Advice wanted

w0ops
w0ops Posts: 9 Member
in Motivation and Support
Hey guys,

This is a struggle for me to come on here and reach out - I'm generally a very independent person and have taken off more than 80 lbs in the past without surgery, outside help or support. This time seems a little bit different and I just can't seem to get it together.

About 3 years ago I started putting on weight a little at a time (a few years after I initially lost it) and it bothered me - just not enough at that point to do something about it. Then I hit 160lbs and I started to talk myself into getting back into the gym - I went for a few weeks and kept a diligent food diary on weight watchers and lost a few pounds and fell off and gave up - it wasn't coming off fast enough. The same situation at 180lbs .. and now I'm tipping the scale at 205lbs (IN ALMOST 3 YEARS I GAINED 82 LBS!!). You can gasp now.

I'm at the point now where I'm avoiding friends and family because I'm embarrassed. I've considered the Lapband too but (thank goodness) I don't have any other ailments but obesity. I've done slim-fast and all that jazz along with diet pills but I'm lacking consistency. My boyfriend keeps telling me to get back on the diet and exercise regimen and it'll come off, which frustrates the hell out of me (he had put on weight as well and dropped 60lbs in 3 months) but I know he's right!

I'm wondering if I, by yo-yo dieting and exercising sporadically on and off for a couple of years, my body will not respond as quickly as it had in the past to working out and dieting?

What I really want is some real advice on how to jump start my life again on the right path. I have my best friends wedding coming up in June and I'd like to be a reasonable size by then. Any advice is really appreciated ...

Replies

  • VelveteenArabian
    VelveteenArabian Posts: 758 Member
    Consistency is key. It can take a person several weeks before the scale budges, even if they're doing all the right things. The diet pills and fad diets won't work long term so I wouldn't even bother trying those.

    Rapid weight loss is not healthy and not sustainable. I don't know how much you were losing the last time you tried but you were probably losing at a healthy rate. 2 pounds a week is a fair bit to lose so a lot of people just shoot for 1. Remember that to lose 1 pound that's a 3500 calorie deficit you have to get and maintain. To put it into perspective, 3500 calories for some of us is 1-2 days worth of food!

    Set the goals for yourself if that helps but not calendar ones.

    Yes some people like your BF will lose a bunch of weight really fast. Some of us won't. It depends on a variety of reasons including why we're heavy in the first place. Do not compare yourself. You are you. What works for you may not work for someone else. What works for someone else may not work for you.
  • justdoit1106
    justdoit1106 Posts: 20 Member
    Hi,
    I've recently had a course of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy as I was feeling really low a couple of months ago. Since doing the CBT I have joined a gym and started using MFP again. I didn't start out giving myself massive goals or putting myself under any pressure, I just started. And am now 6 lbs lighter.
    If you wait until your feel motivated you'll never do it, the motivation won't come. If you just make a start, go for a walk, even if you don't want to then your motivation will soon follow. Break it down in to tiny manageable steps.
    Hope it helps and good luck.
  • w0ops
    w0ops Posts: 9 Member
    Thank you both!

    I'm going to try setting smaller goals and get moving.

    Is it possible for your body to get accommodating to exercising on and off making it harder to shed weight?
  • justdoit1106
    justdoit1106 Posts: 20 Member
    Is it possible for your body to get accommodating to exercising on and off making it harder to shed weight?

    I'm sorry I don't know! I would have thought calories in v calories out regardless of previous 'on/off' exercising but I'm certainly no expert!!
  • lambchoplewis1
    lambchoplewis1 Posts: 156 Member
    Hi,
    I've recently had a course of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy as I was feeling really low a couple of months ago. Since doing the CBT I have joined a gym and started using MFP again. I didn't start out giving myself massive goals or putting myself under any pressure, I just started. And am now 6 lbs lighter.
    If you wait until your feel motivated you'll never do it, the motivation won't come. If you just make a start, go for a walk, even if you don't want to then your motivation will soon follow. Break it down in to tiny manageable steps.
    Hope it helps and good luck.

    I love CBT. Over 20 yrs ago I read a book on this and it has stuck with me!!! You just start even if u don't want to. Eventually it is habit and before. Know it, u like it. It sounds simple but it works!!!

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