Help Needed!

LegacyUser

Hi everyone,

To start off, my problem isn't as important as others on this forum so I apologise if it comes across as shallow or what not.

Basically I've put on weight over the last few months and because of the weight gain I feel like I've completely lost my self confidence. The weight gain occured gradually as I had dropped out of a PLC course after the Christmas holidays and with no job prospects (I tried) I kind of let myself go (diet was terrible with little or no exercise!). I know it's completely my own fault.

I've gone up a jean size and a half I suppose and I feel awful about it. Throughout my teenage years and younger I've always got a good lot of male attention, now though my confidence has hit an all time low and I feel crap. I don't feel in the slightest bit attractive. And it's not that I'm huge or anything, I'd be around a size 12 (and that's perfectly fine), but I was always a small 10 and I just feel really uncomfortable in my own skin. You know?

The summer's here and I know my friends will want me to go out but the thoughts of wearing dresses and the like makes me even more depressed. I'm also heading off to college come September and I just want to be happy in my own skin again.

The thing is I find it really hard to stick to a healthy diet. I know people will say you just have to stay away from junk food and up the exercise! But it's difficult when you take into account my circumstances. I live in a secluded spot in the country, there's only so many walks I can go on to distract myself! The nearest town is miles away and I can't expect my mam to drive me in and out to keep myself busy, so usually that leaves me in the house. I get really bored and it's not that I binge on junk food, no it could be good food but I just eat way too much of it because I'm literally bored out of my mind. I don't know what to do, I try to keep busy with tasks to stop myself snacking 24/7 but there's only so much one can do! If I had school/ a job/ college to go to, it wouldn't be a bother to me at all, but because I'm stuck in the house (other than walks) it's really difficult to keep away from food even if I'm not hungry. Anyone have any suggestions on what I can do?

I don't want the weight to contine to rise, I want to get rid of it. The only time I'm busy is of a Saturday. But motivation is dwindling due to boredom.

judgefudge

Hey! Is it possible to join any kind of weightwatchers where you live? I know it works wonders for some people. Having the responsibility of weighing in once a week could give you the push you need. Plus it'll get you out of the house.

As for exercise, walks are great but there are loads of other things you can do that will burn far more calories. Look into different things. I started Gillian michaels 30 day shred there recently and it's absolutely knackering! You don't need anything except some bottles of water or handweights! I combine it with yoga, I just love yoga but I don't think it's really a fat busting type of exercise. Just try a few different things!

As for the snacking, that's just something you're going to have to make a conscious effort to stop. Make sure you always have fruit nearby to snack on. Have you any hobbies you could focus on that would distract you?

Sadly self control and motivation are really the main two things that are going to help you lose the pounds. I don't know how you can get them, but I hope the above helped at all.

boomchicawawa

Well Aoifffe, the answer is in your own hands basically. You have listed all the things that you can't do, now you need to list what you can do! Firstly walking is free, it tones you, stops you from being bored and basically makes your brain happy. I started walking after years of inactivity and with no change in my diet, I lost 6 lbs in the first week. I have kept up the walking for the past ten years, about an hour every day and I have not put back on the weight (and I like my grub). Maybe you could hook up with other bored individuals and walk together. This would also give you a purpose to get up every morning, you could even increase it to a jog eventually. Its great that you are going to College in September, in the meantime you should volunteer somewhere. There are numerous agencies out there crying out for help. I'm a voluntary worker and again it gets me out of the house and it helps others. When a few of these things fall into place, the rest usually follow. Get a notebook and write down all your positive attributes, see what you're best at and fill in those long days of Irish summer. other suggestions...start a book/film club, visit a lonely old person in your area, hold a trade night at your house where you can trade old clothes and unused presents with your friends, write a book ! All these things will focus you away from nibbling ! ! Best of luck my dear...I really do wish you well ....

Emme

Aoiffe, can you get hold of a bike and helmet and go for cycles? If the nearest town isn't too far away you could get yourself fit enough to cycle there during the day instead of getting your mother to bring you.

wallycharlo

I would not get too hung up on the exercise aspect, losing weight is much more about adjusting your diet rather than exercising, although the exercise can prove to be a great motivator, as the more weight you lose, the easier, and hence more enjoyable, the exercise will become.

You don't need to go on any madhat extreme diet. I would say take a look first at your carbohydrate intake (i.e. bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, sweets, crisps, etc ...) and make a conscious effort to eat less of that. You don't need to cut it out completely, just east less, i.e. ease back on the bread, swap a portion of potatoes for one of veg, etc.

You could be pretty suprised at the results, even in just a few weeks.

dearg lady

I second the bike idea! It's a great way to keep fit and get around. Make continuous small changes to your diet,I generally find that easier to stick to than suddenly going 'on a diet' which you may not keep to in the long run.

dearg lady

wallycharlo wrote: »

I would not get too hung up on the exercise aspect, losing weight is much more about adjusting your diet rather than exercising, although the exercise can prove to be a great motivator, as the more weight you lose, the easier, and hence more enjoyable, the exercise will become.

Losing weight is about taking in less calories overall than you use, whether by reducing your calorie intake, or by burning more calories from exercise. Both work .

wallycharlo

dearg lady wrote: »

Losing weight is about taking in less calories overall than you use, whether by reducing your calorie intake, or by burning more calories from exercise. Both work .

Sure, I agree that expending calories in the form of exercise certainly helps, I don't mean to belittle that.

A common myth though is that losing weight is an even 50-50 split between diet and exercise, which in my opinion is misleading unless you are able & willing to put in very large amounts of intense exercise.

Doing some math, 60g (e.g. a Mars bar) of chocolate contains ca 300 calories, and an average person would burn off 300 calories by walking at a brisk pace for an hour. Hence not eating that Mars bar with your coffee every afternoon is the equivalent of walking briskly for one hour every day.

Hoochiemama

Aoifffe wrote: »

Hi everyone,

To start off, my problem isn't as important as others on this forum so I apologise if it comes across as shallow or what not.

Loads of really good advice here Maybe looking into a couch to 5k training plan or app as well? Would help with the boredom! Also another good thing is the book "Run Fat Bitch Run" - don't let the name scare you off

Just to state, don't ever feel your issue is shallow or unimportant. I have been in your shoes. I put on weight a few years back and with it I lost all my self confidence. I was usually a really confident happy go lucky girl but when I gained weight, I just didn't feel comfortable in my own skin.

That was an extremely hard period of my life and I would never let anyone belittle how I felt.

I eventually lost it through running, yoga and diet but it was SO HARD. it was so easy to just eat a pack of crisps cos they were there!!

Take it ONE DAY AT A TIME, keep trying. If you fall off the wagon, dust yourself off and get back up

LegacyUser

Hey everyone, OP here again

Thank you for all the replies and suggestions/ advice! Very much appreciated.

@judgefudge: The nearest town to me has no Weightwatchers! But the Gillian Michaels 30 day shred sounds interesting. I'll definitely look into it. Yeah, a few hobbies alright - I do a lot of writing already and practice keyboard quite a bit among other things. The cycling that another poster suggested sounds like a good idea though!

@boomchicawawa: Will do! I'm actually looking into voluntary work atm Thanks for all the suggestions.

@Emme: Spot on. I don't know why I didn't think of this before. I have a bit of money set aside so I might as well spend it on a bike. I did a lot of cycling when I was younger so it won't be a bother, nice alternative to walking too.

@wallycharlo: Yeah they're the foods I'm trying to cut down on atm actually. The withdrawal symptoms from them type of foods is actually the reason why I posted on here (sugar withdrawl + boredom), but I think they're getting better now, not as bad as when I started.

@dearg lady: Yeah I think the small changes is where I went wrong, I went from eating everything in sight to eating only certain foods in a day. Withdrawal symptoms were all the worse!

@Hoochiemama: I've heard of that book, good reviews. I'll look into buying it. I will and thank you

Guys do you think I could lose the weight (I don't know the figures, just a jean size and a half really) in the next three months or is that too much to expect? I've never had weight gain or anything so I don't know how much I'm capable of losing in a certain period of time.

wallycharlo

Aoifffe wrote: »

Guys do you think I could lose the weight (I don't know the figures, just a jean size and a half really) in the next three months or is that too much to expect? I've never had weight gain or anything so I don't know how much I'm capable of losing in a certain period of time.

You really need to set a solid target here before that question can be answered.

Try and do the math on exactly how much weight you want to lose in terms of Kgs/Lbs. A 'BMI calculator' can be useful for this, do a google for that.

You also need to track your progress if you want to make it a real success, get yourself a scales, get on it everyone morning without fail, and record the results.

I would imagine that if you are commited then you may be able to lose say 0.5kg per week, which would be 6.5 Kg (1 stone) over 3 months. That would be taking it grand and steady, you could achieve more with a more agressive plan I would think.

njs030

It's easy to eat when you're bored op I've previously been in the same position and lost 3 stone. I try to drink a pint of water if I get the snack urge, generally by the time the water is finished the urge is gone, have plenty of fruit and veg handy-on the plus side all the water and fresh food will make your skin fab!!!

Don't cut out everything, I still have a nice but naughty treat if I really want too, if you deny yourself everything you will fail!!!

Finally I disagree strongly with the advice about weighing yourself daily, choose a day every week and weigh yourself.....don't be tempted to do it other days too!!
All dieticians, fitness experts say not to weigh yourself more than that as water etc can add weight that will go over a day or two.

Typer Monkey

There's a health and fitness forum here with some very good stickies at the top of the page which will tell you how to calculate your daily calorie requirements. If you work that out and deduct 300/400 calories a day you will be eating for weight loss.

I recommend the myfitnesspal app to work out the calories you are eating. A small digital scales would be handy so you are being realistic with your portion sizes.

If you can be disciplined with calorie counting you will definitely loose weight. 2/3 lb a week is very achievable. I had a baby in Feb and had put on nearly 5 stone during the pregnancy due to eating rings around me! I've lost 3 stone of that now by calorie counting and cycling once a week. The previous poster was right about it being more about what you put in your mouth

Good luck with the weight loss

Edited to add..I don't think you should weigh yourself everyday, you'll drive yourself demented! Pick one day a week and weigh yourself first thing in the morning. It's a great motivator when you start to see the weight coming off

Dublin25

Hi Aoifffe

You can do weightwatchers at home now i think or failing that you could check and see if you know anyone in a class that could get you the information so you could motivate yourself to do it at home. Also, there is apps that you can get to help (which i find great) and also there are facebook groups, both public and private that will offer you support. I'm only suggesting this as I myself am doing it on my own, i'm sure you could try a similar plan.

Get a bike, a dvd, the wii - even make use of the stairs (if you have them), walk to the nearest town. There is so much you can do but essentially YOU have to want to do it. Its very easy to make the excuses why you can't, god i know that, but its only you that will make it happen or stand in the way.

I wish you every luck in the world as its not an easy task to start but once you start it gets a whole lot easier.