350+ pounds Support for Men & Women
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Thanks everyone for encouraging words and sticking with it.. time posting on a community blog is time away from snacking, I don’t know about you, but grease on my phone and iPad make it difficult to type. I will continue to read your stories, very helpful to me. We want to feel good ..why else would we do this right? I have positive news, down 2.0 pounds this week, week 2. Quite happy. News will not always be positive but hoping my attitude stays that way. Happy Friday and Stay Strong for the weekend. Cold in the NorthEast part of the states so all walking/grooving will definitely be indoors.3
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I read all the post in this thread yesterday so I guess it's time for me to post...
I really started to give MFP a real go of it after Thanksgiving. Dropped about 20lbs just before NYE. Since then I've been yo yo a little. So now I am kicking it in on measuring everything I eat instead of guessing, and to take the workouts to the next level.
I'm 41 and as of this morning I'm at 353. My highest was 377. I think my goal is to get to about 245ish. I need to do this for myself, and my family. I will do it. My plan is to keep focusing on dropping into each decade at a time. I'm looking to get into the 340's then focus on getting to the 330's. REALLY want to turn that "3" into a "2"
I've always been a big guy, but I was always athletic. I played division 1 football at a large university. I was an offensive lineman and back then I always had to put weight on. HA.
I went through a difficult time when I left football. Had a bad bout of depression and from there just stopped working out but kept eating and drinking like I was still playing.
One thing that is difficult for me is when I do go to the gym. I can't lift anywhere near what I could do before. Which is understandable but still bugs me. I don't need to bench that much anymore, but not having any stamina from set to set is frustrating. I know some off that will come back. Also a lot of people know who I am (small town) so it makes me anxious when I go to the gym, but I am learning to let that go.
I like MFP as the message boards give a lot of motivation. I like hearing others successes and struggles. Probably one of my favorites is the Photo only success stories community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1167854/photo-only-success-stories/p1
This one is powerful as it gives hope that this journey CAN be done and WILL be done if I stick to it. It's hard when you starting thinking about how much you have to lose. Seeing evidence of so many that have been successful is such a great motivational tool.5 -
fatoldladyonamission wrote: »Thank you. I think it's more my personal perception I need to change a bit because I absolutely don't yet have the confidence to just get out there. I wish I did. But maybe doing the walking video and the treadmill will leave me feeling more confident about doing it. That's what I'm hoping anyway!
What you describe is pretty much how I started out. I would do chair workouts on Youtube at home and walk around inside. At work I'd go outside to a little platform where no one can really see and walk around in circles. It all does add up.
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brennabear88 wrote: »I am starting my journey at 350lbs after having my first child 2 months ago.
We are starting at the same weight! I’m trying to lose so my husband and I can start a family so we are doing it together! Hopefully I see you over at the other board!0 -
Hello to the new people joining the thread!
I forgot to weigh in the morning... doh!! LOL0 -
fatoldladyonamission wrote: »Thank you. I think it's more my personal perception I need to change a bit because I absolutely don't yet have the confidence to just get out there. I wish I did. But maybe doing the walking video and the treadmill will leave me feeling more confident about doing it. That's what I'm hoping anyway!
What you describe is pretty much how I started out. I would do chair workouts on Youtube at home and walk around inside. At work I'd go outside to a little platform where no one can really see and walk around in circles. It all does add up.
You’re spot on there Bert. It’s doing the little bits that can then add up to more. Having hubby home this week hasn’t helped with that though as I’ve just avoided doing anything rather than have him comment or smile supportively at me. He wouldn’t put me down or anything but I’m not at the point of being able to do it with him around yet. Sad but true. I am deliberately doing more walking when I’m out, parking further from everything or doing two trips rather than cramming things into one. Sadly though because I actually work from my home office most days I really don’t get that many steps in. Average is a sad 3500 and today was a measly 2000 ish. That said I’ve no excuse for not doing something early morning when I finally feel confident enough to get out, I don’t have to start til 9.15!
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I've really been down in the dumps since yesterday. I woke up to a severe knee pain and could barley put any weight on it. Went to a Ortho Walk-in clinic and had MRI done and the Doctor tells me there is no swelling/inflammation, tearing, or anything. Says everything looks fine and I just need to lose weight. This hit me hard being as I have been trying really hard for the past 2 weeks to lose weight. However on a more chipper note I thought I weighed a certain amount ( due to not being able to find a scale to read my weight ) and at the Ortho's office I found out I was subsequently lower in my weight than I thought I was. This made up for it a little bit, but this injury is really keeping from performing my best, and I'm hoping the pain subsides soon this has been going on for a little to long4
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leeonmcdaniel wrote: »I've really been down in the dumps since yesterday. I woke up to a severe knee pain and could barley put any weight on it. Went to a Ortho Walk-in clinic and had MRI done and the Doctor tells me there is no swelling/inflammation, tearing, or anything. Says everything looks fine and I just need to lose weight. This hit me hard being as I have been trying really hard for the past 2 weeks to lose weight. However on a more chipper note I thought I weighed a certain amount ( due to not being able to find a scale to read my weight ) and at the Ortho's office I found out I was subsequently lower in my weight than I thought I was. This made up for it a little bit, but this injury is really keeping from performing my best, and I'm hoping the pain subsides soon this has been going on for a little to long
You'll get there. Keep you're head up and don't get discouraged. Post on here and we will all try to help as much as we can. We can all lift each other up
Same to you@fatoldladyonamission Soon you will need to change your username too1 -
Wow! I had a lot of catching up to do on this board. That'll teach me to stay away from it for a day!
@Mellykay88 You know, I had a coworker who lost 80 lbs using those walking videos! And she didn't even have as much to lose as us. I think she had to be about a size 4 by the time she was finished. Thank you for the link. I've always remembered it because when I talked to her about how she did it, she would always just say it was these videos, but I've never looked into them myself for... reasons? (I'm lazy I guess!) Now I have no excuse. I can just click the link right there!fatoldladyonamission wrote: »I am deliberately doing more walking when I’m out, parking further from everything or doing two trips rather than cramming things into one.
I'm trying to get more steps in the same way pretty much. I don't work from home, but I do sit for most of the day, so the past few weeks I've been trying my best to be more active at work, jumping up to ask if other people need help, getting up and putting away the media as soon as they deliver it... I think it's making me a better worker in general!I don't like people to see me struggle with anything, especially things that are easy for most of people.
I can completely identify with this too. My fiance is 6'2, thin (compared to me!), and walks like he's on a mission; I get so embarrassed and cranky because I have to constantly remind him that I can't keep up with him... even just walking from the car into the grocery store I'm literally holding him back. It will be nice if one day I can outpace him instead.cassie9393 wrote: »Weirdly, I feel guilty when I exercise at home because I have a dog and know that if I'm up and moving, I should be doing something that will involve her since I don't do enough in general... so then I don't at all. Stupid, really. I hate to say it, but I'm probably just making excuses for myself. So I'm going to go take the dog for a walk here in a bit!
I just need to say thanks for motivating me to walk our dogs tonight too!! I'm always thinking, "Oh, I'll walk them tomorrow... I'm tired right now," or, "It's too dark right now," or, "It's too cold," etc. I'm going to just get out there and do it right now though! I can handle a walk around the block even if it IS dark and cold. It's not like I'm trekking across the country!
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P.S. @Cassie9393 These guys say, "Thank you," for making me take them for a walk!
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rabidhamster87 wrote: »
I just need to say thanks for motivating me to walk our dogs tonight too!! I'm always thinking, "Oh, I'll walk them tomorrow... I'm tired right now," or, "It's too dark right now," or, "It's too cold," etc. I'm going to just get out there and do it right now though! I can handle a walk around the block even if it IS dark and cold. It's not like I'm trekking across the country!
@rabidhamster87 You actually just did the same for me! I got home this evening after a looooong day, but you're right, it isn't trekking across the country being all Forrest Gump-like, it's just a few blocks around the neighborhood! So I was a little sore from yesterday, but the sounds of my contented puppy and knowing it was a healthier choice make the pain worth it. And your pups are so sweet! Look at those faces!!!
here's my girl, ready for a walk:
wow, sorry if this pic is huge to everyone - it's looking really big in my preview...6 -
@Cassie9393 That's awesome! We can just keep each other on a never-ending motivation loop!
And your puppy is so sweet looking! She remind me of my Toby (the one on the left in my own picture.) Is she part pit?
ETA: I just realized Toby is also in my profile pic with me!0 -
so many cute dogs2
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Sadly I'm a way off being comfortable enough to walk the dogs but it's coming closer. I can already feel the difference in the little walking in doing now. I will get out with my dogs one day! Even if it's around the block in the dark!2
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@rabidhamster87 I believe she is part pit, but she was originally a rescue, so I'm not sure on lineage. She is a sweetheart (I say with no bias whatsoever).
@fatoldladyonamission You'll get there! We're all starting in different places... I see people who are on the elliptical for almost an hour while my rather slow 30 minute walk is enough to make me sore and tired. The key for all of us I think is to start - start trying, and from wherever you begin, you'll be able to do more and more as you keep working at it. That's great that you're already feeling a difference!1 -
Just wanted to say hi while I lurk.
After getting to the bottom of the barrel, I’m trying to stand on my feet again. Currently going through the WLS steps so hoping for a date, sooner or later, for surgery.3 -
@cassie9393 Thank you. Had a night out with some friends tonight and they decided to walk from the restaurant to the pub after we'd planned to cab it. They changed their minds because it stopped raining. I thought I was going to really struggle as part if the walk was a very steep hill. Strangely though I was a bit puffed out I still managed it and at a decent speed! So chuffed! Now need to do that 5 times a day to make it really count!2
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Hello all. My name is Melanie & I’m just starting a Keto diet. I’m 42 & struggle with multiple health issues that cause chronic pain (hello fellow spoonies3
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@wisdomckr Hi Melanie, great to have you on board. Think there's possibly more posts in the group now which there's a link to further back in the thread so might be worth joining there? We've got some lovely people on board so far.1
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Hello everyone. I've missed a lot being offline for three days! My fitbit arrived on Friday night and I'm obsessively check the number of steps all day every day I've sync'd the thing to MFP but it doesn't seem to be catching yet. I'll give it 24 hours.1
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fatoldladyonamission wrote: »brennabear88 wrote: »I am starting my journey at 350lbs after having my first child 2 months ago. Motivation is my biggest struggle especially in the winter when it's to cold to be outside(nw ia). I am now a sahm so my activity level has greatly decreased and I am afraid of what will happen if I don't do something about it now. I want to be healthier not only for myself but for my husband and daughter as well. We live in a small rural area so there's not much around for doing indoor walking.
This is what I need to do. I can't yet face attempting to walk outside because I feel like I'll be watched and judged (thanks to those so called friends talking about me like they did). I've got an exercise bike but oh my is the seat uncomfortable even with a gel seat on it! Plus I feel like an idiot walking when my husband is at home and he's been off work this week. I'm quite looking forward to him going back so that I can use the bike or walk without him watching. I want to get confident enough to take the digs to the beach which is only a 10 minute walk from here for a normal person. It would take me 20 to 30 and there's no way I'd make it back. Really sad knowing that.
Something i do that really can help, is dance. I HATE DANCING IN PUBLIC but will dance in my livingroom like no one is watching because well no one is. I work a desk job and to make matters worse I work from home so I don't move much in life as you can imagine. So I tend to "dance" where im going. If im getting up to let the dogs out or go to the bathroom im dancing. Dancing burns more calories than walking. I was using fitbit for a while and i had an alarm set to go off every hour to walk a couple hundred steps. then after work I would get up and dance for 15 mins or so. Dance while cooking dinner, eat dinner then work on schoolwork. After homework and what not id look and see where I was at for steps and then get up and dance around my living room as i was "tidying" up.3 -
chunkiedunker wrote: »Something i do that really can help, is dance. I HATE DANCING IN PUBLIC but will dance in my livingroom like no one is watching because well no one is. I work a desk job and to make matters worse I work from home so I don't move much in life as you can imagine. So I tend to "dance" where im going. If im getting up to let the dogs out or go to the bathroom im dancing. Dancing burns more calories than walking. I was using fitbit for a while and i had an alarm set to go off every hour to walk a couple hundred steps. then after work I would get up and dance for 15 mins or so. Dance while cooking dinner, eat dinner then work on schoolwork. After homework and what not id look and see where I was at for steps and then get up and dance around my living room as i was "tidying" up.
That sounds great! I don't have the courage to do anything like that even in front of friends and family, but my cats are fair game lol A former roommate of mine, though, would do the same thing - she liked to dance around the house while doing housework, and she was bold enough that she didn't mind if closer friends saw her doing it.
I did buy a Wii game this weekend - the gold's gym dance workout - to see if I can use that to get me moving while winter is here. I dried a dance workout video years ago, but it didn't work out as I couldn't keep up with it; I hope the Wii sensor will be a little more forgiving!1 -
Mellykay88 wrote: »@fatoldladyonamission have you checked out the Leslie Sansone walking videos? There are a few free ones on YouTube. It’s basically walking in place with a few simple moves added in, but I loved them when I first started. They’re easy to modify based on your needs. Some people find her annoying, but I think she’s a lot of fun!
https://youtu.be/njeZ29umqVE
Time to step up my game1 -
fatoldladyonamission wrote: »Sadly I'm a way off being comfortable enough to walk the dogs but it's coming closer. I can already feel the difference in the little walking in doing now. I will get out with my dogs one day! Even if it's around the block in the dark!
Several years ago I was sitting at 400 lbs and decided to make a change. I felt uncomfortable walking in public. I lived in town and would try and find places to go walk where there would be less eyes. my exwife before we were married got me to join her on c25k. I never would have done that on my own or give it a try and i sure wouldn't have done it right thru town like she did. I did it tho. I didn't like it one bit. i felt uncomfortable I felt like people were laughing at the fat guy attempting to run/walk down the street. Laughing at the fat guy that was covered in sweat from head to toe. BUT you know know what happened? I did it. I lost over 100 lbs doing it. I was running 30 mins non stop and even joining 5k's and winning medals. I was still a "fat" guy doing all that.
Life is uncomfortable. its always going to be. Our self confidence is never what it should be because as larger people we see ourselves in a different light than others see us. We see all the bumps, bruises, rolls and scars whether they be external or internal and emotional. We are our worst critics. People may laugh, people may point and make comments but those people are dicks and not people who care anyway. You are making a change to your life and bettering yourself and to me thats worth more than any self perceived embarrassment could ever be.
One day I was running thru my neighborhood. My exwife stopped running and working out by this time. So while she sat at home on the couch I would go run for a half hour or so. I was having a rough go at it though. Still embarrassed by my running in public and not seeing a change, a van pulled up next to me. It was my neighbor. He was telling me how awesome of a job I was doing. He didn't wanna stop me from my run but to just tell me that he had been watching me (gasp my worst nightmare) and that he wanted to tell me good job and to keep up the good work that he can tell my hardwork was paying off. He even said he should pull over and run with me. i offered to run with him anytime and he said well keep it up and sped off and that night I ran with a pep in my step.
You can do this. I know its tough. I know its awkward and an overwhelming feeling of people watching you and embarrassment or just not wanting to be judged comes over you. But trust me, its worth it and as you start to improve your health you will not care one bit as you shouldn't. you aren't doing this for them you are doing it for you.7 -
bmeadows380 wrote: »chunkiedunker wrote: »Something i do that really can help, is dance. I HATE DANCING IN PUBLIC but will dance in my livingroom like no one is watching because well no one is. I work a desk job and to make matters worse I work from home so I don't move much in life as you can imagine. So I tend to "dance" where im going. If im getting up to let the dogs out or go to the bathroom im dancing. Dancing burns more calories than walking. I was using fitbit for a while and i had an alarm set to go off every hour to walk a couple hundred steps. then after work I would get up and dance for 15 mins or so. Dance while cooking dinner, eat dinner then work on schoolwork. After homework and what not id look and see where I was at for steps and then get up and dance around my living room as i was "tidying" up.
That sounds great! I don't have the courage to do anything like that even in front of friends and family, but my cats are fair game lol A former roommate of mine, though, would do the same thing - she liked to dance around the house while doing housework, and she was bold enough that she didn't mind if closer friends saw her doing it.
I did buy a Wii game this weekend - the gold's gym dance workout - to see if I can use that to get me moving while winter is here. I dried a dance workout video years ago, but it didn't work out as I couldn't keep up with it; I hope the Wii sensor will be a little more forgiving!
Thats the best part of this all. Go at your pace. You will get better as you get healthier. I tried those dvds and p90x and all that and I had the same problem. "okay lets to 10 sets" and they would finish and I was on set 4. Its what i enjoyed most about C25K. It allowed me to move at my own pace. if i couldn't finish I would simply repeat that day until I could. No one expects anyone to be able to pick up and go with any of that. but any movement is good movement.1 -
@chunkiedunker Thank you for sharing that. I think I'm going to try to be brave and use my daughter's early school finish tomorrow as an excuse to walk the dogs up to her school to meet her. It's not even a mile away but I know I'll struggle with it. I've been using the exercise bike so that's a start at least.
I'm determined to do this one way or the other and hearing that people have done it us such a huge encouragement to just get on with it. Thank you.0 -
Here is a little inspirational video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgxf587zAcE&t=602s1
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Hey, everyone!
So glad I found this thread! I haven't seen a lot of people in the forums with situations similar to mine. I'm 29 years old (approaching 30), 5'10". I've been on a roller coaster.
In 2012, I was 380lbs, and started using MFP for the first time. I did CICO, and did some Xbox 360 Kinect games at home (Your Shape Fitness Evolved, Dance Central). I was down to about 314lbs. A close friend of mine passed away around that time, and I got depressed, started drinking a lot, fell off the wagon, fell back into old habits and gained it all back, up to 380lbs again.
Started CICO again in 2014, got down to about 335lbs. Fell off the wagon again, I'm not really sure why.
February of 2016, I stepped on the scale, and ouch: 397lbs. The heaviest I'd ever gotten. So I stepped things up, started counting calories again, but I also woke up at 5:45am, had a breakfast sandwich, and hit the treadmill by 6am. Eventually when it got nice enough outside, I was out the door walking my neighborhood and listening to podcasts. My normal routine was 4.5 miles every morning and I went from 397lbs to 351lbs in about 2-3 months by Summer 2017. Interestingly, even though I'd lost more weight with previous attempts, I'd never felt better in my life, physically, mentally. The added activity certainly has an impact!
Things changed with my life, things became more serious with my girlfriend at that point, and I haven't been able to get back into my normal routine, for whatever reasons/excuses, haven't been counting calories since July-ish. It's now almost at the 1 year mark since I've started this last time, and I've managed to keep most of it off and only gain 10lbs. I want to get back on the wagon, and step up before things get out of control. Recently, I've had financial concerns, relationship stuff, not enough time in the day, it's been too cold to just go outside (I got rid of the treadmill thinking I could get some winter walking gear when the time came, and never got around to it). I really want to reorganize my life and get things back on track, but I feel constrained by all this.
Does anyone have any words of wisdom to offer? Much love, all.4 -
Hi @machjas and welcome!
I'm not sure I can offer any words of wisdom as such, but I can definitely tell you that you are not alone in your struggle! I have yo-yo'd for years, I always knew I should lose weight - my highest was 364lb - but never found the motivation to want to, so nothing ever stuck.
2017 started differently though. For the first time in my life I wanted to lose weight - and I did! I lost about 20lb in the first 2 months. Then in March.....well, life happened. Mostly insanity at work, so much stress plus ridiculous hours, and when you live alone that leaves no space for meal planning/prep. Plus some personal events at the time had me down. So I decided to practice kindness to myself and took a month off. Magically, I maintained! And even more magically, I did actually limit it to a month, and picked back up in April!
I got up to 30lb loss and then in June - well things got even worse. I kept trying but didn't get anywhere. Eventually I was able to leave that job, having regained about 8lb. September I started my new job with a new commitment, I even joined a gym, and I did very well - by the start of December I made it to 40lb lost! In that period I also reunited with my (very skinny!) husband. Life was good
I chose to take a break over Christmas - and regained 8lb. I was ok with this. It was worth it, and I knew from past experience that I was capable of quickly losing it again. Except.....I haven't. I'm ending January the same weight I started it at.
I can find a whole bunch of reasons why this is. Are they valid? Some of them definitely are, others.....maybe not so much. One week I had (minor) surgery, the next I started a new job (yes, another one!), the next I was super busy making 3 birthday cakes (on top of my full time job!) Now I've got a shoulder injury and can't move - can't even cook and I'm typing one handed, every step I take is agony - so I can't see this week being any improvement, in fact there's a real danger I'm going to see a rise.
So what words of wisdom can someone like me offer, when I'm doing such a bad job myself? Not much perhaps, but these are the things I try and keep in mind:
1. You and I both know what has worked for us in the past. We need to find the courage and commitment to do it again. Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.
2. Find a support network - well we're here, so I think we can tick that off! It's all very well knowing that our friends and family may support us, but generally speaking they have no idea what kind of challenge we face, what an immensely daunting mission it is, how very hard it is to keep going. And next - use that support network! Again, you are here, so that's a great first step - but keep it up! Reach out to this community as often as you need to. I found that was one of my main things at the start of 2017 - surrounding myself online with people who understood and who were on the same mission. I didn't keep it up, I let life get in the way - and look what happened!
3. Don't let a stumble become a plunge. I think everyone has experienced this - we make one less healthy choice, whether through exhaustion or stress or peer pressure or because of a special occasion or just to treat ourselves or whatever other reason. We may even have planned this indulgence! We have to remember that there is no shame in this, that one event (whether that's a single meal or missed workout, or a day or even a week or more while on holiday!) will NOT derail us - unless we let it. It's when we allow one indulgence or slip to lead to another that it spirals out of control and becomes an issue. Weightloss and healthier eating needs to be for life, and that means it has to be something that still allows us to live and enjoy ourselves.
4. Be honest. Log every crumb that passes your lips (and every drop that isn't water!) Log it with accurate nutritional information (MFP database can have some, erm, 'creative' entries!) Log your weight/measurements accurately, even when they are not what you want to see. Admit when you are struggling. Admit when you are making excuses. Admit when you need help. Admit when things are genuinely too much and something has to give (but make a plan for when and how you will get back to normal.) Lying to ourselves only makes the fight harder. And yes, being honest can be very difficult, especially when we feel like we're failing. But it's the only way we have a hope of getting back on track.
5. And this could be the most important of all:
We only truly fail if we stop trying.
We are both still here on MFP. We are still trying to make the good choices. We may be stumbling along the way, but if we can persevere we WILL make progress, and however slow that progress may be, we will get somewhere eventually. So keep trying - don't give up!
It's a very long road ahead and that can seem impossibly daunting, but we are all here to support each other, to share the struggles and celebrate the victories. Very best of luck to you!
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fatoldladyonamission wrote: »@chunkiedunker Thank you for sharing that. I think I'm going to try to be brave and use my daughter's early school finish tomorrow as an excuse to walk the dogs up to her school to meet her. It's not even a mile away but I know I'll struggle with it. I've been using the exercise bike so that's a start at least.
I'm determined to do this one way or the other and hearing that people have done it us such a huge encouragement to just get on with it. Thank you.
How did the walk go? Just remember you can do anything. The hardest part is getting started... Once you get moving you can't really give up, you just have to motor thru and get the task done. It's also not about how fast you finish but that you finished. Obviously you can jump in a car and make the trip in a couple mins or you can walk and take half an hour to an hour to do it. Who cares.... you did it. thats an accomplishment in its own right. Losing weight is 60% mental and 50% physical... lol0
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