Is weight loss more important than...

Blizoria
Blizoria Posts: 15 Member
in Motivation and Support
Hi I've been struggling with loosing weight for a while. 3 years ago I loss 12kg but i gained it all back again and have been having trouble scince. While I'm not overly huge I've been having trouble finding time to go the the gym scince I started Uni.

Before Uni loosing weight was easy because I can just go after work. But now with lectures, assignments, exams AND work. I just cant find the time. My boyfriend suggested putting weight loss first over Uni.

I was shocked. Really? Loosing weight is more important than education? I hate that oh I'm scared for your health in the future bullsh*t beacuse even though I'm a little over weight I'm not unhealthy. The only reason I lost weight in the first place is to look good. NOT to be "healthy"

Sorry for the rant. But I never thought avoiding potential health problems that MIGHT happen is more important than Uni. Im feeling down beacuse of it.

Any advice would be great.

tl dr: Boyfriend wants me to put off uni to lose weight.

Replies

  • Shells918
    Shells918 Posts: 1,070 Member
    I think it's quite possible to do both.
    Education is important.
    Being healthy is also important.
    But they are not exclusive to each other.
    First look at what you're eating. Start logging your food and eat at a deficit. That's what will help you lose weight.
    Can you walk to class? In between classes? Between school and work? Even 10 minutes to start.
    Once you get in the swing, you might find the time to get to the gym a few days a week.

    Don't put off school. You'll regret it.
  • Blizoria
    Blizoria Posts: 15 Member
    Yeah true. It was easy before because I had a personal trainer telling what to do and a strict deit and exercise routine to stick to. But scince that all change its hard moulding that into my new lifestyle. I guess I have to try harder to accommodate both. Thank you :)
  • Blizoria
    Blizoria Posts: 15 Member
    darlswife wrote: »

    Yeah i think its just appling my old healthy habits to my new lifestyle. I live across the road from Uni so I walk there anyway. Lol. Yeah I've been putting off logging my food. Its just when my boyfriend said I should stop uni and make losing weight a number one priority it really hurt. I'm not obese or anything and i haven't gained any more weight. Im just back to square one. It hurt thats all.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,611 Member
    I lose more weight when I'm in uni because I just eat specifically what I plan to eat and I'm not hunting about for more food or feeling bored.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    It should not be necessary to put one over the other.
    Lots of people here have busy schedules. Some people physically can not do much exercise. You don't have to exercise much to lose weight. You do need to watch your calorie intake and going to school and working doesn't prevent that.
    Use MFP. Log everything you eat and drink. Stick to your calorie goal.
  • goldthistime
    goldthistime Posts: 3,213 Member
    I used to bounce between putting all my attention and focus on a project (at home, work or school) and getting back my fitness/ideal weight afterwards. I'm done with that. Health and fitness doesn't get tossed to the wind just because I have something else going on any more. Extreme health and fitness does, but not the basics. For me that means getting enough sleep, fitting in at least 30 minutes of exercise most days, getting proper nutrition, and eating at a teeny tiny deficit. I would consider working with a personal trainer and a strict diet to be too much when something else in life (like uni) needs my focus.

    Your education is important, but I would argue that your health is equally important.
  • bethkneetoe
    bethkneetoe Posts: 1 Member
    I was actually motivated to loose weight when I got with my current boyfriend but not because he forced me to. I mentioned that I wanted to go to the gym and he was really encouraging me (he plays rugby). He helped me with what to eat and loads of other things. I found the best thing is to try and keep below your fat and your sugar recommendation and you definitely won't go over your calories. It's hard at first but once you get going it's easier try to incorporate the gym too. Rather than doing 30 mins high intensity on a machine do something a bit more interesting, this is what I do... 5 mins on the bike for a warm up, then a barbell complex with a 500m row on level 8-10, repeat that 3 times and then if you have time work on one muscle group. Do that everyday or every other day and you'll see a difference. But it's the food thing that's key.
  • chrislee1628
    chrislee1628 Posts: 305 Member
    put Uni first, it is far more important than what you weigh at your age, especially when you consider that you are only slightly overweight
  • chocolate_owl
    chocolate_owl Posts: 1,695 Member
    Your life will always be busy. Even if you put your education on pause (which, don't) and lost weight, you'd then have to maintain it while being busy with education. Then you'd have to maintain it while having a job. And kids. And a life in general. Learn good habits now so you can be healthy for life. Your diet and exercise routine won't ever exist in a vacuum.

    Also, your boyfriend is an idiot.
  • mumblemagic
    mumblemagic Posts: 1,090 Member
    rosebarnalice wrote: »
    Get rid of boyfriend.

    He sounds like an *kitten*hole who is more concerned about how you look on his arm and manipulating you with self-doubt than he does about the person you want to become by educating yourself.

    You don't need that kind of negativity in your life-- it's dump time.

    Agree but not fond of kitten used in that context! *donkey*?:smile:

    @Op I put on loads of weight while I wrote up my PhD thesis. Looking back it really wasn't healthy and I may have been more productive if I'd taken better care of myself.

    Try to find a balance. If logging takes up too much time, just try to eat a fairly balanced diet as much as possible, allowing yourself treats and comfort food as necessary. Try to exercise but make it fun, relaxing, and a break from studying - if you don't enjoy the gym do something else.

    Prioritise your studies. Eat and live healthily so your body is optimum for studying. If you lose weight doing this, great, but don't stress if you don't.

    Ditch the boyf. He clearly doesn't value education.
  • michelleh1983
    michelleh1983 Posts: 9 Member
    You'll have time to get fitter when you're done learning. At no point in your life will you say 'oh well I'm getting minimum wage and havent reached my potential but at least I'm slim' your education is important.

    That said you should make time to look after yourself whilst you're earning and learning too, and just making healthier food choices and walking instead of using transport where possible may be all it takes to shift some weight, sleep better and make you feel better about yourself.

    Good luck chick x
  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,834 Member
    Get a new boyfriend that supports you.
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    Did you tell your boyfriend that his comment hurt you? Did you ask him what his "reasoning" was as to why he thinks losing weight is more important than Uni?

    The key to any healthy relationship is communication. Talk to him, openly and honestly and then decide if he's worth keeping or not. No question that you should NOT take time off of Uni. You can get your education AND get healthy.
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    Coming to think of it, I took my first swimming class and fitness classes in college. The other day my gym owner mentioned she used to teach fitness classes - in college. You've already done the hard work and got in. How could you not finish? Makes no sense whatsoever. Work in what you can, whether it's fitness, being a tiny bit more active or reducing your calories just a little bit. But whatever you do, finish your degree :)
  • csuhar
    csuhar Posts: 779 Member
    I will admit that part of me does think "a degree won't keep your body running". Mine certainly wasn't helping me much when a tumor was pressing down on my heart and lungs, but being as fit as I was helped me live until I could get treatment.

    HOWEVER... I'm also a firm believer that you can do both. It took a bit of homework and time on my part, but my years in college are where I went from "the guy who didn't do gym class" to being a regular in the weight room and running track.

    Add in my experience with higher education which taught me that, if you're going to go to university, it's best to knock it out ASAP, and I'd say keep moving forward with your education and at least try to maintain your fitness level if you can't improve it.
  • Blizoria
    Blizoria Posts: 15 Member
    Thanks for all the support guys. I think my boyfriend means well. He probably doesn't know what its like aweing as hes never been fat in his life and can eat chips and burgers without gaining weight and not go to the gym. But yeah I agree i rather be fat with a degree than skinny with none. I'll find a way to accommodate both though. Thanks again.

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