drugs some legal some not, some purchased on internet from less than reputable companies. I have had hypnosis, therapy dabbled in laxatives. There have been private Dr's injections of dubious substances, then had weight loss surgery ( gastric band ) which had to be removed eventually. I lost 100lbs twice and 50lbs more times than i can count and regained it all and more. I got life threatening conditions twice, perforated bowel and aspiration pneumonia as direct result of dieting. Still I persevere!!

I am now 47 and 239lbs and still dropping. I am on the 5:2 diet. which works for me because I am not on 'a diet' all the time, And i could do it as a lifestyle which i could never do on a conventional diet. I choose my days, so when i dont diet I havent failed. Accept its going to be a slow process at that weight plan a realistic time frame average 2lbs a week, then rather than plotting your loss against how you feel today when you might be feeling fat or failed and want to give up check it against ur graph of where u should be. We are usually doing better than we think

Finally figure out why your fat... sounds simple 'its because i eat too much!' but why? its always a complex issue if your weight is enough to kill you and still you cant stop. If you were anorexic and thin enough to die people would assume there was an issue that needed resolving. So get therapy if you can afford it. good luck x

06AlaskaMom10

I always find that its easiest for me to to start my diet and exercise at separate times. I spent about 8 weeks just getting into the exercise mode, and did not diet. Just tried to get more active, once I got that down, I started to slowly change my eating habits. If you do it all at once, it is very easy to lose motivation and to have a hard time sticking to it.

So last September, I started the C25K program, I finished it by October, but I didn't start loose a lot of weight or dieting a lot, until this past March. I tried to diet, but all winter I yo-yo'd. Remember, slow and steady changes are more apt to be easier to stick with you and become a lifestyle change for you. Don't give up, you can do it!

I find once I have started to exercise, I start to feel better about myself, and when I feel better about myself, I treat myself better, and when I treat myself better, I eat less crap

ShannonMpls

Anyone started out very, very overweight? What has worked for you? Thanks

I started off morbidly obese with a BMI of 43. Now, my BMI is under 25 - the healthy range. I'm wearing a bikini in my profile pic, which is so completely hard to believe I felt like I needed photographic evidence.

What worked for me was waking up one day and committing to MFP. That was almost two years ago. Earlier this week, my profile here greeted me with "ShannonMpls has logged in for 705 days in row!"

I got dedicated to nutrition and fitness, and I never got un-dedicated, even when I wasn't in the mood for it.

Start, then don't stop. That's really all it takes. The rest is just details.

Akimajuktuq

I WAS severely obese. I got up to about 290. Since last year, I went from 240 to 180. I resolved all of my health issues by changing WHAT I eat. Severely restricting calories and eating "low fat" = the worst possible advice ever.

Edit: how I'm eating now, is how I am going to eat forever, with the exception that I may be able to increase carbohydrates a little once my metabolism has repaired itself. But I am always going to base my diet on fat and protein first.

boxergrl614

I am the heaviest I have ever been. Believe me, I know how you feel about the lost motivation after 3-4 days. Don't consider yourself any kind of a failure because you have a set back. Set backs give you a glorious opportunity to get back at it! Never feel like you have to over due yourself all the time. Start small, cut out one bad habit, something small, I cut soda's completely out of my diet about 3 months ago (before I even joined). Start going for smaller walks, and then longer ones. Walking is the greatest thing you can do. Add ankle weights or arm weights while you go! Joining is the best thing you can do, you have a plethora of tools, and help right here!! Go Get Em!!!

boxergrl614

That is awesome!!! and just what people need to hear!

jennyrebekka

Some really good stories and advice in this thread....it's good to see and read.

I started at 312 lbs...and have lost 16lbs....but it has taken longer than i thought it would...and i'm constantly having to "check" myself...make sure i'm not telling myself lies like i was before, reminding myself that i'm only cheating myself when i miss a workout.

For me, I physically felt like i COULDN'T workout like everyone else - - so i started in the pool. The pool is really therapeutic and does not put stress on your joints.....and when you start sweating, you can just dunk your head under water and cool off!

I wish you luck and consistency - - and i totally know how you feel about wanting to look as good as someone's "before" pic - - i see that ALL THE TIME.......but everyone has their own journey i guess lol.

laarae

This is the first step don't stop
I started at over 300 lbs and am 5'4" "this is a lifestyle change not a damn diet (my words to myself) I am a grandmother of 7 and want to be able to dance at each one of their weddings. I didn't want to die in my sleep and wonder how the hell they would get me out of the bed. I know we have some crazy thoughts sometimes. Love yourself first and you must if you have joined this site-friend me I will motivate you. Just take every decision one at a time-1 choice, 1 meal, 1 change 1 walk to the corner and back you can do this and you will not regret it what we regret is not doing something to change what we don't like.

twinketta

For the OP you have some great motivation in the replies that you have...I sincerely hope that you believe in yourself and what you can do to lose the weight and be the person that you want to be.

Whatever our weight is, whether it be a small amount or large amount to lose it comes down to making those first few steps to change.

I didn`t have as much to lose as you have, and I hope you don`t mind me replying?

When I started on MFP I thought `here I go again` and I would not lose weight, but I have, and you can too.

Just stick with it, take it slowly, log your diary each and every day.

One little word of advice that I have learnt is really try to add some resistance/weights at the start so you avoid the loose skin when your weight goes down (and it will go down, believe me)

It seems a big challenge at the start but once you start I am sure there will be no stopping you xx

pwittek10

You are going to go for a life style change, not a diet.
A person loses hope because they think they are unworthy,
WRONG, You are worth the time and change to your
life that this will make for you.
If I had known how happy losing all that weight was going to make me I would have done it years ago.
So many door open for you, new friends, new places, new outlook.
GO FOR IT!

smantha32

Start by logging your calories to see what you're eating every day. And then start eating at a deficit from that.
You don't have to go to 1200 calories or anything extreme to start with, just cut back.
If you find you're eating 6,000 calories a day, cut back to 3,000.
Drink more water and try to just start doing some exercise.

I had a friend who lost almost 100 pounds by doing nothing but cutting out soda to start. It will be easier than you think to start dropping, just be consistent.

clobern

Started at 400 pounds, dropped down to 250... then back up to 340. Now I am working my way back down and learning to keep it off. Just don't ever, ever give up.

oldmanrivererik

Hi,

Im not sure what I weighed at my highest but it was over 350. Probably 360-70. Anyhow I weigh 288 now. Im still a great big fat person but my life is 100 times better now. Im not sure if what I did will work for you but here goes. First you need to start cooking for yourself. If you dont know how to cook go to a website like allrecipies.com or something similar. Track your calories and your macro nutrients using myfitnesspal. You will find that the portions you thought were normal were not normal at all.. Get a kitchen scale...they are pretty cheap. Also get a cheap pedometer or if you have a smart phone use an app like mapmyrun. Start walking. Do a little at first...say half a mile. Walk every day. Try to go a longer distance each week or when it seems like its getting easier. Get a good pair of shoes. Thats all you really need to start....a kitchen scale, a pedometer and a good pair of shoes. Its really not that hard..the hard part is all in your mind. When you think about eating fast food or skipping a walk...ask yourself if its worth it. Is it worth it? Its no fun being a great big fat person. Its depressing and it will kill you sooner rather than later. Is skipping a walk worth dying? Is over eating or cheating on your diet worth dying for? I recommend getting a nutritionist as they can help guide you in food choices. thats not always within everyones reach. If thats not possible Read "In Defense of Food" by Micheal Pollen. Its a pretty good guide for what to eat.