Obesity Support Group
This community is dedicated to those of us struggling with obesity. Obesity is thought to be a significant risk factor in certain health conditions, leading to increased mortality. Find the support you need by sharing your story, asking questions, and learning from others on how they have coped.
Hi All,
I am not new to this site. I have been here, off and on, for a year or two. However, I always get sidetracked and spend a lot of time away from here.
Here's the thing: I turn 24 next month. I am 5'3 and currently weigh 303.5 lbs. 9 years ago, I was 170 lbs. I tragically lost my 2 year old niece in an accident on Halloween and have since been packing on the pounds.
I don't know if I am depressed. I know I'm lazy and have hypothyroidism, which the doctors have not found the correct dosage of meds for yet.
I have a loving mother and my husband and I just celebrated our 3 year anniversary. Neither of them care about what I weigh, because they love me regardless. They do care about my health and want me to be healthy. But, they cannot refuse me even the smallest indulgence and I know it is not up to them to change me, it is up to myself.
I just don't know where to start. I try and try to eat healthier. I try to exercise, but walking is not exercise for me and there is no money for a gym membership, even though a gym is exactly what I need because I know my body responds well to different types of exercise equipment.
I feel lost and alone, because outside of my husband and mother, I have no support group. I no longer have any close friends because I have isolated myself greatly since high school. My oldest sister does not understand that my body cannot walk/jog the 6 miles a day that hers can.
I don't have a job. I'm in school online, so I am home all day long. I know there is plenty I could be doing. I could be cleaning, unpacking, dancing, whatever, but my body just doesn't seem to want to get up and move. I just sit on the couch or sleep.
I hate it and I need a support group I can lean on. I need someone who understands what I am going through who can be there for me. Someone I can shoot a quick email or something to and can give me some help.
I just need...to feel like I belong and that there are others who understand and actually want to be there for me.
I am not new to this site. I have been here, off and on, for a year or two. However, I always get sidetracked and spend a lot of time away from here.
Here's the thing: I turn 24 next month. I am 5'3 and currently weigh 303.5 lbs. 9 years ago, I was 170 lbs. I tragically lost my 2 year old niece in an accident on Halloween and have since been packing on the pounds.
I don't know if I am depressed. I know I'm lazy and have hypothyroidism, which the doctors have not found the correct dosage of meds for yet.
I have a loving mother and my husband and I just celebrated our 3 year anniversary. Neither of them care about what I weigh, because they love me regardless. They do care about my health and want me to be healthy. But, they cannot refuse me even the smallest indulgence and I know it is not up to them to change me, it is up to myself.
I just don't know where to start. I try and try to eat healthier. I try to exercise, but walking is not exercise for me and there is no money for a gym membership, even though a gym is exactly what I need because I know my body responds well to different types of exercise equipment.
I feel lost and alone, because outside of my husband and mother, I have no support group. I no longer have any close friends because I have isolated myself greatly since high school. My oldest sister does not understand that my body cannot walk/jog the 6 miles a day that hers can.
I don't have a job. I'm in school online, so I am home all day long. I know there is plenty I could be doing. I could be cleaning, unpacking, dancing, whatever, but my body just doesn't seem to want to get up and move. I just sit on the couch or sleep.
I hate it and I need a support group I can lean on. I need someone who understands what I am going through who can be there for me. Someone I can shoot a quick email or something to and can give me some help.
I just need...to feel like I belong and that there are others who understand and actually want to be there for me.
You can PM anytime, if you want a proper moral support..I do check in daily, off and on. I also posting on the weekly weigh in group on the diet and weight section site.
YOU...We are worth it..You are young and your weight loss will be easy..I am in my 40s and its tougher when I had entered the dieting world in my 20s and 30s.. Start Now and never look back. Weight loss is tough, but the reward and outcome from our working our best will be better,
Good luck to you and post often on me hearing about your progress.. I will be looking forward on us seeing shed and feeling lighter in our journeys.. ((((((((((((Hugs)))))))))))))) Liliann smile :)
Knowing someone out there understands, at least a little bit, definitely helps. I try to do things during the day, but some of the most basic things, like walking, don't help me because I actually am pretty fit in that department. It takes something really intense to get me going and to stay going.
But, I have been starting small with doing more housework and daily chores like that to keep myself moving.
I just get discouraged so easily, even though I know I am worth it and I need to be healthy for my family and my future.
Thank you for listening to me and offering your support and advice. It helps knowing I'm not alone.
Do you have any chores in the house, like shopping, that could be a little physical? Or gardening, or whatever, share with your husband for encouragement and company. Even a walk can be made more challenging - walk faster, use a mp3 and fast music to help.Or it could eventually become a jog/run, or change the route so it incoporates some hills. Maybe you could get a dog if finances permit - it would provide you with company and affection, help depressive feelings, and give you exercise which you could not avoid for the sake of the dog's welfare.
If your body responds to exercise equipment can you buy some for your home? Start with some small weights( or canned food while you save for proper weights), if you have steps/stairs use those instead of step gym equipment. Or do squats, sit/pull-ups, lunges. How do you motivate yourself for study? Use some of that for exercise. When studying, set an alarm and do say 20mins study then 10 mins activity then 10 mins relaxation for a reward. Use a star chart for motivation and get something nice for yourself if you hit a goal - not expensive, say some bubble bath or a magazine.
As for exersice, a good 20 minute walk is all you need to start with right now. Distance is not important to start with, but doing the full 20 minutes is vitial. After your walk, there are so many different exersices that can be done at home with no weights. If you can, though, get some of those 2 lbs weights from Wal-Mart. You'd be surprised what you can do with those and how well they will work.
Last, but most important, don't set your goals too high to start off. Set some mini-goals to work on and meet those goals. You said you need to be unpacking. So, pick a few boxes to unpack, get them done, and a mark it up as a mini-goal achieved. These small successes are so important to building motivation that I can't stress it enough. Every mini-goal achieved is a positive building block for the next range of goals. Plus, mini-goals will help you focus on taking small beginner steps and you wont feel the sence of being overwhelmed by large, major goals.
If I can do anything to help you, encourage you, or whatever, please feel free to let me know.
Andy
learn how to grieve and give yourself a chance to do so.
Depression will pack on weight. I visit P-Dr because I thought that I was gaining because I might be depressed. Dr says I'm fine.
I know that stress can also cause weight gain.
I think that certain meds can also cause weight gain.
now if it has been 60 ty days n your still not on right mg. it might be wrong med for you and past time for you to see another Dr.
I have thyroid disorder too. I stay healthy and was right weight before medication. just 1 mg can make a big diffrance.
I'v had ice water so bk to bd I go.
I am going to set mini goals for myself, and not get discouraged if I have pain and need to stop. I need to listen to my body. I know that sitting on the couch all day isn't helping me, whatsoever.
I am also going to call right now to get a doctor's appointment set up to get on the right meds because I should not get so sick taking these.
I will keep all of you updated and I hope to stay on track this time. Again, thank you all!! I truly needed the help and motivation.
I'm so very sorry about the loss of your niece. Being very close to my own nieces and nephews, I feel your heartbreak. You might possibly be in such grief and depression that it's hindering you to an extreme.
I think depression is underestimated in how harmful it is to us... emotionally and physically. I'm trying to work on my depression to hopefully work from the inside out. Have you tried or considered counseling? I often feel almost paralyzed with my own dark thoughts. Making just getting out of my chair difficult. I need to go back to receiving therapy and counseling. It helped when I briefly tried it last year.
Best of luck to you.... Sending prayers and (((Hugs))).
it also has to have: fiber water sleep
doing nothing but watching day pass just shorten our life. yes w/o moving n doing n giving our body's what it requires shortens our lives.
I know that I have lost no less than 4 years of my life because I basically spend a lot of time sitting, n not getting up n out to walk.
we are actually suppose to move every 15 minutes.
If you have a desk job. forget about what your co workers might think. stand up every 15 minutes. you do not need to remain standing but it is best to stand at least 5 minutes but 1 is benifital.
also exercise your feet/legs by rocking up on your toes while seated.
Like teeter toter.
Often I don't even feel like getting dressed but I make myself get out of comfy bed n do so.
So just get up put your walking shoes on and spend at least 5 to 10 minutes walking. yes you can fit this into your schedule.