22 and slowly dying

You have done yourself a favor by posting your feelings here. Don't hide them from anyone. This site will give you a community to help you through your struggle and as good as it is you may need professional help. Seek medical help. They can direct you to groups that you can join for support. Don't hide. That will not help you.
My son played football in high school and college. He tore his ACL and is in a struggle now with his weight. He is over three bills as they call it. An ex OL. Portion control is so important as is the choice of what you eat. I see his struggle every day.
I have heard about a group called TOPS. Taking off pounds sensibly. See if there is one near you. I think it's either free or low cost.
Please please stay on this site. Add me as a friend. I will send a request. This is a good place for you to find help support and motivation.
-an ex football Mom.

Sorry to hear you are having a tough time lovely. If you are an emotional eater (i am) the best thing i've found is only stock the cupboard and fridge with healthy foods, that way if you want to snack it's healthy and not unhealthy. And if you do want unhealthy food you have to get up and go get it. I'd go and speak to your GP about counselling and if there is anything they can do to help. The main problem you might find is that you might be too heavy for surgery which means you would need to lose weight to be eligible for a gastric band etc so they should be able to help you.

Take a picture of yourself and put it on the fridge, then take an old picture of yourself or find a picture of what you want to look like as a motivational reminder. Now, I've done this and it kind of works, but I also put a new background on my phone (one of those before and after kinds). It is a picture I found on google of someone who looked like I do now and now looks like I want to. For me that helps more than the one on the fridge bc I am always near my phone. I also cook my food 2-3 days ahead of time so I don't have any excuses when I am in a hurry or just don't feel like cooking, etc. Another thing I like is literally having a schedule to workout and eat. I'm not much for working out at home by myself-I give myself too many excuses, but I have found that if I schedule it like a doctor's appointment I do much better. Make sure you do it for atleast three days in a row, no matter how much you really don't want to, then you will be surprised at how much easier it becomes. It takes 3 days to make a habit, but 3 months to break one. Try to make a new good habit. Hope this helps, feel free to message me if you want.

I totally get what you are saying. I honestly feel if I can do it ANYONE can. I have been where you are and there is hope. A little will power and maybe some therapy and you will be well on your way.

There are some therapy services that are in the US that are partially funded. Use the internet to have a look when I get home later I will see what I can dig out for you.

In the meantime try and at least work on your snacking and maybe making other small changes like no added sugar drinks?

Baby steps...

Hello myfitnesspal community. I'm a 22 year old male and I can slowly feel myself dying. I have always been overweight but not to this severity. when I was 16 as a freshman in high school I weighed about 250lbs. I played football so I was pretty active for the year. Sophomore year I jumped upto 280lbs and I had stopped playing football. At the end of my sophomore year I had started taking a ADHD medication that had a appetite suppressant as a side effect within 1 month I had dropped down to 233lbs. Ever since then I had only gone up in weight reaching a high of 360lbs for over a year... in the last 6 months I've gone up to 400 lbs. I don't want to live like this anymore. I've tried every fad diet and some of my sister's training but nothing has ever worked for me. I would say my daily calorie intake is between 4000-7000. I know that is way above my means but I can't help it. If something is there to eat I will eat it. I feel disgusted with myself. I want to be fit and healthy for the first time in my life. Can anyone help me.

The only person that can help you is you. We can give you advice and support but the action has to come form you. You've written a post so it means that you realise something has to change. There are some great links people have posted and also as others have suggested a visit to discuss this with your doctor could be a great next step.

So you've made one step by admitting and realising you need to do something so now for the next step. Good luck

This - the ball is in your court. I'm only going to add that you should definitely do it NOW. Please do not wait for years and years trying every fad that comes along. You'll end up way down the road with nothing to show except more depression and frustration. Read the links posted earlier in your thread and educate yourself on how to make your body the awesome machine it can be. Work hard, eat right (and enough) and enjoy the benefits of health - while you're still young.

^ All of this. I'll add that there are a handful of members here who have lost 150+ pounds. I'd seek them out. You can be healthy and you are capable of making the change. It's a matter of actually doing it. That's up to you.

Gastric Bypass is a great option for some people, however if you don't learn self-control even that won't work. My Husband was 353 lbs last summer when he was told that as a 40 year old he would need a hip replacement yet the Dr. who told him that would never do it on a morbidly obese man. SOoooo we got to work first eating healthy, smaller portions, drinking lots of water or calorie free drinks but most importantly we prayed with out the help from the Lord we wouldn't have gotten as far as we have. With diet alone my husband lost 50lbs by Christmas. We joined the YMCA and started exercising and he lost another 25lbs before he had the gastric sleeve surgery. Had he not learned the self control before the surgery I don't believe he would have done so well or that his future in maintaining the weight loss will be good. He is now down 130lbs and feels so much better. I pray that you find strength, guidance and comfort in the Lord.

Depending on the other medical factors at play, gastric bypass may be a good option for you. The opinions vary on this site regarding whether or not you *should* or "should not* have weight loss surgery. I've lost 200+ pounds, maintained the loss for nearly five years, and I would never tell someone what they *should* or *should not* do, but speaking to your Dr will shed some light on your options.

Best of luck.

You should try talking to your doctor they can set you up with the right people to help you from dietitian to counseling. I would agree with others start slow doing just one or two changes till you feel that change is under control then add a new change. That is what I am doing. My goal says 10lbs but I need to lose at least 100lbs. I am starting small to not get discouraged.

i think everyone has everything covered advice wise. i just wanna say YOU CAN DO THIS! add me if you need some support

You have taken a brave and important first step: Reaching out for help.

I would love to be your friend if you're willing to give this a shot.

There are people who want to see you live. Remember that.

You are most definitely not alone. Even a drug abuse counselor may be able to help you if you have a food addiction problem. I know I do. I love the way comfort foods make me feel because they produce certain chemicals like dopamine (the body's natural pain killers) in your body. We all have to start somewhere. Just know that what you're aiming for is consistency, and it will take years to lose the weight, and there is nothing wrong with that. It is better that way. Sometimes this place has free webinars, and they may be helpful:

http://psychologyofeating.com/

Hello myfitnesspal community. I'm a 22 year old male and I can slowly feel myself dying. I have always been overweight but not to this severity. when I was 16 as a freshman in high school I weighed about 250lbs. I played football so I was pretty active for the year. Sophomore year I jumped upto 280lbs and I had stopped playing football. At the end of my sophomore year I had started taking a ADHD medication that had a appetite suppressant as a side effect within 1 month I had dropped down to 233lbs. Ever since then I had only gone up in weight reaching a high of 360lbs for over a year... in the last 6 months I've gone up to 400 lbs. I don't want to live like this anymore. I've tried every fad diet and some of my sister's training but nothing has ever worked for me. I would say my daily calorie intake is between 4000-7000. I know that is way above my means but I can't help it. If something is there to eat I will eat it. I feel disgusted with myself. I want to be fit and healthy for the first time in my life. Can anyone help me.

baby steps..don't try to take on too much at once

It's achievable, it's not going to be easy, and it's not going to be quick, but if you're really serious about losing the weight you absolutely can.

The first step is admitting you need help, which you've already done. The second, and hardest, is actually doing something about it.

As many people above have mentioned, you should probably go see a doctor. Even if they aren't a nutrition expert, they can point you in the direction of someone who can help you. Look into an over eaters support group or an online nutritionist consultation.

If you can't get to a doctor right away, at least start logging everything you eat for the next week. This will give you a clear idea of how many calories you eat per day. Take baby steps, if you ate 2 large burgers and a large fry, try only having 1 burger and a fry. Then work your way down to a medium size fry. It might be months down the road before you get to that point, but the next step is to reduce those calories. Once you're comfortable and don't feel hungry ALL the time, try to get down to your recommended calorie allowances. If your're currently eating more than double your recommended daily calories, trying cutting your calories in half to start with. Also, drink LOTS of water. You might be surprised how often you're mistaking thirst for hunger. I still have that problem, but if you can drink a glass of water when you feel hungry, wait 5 minutes and see if you are still hungry, you'll be able to cut those extra calories from your diet pretty easily.

Everybody on this website is here because of weight problems. Some are here to lose weight, some are here to gain weight, and some are here to maintain the weight they have lost. Nobody here is going to judge you or make fun of you, and if by some small chance someone does, you've got about 1000 other people here right behind you supporting you all the way. The point I'm getting at, is you're never alone here and if you need someone to ask advice, someone to celebrate your future success with, or even just some friends to hang out with online for a while, we're all here to do that for you.

Best of luck to you!

I have been up and down in my weight many times and the hardest thing is to get started! I wish when I was in my 20's and facing an uphill battle that I had myfitnesspal because really using it honestly and truly makes you accountable and starts adjusting your mind set. It is a hard battle but mentally in just a few weeks once you find the control you will feel in control and start living again! Having been at the beginning point many times in my life I would suggest starting at a doctor and that if you can finance it you find a good gym--not a 10 dollar a month kind of deal, but one that has good certified trainers, offers wellness assessments and some personal training to get you on the right path. We all know in theory how to lose weight but getting a real plan by a professional really makes a difference.

Start slow. You are not going to do a 90 minute boot camp video on the first out, in fact 10 minutes of walking might be a good start but my most recent recharge after no exercise in many moons and I improved dramatically in just a week. You also cannot starve. Focus on being active. Turn off the TV and video games and do something, anything else you enjoy-shopping, going to the arcade, bowling, swimming...playing cards even...you burn more calories doing just about anything else because you will burn more calories and be less tempted to sit and eat. Do the exercises you cannot do now in the pool or the lake or the ocean and eventually some of that will translate to land.

Don't go on a crash diet. Really allow myfitnesspal to guide you in how many calories you need--start with just a pound loss a week goal and then as you gain control you can add more--the first step is to realizing some life modifications you can make--like taking sugar out of your coffee or perhaps your late night snack is bigger than your lunch. Another trick I have used is instead of cutting my intake I force myself to eat a big salad at lunch or dinner with no dressing just lemon pepper and then I wait five minutes before a meal and eat til I am full. It helps curb the appetite for the high fat and high carb items.

LIke you I have ADD and focusing on long bursts on a treadmill or any other exercise is mentally painful. I opt to use different cardio machines and break up the boring and have found that weight training is not only more effective but keeps me from being bored. That might not be for you, but find something you enjoy--martial arts, biking, whatever because you will stick with it.

Happy to support you! I think we all need a group of people who understand to keep us on track!

Lots of great advice here ..... lower your calories, choose healthier foods, and move more each day .....

It's your decisions each day that will turn your life around !

A member recently wrote this & I found it very true:

What is it that you have to change in order to make that “lifestyle change”? YOUR MIND ! Your mind is by far the most important asset for any sort of change to take place. If you can't motivate yourself, if you can't give yourself the ambition to actually do what it takes to succeed, then you can try every cliché diet or adopt any “lifestyle” under the sun, but nothing in the end will change ...... because your mind wasn't prepared to want success more than anything.

I have this sticky on my laptop:

If we wait for the moment when everything is ready to begin something, we will never begin. And when we want to give up, remember why we started !

Best of luck to you :drinker: