Is the damage already done?

ducks424
ducks424 Posts: 7
in Motivation and Support
Hi everyone,

I have started losing weight. I am pretty young. I have been fat for most of my life. I have lost 20 lbs but been in a rut. I worry that the damage is already done (not to say that I shouldn't lose the weight). I am upset because I feel like being fat for most of my childhood has already taken to toll on my body. I worry that it's too late. That I can't be healthy like people I know. Almost, like a smoker or maybe alcoholic? Even though I " quit" i still did the damage. Is this true? I have 80-100 lbs to lose. I've only lost twenty. I just would like to know if I've done the damage and really messed up my life ( irreversible damage). I don't have any diseases. But I didn't eat well. I'm 220 lbs now.
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Replies

  • CuteAndCurvy83
    CuteAndCurvy83 Posts: 570 Member
    It's never to late to get fit and healthy. While there may have already been some damage done, most of it can be reversed. I'm on a journey to lose 100+ lbs, feel free to add me!
  • pander101
    pander101 Posts: 677 Member
    I feel the same way a lot of the time. So I say screw it. There's only one way to find out. Add me! ;)
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    who knows?

    But why not be the best you can be now?

    I didnt start this until I was 40. That was two years ago and it has been worth every minute. I choose me, and you should choose you because you are worth it.

    before47819967_2405.jpg

    now
    47819967_4295.jpg
    47819967_3429.jpg
  • Sunitagt
    Sunitagt Posts: 486 Member
    Now is always the best time to start. Just think about it this way, at least you aren't waiting until you're heavier to start, then you'd have that much further to go! Congrats on how well you're doing so far. You'll get to where you want to be, you just have to keep your focus on your goal.

    I think all of our experiences shape who we are, so you can wish you'd done it differently before, but then you wouldn't be who you are now. I could wish that I had been thinner as a child, in high school, in college, in my 20s, but then maybe I wouldn't have ended up with my wonderful husband and the great life we have now.
  • ihad
    ihad Posts: 7,463 Member
    You have the power to dramatically improve your life, if you embrace the opportunity and dedicate yourself to it. It's never too late to make improvements, but as you're young your body will bounce back much better now than later in life. Don't let the fear of not being perfect prevent you from getting to great. Get to it - you will be surprised at how much of a difference it makes.
  • shaynepoole
    shaynepoole Posts: 493 Member
    I'm 42 (almost 43), and lost 180+ lbs - Medically I am the healthiest I have ever been and I feel great...

    It is never too late to make changes... the body is a pretty amazing machine in its ability to repair itself
  • maQmIgh
    maQmIgh Posts: 236 Member
    The question isnt "Have you caused iriparable damage"... The question you should be asking yourself is "If I continue my life as it is, will it be a better quality of life compared to if I made changes now" and the answer would be no

    Its never to late to make improvements... You started off on the wrong track, or you turned down the wrong track at some point so far... Tomorrow is another day, draw a line under your past mistakes and start a fresh from today :)

    You will find as you lose the weight, you become happier and as such your quality of outlook improves... That cant be a bad thing.

    ...

    I doubt youve damaged yourself in a way that cant be fixed.... Work on what makes you happy :)

    :flowerforyou:
  • CuteAndCurvy83
    CuteAndCurvy83 Posts: 570 Member
    Ok so I'm totally straight, but that pic in the white set, makes me wonder if I want to be you or be ON you!!! You look amazing

    who knows?

    But why not be the best you can be now?

    I didnt start this until I was 40. That was two years ago and it has been worth every minute. I choose me, and you should choose you because you are worth it.

    before47819967_2405.jpg

    now
    47819967_4295.jpg
    47819967_3429.jpg
  • Cadori
    Cadori Posts: 4,810 Member
    I've had similar thoughts. But you will only regret it if you don't try now.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    Start now - it's never too late. And it's worth it.
  • Cranquistador
    Cranquistador Posts: 39,744 Member
    LOL thank you:blushing:


    calorie deficit and a barbell.
  • prochefonal
    prochefonal Posts: 3
    You look good, girl! I would never guess you are the same person as your before pic. Losing weight took off like 15 years!
  • SymphonynSonata
    SymphonynSonata Posts: 533 Member
    I smoked for 10 years. After quitting I could breathe better, taste better, felt better and all the little injustices I did to myself began reversing. It wasn't overnight but it was and is very worth it. I probably dodged the Cancer bullet. Weight loss is no different. :) You could throw in the towel and harm yourself further, or give your body time to heal by treating it right. Everything else will fall into place and you'll be happier and appreciate your health that much more. Good luck!
  • homemademama
    homemademama Posts: 199 Member
    Honest to god I think I went on my first diet when I was 8. And I'm still working on it. But I'd like to be healthier next month than I was last month, And even better off a year down the road. Saying you can't undo every bit of damage damage is the same black and white thinking that tells you that since you screwed up and ate 1 donut you should go ahead and eat the other 11. If you can undo some of the damage, have better stamina, breathe easier, have more energy would it still be worth it to you? Even if it's not perfect can't it still be exponentially better?
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,232 Member
    Never too late! Check out some of the success stories, they are inspirational.
  • missomgitsica
    missomgitsica Posts: 496 Member
    Not much of the damage you do to your body with gaining weight is irreversible. Just keep at it and you'll get healthier. That's basically a guarantee.

    And random fact: Three years after a smoker quits smoking, their risk of heart attack is the same as someone who has never smoked. So really . . . it's rarely too late to help yourself.
  • joanthemom8
    joanthemom8 Posts: 375 Member
    It's never too late! Don't delay, because that's just one other day that you are not being good to yourself and you deserve the best you can give yourself!:flowerforyou:
  • leantool
    leantool Posts: 365 Member
    People have gone 500+ lbs to ironman!
    Only strech marks are irreversible without surgical intervention,rest you can fix,keep at it.you will love the results.
    Good luck,work hard and enjoy
  • vjohn04
    vjohn04 Posts: 2,276 Member
    who knows?

    But why not be the best you can be now?

    I didnt start this until I was 40. That was two years ago and it has been worth every minute. I choose me, and you should choose you because you are worth it.

    before47819967_2405.jpg

    now
    47819967_4295.jpg
    47819967_3429.jpg
    *humps leg*
  • thatredheadedBAMF
    thatredheadedBAMF Posts: 25 Member
    I wondered the same thing when I started at 26. I was morbidly obese, 100 pounds overweight, and had just been diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease, an autoimmune disease of the thyroid. I felt so old- I was exhausted, slow, and in pain. I had been fat my entire life, was teased, always on diets, doctors telling me I was too fat, you name it, I heard it. Feeling so awful and being diagnosed with this illness so young was certainly a catalyst for me. But no pictures of thin people, no books, no pep talks motivated me to actually do it. I found that outside "motivation" only frustrated me. It took me YEARS to lose that weight and I went through cancer treatment in the middle of it, but I just kept on going. I just kept doing my thing: working out, making good food choices most of the time, and knowing that it was worth it because of the dramatic improvements in my quality of life. I did it for me, on my own timeline, and through trial and error. I would do it the same way again.

    I likely did do damage to my body, hence my illnesses, but it could also just be bad genes. They don't know. It's also not my fault that I was raised by people with horrible eating habits and didn't know any better. But I stopped any further damage that could be caused by a bad diet and being sedentary. It's only too late when you're dead. Seriously.
  • MzOnree
    MzOnree Posts: 124 Member
    I wondered the same thing when I started at 26. I was morbidly obese, 100 pounds overweight, and had just been diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease, an autoimmune disease of the thyroid. I felt so old- I was exhausted, slow, and in pain. I had been fat my entire life, was teased, always on diets, doctors telling me I was too fat, you name it, I heard it. Feeling so awful and being diagnosed with this illness so young was certainly a catalyst for me. But no pictures of thin people, no books, no pep talks motivated me to actually do it. I found that outside "motivation" only frustrated me. It took me YEARS to lose that weight and I went through cancer treatment in the middle of it, but I just kept on going. I just kept doing my thing: working out, making good food choices most of the time, and knowing that it was worth it because of the dramatic improvements in my quality of life. I did it for me, on my own timeline, and through trial and error. I would do it the same way again.

    I likely did do damage to my body, hence my illnesses, but it could also just be bad genes. They don't know. It's also not my fault that I was raised by people with horrible eating habits and didn't know any better. But I stopped any further damage that could be caused by a bad diet and being sedentary. It's only too late when you're dead. Seriously.

    Did you notice her last sentence? Everyone here has given you excellent advice, progress and results. You are moving in the right direction Ducks! Keep doing what you are doing! ;o)
  • AtticWindow
    AtticWindow Posts: 295 Member
    Not much of the damage you do to your body with gaining weight is irreversible. Just keep at it and you'll get healthier. That's basically a guarantee.

    And random fact: Three years after a smoker quits smoking, their risk of heart attack is the same as someone who has never smoked. So really . . . it's rarely too late to help yourself.

    To add, for OP's other example of alcohol addiction, your body also generally recovers from that as well. Your body can and will heal itself from these substances and lifestyle choices as long as you're willing to make the effort to help it.
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  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    Hi everyone,

    I have started losing weight. I am pretty young. I have been fat for most of my life. I have lost 20 lbs but been in a rut. I worry that the damage is already done (not to say that I shouldn't lose the weight). I am upset because I feel like being fat for most of my childhood has already taken to toll on my body. I worry that it's too late. That I can't be healthy like people I know. Almost, like a smoker or maybe alcoholic? Even though I " quit" i still did the damage. Is this true? I have 80-100 lbs to lose. I've only lost twenty. I just would like to know if I've done the damage and really messed up my life ( irreversible damage). I don't have any diseases. But I didn't eat well. I'm 220 lbs now.

    let's use your example for an example.

    if an alcoholic showed up right now and asked you if they should not bother quitting what would your answer be?
    what about if a chain smoker showed up?

    I dont' remember where but I read once that the lungs can and do repair themselves after a person quits smoking. To what extent I don't know. Regardless I beleive they are better off if only for not inflicting further damage. Same with the alcoholic. What if he quits today and tomorrow was going to be the day he fell asleep at an intersection while driving drunk and died in a wreck? He should have quit today then, no?

    Now for you what if in 6 months you have this "irreparable" damage but you are more thin and fit and able to deal with and manage it better. Would that not be better? I don't even think this is the case though.

    This person reversed sleep apnea http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1233530-from-severe-obstructive-sleep-apnea-to-no-sleep-apnea?hl=apnea+&page=2#posts-19881074

    Search "NSV's" in the search box to find threads of ppl who have made gains other than scale numbers and bikini pics that were affected by their health improving from weight loss. Maybe you will find one that pertains to you and whatever damage you feel you face from your past weight.

    Good luck in your goals. Keep them. They become reality. If you let them.:flowerforyou:
  • D_squareG
    D_squareG Posts: 361 Member
    You are only 18! You have a lifetime ahead of you and you have a young body. Get it done now so you can have a full and happy life!
  • cebreisch
    cebreisch Posts: 1,340 Member
    It's never ever too late. The glorious thing about this journey is that you can restart any time you want.
  • danasings
    danasings Posts: 8,218 Member
    "It's only too late if you're dead."

    Truer words have never been written.

    You're 18 years old. Your life has barely even begun, so it's definitely not too late.
  • annette_15
    annette_15 Posts: 1,657 Member
    who knows?

    But why not be the best you can be now?

    I didnt start this until I was 40. That was two years ago and it has been worth every minute. I choose me, and you should choose you because you are worth it.

    before47819967_405.jpg

    now
    47819967_4295.jg
    ig]

    I would just like to say that 20k posts is quite impressive :laugh: :flowerforyou: :drinker:
  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,834 Member
    IT IS NEVER TOO LATE!

    From this point forward, stop wasting energy hoping for a better past. You just need to keep making the better choices for eating and exercise, and make those choices as often as possible, for the rest of your life, and your body will respond in kind. It might take many months or years, but the changes WILL happen, and your body will love you for it.

    Keep it up!
  • AllieBear88
    AllieBear88 Posts: 170 Member
    I have 100+ pounds to lose and often find myself in the same rut. The best way to keep going is to look at little at a time. At least, that's what I am having to do. I'm focusing on 20 at a time. Even a 20 pound difference is good. Just looking at progress pictures by others has shown me that. It's SO easy to become overwhelmed by the bigger numbers like 80 or 100. Try not to focus on that. Heck, if you can, try not to even focus on numbers, but how you feel, how your clothes feel, etc. Just don't give up!

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