Starting Over After Grief

It's a terrible shock losing both your parents so close together. As you've discovered, it can affect you in ways you don't realize at the time. When you wake up and come out of the stupor, though, you can take back control of your life.

Katyru, first I think you should know that both your Mom and Dad would be very proud of you. All parents want their children to be healthy and happy. By taking care of yourself, you honor them. I do understand what it is to be buried by grief. I lost my son in 2008. He was only 37 and he had a heart attack. For many years, I think I was trying to kill myself with food. I didn't really care if I lived or died. Now, after several years, I realize what a precious gift my son was and how lucky I am that my son was a wonderful, good man who was very happy. Over the last year I have lost over 40 pounds. I'm eating right, exercising and want to honor my son by living life to the fullest. I am also a mother to a wonderful young woman, I have a wonderful step daughter I love, 2 granddaughters and a husband that loves me. I am blessed.

So sorry for the loss of your parents. My mum passed away last month and during her battle to overcome cancer, I regained some weight I had lost. My dad is terminally ill. I'm just starting to get myself a bit on track. If you would like to add me, please do. Take care and wishing you success with your goals. ~Elizabeth

I'm very sorry for your loss. Loosing a parent is one of the hardest things I have ever experienced. I lost my dad Christmas Eve 2011. The holidays are very difficult for me. I watched my dad waste away to Alzheimer's, which was not easy to do. Both you mom and your dad would be so proud of you for continuing to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Feel free to add me, I would love to go on the journey with you.

To all those who have shared their stories here, I'm sorry. Mine is my mom died from a rare drain tumor when she was 55 yo. 3 months before my wedding. I had suffered from an eating disorder for several years before her death and it became the primary way I dealt w my grief for many many years. The end of this month it will be 20 years since her death. I am finally truly recovering. Grief is so challenging as it's something that we need to learn to live with. Hugs to you all! Feel free to add me! ❤️

My father was diagnosed in 2010, but we knew he was sick a couple years earlier. We lost his sister in September, 2012 - the day of her funeral was the last day dad drove a vehicle. He passed in March, 2015 and spent the last 6 months of his life in a nursing home as care for him at home was impossible (and it did not help that my mother was turning her back on him for another man). The day we buried dad, mom moved out of their home and in with her boyfriend. A few months later she stood on the back porch of the house that my dad built and married this man. Our relationship is strained, at best, as I know his history with women and she will not see it

While dad was at home, I spent most weekends with him from daylight until dark - that was a blessing as we became close, after a really rotten relationship growing up. If I could get him to eat a cookie, I ate a cookie. Same with chips, breakfast, anything.....I had lost 30 pounds at that point and then gained some back. The few weeks before his death I had lost a bit more weight and then, after he died, something snapped. When I went back to my doctor in March of this year, I had gained 17 pounds and was a mess. He put me on a very low dose antidepressant and told me to keep up my exercise routine - that exercise is all that has saved me in the last six years

The scale has stopped going up, and I know it will go down. Being an emotional eater, it is a daily, sometimes hourly, battle. I would not wish him back like he was, but I grieve the loss of my parents at the same time.

We can get through this, it takes time and there will be good days and bad days.

So sorry for your losses. I can't imagine losing both parents. I lost my grandma in sept, cousin in Oct and my Dad the end of December. Huge losses to my family. My dad was due to heart attack. So I'm trying to be healthier as well. Just started mfp in feb. Best of luck to you, keep yourself healthy!