How fat I am...

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I am a butterball! Right now I’m as heavy as I’ve been in two years. I just can’t seem to get motivated anymore. I can’t seem to get my big butt back to TaeKwonDo or cardio. I also can’t seem to stop grubbing. I am a good cook that is a problem. My ankle is starting to bother me (old injury) and I just can’t seem to separate my big tail from the couch. It’s Summer and I hate wearing my suit. It’s true my boobs are bigger but so is the rest of me. I’m starting to get fed up with myself.

I wonder if I have a tendency to blow my healthy habits every year at this time because it coincides with my dead line at work. Seems like I will always get more active and eat less after we get our publication out to the printers. Think I’ve found a trigger? Because right now I can’t seem to focus on taking care of myself like I should. It would be nice if I didn’t have to exercise or monitor my eating habits but I do. I’m just not made that way. I have a tendency toward physical inactivity (I’d rather read than jog.) and overeating, especially when I’ve got to much on my plate everywhere else. The kids are done with ball now until football season starts, which won’t be far away.

Any suggestions or think I should just let it ride for another couple of weeks until work tapers off? I could bulk up another 5 lbs. in two weeks though! Naw! not that bad. Worrying about it just adds to the stress doesn’t it?

Needs2know

2

What I do is just not keeping food in the house. Now it is not that big of a deal for me because I can’t cook to save my life. If I ever have the desire to do something that would be not good for my body, then I just go run or do crunchers or something like that.

3

My suggestion:

Go to Weight Watchers (or something similar) just for a few weeks at the rough time of year, or whenever it gets worrisome. It’s inexpensive and you get a lot of support from people working through the same issues you are. You don’t have to make any un-keepable resolutions – you don’t even have to lose weight. But they’ll help you get the problem into perspective.

4

Truth is Pluto that if I could find the time or inclination to go to Weight Watchers I could get my fat ass back to TaeKwondo. I really do love it. The kids have been playing ball this Summer and that takes up several nights a week. Then there is housework and other obligations.

I also have to keep food in the house. (Just bought 189.00 in groceries last night. Will last at least 2 weeks though.) I have two kids. Neither one of them have to worry about what they eat. They also will not eat out of the microwave but so much, they expect Mama to cook for them at least two or three times a week. We do have a good diet though. I buy them sweets and I rarely ever eat them. I’m not a woman that craves chocolate or sweets all the time. Besides when I’m hungry if there isn’t anything to eat at home, I’ll go out. LOL Eating isn’t my biggest problem anyway. I need exercise. I can starve and not lose weight. I have to exercise and I haven’t been. It’s just been so hard to find time for myself lately.

Does anyone else out there make a regular habit of always putting themselves last? I do. I often feel guilty if I take that kind of time for myself or even spend money on myself. I call it “SuperMom Syndrome”. It sucks.

Needs2know

5

OK, this is going to sound pretty batchelor-ish but…

I moved recently and the best way I’ve found to not worry about weight is to not buy saucepans. It involves the odd emergency phone call to pizza HQ but I seem to manage on salad stuff most of the time. Dump the pans.

Is that weird or sad ?

6

God, you don’t even know how accurately you just described my life. I live on fast food and I hate it, but I work so early in the morning, and I have class in the evening a couple nights a week, and if I don’t do the other stuff, (laundry, bill paying, etc.) it just won’t get done.

I can’t diet, it takes all the will power I have just to get out of bed at 3:30 am every morning.

sigh I’m the heaviest I’ve ever been, and I want to do something about it, but . . .

But, but, but! Dammit, it’s just so hard right now - not to mention, I have an old ankle injury myself. Nice coincidence.

I just don’t have the gumption to make myself spend the 45 minutes I get to myself per day on the treadmill . . . Not while there’s a new Harry Potter book out. :slight_smile: And I’m so damn tired all the time.

I just hope things will improve when I get another car and can stop waiting around for a ride after work (sometimes up to 3 hours). That is really what takes up most of my free time, and while I often study while I’m waiting, the majority of my time has been spent in getting over 200 posts in about a month.

sigh If I ever do get my life together, I sure will miss this board.

[aside] I just reread this, and it seems incredibly self-pitying, but it’s honest, so I’m posting it anyway. double sigh [/aside]

7

LONDON, I just have to weigh in (ha!) to respectfully disagree. Before I bought some pans (and I didn’t cook for literally years and years), I ate a lot of pre-packages crap and delivery pizzas. Learning to cook for myself actually helped my nutrition a lot, because I can cook up rice and bean dishes, with veggies and chicken, that are a heck of a lot better for me than Whoppers, for example.

NEEDS2KNOW – I think you’ve put your finger on the problem: you’re putting yourself last. It sounds like you’re okay with that for now (until after your deadline, at least). Maybe it would help to just do a few really small things for now (skip dessert, go for ten-minute walks) just to keep your sense of control and positive thinking, and put off a real push at improvement until things settle down? Just a suggestion. :slight_smile:

8

Needs2know, edwardina and whoever else:

You’re going to think I’m insane for saying this, but I enjoy working out. I do so every other night before I go to bed. Not more than a half hour and it, along with walking four miles a day, keeps me pretty fit.

My suggestion to you is lots of fun physical activity. Having an SO can take care of this for you. Edwardina, even with a bad ankle I think you can still ride a bike (as in actually go places with the bike, not just get an exercise bike). Try biking to the grocery store instead of driving. When you’re eating, stand once in a while.

Hope this helps.

9

Needs2Know,

I just read the part saying “…my boobs are bigger…” and immediately thought, what’s the problem?
But seriously, it would probably help if you started really small. Take a 15 minute walk every day. Take the stair instead of the elevator. Use a diet suppressant, if you must. There is no eay way to change lifelong habits. If it were easy, everyone would be buff. You’re just going to have to grit your teeth and manage.

But on behalf of men everywhere, let me say keep the boobs big! :slight_smile:

10

Needs2know:

I just took yet another look at the picture of you on the SDPP and you look delightful there :slight_smile: I don’t see a problem. Maybe that pic was taken some time ago . . .

drainthelizard said:

"I just read the part saying “…my boobs are bigger…” and immediately thought, what’s the problem?
But seriously, it would probably help if you started really small. Take a 15 minute walk every day. Take the stair instead of the elevator. Use a diet suppressant, if you must. There is no eay way to change lifelong habits. If it were easy, everyone would be buff. You’re just going to have to grit your teeth and manage.

But on behalf of men everywhere, let me say keep the boobs big!"

Oh glory . . . I’m going to be civil here.

There are several problems. One of these is back pain resulting from, shall we say, an increase in the load.

Diet suppressants . . . not a good idea. You’re robbing your body of needed calories and vitamins. The human body cannot derive all its energy from fat. Your body also, when using diet suppressants, uses much more water to digest the same amount of food.

So, N2K, drink lots of water. And eat protein. If you’re going to exercise, don’t eat a piece of fruit beforehand, as you’ll essentially burn the sugar in the fruit.

And as for keeing the boobs big . . . some like them large. Others like them smaller. What you do is ultimately up to you, but certainly don’t diet (or not diet) for anyone but yourself unless there’s a health risk involved.

Try to keep track of everything you eat in one week. Also remember that not eating alone isn’t going to make you skinny in a week. You’ve got energy stored, which you’re not going to get rid of unless you use it, so exercise. Make a garden. Mow your own lawn with a push mower. clip your hedges. Turn your yard into an herbologist’s dream. If there’s a park near your house, walk to it and build up to a light jog, then to a good pace. This is over the course of a few weeks, if not longer.

When you go shopping, don’t add to your cart if the product isn’t on your list. Odds are you’re adding it because you’re hungry. Of course, if the product is milk, you might have forgotten it, but you’re not likely to “forget” a glazed ham :slight_smile:

I don’t mean to suggest these things as though you should do all of them. They are meant merely as suggestions. Start off with something small you can do. When you feel comfortable with it, add something else, again, in a small amount. Moderation will keep you from crashing and being worse off than you were when you started.

Hope this helps.

11

Nedds2know, you’re singing my song!

By the time I get home from work, feed that baby & hubby, get baby bathed & bedded down, etc, I am now almost too tired to scarf that cold dinner…

I too am my heaviest ever (baby born almost 9 months ago), and I don’t like it much. However, if I really hated it that much, I’d be doing something about it, right?

So, my moderate regime- cutting out carbs like pasta, bread & rice (don’t worry, you get plenty in the other foods you eat, like corn); cut down on fruit (lots of sugar); try not to eat right before bedtime (goes right to your ass); if you have to eat something bad, do it as early as possible, so your body has all day to burn it.

I am also walking a lot, but still no weights yet (God, I miss the gym!). By walking, I mean 3 miles every other morning with the stroller, the big dog & the hubby. My baby doesn’t sleep more than 3 hours in a row, so hell yes I’m tired at 6:00 am, but I’m going. The other days are shorter dog walks.

So far, the dog has lost 25 pounds… Me, maybe 5-8.

I always knew there was something I didn’t like about that dog…

12

Some common items here,
Stress in job
busy life
Bad ankle(s)
Let me toss in my $.02 here. I too fight the battle of the waist, (and lost most of the time)
five years ago I broke my heel in a fall and did not walk for 3 months still have some problems with the ankle.
A couple of years after the accident I had swollen up to a 48 inch waist and 265 Lbs. (5’ 7")
I finally got tired of this and decided to make some changes. I started eating a small, but healthy breakfast, a lite lunch and NO seconds at dinner.
After I had lost about 25 Lbs I bought a mountain bike. The first time I rode it I went around the block and thought I was gonna die. I just kept up a little at a time. I bought a heart rate monitor so I could train smart not hard.
Bottom line is that I lost 60 Lbs in a year, and have kept 50 of it off for two years. My waist is now 36.
As a side note my vacation this year was a 425 mile bike tour thorough Northern California.
From where I am at you have to make the decision that it is time to change, then make small changes that you can live with Not all at once but one at a time.
Stress causes you to eat? Either don’t have any food around or keep something like carrots handy. Gotta wait for a ride home? Go for a walk. Park as far away from the mall door as you can and walk. Feel way overful 30 minutes after dinner? Eat slower and NO seconds. small things but they do add up.
Don’t forget you didn’t gain all this weight in a day and your not going to loose it in a day either.
Good Luck
Rick

13

I think Jodi has summed it up best in this one line. Reconsider your priorities, and move yourself to the top of the list.

14

I know the secret!

I have the answer!

I am cognizant of the solution!

I am aware of the truth, the way, and the light!

The only way to not be overweight and solve those heaviness blues…

…is to be born with skinniness genes!

Well, it worked for me.

Thank you, that’ll be US$69.99 each, payable to SkateDragon Enterprises.

15

One day I was feeling flabby and useless and instead of getting depressed about it like I usually do, I got inspired to do something about it. I realized one way to do that was to walk more. The thing is, I like to walk, because it allows me to think about whatever it is that’s going on in my life, be it good or bad. So I made a plan: I picked a route that was safe but challenging, and one night, I just went.

I have been going on 4-mile walks at least every other day for the last month now, and I’m feeling a lot better. My clothes are a tad looser, but what I’m feeling the most is the muscle definition I’m getting.

Crap, this sounds like a weight loss success story. sigh

Anyway, the hardest part is getting started. Once I made my plan, I was like, “Great! I’'ll do it tomorrow!” That’s bad. I made myself do it that very night. Now, I’m glad I did. I feel like I missed something when I don’t go.

If you do decide to start exercising, make sure it’s something you like. If there’s no physical activity you like, then try something new, and see how you like it. Liking your exercise is key, I think, to sticking to it. Good luck.

16

Thanks guys for all the advice and encouragment…

Truth is I was ranting…I do drink water all day long…rarely drink a soda…but I do love a beer or glass of wine on the weekends!

I eat well really. I might have a little more fat in my diet than necessary but for the most part my diet is fairly well balanced. I love veggies and am not picky about anything.

I’ve been having to watch my weight most of my life. I’ve never been petite or slender. I bulk up really quick and do it all over. I don’t carry my weight in one place. No it hits me everywhere, the chin, the boobs, the arms, the tummy the butt, thighs and calves. Well, I take that back, I never gain weight in my hands or feet. (I have really small hands.) But in a way that’s good for me. I like my body now so much better than I did when I was young. The only thing I ever really wished I’d had were ultra long legs. Otherwise I do wish I could get my 20 year old body back. Boy was I ever stupid back then! I have a womanly figure and always have, no need in worrying about losing the boobs, they’ve always been here. I’ve also always had a nipped in waist. I’m not straight up and down, my figure has always been curvy.

After my first child I went up to 235 and stayed there for years. When my son was born I became determined never to be that way again. So in 92 I lost most of it and to be honest have not let it ever creep up anywhere near that high again. Right now I am about 30 lbs heavier than my picture that I submitted, and I’ve gotten that way just since Christmas! Which is a size and a half for me. I just hate it. I also hate the fact that I have to exercise. Don’t get me wrong once I get into a routine I usually love it. I feel better, have more energy and it most certainly does relive stress. But I also have a tendency to get stuck in a rut about things, often bad things. I’m a procrastinator about a lot of things.

It’s like several of us have said, exercise takes time and a little bit of dedication. Often we just can’t find the time. It is also a vicious cycle. Once you get out of the routine you begin to lose the benefits like increased energy. You feel tired all the time and find it hard to get motivated again. I found that when something comes along to break my routine I often have a hard time recovering it. Like during Christmas last year. The Dojang shut down for three weeks and that’s all it took for me to stop going to class. I tried to get back several times since. Once I was at cardio and my son was playing in the back room, split his head open and had to have 6 stitches! I just need to get motivated again, and then figure out how to stay that way.

I’m a little bit of a yo-yo dieter except for the fact that I never actually “diet”. My weight will creep up until I get fed up with it then I’ll lose it again. Maybe one day I’ll be able to keep it there for good, but I don’t think so. I just haven’t been taking time for myself again, as usual. If nothing else I will get back to class next week. No more ball games for awhile until football season starts. Then I’ll cross that bridge when it gets here.

Needs2know

17

N2K,

Biggest thing is diet. Less calories coming in, less to burn. A suggestion for those who love to read? Get a treadmill with a book holder. Read while you walk. I prefer a exercise bike to read on, as you bounce less, but different strokes... Friend of mine lost about 90 pounds on a diet and exercise. He bought a treadmill and small TV, put both in his basement, walked while he watched. Teaching said troglodyte to read now...

Do a little weights too, if you can…

18

I read this thread because I struggle with food issues and recently recognized that I have a compulsion to overeat and use food to “treat” emotional issues. I too fall into the rut of overeating/not eating well and find it so difficult to pull myself out. Anyway, I wanted to post the following questions for anyone who may be struggling and may be a compulsive overeater:

Many members of Overeaters Anonymous have found that they answer yes to many of these questions:

Do you eat when you’re not hungry?
Do you go on eating binges for no apparent reason?
Do you have feelings of guilt and remorse after overeating?
Do you give too much time and thought to food?
Do you look forward with pleasure and anticipation to the time when you can eat alone?
Do you plan these secret binges ahead of time?
Do you eat sensibly in front of others and make up for it alone?
Is your weight affecting the way you live your life?
Have you tried to diet for a week (or longer), only to fall short of your goal?
Do you resent others telling you to “use a little willpower” to stop overeating?
Despite evidence to the contrary, have you continued to assert that you can diet “on your own” whenever you wish?
Do you crave to eat at a definite time, day or night, other than mealtime?
Do you eat to escape from worries or trouble?
Have you ever been treated for obesity or a food-related condition?
Does your eating behavior make you or others unhappy?
I don’t want to start a thread about addiction vs. character flaws or any of that, I just wanted to post this in case anyone is struggling with “powerlessness over food”. It helps to know there is a program that’s one way to deal with this issue. Thanks.

End of hijack!

19

Its not how fat you are, it’s how you are fat.

I have never met a person who’s weight did not fluctuate based on their relationships. Some gain weight when in a relationship, some get skinny. There’s a hint.

20

I am a yo-yo exerciser meaning that I go on exercise binges; at the beginning of the year I power walked 4 miles a day and a couple of months ago I worked weights in the local gym four times a week. Right now I am going thru a sit down exercise strike that’s been going on for a couple of weeks … I did go out and buy some hand & ankle weights which I use watching video or tv, but it’s a compromise and not the same as the heavy exercise outside.

Everyone has contributed something significant in this thread: drink water, eat right, put yourself first, exercise, build muscle to boost your metabolism.

I don’t buy into the idea that character flaws are the cause of fatness, obesity, unhealthy bodies. Alot has to do with education and self-knowledge;

a. basic education in that you know about the basic things one needs to do to put one’s body into good, ie healthy shape and what one needs to do to maintain and keep it there [exercise, proper feeding, cleanliness]

b. self-knowledge about your specific body; how many calories [ie: range] does your body need per day, what you need to do to boost your body metabolism, what is the best way to clean your face, hair, body etc.

An implicit understanding in self-knowledge is knowing that most people are not the same day in and day out. Hence my slouch days/weeks which I need to adapt to; hence indoor weights while watching tv. I know that I’ll probably go back to some binge exercise program [probably including the gym and powerwalking].

Maybe this is a twist on: to thine ownself be true.