I'm sorry you are having such a hard time right now. I think many people here can say they have also been in a position where we have been scared to make a change, and we are here to share some encouragement with you.

Your post is a good sign that you want to do something, even though it's scary. Don't worry about doing too much are going way outside your comfort zone, but do make a point to do something.

A good place to start is to just go for a short walk or just start by doing some stretches. Set a small goal and then meet it. Each day you can repeat the same goal or you can decide if you are ready for something new.

Good Luck! That first small step can change your life. It did for me.

Sometimes you just need to start again in order to fly. But you gotta start .

Hi Sampaguita:
I agree with the other posts, just take one small step a day. Maybe a 10 min walk and then buildup.
Don't dwell on the past. That cannot be changed. Just look forward to the future and make 1 small change. We can all do that.
Please post on your updates.
one day at a time......
Weight loss is not a race. A lifestyle change will get us there, but try enjoy the ride while we get there. Slip ups are human, we all have them, just get back on track.......

I have a lot of fears and I guess I'm being paralyzed.all I wanna do is hide and stuff my mouth with food.maybe I should't force myself to exercise for 2 hours in the gym.i can't take the stress and the pressure..maybe I should start walking 3 rounds in our village and build from there. Thank you for the advice .i will try to do one small change at a time ..

You have a lot going on in your life right now, and I can see how it is stressful. The problem with things like anxiety is that it loves to bundle issues up, grab extra stuff where ever possible, and make things look as bad as possible.

The only thing I know to do to anxiety is to blast it apart at the seams! Refuse to let it amplify problems! Break problems down into smaller pieces and work on the smaller ones. If the problems are still too large, then bust them up into even smaller pieces.

Any exercise is better than no exercise, so get started! Then as you feel comfortable with it, increase the exercise.

Controlling diet is a key, but it can be hard to start. I like to use smaller plates, it helps me eat less.

Snacking can be a real diet buster. If you can eliminate snacks, then do so. If you can eliminate snacks then please tell me how to do it! If you are like the rest of us, then try to divert your snacking from chips and candy to veggies and fruit.

Gentle hugs, and let us know how it goes!

Oh my 2 hours at the gym is way to much for most people. I agree with the other posts...start small...one change at a time and do that until you are comfortable with it. Then will keeping that new habit going add another small goal. It is the small victories that will win the war!

So walk once around your village...see how you feel. Are you OK to go round 2 or is it time to take a break and rest? Next day you walk...same thing and I bet when you have walked 4-5 days you will be feeling stronger and walking longer!

Keep us posted on how it is going for you....WE CARE so SHARE!

Even something like eating some protein at every meal can help stabilize your mood. Good nutrition is the basis for good physical AND mental health. Junk food makes us feel good for the moment, but healthy eating will sustain us from day to day.

PRAY. I don't mean to sound like I'm preaching, but sometimes God is the only one who truly understands. Take some time every morning and every night to meditate and ask Him to help.

"God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind."

This awful fear and depression is NOT from God. God wants us to be powerful, loving, and healthy in body and mind.

Blessings to you.

I'm so sorry what you're going thru right now. It's good to vent out and we are all here for you.
I'm sturggling with depression too, and sometimes it does affect my work (once I had a panic attack in my boss's office, she was understanding and let me go home, but I was so dissapointed that I let it get in the way of my work). But this whole thing with your weight can be sloved, you CAN do it.
About a year and a half ago me and my fiance split. I move back home with my mom and I decided to get my life back.
I've always wanted to to kickboxing. So, at 284 pounds, I walked in and did my first class. I was tired, exhaused, but I felt great. I've been going ever since, and over time incorperated an exercise plan along with eating right (I dont forbid anything in my diet though, if I want something to eat, I'll have it in moderation, and not look at it again for awhile.) Now, I my sensi bumped me up to the advance class, I've been eating the best I've ever had in my life, and I'm 80 pounds lighter.
When I first stepped in the gym, I would of never thought I would be here today, but I took one day at a time, and didnt look at the long Journey I needed to do to get to my goal. Yes, I'm still far from my goal, but I'm come so far as well.
I had to get out of my comfort zone to do all of this, and all it took was one step, and from there on I just took baby step after baby step.
I still have slip ups to this day, but that only means I'm human. I know you can do it. Stop being so hard on yourself :) Feel free to message me if you'd like, I'm here for you. It doesn't matter what you did in your past, all that matters is what you do from here on. HUGS!

You got great advice here. I can't offer anything more except just some support. It sounds like you're having a rough patch. It happens. Please be kind to yourself. And accept some good wishes from me.

Please seek medical help. Depression can be helped with medication. Many problems are due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. Few of us would be concerned about taking a stomach antacid like Rolaids when we have a stomach problem. Don't leave this to chance. Get help.

Also, go to God with this. Let Him guide you. He is the creator of everything on earth, including medication. He's allowed us to make these discoveries.

**ThePepperMan: Yeah i agree that anxiety is like that. It grabs extra stuff wherever possible and make things look bad as possible. I agree that i should break down my "big" goals into smaller ones. The task of facing these goals seem frightening. But when it is broken down into smaller ones i feel more confident of doing it. Yea i should get started with exercise and snacking healthy. thank you for the advice.

**JoyceMarilyn- i didn't get started today. I know i should start but its sooo hard esp when you allowed laziness to take over! I have serious laziness issues. Bad, really bad.

** LivingWater- Yeah i know prayer helps. When things get hard i always pray and tell god to help me. God is willing to help, but the action depends on us.

**BeautifulMystery-Thanks. i think your story is very inspiring. I'm soo proud of you. I wish I could be like you. There's a saying, "You don't have to be great to start, But you have to start to be great!" Congratulations!

**Beesley- its hard not to be hard on myself. Many times i feel guilty on this journey. I think 90% of my depression is rooted from guilt. I feel guilty not being able to work, i feel guilty about being overweight. But like i said, every problem has a solution, and thats what im trying to put in my head. I really should accomplish small goals, one day at a time.

**Truhal- do u think i should seek help? My last check up was months ago. I hate drinking medicines, it contributes to my brain fog but i want counseling what do you think?

I was diagnosed with anxiety/depression 3 years ago, and as I am unemployed for those last 3 years I haven't been able to be on any kind of prescribed medication. It didn't stem from any weight issues, but I am sure they didn't help at all. I was prescribed initially to take celexa but as I had to leave me job I never got to continue with treatment. I did see a therapist for a short while during the beginning and that helped much more then the medication. Depending on what you have access to, a councilor or therapist is a better option in my opinion.

Since starting my weight loss I can tell you that not only am I losing physical weight, but some of the mental weight has lifted. I was in a similar place so I know how you feel even if the causes are different. It's a vastly underrated condition - even if it seems like everyone and their brother have it or that there is a new medication to treat it every week popping up.

Case in point, I just today had to 'remind' my folks that I have anxiety-depression because "they forgot." For someone who hasn't been directly affected by it, it's such a foreign scary thing they sometimes choose to ignore it as a valid condition.

Anyway, it's hard, and I fight everyday to get up and out of bed and start my day - as bleak as it may seem. I feel guilt, worthlessness, and struggle everyday. BUT, like I said, changing my eating has helped me have more motivation and energy to keep fighting.

I don't think weighing less will make it go away completely, and that's where probably medication might come into play. ((I have my own hangups over taking pills for everything so I am trying not to throw that too much into the long response I am writing)) But it does get a little easier -slowly but surely- if you use diet and eventually exercise to be tools for battling the condition.

It's not easy and at least once a day I want to give up and just go lay in bed. Once or twice I have, and I let myself cause I don't want to beat myself up over doing what my body tells me to anymore, but more often then not I am able to continue on through my day and now that I see successes in weight loss I don't want to give up as much. Plus seeing success in this area gives me more hope to find successes in other aspects of my life.

You will know when you are ready for change. It might not be right now. That's okay. For me my anxiety was so unpredictable that I couldn't even think of committing to anything other then 16-18 hours of sleep.

There are also anxiety-depression groups on here if you don't belong to them already. I was subscribing to those groups but gave it up because it wasn't what I wanted or needed ultimately. But you might also find it to be a good resource.

Anyway though... give yourself some breathing room. Sometimes $#!t happens.

You are not alone. Just remember that what defines you is NOT what happens to you...
it's how you choose to act in response.
Search youtube for "Faith the dog" on Oprah for some real inspiration. If a dog can learn to walk and run on 2 legs, then there is hope for all of us, my friends.

I don't know if I can be of assistance but here I am.

I had been mis diog,, n treated w p-medication. The med's cause me to be like, the only thing lift of me was just a shell of myself.
With my brother assistance. I won law suit against P-Dr P- Nurse...
From time to time I pop in to group to c if certain CL's n assistance r still on board.

anywhoo due to med that I was on. I can related to depression. medication as will as weather n thyroid disorder can cause depression, n weight gain. The p-med I was on cause depression nt that I needed help in that department.
Thank God for my ,divorce, atty, n thyroid medication. did me wonders : ) I still have moments that I'll have moment of anxiety
but I have CPA, who retired from IRS.

SW 422 lb.'s
CW 124 lb.'s

Weight loss while obtaining a healthy life style for a life time took/takes Baby steps. for me it was/ is a slow dance.

I'm basically a shut in. my form of exercise is walking. I depends on others to take me to mall so that I can walk. some days. I walk for total of 30 minutes w/in my home. some days, I just walk up n down driveway.
I started a trend in my neighborhood, lol, we all sport our pj's outside, lol. hey I paid/pay a lot for my pj's so ya, lol

I like "myfitnesspal"
u may also opt to google "mni cycle"

This is a great group of CL's n assistance, n group itself.
Granted it is quite group so check out other DS groups n keep checking bk in here.
Together we can, n will achive our mini goals n yes we will reach our final weight goal.

Protein
Fiber
Water
move
Sleep

we can remain seated and exercise our lower legs.
there might be web site that has list of thyp exercises.


Oh ya. occasionally, I still use dry shampoo.
I always wash my hair in kitchen sink.
When I was lrger. my boobs would smack me around when I would wash my hair. and I leant not to lean over the tub,LOL

Oh 1 more thing when I finely got in to 200 lb.'s area. I felt so skinny n sexy. I just didn't have entergy nor confident, n most of time nor the will power, yet
The point is One Day at a time. Slow is by far the health iest way. And we are stronger than we may realize.

Will take care. be good to yourself for yourself and for us.

Miss Chatter Box ( Admiral )

On another group on DS today someone was asking about anxiety and someone else posted that they use a natural remedy called Stress-J for anxiety and that it makes a huge difference and has kept them from needing prescription meds. She gets it from Nature's Sunshine. It's worth a shot for anyone dealing with anxiety issues.