Being Honest about Being Obese

 I have struggled with my weight for about 20 years now.  I'm 5' 6" and my all time I  (that I know of) was 215 while in college.  At my height, 180 lbs puts me in the "obese" Body Mass Index (BMI) category. 

Jan. 2008 I got really really tired of how I looked and how I felt.  I bought a treadmill and joined Weight Watchers Online.   By September, I had lost 25 lbs.  Then I stopped trying and paying attention.  Work got busier and I was more tired by the time I got home......gained 10 lbs pretty quickly.

March 13, 2009 I joined Calorie King.  I tried to go back to Weight Watchers but the whole "point" thing really turned me off this time.  Calorie King uses the information right off the nutritional label.  I have learned to read the labels in a new way.   I have a new appreciation for what I put in my mouth and how important activity is.  

I have lost 15 lbs since joining and have now moved from an obese BMI to an overweight BMI.  

Losing weight is TOUGH !!!!!   Overcoming habits and fears.  Finding a new way to deal with stress and boredom.  I spent 20 years eating for every reason but hunger.  I still have bad days.  Just a couple days ago I went crazy and ate about 3,000 calories.  I knew full well what I was doing.  I logged it all.  I gave into the need and went to bed.  The next day.......was a new day and I started over.  

You can do this.  Calorie King has a couple different plans.  $10 a month for 1 year.  Pay $80 for the whole year up front.  $50 to buy the boxed software for tracking food and exercise (no access to forums if you buy just the software).  So far, I have found it to be invaluable.  I need sooooo much help and acountability with portions and such.  

One day at a time.  One change at a time.  One pound at a time.

 I'm 5'3 and 180lbs. And I look heavier then I am. I use SparkPeople.com. It's free and there's TONS of groups to join with specific things. Example, I'm in a group specifically for people with Crohns disease.Good luck and we're here if you need help.

PurplePets22

One day at a time.  One change at a time.  One pound at a time.

 I agree with this! In fact it's my new motto! Lol.

When I lost a lot of weight, the strategy that worked the best for me was just breaking it down into simple decisions.  Kind of hard to explain, but for example, instead of spending all this time formulating diets and workouts and all that, when I opened the fridge I would choose to shut it again and walk away.  It was more of just focusing on that moment than doing all this planning and strategizing for the big picture.  Maybe for some people that works, but for me that never made each decision about a meal or snack or forcing myself on the elliptical any easier.  The bottom line is, I (and maybe you too) needed a lifestyle overhaul, not just a diet or an exercise plan, but I needed to re-train how I acted every day and build new habits in place of the old ones that were bad.  It needed to be a permanent thing, so it had to be something I could maintain and stick with forever, not just be on a certain diet for a certain length of time or doing a certain exercise routine until I felt better.

 Thanks everyone :) I think I signed up for spark people a long time ago but never really utilized the site!  I'm going back to what I did before, which is to journal each and everything I eat.  A big part of my eating disorder is about control.  When I journal each morsel, as tedious as it is, I felt a sense of control over my life.  I'll probably go back to using WW points (without rejoining them officially) since that helps put into more concrete terms what I'm eating and how much.  A lifestyle change is definitely what I'm after, I despise diets...the word makes me cringe!  I'm also going to start meditating again....it helps with my urge to overeat (urge is a mild word, obsess is more like it). 

Now if only the SO would get home to take me bike shopping before they close..thankfully buying a bike is the ONLY think I'm obsessing about at the moment :)

 I've been overweight, and I don't know at what point I was considered obese, probably since I stopped growing, which was at age 13. So, we're talking about 10 years here. I think the only time I maybe wasn't, I was on Adderall. I can't be on that anymore for two reasons, first, if a medication can cause high blood pressure, I will be affected by that. Second, I currently have no insurance. I tried a few months ago doing something with a friend. Our only goal there was just to exercise. We didn't tie weight to it, since we didn't want to be discouraged by that fact that we sometimes might not lose any weight, even if we put in the effort. Then, she stopped being good about doing it, and once I knew she wasn't I got lazy too. I need a partner who is more motivated than I am, because I will hold up my end if I feel bad about not doing as well as the other person. The long term effects aren't motivation enough for me. I need to be made to feel bad about making the wrong choices now, not 20 years from now.

I think you're on the right track by eating leaner foods. I suspect that when you binge eat, you are eating anything available, cookies, ice cream, cold salads like potato salad and fried foods.

March of 2008, at 6' 6" I weighed 254. And would eat until I'm full as a survival mechanism. I've been starving broke before. So the tendency is to eat what's available because it may not come your way again. And my grandmother grew up with people who survived the Great Depression, so to see food laying around and not finished is like a sin. Anyway, thanks to having 4 teeth pulled, I had to get used to soft foods for a while. And just happened to get into low fat yogurt, not because I was trying to be healthy, just because it tasted good. I've tried health food bars and they all taste like cardboard. Anyway, just for giggles, I thought I would try sugar free jello and low fat puddings for desserts, rather than the cookies and ice cream I ate for most of a decade. And eating leafy salads and low-fat dressing, rather than potato salad. I've always preferred wheat bread to white. And Brummels and Brown, which is yogurt based but tastes just like butter, to me. And staying away from fried chicken. Eat roasted or baked chicken. Anyway, I lost almost 30 lbs in a few months and by Sept 08, I weighed 215 lbs. Now, in winter, I don't sweat as much so I retained water and "ballooned" all the way to 220 lbs. And it will go away in the summer. I still get some fat because I eat meat.

Chicken and turkey are the leanest. Fish is also lean. As for beef, anything that says loin or round is lean. My favorite cuts are top sirloin and petite sirloin. Pork has fat in it but I'm not eating it every day. And you don't have to run marathons. Just doing anything outside, even walking with the dogs for 45 minutes to an hour is going to provide the maximum aerobic benefit. Any longer brings diminishing returns, so says Covert Bailey, author of "Fit or Fat."

The point is, you don't have to starve yourself to lose weight. You just need to eat the right things until you feel full. If you are still hungry, you could be tempted to snack. So, when you are nervous or stressed, crunch a carrot or celery. It gives you something to do without the extra baggage. Having some control over your life will give you some therapy, as well.

Eating disorders are harder to treat than alcohol and drug addictions. The body can survive without illicit drugs or drinking alcohol. It cannot survive without food. So, just choose food that is better for your body.

 First of all, it took a lot of guts to put everything out there and share your struggles with the forum.  So I applaud your courage starting out.  If you're as gutsy about the weight loss as you are about baring all with us, then you'll definitely be successful.  You've already lost 50 pounds before, so you know what habits work for you.  Go back to basics, and analyze what habits stuck with you and where you can improve.

I would definitely take your SO up on his offer to let you set the pace of exercise.  Keeping up a consistent cardio pattern is crucial, and I've found that I'm more aware of my eating after exercising.  It's like I think "I don't want to erase all my work" so I make better food choices.  Keeping a food diary is a big help, as is really identifying your strengths and opportunities.  A big opportunity for me is still grabbing the first handy item if I'm really hungry.  Which used to be mostly DH's food (he's got one of THOSE metabolisms, eats whatever he wants, darn him, so he keeps Snickers and Mountain Dew easily accessible).  What really worked for me was chopping up healthy food ahead of time and keeping it within easy reach in the fridge.  So if I came home from work starving, instead of settling for chips because it was fast, I could easily choose pineapple or carrots.  

And make small changes.  For me personally, small changes allow me to develop habits more consistently and I don't view any of it as a "restriction".  When I first made the decision to start losing weight, I cut out pop.  I made big pitchers of unsweetened iced tea, and kept water bottles handy and ready.  And after a week I discovered I wasn't missing the pop anymore.  The next week I added eating three or more fruits or veggies a day.  And it became a habit.  The week after that, I upped my cardio from 4 days a week to 5.  And so on and so on.  It's gradual changes that have really worked for me.  Yes, I'm losing weight slower than you might on a really restrictive diet, but I'm building good habits that are sticking with me.  I've lost 21 pounds so far, still have a lot to go, but I'm pleased with the results.  I strength train three days a week and am now doing the Couch to 5K program at least 5 days a week as my cardio.  Of course, there are also daily walks with the dogs, and gardening as well for added exercise.

I'm still technically in the "Obese" section of the BMI scale, but you know what?  I've gone from "++" overweight on my scale to "+", which is VERY exciting, and the weight is still coming off. 

You can do it!  Rekindle your success from the first time you lost 50 pounds and develop your opportunities.  There's a lot of us here on the forums whom I know will be more than happy to support you every step of the way.

Activity is important and if you take your SO up on his offer it will make ALL the difference.  BUTBUTBUT - if you exercise you will increase your muscle tone.  Muscle weighs more than fat.  So, if you exercise, DON'T be discouraged if you don't lose a lot of weight.  Measure yourself - you may well be losing inches, rather than pounds.  Muscle may weigh more than fat, but it also burns more calories, so exercise is like a double whammy of calorie-using

The main thing you can do is eat only when you are hungry. It doesn't really matter hugely WHAT you eat.  I honestly don't think weighing and calorie counting work for most people.  If anything it makes you think/obsess about food EVEN MORE, which makes you "hungry" more often..... ever notice how you will quickly get hungry when everyone at work starts talking about what they are planning to have for dinner?  If you keep it very simple, you are more likely to stick to it long term, and eating only when you are hungry is The Big One.  It will make an enormous difference all on its own.

If you get the urge to eat - STOP.  First try having a drink of water and then just doing something different (take the dogs out, vacuum, put some music on and dance around, burn an orangutan....)  Tell yourself - it's not hunger - WHAT IS IT?  There is an underlying need and if you answer it with food you will not only be consuming un-needed calories, you will also be neglecting the true need, which will only rear its head later (to be answered with more un-needed calories?) and so it goes on.....

I'm overweight probably obese as well, I get told all the time I hide my weight well, which I don't get because I see it. I want to go on some kind of diet but honestly I don't know how.  I  gained so much weight living in Florida I am originally from Brooklyn, Ny I was never thin but I was healthy moved to Florida at 13 and I hated it in Florida still don't like it.  So the weight just piled on. At 17 or 18 I got high blood pressure still have it few years ago they said I have diabetes.

Now when I was checked for diabetes they made me drink something and at the end of the 3 or 5 hour test my blood sugar was over 300 which I don't get how anyone's blood sugar wouldn't go high that was some nasty stuff lol. Anyway my doctor at the time said lets just say you have type 2 diabetes gave me meds in the beginning  I did follow but I am so bad with taking pills.

My problem with dieting is I don't eat what normal people would eat, at age 12 I stopped eating meat it was because of a show I watched with my sister and her friends and the next day we had KFC and I went to eat it but just couldn't because I thought of the show, and I had told my sister and her friends oh I'm not gonna eat meat anymore, they told oh you can't do that I bet you can't, well I'm gonna be 31 this year and I still haven't eaten meat.

Basically I eat potatoes, rice , pizza, spaghetti, I make the best stuffed shells lol, raviolis, cottage cheese and noddles, perogies, corn, peas, pineapple , grapes,  white bread, chips, ice cream, peanut butter and jelly. I do drink water but not alot, I drink alot of orange juice lately I don't drink alot of soda and if I do it's sprite or nestle ice tea Thats about it

When it comes to eating if it looks nasty or smells nasty I won't try it. So how do I diet when I get told all I eat is carbs and starches. Over the past year I can say I would rather open a bag of chips then cook dinner which is really bad.

I did finally go back to the doctors last week to get my meds it's a new doctor who seems to care more then my last one, When they checked my blood sugar it was 105 and he looked back at my sugars and said I don't think you have diabetes, I told him I never thought I did either but the other doctor said lets just say you do.  I know I was told my liver enzymes were high a few times but the other doctor said not to worry. I did have blood work done 11-08 in which this doctor said somethings going on with your kidneys, so I go for lab work on wednesday.

I really want to lose weight, I do have a treadmill which I did use when I first got it but it has become my clothes hanger and a shelf , on mother's day my BIL put new tubes on my bike for me but I haven't road the bike as of yet.

So does anyone have any ideas on how I can change my eating habits? I don't binge it at least I don't believe I do, I know if someone looks at me they must think oh she eats all day long which I don't I am bad that I can go almost all day without eating but then I'll eat at night.  I don't eat breakfast really don't eat lunch either I'll eat once I start to get shakey which isn't good for me because I do have hypoglycemia.

There is my truth that I never talk about.
 

You've got some great advice here.

My thing was portion control. Which is why I joined WW. It has been working for me and I like it.

About being active....start off slowly. Even if if you can feel like you can do more, don't- you could be doing some damage (like me with a stress fracture).

daisyprincess

So does anyone have any ideas on how I can change my eating habits? I don't binge it at least I don't believe I do, I know if someone looks at me they must think oh she eats all day long which I don't I am bad that I can go almost all day without eating but then I'll eat at night.  I don't eat breakfast really don't eat lunch either I'll eat once I start to get shakey which isn't good for me because I do have hypoglycemia.

Also I would really try to eat breakfast.  It definitely jump starts your metabolism, setting you up to rev through the day.  I found that my weight loss really kicked in once I felt like I was eating ALL the time.  I always have a high-fiber, high-protein breakfast to kick-start, then lunch, then an after-work snack, then a snack after cardio (usually the bunny bowl), then dinner.  If I must have dessert, I'll have fruit.  It sounds like a lot of eating, but each meal is well-balanced and each snack is small (like, the bunny bowl or a portion of almonds).  Oh, and don't forget to hydrate!  Whenever I think I'm hungry, I always drink two glasses of water first, because many people mistake thirst for hunger.

The worst thing in my opinion is drastically reducing your food intake.  Usually you end out SOOO hungry by bedtime that you HAVE to eat, and you usually end out eating way too much or binging on something unhealthy.

Since you're not a big breakfast eater, start small, like maybe a piece of toast with reduced fat peanut butter or one of those Carnation Instant Breakfast powders in milk.  

Food is my biggest hurdle too, but I find that with a little extra time invested (the portioning out), it absolutely sets yourself up for success.

So I guess my point is, don't throw away your biggest support system. Also keep in mind that you shouldn't depend on someone elses exercise schedule either. If he can't go, make sure you still make it out to do something.

Anyway, I am struggling right along with you. I know what to do. I just need to make it happen.

I lost weight about a year and a half ago for my brothers wedding.  And, I've managed to keep it off give or take 5-9 lbs that I take off, put back on, take off, etc. etc. 

I had always heard "it's a lifestyle change" and now that I'm trying to maintain I can see that it truly is.  If I let myself go and just mindlessly eat, I start putting it on again. 

It's a constant struggle for me every day. 

I did WW points and walked and I went from 196 to 128.  But, I'm currently about 139, 140.  And, I'm working on taking off about 10 lbs again. 

Believe me, I'm right here with you!

Willow too, she needs Zone Diet for Dogs--she's over 50 lbs.!

willowchow

I had always heard "it's a lifestyle change" and now that I'm trying to maintain I can see that it truly is.

I totally agree, it is defiantly a lifestyle change. That's the reason "diets" don't work- nobody can "diet" forever, but you can change towards a healthier lifestyle forever.