New here from Scotland

worldsunknown
worldsunknown Posts: 1
edited October 1 in Introduce Yourself
I've just joined. I've done food diaries before but they've always failed because I can't seem to start again if I miss a day or eat something that I can't record. I'm my own worst enemy, it seems. I'd really like to overcome that tendency this time around.

Anyway, I'm 31 years old, I need to lose at least 200 pounds, and I live in sunny Edinburgh. Just really tired of being exhausted and in pain all the time. My knees and back constantly hurt, I can barely walk without breathing hard, and I have so much to do but not enough energy to do it with. I feel about thirty years older than I am, and would really like to get my spark back.

My plan is to just record what I eat without judgement for about two weeks, because I know that knowing I have to record it will itself act as a way of controlling what I eat. Then slowly over time, I'll adjust my diet and get it to where it needs to be. I don't eat terribly badly just now - but I'm maybe guilty of grazing on stuff without thinking about it, and just eating generally more than I should of things like cheese and other dairy products. Also I really need to bite the bullet and weigh myself - I've not done that since I gave up on my last diet last winter.

I also have plans for exercise but I'm going to wait to incorporate that until I've got the diet part right. It's hard to make changes, but I really need to, if I want to live long enough to retire.

Replies

  • mojavemomma
    mojavemomma Posts: 2
    I am twice your age but we share a similar boat. I tend to start and stop, start and stop. Good luck to you and I hope you succeed this time. I am sure you deserve to achieve your goal. I have a cousin living in Edinburgh and he looks pretty fit as does his wife. They do a lot of walking. I am desperate to walk again. Embrace your blessings! You can walk! Doesn't matter if you breathe hard, you can breathe! So just breathe and walk and journal your foods to keep you honest. I know you will do it!
  • Autumn15
    Autumn15 Posts: 213
    Even taking baby steps is a start...and making that start is better than doing nothing at all...Best wishes on your journey and just remember everyday is a fresh start...You can do it!
  • kandrews24
    kandrews24 Posts: 610 Member
    Welcome to MFP. This is a great place. You can find a lot of support here.

    You have a good plan. You must make yourself log what you eat (regardless of what or how much you eat). Do that for about three weeks. If you can stick to that, then maybe move on to something else (like drinking more water). And do that for about three week, and so on and so forth.

    You can take it slow as long as you actually are making forward progress. No more starting and stopping!!!!

    Definately weigh yourself. You know, you can put your goals on maintenance (and that way you can see how much you can eat and not gain). I think that is a great first goal = not to gain any more! That was my first goal as I was gaining about 1.5 lbs per month (for years). In fact to this day, though I've lost 38 lbs, I always know my maintenance number of calories (at any given curren weight). If all else fails, I will not let myself eat more than that.

    Eventually you can cut back on what you eat (even a small amount) and start exercising.

    I also highly recommend a good multivitam (with iron + vitamin D). Also check potassium levels.

    If you are anything like me (and a lot of overweight fokls), you eat more than you need but don't get the nutrician that you need (for whatever reason).

    Best of luck you you and kudos for taking this positive step.

    Enjoy the site. Look around. Read the success stories. You are not alone!
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