Problems with self image, and motivation to go further

carlaunderconstruction
carlaunderconstruction Posts: 158 Member
in Motivation and Support
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Okay this is my first time trying to post images, so hopefully it works okay. I have lost over 40 pounds over the past few years. I go through periods of loss, and then I manage to maintain. Being able to maintain any loss is huge for me. However I have a terrible concept of how fat I am at the moment. I have been living in China for the last seven months, and I find it very difficult. For example a male colleague was complaining about how he has lost 10 lbs without trying, and he is now 128 lbs! I feel fatter than ever, but at the same time I lack the motivation to push my body further to lose more weight. I struggle with binge eating, and I work very hard in an attempt to live a healthy lifestyle.

Replies

  • spoiledpuppies
    spoiledpuppies Posts: 675 Member
    You've maintained, and you're right--that's huge! Good for you! I think the most important thing is to focus on the self-image part--no comparing to other people. You're beautiful right now. Maybe you do just maintain for awhile--enjoy where you are. So many of us out here talk about a time when we've thought of ourselves as fat; but then when we see pictures from that time, we realize we actually looked good. How wonderful would it be if you can get yourself to realize that in the present?

    Two things I noticed:
    1. You said you work hard "in an attempt" to live a healthy lifestyle. Maybe use the Yoda mantra of "Do or do not. There is no try." Remove that "in an attempt" part from your sentence, and focus on the fact that you CAN do this! Be strong in your conviction.
    2. And not only CAN you do this, you ARE doing this. I saw that you mentioned wanting to be in prime shape for hiking this summer. There's part of your healthy lifestyle. Enjoy it!
  • leslisa
    leslisa Posts: 1,350 Member
    Are you happy with your exercise? Just wondering because that's huge for me. If I'm not happy I don't do it. I don't lift. I don't go to the gym. I do my abs and I run (or more recently walk since I have a current knee injury). I sleep in my running clothes so I don't have to change into them in the morning because that makes me even happier. I go to the beach and play in the waves. Hiking's fun, too.

    About the food. I don't know that I'm overly "motivated". What I do is weekly average instead of daily. Say my base is 1200. If I eat 1000 three days out of the seven that means that one day out of the seven I'm having 600 extra cals. It keeps me steady and makes me happy, too.

    And if you are maintaining, maybe worry less about the weight and worry more about the happy and healthy. Lots of folks are skinnier than me. If I reach my goal I'll be thrilled but if I don't I'm not going to worry too much so long as I keep getting to do the fun stuff in life.

    And for the record, power shopping is exercise, at least I think it is ;).

    Great job so far, keep it up!
  • carlaunderconstruction
    carlaunderconstruction Posts: 158 Member
    Thanks for the replies everyone. Leslisa: I am happy with my exercise. I don't do the gym anymore. Air quality permitting I run. Other than that I climb stairs, walk, occasionally swim, and do yoga at home. I love hiking so much! I don't have much access where I live, but I have been out on a few weekend adventures in the past few months.
    For food I don't know if a weekly average would work for me, and honestly I eat 1000 calories by lunch most days.
  • HorseMom92
    HorseMom92 Posts: 1
    You should be exceptionally proud of yourself! Way to go for trying to be the best you, for being committed to your health and for working hard to get for of those 40lbs! I've never posted here before but came looking at the "community" tonight because I'm devastated about my weight. I'm embarrassed humiliated ashamed. I'm trying to focus on what positives there are as well as putting away those things I cannot control. I know all about how easy it is for men to lose weight as well, my husband lost 23lbs in a month just by cutting his calories to 2400 a day. I exercise religiously eat no more than 1600 a day and keep the same weight which disgusts me (my body that is). Make yourself the priority even if it's just a healthy lifestyle not necessarily weight loss focused only. Just giving you the advice I'm giving myself. May you know you're beautiful and enjoy life's journey. Blessings
  • leslisa
    leslisa Posts: 1,350 Member
    Thanks for the replies everyone. Leslisa: I am happy with my exercise. I don't do the gym anymore. Air quality permitting I run. Other than that I climb stairs, walk, occasionally swim, and do yoga at home. I love hiking so much! I don't have much access where I live, but I have been out on a few weekend adventures in the past few months.
    For food I don't know if a weekly average would work for me, and honestly I eat 1000 calories by lunch most days.

    Wow! I eat 1k most whole days. Have you tried food subs? Like yogurt for ice cream or whole wheat fat free waffles for pancakes? Some people can't do it, but a lot of folks I know have made it work. If you aren't looking to lower the cals, no worries. It was just a thought :bigsmile: .
  • Ferrous_Female_Dog
    Ferrous_Female_Dog Posts: 221 Member
    Thanks for the replies everyone. Leslisa: I am happy with my exercise. I don't do the gym anymore. Air quality permitting I run. Other than that I climb stairs, walk, occasionally swim, and do yoga at home. I love hiking so much! I don't have much access where I live, but I have been out on a few weekend adventures in the past few months.
    For food I don't know if a weekly average would work for me, and honestly I eat 1000 calories by lunch most days.

    Wow! I eat 1k most whole days. Have you tried food subs? Like yogurt for ice cream or whole wheat fat free waffles for pancakes? Some people can't do it, but a lot of folks I know have made it work. If you aren't looking to lower the cals, no worries. It was just a thought :bigsmile: .

    I really hope you're not suggesting she eat 1000 calories a day.

    No. Just no.

    OP, work on learning to love yourself and not comparing yourself to others. If you don't love yourself first, you will never be happy with your body.
  • leslisa
    leslisa Posts: 1,350 Member
    Nope. I'm not. I do eat 1k most days but I'm not suggesting that for anyone else. Since I'm on a weekly diet it means I eat my extra cals on Sat or Sun usually. What I meant is that I am unsure how to address eating 1k prior to lunch and that food subs might work to bring that number down slightly. For example if toast for breakfast makes me happy, I might eat 50 cal a slice toast instead of 90 cal a slice toast. It's a 40 cal diff and I'm still eating toast. My apologies for not wording that better.

    That being said, don't suggest 1k is too low for my personal situation. My docs are fine with my diet (They helped me decide what to do) and I'm not underweight (132 lbs).
  • carlaunderconstruction
    carlaunderconstruction Posts: 158 Member
    I'm not concerned about eating so much by lunch. I am expending a lot of energy in the morning (kindergarten, nough said), and I need the food. I also don't believe in subbing foods. My lack of continued weight loss is due to evening binges. I'm trying to work on what I can do instead of eating in the evening.

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