It's like starting from the beginning all over again...

funkyspunky872
funkyspunky872 Posts: 866 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I started out at 295.4 pounds barely able to move along with the simplest of workout videos. I worked hard though and slowly built up muscle, losing 145 pounds in a year and a half. I went from not being to do a single jumping jack to:
1.) Completing the 30 Day Shred twice with 8 pound weights
2.) Doing the P90X Plyometrics video twice in a row on a regular basis (for the calorie burn, not the program)
3.) Hours climbing stairs
4.) 6 mile walks twice a day
5.) Couch 2 5 K running
6.) Intense yoga
7.) 1000 jumping jacks at a time
8.) Holding plank position for over 2 and a half minutes at a time

I overexercised like it was my job. I joined all these MFP groups shooting to burn 5,000... 7,000... 10,000 calories a week. It started to become extremely painful, and I started associating exercise with punishment.... So, I restricted my calories, telling myself I wouldn't have to exercise if I didn't eat. It seemed like a fair trade at the time.

Now it's about 8 months from my 'lowest point' of mental health but my 'highest' point of physical strength. I gained back about 50 pounds with bingeing and purging after months and months of restricting. I can tell I've lost a HUGE amount of muscle and gained only fat back. I'm trying to start exercising everyday again, but I feel like I'm 300 pounds all over. I can't keep up anymore.

It's really depressing. Anybody else been through this or have some words of advice?

Replies

  • s1lence
    s1lence Posts: 493
    Congrats on such an amazing lose so quickly for one. Sorry to hear you've been going through so much pain and mental anguish.

    I started the year out doing lots of exercise and cutting my calories low but my knees and wrists started to feel like they were going to either break of pull out of the sockets. I haven't stopped exercising but I've slowed down a lot. I've started to exercise only during the week and let my body relax during the weekend. I've also stopped really bashing myself about what I eat.

    If you start looking at it as this is how I want to live my life instead of I want to lose this much now then it helps the mind wrap around what's going on. Try not to look at exercise as a I have to do it to eat, or it's a way to punish yourself for eating. Try to make it fun - if you enjoy it while you are doing it then you are more likely to stick with it and have a good attitude. With the eating thing, sounds like you are starting an eating disorder. Food isn't an enemy and it's not a comfort. You may wish to seek professional help or find a group that could help with the binge and purge you've been putting yourself through.

    You have made amazing strides to a healthy you. Keep yourself healthy and be positive.
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