In dire need of help and too embarrassed to go elsewhere!

dmos87

Hey All,

So I need to loose weight..and a lot of it. I used to be a prof dancer about 5 years ago but injury made me stop and I never went back.

Fast forward to this year and I have literally done flip-all except for dancing in a nightclub and walking to and from my car It didnt take long for the weight to come piling on at all, but the most of it was in the last 2-3 years.

I joined a "curves" gym 3 months ago and died of embarrassment my first day when I had to weigh myself for the first time in about 6 years... and weighed in at 16st 3lbs. Needless to say I burst into tears and vowed to get rid of it all. Went to Curves all that week, and passed out on a machine. I'm not kidding, really I did. Blue lips, the lot. Gym called my emergency contacts and OH skooted me off to my GP, who took bloods that week.

Bloods came back - Underactive Thyroid, Cholesterol of 5.5, dangerously low Iron stores. 2 spiked kidney results (later revealed after another blood test to be an AutoImmune Disease, Wheat Intolerant).

Now I've spoken with my GP at length about it all. I take a Berocca a day plus Folic Acid to improve my iron stores and energy levels as per her instruction. My thyroid must be tested one more time before medication can start scheduled for the start of October. We reviewed my diet, which for the most part is healthy and within my calorie range. She is convinced the medication will help to drop the weight and has obviously said to increase the exercise I am doing. I walk my dogs regularly and take long walks myself. I wear an Obron Pedometer daily and ALWAYS go over the 10,000 steps per day.

So I am trying my best to drop at least some of the weight before the medication starts and have been eating v. healthily and as I said, walking a lot. Running is a bit hard atm but I break up my walking with some running and jogging sprints. It's not been easy because Im so so tired all the time. Getting up in the morning almost has me in tears and its not improving. And the stress off trying to loose the weight and getting no-where is driving me crazy. I'm very down about it all - something my GP blames on the thyroid and says the medication will help.

I'm honestly at my wits end - I have a girly holiday coming up in 2 weeks time and over the last 2 weeks have only managed to loose 1lb. JUST ONE!!! To top it all off, I have my sisters wedding in a years time and with the amount of weight I need to loose vs. the time I have to do it, well I'm feeeked.

Please please someone give me some good tips to shed the weight before I book in for Colonic Irrigation out of desperation!!! It can't all be down to the thyroid!!

ixus

Dmos87, first post troll? Were you born in 87? Would make you 23 and you were pro dancer 5 years ago (when you were 18) Haven't weighed yourself in years since you were 17? If you were a pro dancer; I'd say you weighed in the region of 6-8 stone back then? So, have you doubled your weight in this time frame?

Apologies if I come appear callous; just trying to get a picture. Wheat intolerant? do you still eat bread, pasta, a lot of carbs and do you drink beer?
There's an obvious solution to this.....

More qualified people on here will give you better advice.

Red Cortina

Sounds as if you have been going through quite a tough time of it lately and am sorry to hear this.
I wouldn't be beating yourself up about not being able to run. To be honest running is quite a high impact activity which will give your knees (at the very least) a good hammering while you are carrying a bit of extra weight. You will probably burn the same amount of calories, pretty much, walking as you do jogging.
Something to consider would be going to a good personnel trainer who could help you from a nutrition point of view and who has a good track record with helping people lose weight-but only if you have the extra dosh for it:D
I would recommend reading the stickies on this forum, they have loads of useful info:)
Also it might not do any harm to post up what you eat everyday, the good folks here might be able to help you make some improvements. From what I've read it seems a good majority of the results that you get with respect to changing your body composition are down to your diet.

dmos87

Hiya! Im 23 now. Used to dance all through secondary school and had an op on my left knee after the Leaving Cert - took months to get back to normal and by then I'd been sitting on my arse for more than 6 months so it could heal. The weight gain that year was probably only about 1 stone -but I kept the pattern up of doing NOTHING and eating what I wanted out of boredom.

The "avoiding wheat" is really hard. As much as I can, yes I avoid it. I don't eat breads, buy gluten & wheat free pastas instead, etc. but theres always something that flares it up. When I buy lunch or dinner out I always ask if theres wheat in it, they tell me No but 2 hours later I'm hugely inflated and sick as a dog. I try to bring food from home as much as possible. I don't drink often at all, maybe once a month with my friends in the local pub and its all spirits, no beers.

When I was dancing my heaviest was 9 stone, lightest was 8. I was always within that range. Had no boobs or curves, thats totally not the case now. 38FF chest on me now so its hard to run but I'm trying!!!

Transform

so many things you can do and lots of running is not going to cut it.

1. Sort your diet out - just less carbs total and less calories overall. Wheat free is NOT the answer

2. Do weights

3. Do some light run/walking intervals

4. Stretch more

5. Eat more good fats to help with hormone levels.

I did an article on fat loss 101 that would help you to get the basics right so maybe someone can link that as you sound quite desperate and it really is not that complicated once you have the right steps in place

coffeenut

if you're having trouble running thanks to your 38FF's, you're not wearing the right bra. I'm a 32GG and i have no problems running aside from the motivation to get my arse to the gym. shock absorber do fantastic bras for running and they do a really good range of sizes, best discovery I ever made! if you can't afford them (best part of €40 a pop), M&S started doing better quality ones that have underwire and straps hooked so you can cross over for more support.

in any case, don't give up. if what you're doing isn't working then change your routine. and plan ahead as much as you can so that you're not stuck with limited choices when lunch time rolls around.

even at 1lb a week you'll have over 3st gone by your sis's wedding so you'll be looking fab by then.

best of luck with it all

dmos87

Coffeenut, thank you!!! I'm off tomorrow and heading to Marks for one of them. I've just been using Nike Sportsbras and while they're good, I assumed because I was top heavy thats what was holding my running back. Delighted now

Transform, thanks for the tip on weights, I hadn't even focused on weight training and was pushing cardio. I'd love the link to that article if someone has it, I'm still lost working this website!!

I'm not doing too badly, weighed myself this morning and i'm now 15st 11lbs, so down another few pounds this week (yay!) but still no-where near where I need to be. The holiday is looming... went for an evening walk today with the dogs and went further than normal, delighted as pedometer is showing more steps today and more calories burned.

Completely avoiding breads, etc. and trying for low carb high protein without taking it to the extreme of atkins. Yes, I want weight gone for my holiday but I want to keep it off when I get back too.

Newport81

Transform wrote: »

so many things you can do and lots of running is not going to cut it.

1. Sort your diet out - just less carbs total and less calories overall. Wheat free is NOT the answer

2. Do weights

3. Do some light run/walking intervals

4. Stretch more

5. Eat more good fats to help with hormone levels.

I did an article on fat loss 101 that would help you to get the basics right so maybe someone can link that as you sound quite desperate and it really is not that complicated once you have the right steps in place

I'd like too see this article also please :-)

Mellor

smyths wrote: »

I'd like too see this article also please :-)

http://thetransformationcatalyst.wordpress.com/2010/08/11/fat-loss-101-everything-you-want-to-know-but-were-afraid-to-ask/

et voila!!

Transform

Mellor wrote: »

http://thetransformationcatalyst.wordpress.com/2010/08/11/fat-loss-101-everything-you-want-to-know-but-were-afraid-to-ask/

et voila!!

there is more than enough info in that article to help the vast majority of people to get in great shape.

You really need to do everything that is listed and not pick as choose as it all fits together into a comprehensive plan of action i.e. step one sort diet out, keep sorting diet out, stop kidding yourself on your diet, do weights, do intervlas, do some slow easy cardio, stretch and stay motivated by getting progress

Challenge Fitness

dmos87 wrote: »

I'm honestly at my wits end - I have a girly holiday coming up in 2 weeks time and over the last 2 weeks have only managed to loose 1lb. JUST ONE!!! To top it all off, I have my sisters wedding in a years time and with the amount of weight I need to loose vs. the time I have to do it, well I'm feeeked.

Dmos87.

A few points - Healthy weight loss is 1lb a week. Most personal trainers won't weigh you in for 6 to 8 weeks because that is the minimum time necessary for measurable weight loss to occur in. Secondly, Personal trainers will record your weight but are far more interested in you %body fat loss as this is a true indication of how your training is going.

Did you know that your weight can fluctuate up to 3kgs in a day. If you weighed in at 99kgs in the morning, your weight can be up to 102kgs by the evening with just normal day to day living - and it will be back down to 99kg by the next morning. You have to weigh yourself at the same time every day under the same conditions (time since last meal/drink).

You could train hard for 6/8 weeks, do very well and still gain weight. Why? Because your body is building muscle and burning fat. Muscle weighs more than fat so your health and body are improving but you can't see that.

Just by drinking water properly (3-4l a day slowly) you can reduce your weight by 3-4Kgs within 2 weeks as your body has an excess of water coming in and does not see the need to retain excess water in the body. These are things that every personal trainer knows so most take little heed of your actual mass and concentrate instead on the true indicator - % body fat.

Why I am saying this is that you seem very hung up on the 1lb that you lost when you should be thinking "How much body fat did I loose - how much muscle mass did I build up". This is what you should be looking at. Since you are doing a lot of walking and running, you should be looking at how much stronger your heart and lungs are becoming (called VO2 Max).

So don't get demotivated over that 1lb. Personally I don't even consider that to be relevant - find out instead how much body fat you are loosing (any gym instructor or personal trainer should be able to do this). You may find that you are quickly loosing the pounds of body fat and building muscle mass and are a long way towards achieving your goals without knowing it.

And another thing - 2 weeks is not an acceptable time scale for weight loss. It would be 6-8 weeks before you should see a substantial weight loss and 4-6 months of sustaining this to achieve your goals. Sustainable Weight loss can't be achieved over weeks despite what all those weight loss products say. It take a proper diet mixed with training and time. You have a year to go before your sisters wedding? That is your goal - break it down into manageable sections (3 months to loose 10kg etc.). Break it up into different types of training for variety. STOP weighing yourself every week and leave it for a month at a time. And start measuring %body fat rather than physical mass.

TommyKnocker

Challenge Fitness wrote: »

You could train hard for 6/8 weeks, do very well and still gain weight. Why? Because your body is building muscle and burning fat. Muscle weighs more than fat so your health and body are improving but you can't see that.

Although I have no qualificatiosn what so ever in personal training, fitness or nutrition I would not agree with the information quoted above. And the first point maybe just me being pedantic but...

... Muscle does not weigh more than fat. 1kg of muscle and 1kg of fat will weigh exactly the same, 1kg!!!

Muscle tissue is denser than fat tissue, just like gold is a denser metal than alloy. So while 1 cubic inch of muscle tissue will weigh more then 1 cubic inch of fat tissue, it is incorrect to say that muscle weighs more than fat.

As I said maybe I am just being pedantic, but I really hate to see this line pedalled by anyone.

The second point I would argue (and this is purely my opinion) is, if I went to a PT for 6-8 weeks with a goal of fat loss I would not expect to be heavier at the end of this period. I do not believe that 6-8 weeks is sufficient time to build sufficient muscle to counteract and surpass fat loss, even with the so called "noobie gains"


M

Inspector Coptoor

B-Builder wrote: »

just like gold is a denser metal than alloy.

the pedantry is catching on.

alloy of what exactly?

an alloy of osmium and platinum would weigh more than gold.

Challenge Fitness

B-Builder wrote: »

As I said maybe I am just being pedantic, but I really hate to see this line pedalled by anyone.

I really do not think this is an appropriate place to say that. dmos87 has a problem and seems not to know the issues behind it. I tried to explain the issues is simple enough language so she may understand that there may not be a problem, just her interpretation of the information she had.
I did not want to use complicated jargon. A personal Trainer talks to their client and tries to impart information - they do not try to confuse their client.
Yes, if you want to get pedantic, to say 1cubic inch of anything weighs more than a cubic inch of another thing is incorrect as it depends upon the gravity being exerted upon those objects - zero gravity = zero weight. To be more pedantic, it is impossible to say that there is such a thing as zero gravity as there is always gravity being exerted on everything no matter what the circumstances. A true measure of something is mass.... but I'll stick to colloquial language when I'm dealing with normal people.

I just felt that dmos87 would feel better when someone spoke to her as a normal person and kept the jargon and science to a minimum.

bytey

if you have a low thyroid , id reccomend giving up drinking anything from plastic bottles .

I had tlow thyroid problem along with bleeding gums when flossing , and eleimated all plastic containers - only glass i use now.

most plastic bottles release chemicals that mess with the thyroid
didnt think it would work so well, but its solved both problems for me .

oh and muscle does weight more than fat for a given VOLUME.
one litre of fat weighs alot less than one litre of muscle .
it also burns more calories than fat.

Transform

keep it simple is best and who really cares about the muscle/fat issue as most people just want the tools to take action which have been provided.

Hope the OP is getting on well and the weight loss is now happening

Lantus

OK. Firstly, your very young and you have time on your side, there is nothing insurmountable you are trying to achieve here. So where to begin?

I would recommend doing what I didn't do and later regreted it. Setting goals. It's often laughed at but a powerful tool in your lifestyle change. It took (like most of us.) years of creep when the weight slowly went on and like it or not it will take a lengthy amount of time of slow and steady work to acheive the body and look we all want for life. (And then maintain it!)

So I would suggest you start by writing out what you want. Lose weight is not a valid goal! Make your goals measurable and achievable and where possible date specific. For example: - By the 20th November 2010 I am so happy I reached my goal of xxkg and %body fat. I look and feel great.

There are lots of different types and ways of writing. you will need to look this up yourself. Goals for every day, weekly, monthly, 6 months and a year should be listed. Put it somewhere visible and read it every day (3 times a day even! And make that a goal!)

Next, take it slow and steady. You dont need to run. Walking a running burn virtually the same amount of calories, you'll just need less time to do it if you run. I wouldn't advocate larger people running because it puts excessive strain on weak joints that will likley lead to injury, set backs and no long term gains. Any cardio, bike or treadmill issuffiient as long as you can do it for 20 minutes at least (working up to 45minutes over time) at a steady pace that makes talking difficult. I haven't run in years and my body fat still drops.

Next I would consider incorporating some resistance training. Yes, lifting weights. Resistance training strengthens and tones your muscular system as well as your bones and will help you look good as well enjoy a strong physique. A cheap set of bumbells would be all you will need to start off with but long term there is nothing wrong with considering a gym just for variety of weight and exercise type.

Lastly you will need to do an overhaul of your nutrition. Forget diet. You need to look at what you were doing (probably not great.) and realise it was damaging you. Then start reading everything you can on good nutrition. I believe thyat a moderate amount of protein, carbs and fats are the way to go. But a good understanding of what and when to eat is required.

Very lastley I know what an underactive thyroid is like. It can cause tiredness, weight gain and make you feel cold all the time. You might have to work harder and for longer than those genetically gifted people who seem to able to eat pizza and still have ripped abs. Remeber those goals? Thats when they really start to help you. Hitting them is a great feeling and missing them is nothing to worry about, as long as you stay focued and reset managable goals you will always be on the right road.