Starting a 200+ pound weight loss journey

npatten1
npatten1 Posts: 8 Member
in Getting Started
Hello, I am 41 years old and I weigh 360 pounds. It's interesting because I have seen it jump up in 20 pound increments over the last 3 years and I was literally shocked the other day when it read 360, like somehow I thought 340 (which was what I thought it would be) was ok or something. I went to a concert with my daughter the other day and could barely walk from the parking lot to the amphitheater. It was so embarrassing and painful, I had to stop 4-5 times not only to catch my breath but to rest because it felt like I was walking through mud. My legs and back hurt so bad. In reality, it wasn't that far but it was humiliating to me because I was with my friend and my two kids. I have two kids, age 16 and 21. They are fit and healthy and I am proud of them. I'm tired of my weight, I'm tired of being tired. I'm tired of saying, "that's it, I'm done....I'm going to fix it now." I know how to do this. I know the right things to eat, I know that I need to start walking and work up to more exercise. I have no significant health problems other than sleep apnea and the time is now. I've been reading a lot of posts in here and I think what I'm missing is motivation. It's funny because I have every reason to do it, I just seem to lack the drive. This seems scary to me to post this and throw these thoughts out into the ether, but maybe that is what I need. I'm going to take the following steps to start:

1. Go back to recording my food diary here...It really helped me before keep on track.
2. Stop drinking soda. All soda. Not trading regular for diet because that always brings me right back to regular somehow.
3. No more drive through food.
4. Start walking each day. Stop asking others to go get the mail. (I like to act like it's too far to get the mail. It's not, I'm just lazy)
5. Stop asking others to do stuff for me an get things for me.

Reasons why I should follow through:

1. I'm done being nervous that I won't fit in a booth at a restaurant.
2. I'm done feeling embarrassed that my family, friends and kids always ask for a table and not a booth at a restaurant because they know I probably won't fit.
3. I'm done worrying about airplane seat belts.
4. I'm done with having to special wash all my shirts so that they don't shrink and be to short for my stomach.
5. I'm done with not being able to sleep at night because I can't get comfortable enough on my back, stomach or side because of my weight.
6. I'm done with absolutely loving to swim, go to the water park etc but never going because my bathing suit is a joke and I look so huge in it.

I'm not giving up this time.
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Replies

  • toronto88
    toronto88 Posts: 21 Member
    Congratulations on getting started! Your starting steps sound like great places to start! Good luck :) You got this!
  • bdenitto
    bdenitto Posts: 210 Member
    It sounds like you have some good ideas for getting things rolling! Feel free to add me as a friend. You can do this!
  • singlemom73
    singlemom73 Posts: 21 Member
    you can do it! Feel free to add me if you want support :)
  • donnat238
    donnat238 Posts: 309 Member
    Congrats! You sound like you've got it this time! :smile:
  • pcknits
    pcknits Posts: 33 Member
    You got this! You CAN do it. Feel free to add me if you want, we can get this done together.
  • jwtriathlon
    jwtriathlon Posts: 147 Member
    You have to start somewhere and it looks like you are on the right track.
    Congratulations on making the 1st step - Acknowledging you want to do better.
    Please feel free to add me if you would like more support.
  • walker306
    walker306 Posts: 92 Member
    Good for you!! You are right…you have to be ready! I don't have much advice and I know you didn't even ask for it…but i find it very helpful to have ready a plan of things to eat. I am very bad at supper time. I eat good the rest of the day but am very ravenous by the time I come home from work. Today, for example, I was really hungry and didn't have a plan for when I got home. So I stopped at the grocery store and picked up a healthy frozen dinner that I could quickly heat up and eat once I got home instead of foraging for something, or anything, most likely unhealthy! It worked for me today. It was a success in my book!

    As far as eating fast food, I don't go anymore unless I know what food will fit into my plan. I don't know how many times you eat fast food in a week, but cut it down to at least one half and substitute good food/calories. It would still be cutting back!

    I admire your thoughts on your feelings and what your "wants" are. You can do this! I hope your family will support you, as well. Hopefully you get support here.

    It's time! for you and me and a lot of other people!
  • SPECIALKAYEKAYE
    SPECIALKAYEKAYE Posts: 10 Member
    ITS NOT EASY...BUT WHEN YOU HAVE SUPPORT FROM OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME TYPE OF SHOES,IT TRULY DOES HELP!!! SO LET'S GET IT CRACKIN'!!! WE CAN DO THIS!!!!! FEEL FREE TO ADD ME AS YOUR FRIEND :smile:
  • sam1053
    sam1053 Posts: 43 Member
    You've taken the first step, CONGRATULATIONS!
  • tink9881
    tink9881 Posts: 4 Member
    You know exactly what to do and you're getting yourself into the right mindset to succeed! You CAN and you WILL do this! Sure, you'll have bad days... we all do. You'll also get to the point where you plateau from losing weight and get really discouraged. But in the long run, you'll lose the weight, get healthy, and feel so much better. Celebrate your small victories... going to get the mail, saying no when co-workers bring sweets to work, eating grilled chicken instead of fried (sigh... but it's so delicious)... until you reach your big victory! You have already come to the right place and have a great support network of people behind you. I'm happy to be a pal and support each other on our journeys. Tough journeys they are! My profile photo is definitely not me, but it helps motivate me. I have about 100 pounds to lose before I'm at a "healthy" range.

    So, here's to health and happiness! Let's do this! :)
  • shaneprince
    shaneprince Posts: 1
    Congrats on you starting! I am 4 weeks into my journey and it's a daily struggle....well, a nightly struggle. I do great during the day. High protein, low carb, low calorie all the way. Spinning class or the treadmill after work. Then, like a burglar coming to steal my willpower, at night I gotta gotta have my sweets. Working hard at filling the fridge with fruit instead of ice cream. I'll get there and so will you!
  • BettJo64
    BettJo64 Posts: 760 Member
    hey girl :flowerforyou: I resemble every single thing you said! I'm here for you! I'm new here, too, so let's do this together!!!
  • thegreatcanook
    thegreatcanook Posts: 2,419 Member
    You can do this! Surround yourself with people who are succeeding!
  • LunaDoll08
    LunaDoll08 Posts: 9 Member
    You can and you WILL be successful! You can do this! :-)
  • kmariet7
    kmariet7 Posts: 229 Member
    Its awesome that you are ready! Feel free to FR me for support!
  • Missjulesdid
    Missjulesdid Posts: 1,444 Member
    I'm 42 and my highest weight was also 360 giving me a BMI of 60. The worst thing for me was that I felt like I couldn't get a deep enough breath. I'd have to lift my arms over my head sometimes to get a deep breath. UG I will NEVER forget how that felt. Wishing you the very BEST with your weight loss journey.
  • DanniB423
    DanniB423 Posts: 777 Member
    Seeing you so ready to go is inspirational! I have a long journey ahead and I am only on day 3. We can DO it!!
  • DanniB423
    DanniB423 Posts: 777 Member
    Your list is exactly how I feel and mine would look very similar.
  • newdaydawning79
    newdaydawning79 Posts: 1,503 Member
    I sent you a friend request. This is my third or fourth attempt to do this and stick with it. We can do it!
  • Pusarah
    Pusarah Posts: 124 Member
    Best of luck starting! You sound very much like myself, and a lot of your worries and concerns are my own. I always take a deep breath before getting in a booth and hope for the best lol
    I wish you lots of success, being honest with yourself and others is really difficult. You've taken some great steps so far...good luck with keeping it going!
    *hugs*
  • Peloton73
    Peloton73 Posts: 148 Member
    I wish you the best of luck! While there's no one size fits all method to this, here's a few simple things that helped me initially. I lost 30 pounds in 3 months and have a new goal of another 30 pounds. Maybe a few of these tips can help:

    1- No added sugar. Ever. No sugar substitutes. Nothing. Nada. I get my sweet fill from strawberries and blueberries.
    2- No refined or processed carbohydrates and no grains. The only exception is real steel cut oats in the morning (not the quick cook). I will have half a sweet potato a few times a week on the days I have long cycling rides planned. The rest of my carbs come from vegetables and limited portions of fruits.
    3- Eliminate the beaten into your head idea that every meal should have a meat, starch, vegetable, and bread.
    4- Create meal plans and shop for the week. Shop on a full stomach. No "maybe I'll try some of that as well" at the grocery store. Stick to your meal plans.

    5- this one isn't as "simple" but it was a necessity I had to do: I disassociated myself from people who weren't going to be supportive or led a lifestyle that was counterproductive to what I was trying to achieve. I told my family and friends what I was doing and asked for their support. I gave up alcohol which meant happy hours and social gatherings were limited. I've lost some friends while inspiring other friends. I joined a few MeetUp groups and made an entirely new set of friends.

    6- Lastly, I went and saw a therapist to deal with the mental side of this. I know most don't like to open up but I wanted to get to the root of my emotional eating. It opened up deep wounds I had blocked out but boy, did I begin to feel happy who I was and it helped tremendously.

    I wish you nothing but the best!
  • Peloton73
    Peloton73 Posts: 148 Member
    I forgot one more thing which my therapist suggested (i.e. ordered): no more food rewards when I met goals. We have a tendency to reward dieting goals with splurging or treating ourselves. I had to rewire my brain that I shouldn't reward myself for something I should be doing all along. Instead, my reward is a CD download off iTunes or a trip to the movie theater (I sneak in my own guacamole and celery sticks and avoid the snack stand).. It costs the same as a food reward and I feel better.
  • m23prime
    m23prime Posts: 358 Member
    Be sensible. Be consistent.

    Find some support. This thing you are trying to do is so much easier with a few like minded folks who get the proverbial "It".

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/15651-let-s-lose-100

    That group has people at all stages of BIG loss...from daunted "Befores" to some fairly amazing "Afters", and lots and lots of "Durings", like me.

    Good luck.

    Log every day. Drink water. Sleep well. Move as much as you are able. And we will see you in the After pictures before you know it!
  • dogpaws4ever
    dogpaws4ever Posts: 29 Member
    Congrats on joining the rest of us who struggle through losing weight, but keep on trying.
    I started the last week of May and have been happy with my progress so far. The hardest part of my journey has been to force myself, each and every day out the door to go walking. I was so out of shape I felt just like you, in pain and out of breath. My walks started out at only 15 minutes and they were painful. But I kept at it and now I'm up to 45 minutes to an hour a day and I'm feeling fine.
    On another note, I eat 6 to 7 times a day. It's like I'm always eating, but I have found that keeping healthy snacks and food all ready in the fridge, and snacking, keeps me from getting hungry and then totally blowing it. The first two weeks were the hardest, but each week has gotten better as I keep working at it.
    Don't give up, we are all here to cheer you on.
  • toronto88
    toronto88 Posts: 21 Member
    "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now"

    Get it girl!

    I'm just getting started this week. Feel free to friend request me (or anyone else getting started as well). We can start together!
  • scoobydooteresa
    scoobydooteresa Posts: 20 Member
    peloton let me say wow! i like what you had to say thanks!:happy:
  • die2fat4love
    die2fat4love Posts: 149 Member
    You can do this and dont be afraid to lean on those here for support!
  • wgaue
    wgaue Posts: 222 Member
    You can do this. And we'll be right here cheering you on. :-)
  • jeh1964
    jeh1964 Posts: 2 Member
    Include me... I'd love to take this journey with you. I can use the support as well. I had a terrible time quitting smoking but
    you can't stay away from food. With smoking I say to myself "just say no" It's easier to not do it than it is to try to quit again.
    We can't say no to food. I love food!! I love vegetables and all the good stuff but I love sugar as well. It is so hard... But we can
    do it if we are here for each other. I wish you well, lets just take one day at a time.One meal at a time.
  • kherrons
    kherrons Posts: 99 Member
    You're welcome to add me :) currently working towards losing about 180 total. I have an open diary and try to be as active as possible with my friends.

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