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.
So as I go through this journey of weight loss I'm realizing more and more each day how emotional it really is. And how my extreme amount of weight gain was due a lot to my reaction to life altering changes in my life. I really believe that just will power alone and determination is not always enough to conquer what makes us obese or overweight in the first place. I think you have to search your heart and get to the root cause of why you have got to the place you had to have success and continue with it. I know here at the obesity support group we talk a lot about diet and exercise but I believe that is one component in such a larger picture. I believe seeing our value and worth, loving ourselves enough to not only take care of our outer bodies but inner soul will bring about lasting change. I hope everyone here agrees.
A very deep depression, along with a physical injury caused my weight gain.
Im on meds for my depression and mood but its still a fight everyday. I often feel that I deserve a *reward* for just about anything... a good day, a bad day, a fight or argument, to make me feel better and etc. That reward was always food. The instant gratification. I havent found my new nonfood reward yet, so I still struggle with this.
That is great tho! You are really good to yourself. I know its been a journey to get to that as well.
My problems with my weight started when I was a little child, there is nothing special about that. The special thing is that the root of the problem wasn't my actual weight, it was my mom. I was a bit chubby as a kid but as I look at the old pics I see a normal child in them (and believe me, I am super critical when I look at my own photos), but somehow my mom saw me much bigger. I remember time to time (not often) she didn't give me dinner to make me lose weight. When we went shopping clothes, she became very nervous and she always let me know how hard and stressful it was to find clothes for me because of my weight. I cannot exress how much I hate buying clothes. One year ago when I could find jeans in my size in a normal shop I started to cry in the dressing room, I was so relieved.
I think she had exactly the same problem with her mom as a child. My granny was a very cold and vain woman (I never met her) and she treated my mom very badly. My mom was a bit chubby too, but nothing that should have been taken under control.
Well, my mom was not cold to me, she loved me to pieces I know but she was horrified that I would end up really fat and she saw me fat.
When I became a teenager I lost all the extra weight and I was quite skinny but I still saw myself extremely huge. I was totally shy with boys and I couldn't imagine that anyone could treat me as a girl.
Well, now when I see my teenager photos I see a really pretty girl. :) To tell you the truth I am quite surprised boys didn't fall for me. It all comes back to self-confidence.
At the age of 16 I met the love of my life and first time in my life a faint and weak idea was born in my head... I might be a tiny bit attractive.
In this incredible happiness I started gaining weight. Slowly but surely. I was 138 lbs when I was 16 and I think I was at my highest around the age of 22 at 216 lbs.
Right now I am 195 lbs.
My boyfriend stayed with me, he loved me skinny, he loved me bigger, and he says he doesn't mind my weight but in my head I am around 700 lbs.
I keep working on the imagine in my head, but it is very very hard for me. I saw myself as a giant monster even when I was skinny.
Cross your fingers for me, dear girls. :) I would like to lose the weight on my body and more importantly in my head.
(Sorry for the long post, somehow it came out.)
I hope you can overcome the negative cycle that has affected your mentality through the generations.
I am also somewhat envious of your weight -- I would have to lose about 10 lbs to be down to where you're at. Unfortunately, I keep gaining instead of losing.
My general health right now is at a low point. I almost lack the energy to come to the computer and type anything.
Jenalone - You do so much for this little group. Thanks a lot.
Fern - You feel tired but you found the energy to make me feel better, how great is that? :) Thank you.
Anyway your profile photo is really beautiful.
I am still very low in energy, and it is easier to count the good days than the bad ones (April 10th was a good day)--but at least I haven't had to be hospitalized and haven't been bedridden, or anything. I get up in the mornings and I go places sometimes.
I just got an appointment to see my new endocrinologist in about a month, so I will see if she has anything new to tell me or has some good way to treat me. I am optimistic about it. :)