Again . Please this time.

dizzydone
dizzydone Posts: 2
in Introduce Yourself
Hi all. First time poster been using MFP for a while on the phone.
I'm 27. Put a lot of weight on during my college years, then when I finished college about 4/5 years ago I lost a lot of weight (went from 114KG (251lbs) to about 88KG (194lbs) ). But over the last 4/5 years I've put it all back on and more, and crept up to 119kg (262lbs). So I am morbidly obese :(

4 weeks ago I had tonsilitis and went to the doctor, my first time going to doctor in a long while. The doctor suggested it was a good time to look at my weight. And did blood tests ( I was very nervous about diabetes). The bloods came back fine, blood sugar perfect, slightly high colestorol, and the kidneys were fine she said. However my blood pressure was very high.

So I have been working since, to get the weight down. And have gone from the 119kg (262lbs) to 115kg (254lbs) in those few weeks. I am happy with this. Just a little bit anxious for it to continue. And my goal weight of 88KG seems so distant. But I have a sub goal of 106 kg first anyway.

Changes I have made are, hardly no more take aways. Watching what I eat, and trying to limit my food intake to 1700 calories per day. Trying to eat lots of veg. And portions of fruit in between meals. Walking into work (4km) and home, so 8km a day. And trying to do the C25K plan aswell. I'm also trying to watch my alcohol intake, limiting it to 1 night a week, a few bottles of Coors light.

I'm just worried I'll give up. And reading WIkipedia can be very unmotivating especially when you see lines like "Long-term studies of dieting however indicate that the majority of individuals who dieted regain virtually all of the weight that was lost after dieting, regardless of whether they maintain their diet or exercise program".

Forum makes great motivational reading. Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions :)

Replies

  • DMicheleC
    DMicheleC Posts: 171 Member
    Hi I'm new too, recently been diagnosed with diabetes, thats why I'm here, to loose weight and get fit. I think you have made a great start, just have to keep going and like me having a health issue can really spur you on to keep at it. I keep thinking I want to control my diabetes with diet and exercise, I don't want to go on tablets just yet, so to loose weight and exercise is a must to keep my blood glucose low. So keep going you can do it, if I can. xx
  • strum261
    strum261 Posts: 30 Member
    It's great you have started your weight loss again. Congrats on your weight loss so far. Don't look at it as a diet, it's a lifestyle change. I know from experience it is very hard to change habits, but you have started, so keep at it. Celebrate your victories and don't beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon. Find what works for you, whether it's cutting things cold turkey or weaning yourself slowly. I find that planning meals and exercise time is key for me. I try to always have healthy food ready, so if I'm in a rush I don't have to grab whatever to eat. Good luck
  • LTGPSA
    LTGPSA Posts: 633 Member
    Dizzydone - you sound like you're on the right track except you should stop reading Wikipedia. :wink: For myself, I've only regained my weight due to my own choices. All the best to you on this journey! :flowerforyou:
  • dorthymcconnel
    dorthymcconnel Posts: 237 Member
    Hi And welcome! It sounds like Wikipedia forgot one detail: most people who "diet" do so for a short term, returning to their old ways and eating patterns. I have high blood pressure myself, along with a family history of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. I refuse to call what I'm doing a "diet". It's a lifestyle change. I'm taking this slowly and learning how to eat and getting the exercise in. Great job of eliminating the take away foods. I struggle with that one, but I want to become better at it through prior planning when I know I'll be out of the house.
    You can do this. :smile:
  • katypscot
    katypscot Posts: 1
    dont give up mate you can do it just think how cool youre gonny look and help with your health as well good luck :wink:
  • vet272
    vet272 Posts: 183
    Try not to think of this as a diet but of retraining yourself to enjoy a new lifestyle. I would also encourage you to log all your food and drink and get.a true idea of the calories you are really consuming.
    You can do this and be done with weight problems for ever - no matter what wiki says! X
  • HikeThatMountain
    HikeThatMountain Posts: 102
    I'm just worried I'll give up. And reading WIkipedia can be very unmotivating especially when you see lines like "Long-term studies of dieting however indicate that the majority of individuals who dieted regain virtually all of the weight that was lost after dieting, regardless of whether they maintain their diet or exercise program".

    Forum makes great motivational reading. Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions :)

    Hi dizzydone, you probably should make a few friends, very good for keeping you motivated with some interaction. Regarding the part of your quote above, don't let that scare you, most long term studies are on exactly that "dieters" and right off the bat, the word diet usually means to most people, restriction and deprivation..... You need to try to change the way you view your eating... a lifestyle change (if you like). You need to convince yourselt 1. YES, you can do it and do it for the rest of your life. 2. NO, I am not on a diet, I am in the process of learning how to eat for the health and wellbeing of my body/me.

    I'm a little older than you are (56), but would be happy to be anyones friend, if you are interested after you read my profile, please send a request. Good luck on your journey and remember to concentrate on the good stuff, not the discouraging stuff (like those studies in which everyone probably "dieted" and lost in a big hurry, but then got fed up with all the restrictions and gave up and regained).
    "
  • dizzydone
    dizzydone Posts: 2
    Thanks for all the posts. Very encouraging and motivating :)
    Yes shag wiki, and ye'r right, It should be a lifestyle change. There are many things and hobbies I would love to take up that my weight prevents me from doing at the moment (like paragliding and skiing). So My focus is on getting the weight down, and setting a lifestyle about getting kicks and buzzes from these healthy things rather than eating.

    The dream for me is to be in shape by next summer to start trying a few of these things. And I don't think that's unrealistic :)

    Thanks again for all your support. Maybe I check back my weight here so I can share my story? (Or where is the best place for that?)

    Thanks.
  • yksdoris
    yksdoris Posts: 327 Member
    You can do it! if you can build calorie counting as a daily habit like brushing your teeth then all will be good.

    going from your current 115 to 88; a 27 kg loss is definitely do-able, just give yourself time! Losing the weight WILL be faster than 5 years it took you to put it on, just please don't get discouraged if you're 4 months in and it seems to be going slow. make it a mantra: you didn't put it on in such a short time, it won't come off in such a short time. Slow and steady wins the race.

    It took me a bit less than a year to shed 18 kg going from obese to normal category.
  • queenbea77
    queenbea77 Posts: 404 Member
    Welcome! First off - forget what Wikipedia says. Just because "most people fail doesn't mean you will". Take small steps & do one thing at a time & when you are doing that start another. For example after you have figured out you daily caloric count work on cleaning up your food - if its incorporating more veggies once you've done that then work on cutting out sweets etc. do the same for exercise. If you never worked out slowly add workouts, start with just parking further away in the parking lot or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Add a couple walks or trips to the gym & once you are used to that add another etc. start out walking on the treadmill & eventually alternate running. You get the idea. If you try to totally clean all the junk out of your diet & jump into working out everyday you are going to burn out quickly, possibly hurt yourself & give up. I don't know about you but for.myself if I "do away with a certain food group" I find I get to the point where once I cave in & have it I pig out so I've learned that "no food is off limits" - I just have it in moderation. I love ice cream so if I'm going to treat myself to ice cream I have a baby cone instead of a regular size and I make sure I've allowed the calories for it. So on those times you want to have beer - have it. Have one instead of 3 and make sure you've figured in the calories for it. Have a salad for lunch that day or grilled chicken & steamed veggies for dinner. And as far as a "cheat day" you know if you can have it and be able to limit yourself to just one cheat day. Good luck!

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