SOS - I don't want to hit 300 lbs! Help me to help myself, please
Moby_Dick
Posts: 26 Member
We went out for dinner the other night and the waitress asked us if we preferred a table or a booth. I said "Table, please," and I wonder if she knows that I don't fit into a booth seat anymore.
I was never on the slim side, I was always overweight, but I felt pretty and I felt healthy. I thought it was all about attitude.
I gained weight and I gained more weight. Menopause hit and more weight kept piling up. Then I had an injury and they put me on steroids. Cool medication, it's like doping, you don't feel the pain anymore, but it makes you hungry. I gained 50 lbs. in a year -what seems to be normal.
I stopped the steroids but continued to eat the same amount of food. I am a writer, sit all the time and eat while writing. Killer job!
Yesterday I stepped on the scale and it read 291. I am 9 pounds away from weighing 300 lbs.
I am not sure if that was a wake-up call or just the final tipping point. I don't want to look like that anymore, I don't want to feel so out of shape anymore, so I signed up here.
I just filled out my profile and it asked me to write down why I want to get into shape, that's when I started crying and I haven't stopped ever since.
Why I want to get into shape:
To fit into a booth seat in a restaurant.
To walk without huffing and puffing.
To paint my toenails without falling over.
To wear clothes that don't look like a tent.
To put on my socks without too much effort.
To bend down and get up without a problem.
To go grocery shopping without hanging on to the cart.
To walk a mile or two with our dog.
To dance like I did when I was younger.
To buy clothes because I like them, not because they fit.
To look in the mirror and see a face without a double chin.
To like my outside as much as I like my inside.
To feel sexy again.
To be healthier.
To have people look at me because they like what they see, not because I am so big.
I would love to have friends here at MFP please. I have a rocky road ahead of me and I will need help, support, and motivation.
Quite a lengthy introduction...sorry!
I was never on the slim side, I was always overweight, but I felt pretty and I felt healthy. I thought it was all about attitude.
I gained weight and I gained more weight. Menopause hit and more weight kept piling up. Then I had an injury and they put me on steroids. Cool medication, it's like doping, you don't feel the pain anymore, but it makes you hungry. I gained 50 lbs. in a year -what seems to be normal.
I stopped the steroids but continued to eat the same amount of food. I am a writer, sit all the time and eat while writing. Killer job!
Yesterday I stepped on the scale and it read 291. I am 9 pounds away from weighing 300 lbs.
I am not sure if that was a wake-up call or just the final tipping point. I don't want to look like that anymore, I don't want to feel so out of shape anymore, so I signed up here.
I just filled out my profile and it asked me to write down why I want to get into shape, that's when I started crying and I haven't stopped ever since.
Why I want to get into shape:
To fit into a booth seat in a restaurant.
To walk without huffing and puffing.
To paint my toenails without falling over.
To wear clothes that don't look like a tent.
To put on my socks without too much effort.
To bend down and get up without a problem.
To go grocery shopping without hanging on to the cart.
To walk a mile or two with our dog.
To dance like I did when I was younger.
To buy clothes because I like them, not because they fit.
To look in the mirror and see a face without a double chin.
To like my outside as much as I like my inside.
To feel sexy again.
To be healthier.
To have people look at me because they like what they see, not because I am so big.
I would love to have friends here at MFP please. I have a rocky road ahead of me and I will need help, support, and motivation.
Quite a lengthy introduction...sorry!
51
Replies
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I LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOVE YOUR POST BECAUSE IT SOUNDS SO MUCH LIKE ME AND MY WANTS! PLEASE ADD ME AND LETS DO THIS TOGETHER! I AM ALSO CLOSE TO 300LBS. ITS A TOUGH JOURNEY BUT WE HAVE THIS!5
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Hi!
You'll find lots of support here and love. The tough love kind sometimes too. Stay out of the nutso forums but find some supportive friends to share the journey with. Take a look at the success stories board - its a great motivator.
Welcome! Use the calculator - eat the calories it tells you. Don't go crazy and eat too little or eliminate everything you love. This is going to take a little while and you want it to be something you can live with. You are awesome, you are worth it, you can do it. Now go change that profile picture to something positive
xoxo. 15 -
You have done the hardest part now it's the long part but you can do it .
I was always a big guy and when i was told i should lose 6 Stone i thought that they were off their heads 4 Stone down in a year and i feel great it's been hard but my friends on MFP have helped me through the tough times and praised me on the good things i have done .
Happy to motivate and support friend request sent you can do this.5 -
You make a commitment. You stick to that commitment come hell or high water. Have a specific plan on how you eat, how much physical activity you do and how much rest you get. Then stay consistent with it. This helps to create a new habit for you and once it's learned, weight loss isn't so hard.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Welcome to MFP! Feel free to add me as a friend, though I'm not very chatty.
If you want my advice- Read all the stickies in the forums
- Buy an electronic food scale ($10-20 on Amazon) to weigh your food. Eyeballing and estimating are usually terribly inaccurate. Also be careful that the food entries from the database that you choose are accurate.
- Don't try to make too many or too drastic changes, that makes it infinitely harder to stick to your plans
- Do remember that weight loss isn't linear, and you will have ups and downs
- Make logging your food a habit, not a chore. I've been on the site 50 days and now it takes as little effort as brushing my teeth.
- Keep looking here for support, encouragement, inspiration, and a place to vent!
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Love that you shared so freely. I feel that it's a safe zone to do so. I would love to support you on this journey and I could use friends who support as well. Day one together :-)3
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You can do this. The booth or table is asked no matter your weight. So let that go.
Like others have said, you are in good company here. Be sure to set reasonable goals like : tracking calories, a needed walk break, changing one meal a day, and finding support here.
I've battled chronic pain for 4.5 years, it's rough. I've been lucky to have not gained, but managed to stay active with shots. I was gonna hurt if I ran or not, so ran I did.
Best wishes!3 -
You are so courageous for this post. Known so many people who have gained weight with steroid therapy. Please do not be so hard on yourself.
Ok today add one exercise. .just one..and eliminate one food.
People start diets and blow away all foods.
Food is not the enemy..start moving a bit more..walk.one block or five minutes..add a couple of more every other day.
Minutes..every other day..not hours..elinimate one food not everything.
It will start to drop
Its a lifestyle not a diet
Permament changes to drop one pound..forever
Then five..
Then ten..
Those pants become loose
Then..you start feeling like the incredible person YOU..are!
I joined the YMCA..dropped 25 without dieting
Felt great..joined a swim class dropped the rest
Now I teach swim lessons there.
All by first moving. .then loving myself.
You got this!!!10 -
You can do this. The booth or table is asked no matter your weight. So let that go.
Like others have said, you are in good company here. Be sure to set reasonable goals like : tracking calories, a needed walk break, changing one meal a day, and finding support here.
I've battled chronic pain for 4.5 years, it's rough. I've been lucky to have not gained, but managed to stay active with shots. I was gonna hurt if I ran or not, so ran I did.
Best wishes!
You just got under my skin and I am glad you did. I battle chronic pain myself and it was a good excuse to get lazy. You are right. I will hurt no matter what, I might as well hurt while exercising.
I will curse you for this comment, in a very loving way. I needed to hear that! Thank you!8 -
I have been where you are. I was 326 at one time but that was almost four years ago. It has been a long journey for me but one I can honestly say has been a life changer. I got totally serious about working out and eating clean two years ago. At first the weight was dropping like crazy now I gotta work for it lol. Which is ok I like a challenge I still have 80 lbs to reach my goal if 150. Your going to love being able to wear smaller clothes and your energy level will soar.
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I definitely get where you're coming from. In the last decade I've been on the weight roller coaster down to 240 (summer 2011) and up to 340 (end of my pregnancy, fall 2015).
I've lost 50 pounds multiple times, then gained it (and more) back because I failed at focusing on watching my intake through moves, being broke with my hubby in grad school, and a pregnancy, and I'm FINALLY in a place where I can focus on me and work on getting this weight off of me. I sent you a friend request.
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I just posted this for my friends in my newsfeed. Hope it helps you too. A lot of losing weight is a mental game, and it can be the hardest part for a lot of people.
"Today is your day. To start fresh. To eat right. To train hard. To live healthy. To be proud."
Rinse and repeat.2 -
Congratulations on deciding that you're ready to change! That part is hard and feels impossible. 1.5 years ago I was 262 pounds and miserable, I felt like I would never get better, but you will. Start small, cut all sofa for a month. Then fast food down to once a week. Walk 1 mile a day, then 1 and a half. It's slow, but you are ready and people here will support you!! It's work, I mean hard work. You are the biggest obstacle you'll face! It's hard to be over weight and it's hard to lose it, pick the hard you want to fight for!
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Today is real, I am here and I feel motivated. All the food temptations are gone, what's left is healthy.
Thank you all for the inspiring comments. Happy and Healthy Holidays everyone.8 -
Hi!! (I love your username by the way...)
I love how you are SO HONEST - both with us and with yourself! I'm on a journey too, and I'm determined to lose and keep this excess weight off. I love cheerleading and encouraging on my page, and keep my diary open for full accountability, so I will add you and I would love to be able to see your successes with you!
You can do it!1 -
Print those reasons and post them on your fridge, in your snack cabinet, on your mirror, in your purse - places you'll see it when you're struggling. Read them daily. In fact, read them several times a day!4
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I started at 315, being that heavy is hard. Much harder than learning to eat healthy and enjoy life. You are going to get to experience great non-scale victories along the way. The first time you bend over to tie your shoes and don't get acid reflux, the first time you walk up the stairs without getting winded. Pretty exciting stuff, you will love it.3
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You have some great advice above. I have been on MFP for a long time, and in maintenance now for a long time. Feel free to send me a friend request if you want. Take it one day at a time, log "religiously," and try to fit some treats into your week once in a while. It will help you stay the course.1
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You have come to the right place! I started out here almost four years ago and I wanted it for all the reasons you just listed. I was 50 years old, 5'4 and 268 pounds. I honestly had no idea that calorie counting would work, I just thought it sounded the easiest way to do it, and I had no success on any other "fad diet" I now know that losing weight is a mathematical equation, by that I mean eat less than you burn and it saved my life. I have been maintaining my loss now for awhile, but continue to use MFP. Good luck, I'll just reiterate what others probably said.
Have small goals, maybe ten pounds at a time.
Weigh and measure all your food.
Count all your food, be honest.
Don't sweat it if you have a bad day or more, don't give up, just don't beat yourself up, we are all only human.
Don't be too restrictive or give up completely food you love. I feel this just causes frustration, and you really should eat the way you plan to the rest of your life, just smaller portions.
Don't be overwhelmed by the time it will take to lose it, times is going to pass either way.7 -
Simply outstanding! Congratulations on your epiphany.
I know it's going to be difficult, but don't overdo this. MFP is a brilliant tool if used correctly. As others have shared - read the stickies. Ask more questions and listen well to the advice given. You'll learn quickly who to listen to and who to ignore. I'm a huge believer in kaizen - small changes having a dramatic impact over time. Set small goals you can live with long term. Hit these goals and establish new goals! Before you know it you'll be drafting a new post on your success.
You will fail along this path at times, but this is a marathon, not a sprint. Learn from each failure and make corrections so that you won't make the same mistake again.4 -
Wtg for starting! Its hard but you have a support team here. I sent a friend request. I dont get in the forum alot but i post on the wall several times a day.1
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I am so glad I came across this post. I'm new to all this. I hit the big 50 next year and my goal was to be 150 lbs but I know that will not be possible, well not if I want to to lose weight the right way. I'm currently 264 and miserable. I'm tired of looking this way, feeling this way and tired of being tired. I'm ready to lose weight, get In shape and make a better life for myself. I miss out on so much of life because how I feel and I'm tired of life passing me by. So please add me and we can take this journey together. I need motivation, that is the hardest part for me. I take care of my mom and really don't have anyone I can turn to for help and support. So Moby_Dick I'm looking forward to taking this journey with you. Reading the above post has really help motivate me and know there is people willing to support each other and help them along the way.2
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You can add me too for support. I am 65 and was up to 223 lbs. I'm 5'6". I have really bad knee/ankle pain, probably due to weight, old injuries and arthritis. I found I was just sitting around, not really socializing and feeling sorry for myself. I've tried diets before lost weight though never quite getting to goal 145-150, then gaining it all back. This time I've told myself that my husband and my two daughters are also becoming obese and I have to change our lifestyle. So far its only me changing but I have hopes as they see me transform and become healthier it will give them the incentive also. I also found that our "celebrations" always were food orientated. Its your birthday, lets go eat, you graduated, lets go eat. So now I say no, when I reach my goal. Frankly eating out isn't appealing to me anymore..new clothes are. Being able to walk around my neighborhood with the dog is. This morning I got on the scale and I am down to 189. For the past 2 weeks I and up and down to this weight. So hopefully I will begin to lose again shortly. I don't want to sound like an ad but this time I am eating "Nutrisystem" foods and one day a week I will eat my own "revised" meal. I always over ate, have a big bowl of spaghetti with meat sauce...yum..but I'd have 2 sometimes even 3, though I kidded myself by just adding an extra spoon or so. But it added up. Now I don't touch it. On my food days I will eat fish and a non starchy veggie. I still have a way to go learning to eat healthier but finally after 3 months I am satisfied most days with my portions. Yesterday I learned I was eating too much fruit and that may be a cause in my stall of weight loss..too much sugar...See I was also a sugar addict. So I am reducing that today to stay in my limit. Sorry guys for the long post but if I can help motivate any of you feel free to add me. I log everyday now and comment.0
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Well done - you know what you want and how to get it! Joining here is a great first step. You are in great company. Read the success stories and know - for certain- that you can do this.
I agree about making small changes and making ones you can live with forever.
Expect small changes in your weight on the way down - these are the ones that last.
It is hard to be patient - so celebrate every pound lost and every small life-style change you stick to.
Good luck for the challenges ahead.0 -
I stepped on the scale today and I wasn't scared, I smiled. It's going to be a long rocky road it will take time. Lots of unthinking on my part. I appreciate all your friend requests. It's more fun in a group.4
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I stepped on the scale today and I wasn't scared, I smiled. It's going to be a long rocky road it will take time. Lots of unthinking on my part. I appreciate all your friend requests. It's more fun in a group.
I'm glad you found support in my comment. I, in no way, tried to call you out or get under you skin (I think I understand what you mean). I hurt moving less than I hurt not moving, so I thought I might share that experience, and it was mentally therapeutic walking- I needed that.
I felt like I was on the verge of losing mobility, I was going down fighting!
I have permanent nerve damage in my left sciatic nerve, in my rear. It's been a journey to not let it become my identity, and let it define me. Although, it's constantly a part of my day. I'm getting better now, not worse.
Best wishes!
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Every word of your post is true to my heart.0
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Hey
Moby Dick I am so touched by post. I am 35 with many chronic illness one of which is arthritis of both knees. I was 260 at the beginning of the year. I have since lost 67 pounds. But I still have a long way to go as I currently weigh 193 (I haven't been under 200 in 10+ years) and want to lose another 40-50 pounds. You can do it, we are all in this together. You can add me if you like.2 -
@Moby_Dick,
Thanks for your honesty. That alone is inspiring. I've never been where you are, but I've seen some amazing transformations shared here on mfp. I'm looking forward to seeing you share yours over the coming months and years as well.
You can do this 0
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