Hello

[dunroven]

Well, I posted in the newcomer area on the general board, but I fit here quite nicely I guess. You can read more about me on the other post but basically, I have 143 pounds to lose. I am so depressed about it all. I never thought in my life I would be this big. It scares me actually, but I'm not sure I'm 100% ready for this. I try a new diet about every 2 weeks, or it feels like it anyway. I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, depression, migraines, and GERD. I'm only 47, and my marriage is suffering big time. Oh he loves me and is never cruel, except for one thing, and I already told him that I couldn't blame him whatsoever, and that is, he's not attracted to this body. I have been very fat all my life. I was the first girl in my class to wear a bra. That was in the third grade. Couldn't do PE classes, so they put me in special education PE. I did lose 45 pounds one time, I ate iceberg lettuce 3 times a day. I lost the 45 pounds in a month. I got compliments from a very handsome man and couldn't take it. I turned and almost ran out of the room and since that time, I have been eating my way into oblivion. I'm like the girl on the Princess Diaries when she found out she was a princess. I have worked very hard at being invisible and I'm good at it. Except I have worked very hard at being fat and pitied, and as you can see, I'm very good at it. Now, I am very sad over it, and I am unsure if I have the strength to change it.

Husband is overweight as well by the way. I want to lose the weight, in my mind, but I'm not sure where my heart is. I'm not sure if my depression is bad enough now that I am no longer in control, or if I can try for small successes and be happy with it.

So, for my first goal, I want to lose 10 pounds by Thanksgiving. A few weeks ago I was asking for 20, now I would settle for the 10.

If any of you have any suggestions as to how I can re-motivate myself one more time, please, I really need the help. I'm only 47, but I feel so 90ish right now. I have a hard time trying to exercise with my pain, and I detest exercise anyway. I think that all stems from my experience in PE years ago, but I have Leslie Sansone's tapes, have had Richard Simmons tapes, have gone for walks, there is no gym close to me, no pool, and I didn't like any of the stuff I have done. I do try to drink my water and I will do that better. I like water anyway.

Don't know what else to say. I feel like I have probably said plenty. Oh we are doing Atkins, and trying to start it on Monday, after my husband gets back from a weekend trip he is on. Any help is appreciated.

[joesfolks]

My heart goes out to you. I have even more weight to lose than you do so maybe you won't be too offended if I offer a little advice. I have lost 32 lbs this time around with SBD. A while back I lost 60 lbs on it. I gained all but 10 lbs of it back before the folks here helped me get motivated again. What I learned was that this has to be the way I eat...forever. It just can't be a diet for me. I don't exercise. But at my weight just the change in eating habits is helping. Maybe when spring comes around again and I have lost a few more pounds my feet won't complain so much if I try to exercise. Either way I am not going to let that stop me from learning how to feed my body the right foods and like them. I am sure you can do it too. If your hubby is coming along for the ride, great! But if he doesn't stick to it you need to be strong and continue to learn and lose. Please know that we are all here to help and support. And by the way, I am 52 (Man, I hate to admit that!) so don't feel like you are all that old! Please come by here often. Every day if need be. Coming by here keeps you thinking about what you can do to help yourself succeed. Wishing you all the best. If you like feel free to visit my journal, or anyones. It's a good way to make low carb friends.

[Brennabug]

welcome! I hear your pain. Sometimes everything seems wrong and out of your control. I am glad you are here and have decided to take back what you need to. There are some absolutely awesome people on here and just about any question you can com eup with someone will know the answer too.. and everytime you feel low someone will be here to help hold you back up. When the high carbs go some of this depression you feel may clear up too. The second biggest reason for me to follow LC besides weightloss is becuase it makes me FEEL happy on the inside. I notice when i dont follow it my emotions and views are a little out of control. So you have everything to look forward to with this decision.. Hang on tight its a bumpy ride but you can do it!

Bren

[Meggen]

I know how you feel. But you have come to the right place. The people on these boards are so inspirational and help so much, I don't know where I would be without them.

One great way to get and stay motivated for me has been making a journal. I write in it everyday and get visited by others for support and inspiration. I can post anything I want wether it's wol (way of life) menu's , questions, or just me having a bad day cos i'm frustrated. I can vent all I want and no one tells me to stop cos it's MY journal.

Also Making mini goals similar to what you have already done has helped me a lot. I have.... erm sorry had 167 pounds to lose, that number is just scary!!! But I break it down into 20 pound (or 10 pound for my challanges) intervals, and it is 100% doable and not so scary.

Just keep posting and reading and you will be inspired and get your questions answered to help you on your way.

As for the exercize I can't give you advice. I have 2 bad knees, a bad back, and flat feet that get injured at the drop of a hat and i'm only 28. Personally because of my physical limitations I am not exercizing til I drop about 60 pounds total, but that is what I decided was right for me because of injuring myself anytime I try to exercize due to the extra weight. Just whatever you do, decide to do, stick with it.

you CAN do this, and we will be here with you every step of the way.

[winterlily]

Been there :)..this CAN be done...just start with induction - promise yourself for two weeks you will try this one thing...and I can pretty much guarantee you will see/feel the results :) The biggest thing though, is go through your home - throw out or give away ALL junk food - anything that triggers you to eat. Stock up on the induction acceptable foods, and remember to eat as much as you need too to feel satisfied. The nromal calorie range is about 10x your weight. So, don't be afraid of the steak, the skin on your chicken, the porkchops, etc...and lather on the mayo or butter :) and give it a shot.

[revcharlie]

Welcome. I'm sure most of us here have had the experience of trying a new diet or starting again every few weeks. But when we come here for support it does make a difference. The 10 lb challenges are great because 10 lbs is a doable chunk and it just feels good to see the weight losses posted and the support of the group. I guess I have been lucky regarding exercise because except when I was at my sickest with Heart Failure, I never stopped walking. Walking consistently has kept my arthritis under control and my friends who have fibromyalgia have all been told by their doctors that walking is essential. It's tough to start but by adding a little each day, the rewards are beyond measure. By the way, my stats say I started at 309, but I actually started this journey at 339 lbs.

You can do it. Just keep coming here for support.

[33lbs]

Welcome, this is the only place to be. Get 2 weeks under your belt and the cravings will subside. Old habits die hard. You need to identify your triggers and avoid them. for ex. when I come home I like to sit and eat until I make myself sick. I now make a special coffee and take the dog outside. I have changed one of my habits. Once the cravings stop it is a little easier to say no to the carbs. You need to add some kind of exercise to your life even if it is a 5 minute floor routine in the morning to stretch those muscle and gradually increase as you feel able. Exercise is the only way to go with fibromyalgia. When I was not following Atkins for a very short time I didnt like anything I had terrible thoughts in my head about my husband friends family. Now that I am off the sugar I dont think that way at all.
I have been 55 days on my diet. I dont weight myself or measure because I am a control type and I would get very discouraged when things didnt move. I go by my clothes and how I feel lots of energy. I was so proud of myself last night. I use to grab a bowel of nachos and cheese and start the weekend party I would have by myself. I grabbed the bowel had it on the table ready to watch the tv. I dumped them back in the bag and had the things I am allowed to have. The old habits are waiting at the side line for me to jump back in and start over. I don't want to start over It is hard to do. I like how I feel right now and have no plans of giving it up.

It works if you work it and you are worth it,
Loretta:wave:

[Bat Spit]

If you can just stick to your 2 week induction, you will feel SOOOOO much better!

I used to have horrible problems with depression, especially cyclicly with my cycle. I'd be in tears and write horrible things in my personal journal. Now, I have absolutely no idea why I thought those things were problems. I'm so much more emotionally balanced I can hardly believe I'm the same person.

I used to be on a solid dose of medication for GERD. That went away after just 6 mos low carbing.

Did you know there are some good studies linking migraines and fibromyalga to certain food allergies? Gluten is the big one, which you won't have on induction. There's every chance that you might get a lot of relief from those issues too.


I know I'm making this sound a little too good to be true, but it is true. Many of us have seen huge physical and emotional improvements from going low carb, long before we ever got near to goal. I hope it will be the same for you.

I wouldn't worry about excersize right off if its so hard and unpleasant for you. I waited until I'd been low carbing for 6 weeks before I started. Give the eating plan a chance to work its magic. Then you might enjoy things you've already done a lot more. Or we'll help you find something else.

[Charran]

Hi! I wrote you longer hello in the Newbie section, but I pretty much said what many here are saying! You can do this and we're all here to help along the way!

[Mousesmom]

I wrote to you in the intro section too.... Take it one day at a time. One hour if that's what it takes. The fact you came here in the first place shows that you really want to do this.

Having your DH on plan too will help - you're only making one meal and you won't have all the carbage in the house.

Come back whenever you need support because that's what we are here for.

You can do this!

Julie

[MicheleK]

Glad you came to TDC, this is a great bunch of folks! They help me stay very motivated...just remember to love yourself regardless of you weight. Don't beat yourself up too much for past mistakes, look forward to a healthier future!
It's wonderful to have you here!!

As far as the marriage stuff goes, I gotta say...I think a lot of the problem your having is self image, both you and hubby. I have a good friend going through the same thing, and it's not easy to deal with! Just remember you are a beautiful person, inside and out!!

Welcome! I'm glad you joined us :)

[TheMiss]

take it one day at a time and pretty soon you'll see all of those days add up for you.
This is a cool place to be, lots of good support!

[IrishShrty]

I know pulling yourself out of a funk is hard to do especially with depression, believe me, I hit them times where crawling under a rock would be a wonderful detour to lifes issues.
Until you can get your head in the game and get into a more positive mode.....FAKE IT until YOU make it! Tell yourself I can do this, I am beautiful, I am worth it!
Measure everything on your body, when the scale doesnt behave re-measure and CELEBRATE your achievements!
Attitude is so so much of this! It comes naturally as we move along and lose, it is so damn hard in the beginning tho.
Those negative funks can be self destructing...find ways to avoid them, they get ahold of you and spiral you right down into hell again.

Plan things out, get a plan of action going...menus for the next 2 weeks, 10 pounds down is awesome...what are you going to reward yourself with when you get there? What if you lose 5? It's still worth half a reward(non food type rewards)
Are you Journaling?

[JaneDough]

Oh he loves me and is never cruel, except for one thing, and I already told him that I couldn't blame him whatsoever, and that is, he's not attracted to this body. I have been very fat all my life.
Did something recently change? I mean, it sounds as if your hubby met and married you whilst overweight, so what changed to dampen his attraction?

Regardless, 47 is awfully young to give up on the rest of your life. There are ways to address depression, with diet and exercise being very effective ways to self-medicate. I know, I know - but we all force ourselves to do things we don't particularly want to do, nearly every day. Why not get serious about eating well and incorporating some form of exercise into one's routine? And although any number of us can empathize with the eating-oneself-invisible mentality, at some point it gets easier to value yourself enough to turn it around. Are you there yet? If so, many of us are right there with you.

[dunroven]

Hi Jane

Yes, something has changed. I put on about 100 pounds extra since we have been married, and actually just in the last 5 years. I can't even blame it on kids, since I have never had any. It was purely my love of food and my not caring enough about myself and my marriage. When we first were married, yes I was overweight, but I was at a weight that if I had opened my eyes, I could have taken off very quickly.

However, I have found this M&E WOE and I am flying on Cloud 9 right now! Wow! I can't believe my supply of energy. I feel like I want, no need, to go out and run for about 6 miles! LOL I'm not going to cause I still have to take care of these degenerated knees, BUT, I did start doing the 1 mile walk away the pounds with Leslie Sansone and that too is already helping. I could tell a definite difference from just yesterday.

I am more committed to finding a way down to my goal weight then I have ever been in my life. I am going to do it, and there is just no question about it right now! I hope I keep this attitude, what a HIGH I am on! WOOHOOO!!!!!

Thanks for the concern, I'd love it if you all drop by my journal. I am not even believing I am the same person that wrote what I did in the past few days. GOOD GRIEF!!!!!

:agree: :agree: :agree: :agree:

[SunnyCarol]

I am not even believing I am the same person that wrote what I did in the past few days. GOOD GRIEF!!!!!

:agree: :agree: :agree: :agree:Wow! You don't even sound like the same person! I'm excited for you! You've come a long way in a short time. Keep up the momentum! You'll get there and leave that depression and medical problems far behind. You GO Girl!

Sunny!

[dunroven]

Thanks Sunny! It really is amazing the difference in how I feel. I have never had anything affect me so quickly as this M&E diet. I feel like my head has just completely spun around. I am praying it lasts forever! :agree:

[MicheleK]

You sound great!! I'm glad all is working out for you hun :) I will stop by your journal!!

;)