Getting Back in Shape After 80 Pound Pandemic Weight Gain - Please Help!
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CurvyEmmy
Posts: 225 Member
Hi,
I can't believe I'm posting this but I really need help...
The pandemic really, really scared the crap out of me. They let us work from home and I was afraid to go out. I don't know how to cook and I ordered delivery from restaurants every night. I was already kind of sedentary before the pandemic but normally I would get exercise from walking during my commute or walking around stores... but then for months I didn't even get that.
There were a lot of days I barely got out of bed or off the couch. I was glued to the TV a lot watching all the news. I felt super stressed and food was a big coping mechanism and source of comfort for me.
I felt tired all the time and my productivity dropped but my work was super understanding because they knew everybody was under a lot of stress. They didn't check in on us a lot. I definitely started to feel lazy and I got used to taking a lot of naps.
Now, they are making us go back to the office and expecting a ton more productivity, like the pandemic never happened. I am really struggling to adjust because I still feel scared and feel weird about going outside without a mask.
I'm out of shape. When I started to put on weight in the first months of the pandemic, I didn't worry about it because I was trying to be kind to my self since I already felt stressed and worrying about weight would only add to that stress. I stopped checking the scale or my measurements until recently.
Now I feel shocked I am 5'5" and was a healthy 160 pounds at the start of the pandemic. Now... 242 pounds.
I am noticing changes like not being able to walk as far without feeling out of breath. The first time back at work I felt faint and dizzy when I was going up the stairs, and had to stop to catch my breath. It was really embarrassing and scary. But I hadn't really done stairs in SO long so I guess I need to get used to it again. Now I feel afraid to do the stairs too much so I walk to the other end of the hall to use the elevator even though it takes longer.
I am always tired and after lunch time all I want to do is lie down. My muscles feel sore all the time even though I'm not even using them much.
I feel so overwhelmed I just want to quit. My friend said I should get a gym membership. But if I'm struggling this tired out walking around the office I don't feel like I can handle the gym.
I'm not an athletic girl - I've always been more of curvy and thick girl. I'm apple shape so I've always had a belly, but I used to carry my weight better and I could hide the tummy fat with spanx and high waisted pants. But now my fat is just really noticeable and I can't hide it. My waist is a lot bigger and I went up 4 dress sizes. I did a lot of online shopping when I was staying home but I can't fit into most of it comfortable anymore. I have rolls on my arms and back now. I am trying to accept my self and I am okay with how my legs, butt, and arms look... but my belly area is a big insecurity for me.
I have no clue where to start to get in shape again. I need something EASY because "just hit the gym" is not really do-able for me.
Here are before/after pics and the teal dress I wore to work. It's taking a lot of courage to post these so PLEASE be nice. I want to feel beautiful again but I'm really struggling.
I can't believe I'm posting this but I really need help...
The pandemic really, really scared the crap out of me. They let us work from home and I was afraid to go out. I don't know how to cook and I ordered delivery from restaurants every night. I was already kind of sedentary before the pandemic but normally I would get exercise from walking during my commute or walking around stores... but then for months I didn't even get that.
There were a lot of days I barely got out of bed or off the couch. I was glued to the TV a lot watching all the news. I felt super stressed and food was a big coping mechanism and source of comfort for me.
I felt tired all the time and my productivity dropped but my work was super understanding because they knew everybody was under a lot of stress. They didn't check in on us a lot. I definitely started to feel lazy and I got used to taking a lot of naps.
Now, they are making us go back to the office and expecting a ton more productivity, like the pandemic never happened. I am really struggling to adjust because I still feel scared and feel weird about going outside without a mask.
I'm out of shape. When I started to put on weight in the first months of the pandemic, I didn't worry about it because I was trying to be kind to my self since I already felt stressed and worrying about weight would only add to that stress. I stopped checking the scale or my measurements until recently.
Now I feel shocked I am 5'5" and was a healthy 160 pounds at the start of the pandemic. Now... 242 pounds.
I am noticing changes like not being able to walk as far without feeling out of breath. The first time back at work I felt faint and dizzy when I was going up the stairs, and had to stop to catch my breath. It was really embarrassing and scary. But I hadn't really done stairs in SO long so I guess I need to get used to it again. Now I feel afraid to do the stairs too much so I walk to the other end of the hall to use the elevator even though it takes longer.
I am always tired and after lunch time all I want to do is lie down. My muscles feel sore all the time even though I'm not even using them much.
I feel so overwhelmed I just want to quit. My friend said I should get a gym membership. But if I'm struggling this tired out walking around the office I don't feel like I can handle the gym.
I'm not an athletic girl - I've always been more of curvy and thick girl. I'm apple shape so I've always had a belly, but I used to carry my weight better and I could hide the tummy fat with spanx and high waisted pants. But now my fat is just really noticeable and I can't hide it. My waist is a lot bigger and I went up 4 dress sizes. I did a lot of online shopping when I was staying home but I can't fit into most of it comfortable anymore. I have rolls on my arms and back now. I am trying to accept my self and I am okay with how my legs, butt, and arms look... but my belly area is a big insecurity for me.
I have no clue where to start to get in shape again. I need something EASY because "just hit the gym" is not really do-able for me.
Here are before/after pics and the teal dress I wore to work. It's taking a lot of courage to post these so PLEASE be nice. I want to feel beautiful again but I'm really struggling.
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Replies
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First things first start logging your food and eat in a deficit while also doing your normal work routine for about 2 weeks. That should help you regain some of your activity. Then once existing isn't kicking your but you can worry about increasing activity.6
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Yes, best place to start is logging food. I would say getting on a good sleep schedule is next highest priority. ***And be positive and kind to yourself *** We survived an awful year !!!9
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Thank you!! Keeping track of my food/calories is always a but uncomfortable for me because I eat so much I feel like such a pig when I log everything. I definitely overeat but I’m always hungry and even when I’m not hungry I still feel like I’m craving more junk food and it’s SO hard to change because food is a big source of comfort for me and my mental health. I’m trying to make small changes to start so it’s not too overwhelming, but also be kind to myself6
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Girl I hear you! I gained at least 30lbs in the last year and 100 additional lbs in the last 5 years. It sucks. Start small. I find swimming as a great low impact activity. I joined LA fitness for the pool. Feel free to add me.5
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itsbritneybetch91 wrote: »Girl I hear you! I gained at least 30lbs in the last year and 100 additional lbs in the last 5 years. It sucks. Start small. I find swimming as a great low impact activity. I joined LA fitness for the pool. Feel free to add me.
Thank you!! Good idea but swimming is exhausting! I also don't have a swimsuit that fits anymore and trying to find one I'm comfortable with feels emotionally exhausting. Ugh3 -
I think I know how you feel with your weight gain and anxiety about the world. I actually lost 80lbs during the pandemic, but that is all weight that I put on due to depression and anxiety issues prior to COVID. I don't know if this will help you or not, but I actually used COVID as motivation to lose the weight. I tried to remind myself how much extra risk the weight was if I ended up catching it and I tried to look at the weight loss as a way of treating myself well and a form of self care. I know that mindset won't work for everyone but I found it helpful on the days I wanted to eat way too much.Thank you!! Keeping track of my food/calories is always a but uncomfortable for me because I eat so much I feel like such a pig when I log everything. I definitely overeat but I’m always hungry and even when I’m not hungry I still feel like I’m craving more junk food and it’s SO hard to change because food is a big source of comfort for me and my mental health. I’m trying to make small changes to start so it’s not too overwhelming, but also be kind to myself
In regards to your cravings, there are two types; one type of craving is physical and is your body's way of telling you it needs something (generally triggered by low blood sugar), the other type is mental. Neither type should be ignored. The good news is the physical cravings can be controlled by choosing better foods. Eating fiber, protein, and healthy (unsaturated) fats will stabilize your blood sugar and will satiate your stomach better than simple carbs. That doesn't mean that you have to give up sweets, just eat better portions and eat them following a healthy meal. You don't have to give up a single food that you don't want to, but a serving of peanuts or celery and hummus is a lot more satiating than candy.
The mental cravings can be more difficult. It might be as simple as a habit you need to break by storing your treats out of sight or correctly portioning them out, or it might be boredom that you could distract yourself from by doing a hobby, playing a game, going for a walk, or anything else that doesn't make you focus on food. I personally like to do word and number based puzzles or read. Or it could be more problematic and you might need to talk to a therapist or someone about it, but I would start by focusing on better treats and/or distractions before going down that road.
At any rate, don't psych yourself out about this too much. Losing weight is possible if it's something you want to do for yourself. It just takes small and consistent steps. You don't need to (and shouldn't) starve yourself to get results. Start by logging your food, and not being too judgemental about yourself when you do it. From there try to set a goal of a manageable calorie deficit (plenty of people here willing to help with that if you need it) or cutting back on a problematic food (soda is a pretty common example).
The following is a link to a thread I started about my journey. You'll see a lot of similarities with how our weight was gained as well as some of the anxiety issues. If you read through the replies you'll see that you are far from alone with this. I hope it helps.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10836362/a-broken-man-but-better/p17 -
You poor girl... seriously...I feel it...I have put on about 30 pds or so after losing it about 3 years ago...I have issues with binging... anxiety and sugar/carb cravings too ..so if you want to add me I would be happy to share my journey with you..4
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I also need help. I had surgery at 235. Thought I looked great at 104 but I was a 5'6" skeleton. My doctor was horrified and told me to gain weight and I did. I am good at 135-145 but got carried away and am 175!
I need to get back to good weight. Here is what I am thinking. Breakfast of 3 poached eggs and a slice of whole grain, sprouted thin sliced bread, toasted. Lunch will be V8 with lemon and unflavored pea protein. Dinner is with my husband so it cannot look like diet food. I can use skinless chicken and lots of spices. He does like vegetables and mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes.
How does this sound,
My bypass was in 2013.4 -
You mention "struggling" and feeling "exhausted". Have you considered your mental wellness? I know myself that through the pandemic and being at home constantly was a drain on me physically and mentally. I too felt like everyday little tasks were too much and was always exhausted and overwhelmed. I gained weight from reduced activity and emotional eating to cope with my anxiety and depression. I recently made a Dr. appointment last month and decided to try an antidepressant. It has been 6 weeks and I feel better enough to focus on my healthy behaviors again.10
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khartell1022 wrote: »You mention "struggling" and feeling "exhausted". Have you considered your mental wellness? I know myself that through the pandemic and being at home constantly was a drain on me physically and mentally. I too felt like everyday little tasks were too much and was always exhausted and overwhelmed. I gained weight from reduced activity and emotional eating to cope with my anxiety and depression. I recently made a Dr. appointment last month and decided to try an antidepressant. It has been 6 weeks and I feel better enough to focus on my healthy behaviors again.
I totally agree!! The pandemic really messed with my mental health. I felt constantly stressed and overwhelmed. I lost all my motivation and just wanted to curl up in bed and watch TV all day long and stress eat junk food all day long.
I felt SO scared, the most scared I’ve ever been in my life. And it didn’t go away for over a year. I’m fully vaccinated now and I still feel scared!
I don’t understand how everyone is just going about their normal business now as if the pandemic never even happened. It makes me feel like I’m weak or there’s something wrong with me. I am struggling to adjust to normal life again after staying home for a year. It does make me feel depressed.8 -
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Thank you!! Good idea but swimming is exhausting! I also don't have a swimsuit that fits anymore and trying to find one I'm comfortable with feels emotionally exhausting. Ugh [/quote]
You have already taken the first step😉. My suggestion is to do baby steps. Log what you normally eat- for real! Then eat at a 200 calorie deficit for a few days. You may find cutting 200 cal to start gives you an easy win to start. Then, cut out 500 cal per day. Add in healthy veg choices and you are in your way!
When your loss stalls for 2 weeks, drop an extra calorie amount. MFP helps you choose a calorie and macro goal, but you can set your own if you wish. Mine is 1500. Some days I go over a little, some days I am under. I have lost almost 29lbs to date and have 11 more to my interim goal or 25 to end goal. It has been pretty painless at this calorie goal, but it isn't fast. About 20lbs lost since Feb this year.
As for exercise, again make it an easy start-walk to the mailbox or street corner and back. Or for 5 min. Do until it becomes easy. Then add more distance/time. You can join gym as you become more comfortable in your abilities-Or continue working out at home. I can't do real exercise yet, so my loss has been by diet only. I hope to be able to add exercise/toning soon. That is said so that if the thoughts of exercising is more than you can handle now, know weight loss can be done with diet alone. It is just better with it!
My bet is that starting with small steps will work wonders and you will be amazed at how quickly and the pounds drop with relatively little effort.
Best wishes!5 -
Sorry you are having such a tough time from the pandemic CurvyEmmy. A few things in your post stood out to me.
"I am really struggling to adjust because I still feel scared and feel weird about going outside without a mask." - The best thing you can do to protect yourself is get vaccinated if possible. I was super scared about getting COVID before, then I actually got in anyway despite being really careful thanks to one person in our bubble, but I was really lucky to have a mild case. I was still worried since people have gotten it more than once, but being fully vaccinated has lifted that stress entirely. I might still get it again one day, but the risk of serious illness and death from COVID is now miniscule. It sounds like you seriously need to reduce your stress, so I'm suggesting you get vaccinated if you haven't already. If you have, look at the statistics and see how you are going to be okay. The other thing with having this stress lifted is I sleep better. Part of it is I'm not obsessed with the news. Sleep is so important for all of what you are experiencing. Sorry if what I've said here doesn't help.
"My muscles feel sore all the time even though I'm not even using them much." - This is totally me and all about being tense all the time. I have gone for a couple of massages recently and I'm starting focus on stretching and using a massage ball/foam roller.
"My friend said I should get a gym membership." Unless you solicited advice, your friend needs to shut up. Diet is much more important that exercise for losing fat. If you have been sedentary so long, like me, we need to really ease back into things to not get injured. Try to get moving a little and again, do some stretches.
I had a tough time staying with my parents for 10 months of the pandemic so they could watch my girls (out of daycare) while I worked online. I teach university and work was grueling, so I was always exhausted and I ate what they ate - my father was constantly buying all kinds of high carb stuff that packs the pounds on me. I'm back at my house with girls back in daycare and in control again, so going low carb/keto. Having control over what I eat helps me generally. If you feel this is an area you can work on, maybe try it. If you still want lots of takeout (no judgement here), pick a time when you aren't hungry to meal plan and work out a list of possible takeout meals you can order that fit your goals - and look at what meals might need to be portioned out. I will sometimes get restaurant meals that are going to be divided up into 2 or 3 meals and I do that right while I am plating. Restaurants use a lot of fat in their cooking (that's why everything tastes so good), so you have to be careful if you are ordering out a lot - hopefully, it's a from places that have their nutrition information available online!
Good luck!4 -
@Mellie289 Thank you SO much! Your comment was actually helpful and not judgmental like a lot of people I’ve talked to on here.
I am fully vaccinated but it’s hard to just return to normal life like the flick of a switch. I was really, really scared by the pandemic and after feeling terrified for months it’s hard to just let that go. I am slowly starting to feel more comfortable. I still wear a mask around other people and I feel embarrassed because I’m the only one but it helps me feel safer.
It’s hard to talk about this with people because people make fun of me, especially online.
It really bugs me that everyone just acts like the pandemic was no big deal. For a lot of people it really shook their mental health but they’re afraid to talk about it.
I still order meal delivery because I’m don’t have the skills or energy to cook. I am trying to choose healthier options.
I am constantly stiff and have almost no flexibility. I can barely bend over lol. Stretching will be good and it will help me move my body more without it being too exhausting.
Can I add you as a friend so we can keep in touch?4 -
You’ve taken some important steps. That’s important!! The pandemic did a number on a lot of people.
Feel free to add me!!
I can help you with encouragement and help you learn how to cook simple things. My motto is if you can read, you can cook. 😀
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I have 80# to lose to, and I have started logging everything again. I'm 5'1" and weighed 218# this morning! I'm on Prednisone every day for Rheumatoid Arthritis and lots of walking, etc. are out the door, because my feet can't take it and my Dr. advised me to not walk anymore than 10 minutes for exercise, so.... I've tried swimming and that was wonderful, but my hands couldn't take taking the wet suit off! So I really need to zero in on my eating. I am replacing chips, cookies, buttered popcorn, etc., with fruit and veggies and eating lean protein instead of deep-fried chicken, etc. It's going to come off slow because of being 62. and disabled, but it's best to have it come off slow. Lots of water and some diet pops. Good luck to you and I'm going to add you and root you on big-time. Oh, and I'm the one with the big tummy! Hugs to you!4
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@Mellie289 Thank you SO much! Your comment was actually helpful and not judgmental like a lot of people I’ve talked to on here.
I am fully vaccinated but it’s hard to just return to normal life like the flick of a switch. I was really, really scared by the pandemic and after feeling terrified for months it’s hard to just let that go. I am slowly starting to feel more comfortable. I still wear a mask around other people and I feel embarrassed because I’m the only one but it helps me feel safer.
It’s hard to talk about this with people because people make fun of me, especially online.
It really bugs me that everyone just acts like the pandemic was no big deal. For a lot of people it really shook their mental health but they’re afraid to talk about it.
I still order meal delivery because I’m don’t have the skills or energy to cook. I am trying to choose healthier options.
I am constantly stiff and have almost no flexibility. I can barely bend over lol. Stretching will be good and it will help me move my body more without it being too exhausting.
Can I add you as a friend so we can keep in touch?
I'm sorry that you've encountered judgmental people or comments on here, you shouldn't have to deal with that. I hope nothing in my previous comment came across that way, I certainly didn't mean it to.
You shouldn't feel embarrassed about the pandemic affecting you or your continued use of a mask. People have tried (and to some extent succeeded) to make COVID an ideological or political issue when it's not, it's pure science. I'm speaking as someone who used to make a living in vaccine development, the pandemic was, and still is, a very serious issue. It's still hitting the unvaccinated population hard and is likely to continue doing so as we see more variants. If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask even though you are vaccinated, keep wearing them and don't worry about what anyone else thinks. I am no longer wearing them as where I live there is a high vaccination rate and low case count. But I'm keeping my eye on things and will join you in the "mask wearing vaccinated club" if I see case counts in my area rise enough, especially with the Delta variant. When I go to the gym or the grocery store I see more people wearing masks now than I did at any time except for the summer peak. You aren't alone in feeling better with a mask.
If you want tips on easy cooking I'm sure there are plenty of people here willing to help, there are probably a bunch of threads on easy meal prep and things like that on this forum as well. I used to almost solely live on delivery pizza but I stopped when COVID hit because I didn't trust having anyone else make my food. Since then I have been eating a lot of oatmeal with peanut butter, rice and beans or lentils with hummus, baked potatoes with cottage cheese and salsa, and even pasta. It's nothing fancy but it's all easy to make and inexpensive. I can make most of it in batches so putting meals together is easy and it's simple to track the calories using my kitchen scale. I'm a vegetarian but I'm sure there are plenty of easy ways to batch cook meat if you happen to be more carnivorous than I am.
Hang in there and don't feel pressured to get back to "normal life" before you're ready. Frankly, life isn't normal right now anyway.2 -
Hi,
I can't believe I'm posting this but I really need help...
The pandemic really, really scared the crap out of me. They let us work from home and I was afraid to go out. I don't know how to cook and I ordered delivery from restaurants every night. I was already kind of sedentary before the pandemic but normally I would get exercise from walking during my commute or walking around stores... but then for months I didn't even get that.
There were a lot of days I barely got out of bed or off the couch. I was glued to the TV a lot watching all the news. I felt super stressed and food was a big coping mechanism and source of comfort for me.
I felt tired all the time and my productivity dropped but my work was super understanding because they knew everybody was under a lot of stress. They didn't check in on us a lot. I definitely started to feel lazy and I got used to taking a lot of naps.
Now, they are making us go back to the office and expecting a ton more productivity, like the pandemic never happened. I am really struggling to adjust because I still feel scared and feel weird about going outside without a mask.
I'm out of shape. When I started to put on weight in the first months of the pandemic, I didn't worry about it because I was trying to be kind to my self since I already felt stressed and worrying about weight would only add to that stress. I stopped checking the scale or my measurements until recently.
Now I feel shocked I am 5'5" and was a healthy 160 pounds at the start of the pandemic. Now... 242 pounds.
I am noticing changes like not being able to walk as far without feeling out of breath. The first time back at work I felt faint and dizzy when I was going up the stairs, and had to stop to catch my breath. It was really embarrassing and scary. But I hadn't really done stairs in SO long so I guess I need to get used to it again. Now I feel afraid to do the stairs too much so I walk to the other end of the hall to use the elevator even though it takes longer.
I am always tired and after lunch time all I want to do is lie down. My muscles feel sore all the time even though I'm not even using them much.
I feel so overwhelmed I just want to quit. My friend said I should get a gym membership. But if I'm struggling this tired out walking around the office I don't feel like I can handle the gym.
I'm not an athletic girl - I've always been more of curvy and thick girl. I'm apple shape so I've always had a belly, but I used to carry my weight better and I could hide the tummy fat with spanx and high waisted pants. But now my fat is just really noticeable and I can't hide it. My waist is a lot bigger and I went up 4 dress sizes. I did a lot of online shopping when I was staying home but I can't fit into most of it comfortable anymore. I have rolls on my arms and back now. I am trying to accept my self and I am okay with how my legs, butt, and arms look... but my belly area is a big insecurity for me.
I have no clue where to start to get in shape again. I need something EASY because "just hit the gym" is not really do-able for me.
Here are before/after pics and the teal dress I wore to work. It's taking a lot of courage to post these so PLEASE be nice. I want to feel beautiful again but I'm really struggling.
Love your tatoo, you can do this one day at a time. It's taken my 11 months to go from 243lbs to 191 lbs some would say slow but I'm older than you and given your young things might go a little quicker. But no rush take the good advice and utilize everything this site has to offer, specifically counting calories, logging and measuring your food staying hydrated with water and your well on your way to success. The pandenmic scared us all and it still scares me since my mom and I had it and our systems are a bit more vulnerable because of diabetes and other stuff, but we must live the healthiest and best life we can. So start here, as you can see plenty of people willing to offer a helping hand. Best of care you got this.4 -
Hello!
I relate to your struggles in a lot of ways; weight loss is hard but we can do this. Here are some tips that I think has helped me now and in the past:
1. As many people here have suggested, I too recommend logging your calorie intake; this really helps. I know you said you struggle with this, but no one needs to see it, this is just for yourself so you can evaluate and make better choices. The way I do it is I log the food the night before of what I think I'm going to be eating the next day and I try to stick to that as much as possible (meal prepping will help with this); I find that it helps if I already know the food/calories that I will be intaking upfront instead of logging as I eat because its easier to overeat when logging the same day as you go or at the end of the day.
2. Preparing your meals really helps because you know exactly what's in it. If you are not that good on the stove, try getting an air fryer or one of those little counter ovens. Look up some simple recipes that only have a few ingredients; try 1 or 2 recipes and see how it goes. You can also aim for the no-cook meals; I do these a lot, it saves time and its easy, and most of the time they are pretty healthy. If you just need to eat out try to chose the best option available.
3. Cravings are the worst, I know. But once you start eating healthier and making better choices with food, those cravings start to fade away; it takes a bit of time but you wont have them as bad or as frequent. My biggest tip here is don't keep junk food in the house. I know its hard to just stop eating those things so try little by little eliminating these items. You can even try to find healthier choices to replace the not so healthy things that you like. Remember its all about balance.
4. As for exercise just start easy, you don't want to go hard in the beginning and injure yourself. If getting a gym membership does not work for you then don't get it; there is many other ways that you can exercise. Some things I'm doing is walking 20-30 minutes before or after work or some days I do a workout video; I like any dance workout videos like Zumba, I also like Kickboxing exercise videos, just any exercise video around 20-30 minutes that looks fun I'll try. Just keep it simple in the beginning and then move on to more challenging things as you progress.
5. Don't drink your calories (sodas, juices, etc.) Instead try drinking unsweet tea (you can add stevia if you like that), sparkling water (you can add those zero calorie flavors to it) or even diet sodas.
6. Drink lost of water and get your beauty rest every day.
7. If you need to take a day to indulge because you are going to celebrate a special occasion like your birthday or a holiday like Christmas, just enjoy that day stress free and then the next day just get back on track.
8. Don't give up. Some days will be easier than others but the important thing is to keep trying and to give your best. Don't strive for perfection because that does not exist, just strive for progress. I suggest you set yourself some short terms goals instead of focusing on the end goal (be honest with yourself and set realistic goals so you don't set yourself up for failure). This makes the ride more enjoyable and sustainable.
I hope these tips help. Keep connected here with us; we are all here to support each other along the way.
Take care4 -
Thank you!! Keeping track of my food/calories is always a but uncomfortable for me because I eat so much I feel like such a pig when I log everything. I definitely overeat but I’m always hungry and even when I’m not hungry I still feel like I’m craving more junk food and it’s SO hard to change because food is a big source of comfort for me and my mental health. I’m trying to make small changes to start so it’s not too overwhelming, but also be kind to myself
One of the main reasons logging works is that it does exactly what you said... it forces accountability and makes you stare how much you're eating straight in the face. Uncomfortable? Yes. But it's only when you're faced with the reality of once again having to acknowledge how much you're actually eating that you will eat less and lose weight. Denial will not help you, even though it's more comfortable.5 -
sollyn23l2 wrote: »One of the main reasons logging works is that it does exactly what you said... it forces accountability and makes you stare how much you're eating straight in the face. Uncomfortable? Yes. But it's only when you're faced with the reality of once again having to acknowledge how much you're actually eating that you will eat less and lose weight. Denial will not help you, even though it's more comfortable.
Honestly I struggled a lot with logging because I felt SO uncomfortable with it. I stopped for awhile but I’m trying to start again.
I’m used to just eating whatever I feel like having in that moment and not giving a crap about how much… I did a lot of mindless snacking throughout the day because it felt good. I didn’t wanna deprive my self of a treat whenever I felt like it because I need it for my emotional well being. I always felt like I deserve to indulge my self every time I felt a craving.
I knew I didn’t eat healthy but I honestly had clue just how MUCH I ate until I started logging.
It feels really, really uncomfortable to realize that you consume in 1 day:
• 5 cans of soda
• 4 bags of chips
• 7 bags of M&Ms
• 32 Oreo cookies
And if I wasn’t logging it I would have told you “I only had a few cookies!” If you mindlessly eat and if you’re not paying attention 32 can fly by and feel like only a few!!
This has been a massive wake up call for me… it is super, super uncomfortable for me to talk about this so please be nice.
I’m embarrassed to talk about how many calories I have per day… but it’s usually over 4,000… I feel so ashamed when I see the numbers
Someone told me I gain a pound of fat for every 3,500 calories so it makes sense why I gained so much because I’m putting pounds of fat into my oft every week
That is so gross and uncomfortable to think about but it’s STILL so hard to change
I’m not even close to a calorie deficit but I’m trying to make baby steps… my problem is my stomach has gotten so used to getting all the snacks and big meals every day, anything less than what I’m used to feels like a huge shock
The snacks are on top of my meals which are bigger now than a year ago… my portion sizes grew a lot during the pandemic because I felt so stressed and so depressed and I was at such a bad place emotionally I just felt like “I deserve this and I need this as a pick me up” and I gradually ate more until I was ordering two cheeseburgers when normally I would have one (for example).
Food is SO emotional for me and it was my biggest coping mechanism during the pandemic. And now it’s SO hard to reduce my calories because I feel hungry so easily and I feel the biggest cravings and I just don’t feel satisfied at all if I don’t get what I feel like having….
Like I wanna lose weight but I can’t just feel hungry and unsatisfied all the time.
Please be nice because this is a very, very sensitive embarrassing topic….11
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