Having a LOT of trouble
Question:
I’ve been lurking for awhile. I love you guys, but I don’t feel able to keep up so I just keep to myself. Anyway, a little background on my weight. The frist time I got heavy, I was about 12 and my parents had locked me in my room for about 6 weeks and the only thing I had to do was eat (they were nuts, no question about it). Naturally I gained weight. I was about 25lbs overweight until the end of my freshman year in high school, then it all fell off with no effort on my part at all. I slowly gained it back over the years. When I was 22, I was about 40lb overweight. Then, because of stress, I dropped 80lb in about 2 months. When I finally escaped from that situation I ended up in a worse place (IMO) and went to bed for a year – gaining 100lb. Since then I haven’t really been able to do much about my weight. I’m afraid that all the gaining and losing has truly screwed up my metabolism. I’m able to lose about 10lb before my metabolism adjusts itself and I gain it back. I’ve begged my doctors for help but they haven’t been able to do much for me. I do suffer from depression as well which is not helped at all by my weight. I’ve tried stacking but it made me way too anxious. My diet isn’t too bad. It’s pretty low cal, low fat normally with an occassional indulgence. Are there any suggestions or is this hopeless? Thanks in advance. Tamra
Response:
I’ve been lurking for awhile. I love you guys, but I don’t feel able to keep up so I just keep to myself. Anyway, a little background on my weight.
Welcome aboard!! If you can’t read everything, don’t feel too badly – You may want to scan in the headers and see what subjects look interesting, or pick out a few posts by people you’re used to, but coming back is a good thing!! The frist time I got heavy, I was about 12 and my parents had locked me in my room for about 6 weeks and the only thing I had to do was eat (they were nuts, no question about it). Naturally I gained weight. I was about 25lbs overweight until the end of my freshman year in high school, then it all fell off with no effort on my part at all. I slowly gained it back over the years. When I was 22, I was about 40lb overweight. Then, because of stress, I dropped 80lb in about 2 months. When I finally escaped from that situation I ended up in a worse place (IMO) and went to bed for a year – gaining 100lb. Since then I haven’t really been able to do much about my weight. I’m afraid that all the gaining and losing has truly screwed up my metabolism.
It sounds like you’ve had a lot of stress throughout your growing up and stuff. It may not be directly linked to your weight or depression, but it wouldn’t hurt to talk to a professional about your personal history, including any self esteem issues. PLEASE don’t take that as a judgement, I just know that having had a difficult childhood myself, it helps to talk with someone who knows the right questions to ask! I’m able to lose about 10lb before my metabolism adjusts itself and I gain it back. I’ve begged my doctors for help but they haven’t been able to do much for me. I do suffer from depression as well which is not helped at all by my weight. I’ve tried stacking but it made me way too anxious. My diet isn’t too bad. It’s pretty low cal, low fat normally with an occassional indulgence.
You might want to post a day or so worth of your menu, and someone here can take a look at it. If your "metabolism adjusts itself," it could mean that you’re either not eating enough or not exercising to keep your metabolism going. Lots of people on this group have found success by the following: — Don’t starve yourself. Super-low cal diets hurt you. If you’ve got your heart set on staying low-fat, you might want to check dejanews for cowboy’s posts, or if you’re ready for a change, you might want to look at alt.suport.diet.low-carb — If stacking doesn’t work for you, don’t force yourself. Some people have found success with it, and that’s great, but I know that I have caffeine sensitivity and it would pretty much push me over the edge too! — Exercise can be very beneficial in a few ways! If you do aerobic exercise (about 20-30 minutes 3 times per week) it helps you burn off fat and some of that nervous energy. It may also help improve your mood! If you want to try weights or resistance training, it can help you build lean body mass which will help you keep your metabolism boosted even in your sleep! — Sleep is also very important, probably more so if you’re depressed. Pay attention to your body: If you’re tired, get some sleep, and when you’re done sleeping, GET UP and do something. — Half-hearted plug for supplements: If you’re eating a really good variety of food, you *probably* don’t need supplements, but there are times when your diet just isn’t enough. For depression, you may want to consider taking a B complex vitamin, or a stress formula vitamin. If you’re going low calorie, a good general multivitamin should help make sure you get all the major vitamins, and if you’re doing low-carb, potassium is strongly recommended. Note, I don’t sell vitamins or supplements, and I don’t own stock anywhere that does, but they’re something to look into. Check with your doctor if you have questions. — Water. Pretty much all diets insist on lots of water. Drink at least like 80 ounces of *plain water* every day, more if you’re overweight and more if you drink coffee or caffeinated soda. This water requirement is above and beyond your juices or teas or sodas, which may act as diuretics. Just think of the extra exercise you get from going to the bathroom every hour! So, you’re still reading? Cool! Again, please post your menu for a day or two so people who know more than me can give you some better ideas about what to eat, and try to apply some of the stuff I’ve written about and, definitely, keep in touch!! Are there any suggestions or is this hopeless? Thanks in advance. Tamra
– St Theresa of the Net/only one you at uwm/Goal: HS wardrobe/&Don in ‘99/all bases covered
Response:
dear tamra, its sounds like you have had a rough youth, and the results of that can forms of escape/coping. i would recommend that you get some psychological help, and after that, if the recommendation is to diet, we certainly have the EXPERTS in here! (as you know) READ AND POST, EVERYDAY! ROSIE ALT.SUPPORT.DIET.LOW-CARB FAQ http://www.grossweb.com/asdlc/ CHOCOLATE IS MY KRYPTONITE http://members.aol.com/saguaropub/website/htmls/chocolate.html LC/L.C./LF
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