Unemployed and have gained 15.5 since - need help

I know how it can be tough, I've been there and done that. I find keeping myself busy helps. Look for inexpensive community classes that you could attend and perhaps think about volunteering.

If you dont have a gym, then use something like videos on youtube or try fitness blender.
Walking was a good start, it gets you moving, burns useful calories off and getting out and about will help uoi feel more a part of things.

If you live alone and you cant moderate then its your responsibility for what food you have in your own house, so you can learn about eating more healthily and shop accordingly. If you wnat to lose weight then its going to mean you consistently meeting a calorie deficit. You will find it easier if you shift part of your consumption to fruit, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein.

In terms of looking for a job I rate What colour is your parachute, get a 2nd hand copy from ebay they are cheap it doesnt matter if its the latest, becayse the message is the same. It explains what you need to know about job hunting and is also very supportive.

As part of improving your employability you need to be able to convince someone else to hire you. If you wnat a job then you will need to rise above the depression to increase your chances. 15lbs you can get rid of reasonably in 2-4 months imo depending the effort you putin. Maybe make your weight loss and exercise part of your overall job search and self improvement plan.

Ibe thing you should consider is volunteering, it will help your resume, help you socialise, help the charity and give you more structure.

Hugs, this is hard - I feel so awful for your situation. BUT, congrats, you took the first step and reached out to all of us. You fit in here, so we can be your people until you find some "real" ones.

999tigger wrote: »

What colour is your parachute

Go to the library & check this book & others like it out for free + the library often has free computer classes, resume classes, etc. that will at least keep you active even if you don't learn anything new.

999tigger wrote: »

thing you should consider is volunteering, it will help your resume, help you socialise, help the charity and give you more structure.

Definitely find a volunteer position, or a holiday position, or go to a temp agency - you never know who you will meet while volunteering & with a temp agency you may be introduced to new jobs & companies that you had not thought of before. Plus, if you are on unemployment (here anyway), you can work temp jobs - report your income & that it is a temp job, you won't get paid unemployment but you still do weekly check-ins & keep your unemployment claim active while working temp jobs.

When I was unemployed in the past I had a schedule for myself, wake up at 5 am just like as if I had a job & get ready for the day - spend X number of hours searching for & applying to jobs - usually by the afternoon all the new positions had been applied to so then I would get in a good at home workout & prep healthy food, clean & organize my home, etc.

Keep reading & learning, keep active and eating healthy, find all the free activities you can, keep as busy & involved as possible. These things will make you more attractive to employers.

I've been there. Got laid off with a friend. I gained weight because I was so depressed. I was using wine as a sleep aid. I was filling my day with binge eating while browsing job postings. Wish I had taken all the free time I had and used it more productively, but depression will do that to you. I found a great job at the end of it, but the depression lasted a while. Finally about a year into the new job is when I decided that I should do something to make myself happy and do something about the weight.

My friend did the opposite. He used all of his free time to exercise and focus on nutrition. Seriously, he got into triathlon training and spent 6 hours in the gym everyday. He actually is now in the national rankings for triathletes. He dropped 60 lbs because of it.

I'm not saying that my friend did the right thing, but there's a healthy balance between the two. Try to find some time to go workout during the day. Exercise will do amazing things for your mood and outlook. Also, gyms tend to be less crowded during the day, so double bonus.

Some things that can help:

Volunteer- it will help to give you a sense of purpose and can help you get exercise

Take advantage of your local library- you can learn something new, join book groups or job search clubs, and check out workout videos so you can get your exercise on for free

If religious, check out a church/temple/mosque/etc - there are always many ways to get involved

I was out of work for a year during the recession and became an expert on coming up with things to do for free. Unfortunately I had a hard time overcoming guilt if I didn't apply to at least X number of jobs per day, so I spent pretty much 50-60 hours per week applying.

If it works for you to go to the library, then go everyday.
Also, the library will have ebooks you can download from home electronically. See if you can get free music also.
Find a meetup.com group or two with people of similar interests.
You have time on your hands, so you can make little grocery shopping trips three times a week. (in other words, you do not have to keep much food in the house.)
Get enough sleep on a regular schedule. Try to keep other activities to a schedule as well.

I work from home a lot of the time. Here's what helps me: I don't let myself eat anything between breakfast and lunch; I can go into the kitchen for more water, or to make a cup of tea, but not to eat. If I'm truly hungry after a glass of water, I'll have a pickle or a couple of celery stalks. I have a sensible lunch, and then no snacks until at least 4 pm.

I also get up and move every 45 minutes. (Usually my coffee, tea, and water consumption ensures that I will do this without setting a timer!) I'll do some stretching or a couple of burpees when I get up, especially if I feel lethargic.

Basically I treat food as fuel during the day, and consume only what I think I need. I find other rewards: e.g., if I work for 50 minutes straight, I can spend 5 minutes on the MFP forums.

Get into the habit of pre-logging your diary so you have your whole day planned out. Also, get out there and move. Best of luck!