31Years Old and 17Stone

Pecker31

Hi I recently weighed myself and I am approaching 17 stone.... to say I am embarrassed is an understatement. Of course I know what got me into this situation but I really don't know how I am going to reverse it. I have no drive and I am so burnt out from work that I have no energy. Today I am working a 14 hour day, had bread for breakfast for 2minutes and my tea was carrots and bread as I didn't have time to sit down and eat. I am so weak now and hungry that all I want is chips as by the time I go home it will be 10pm.

It is a vicious circle that I can't get out of .

Haxelrm

you will have to make some stuff decisions

Pecker31

Oh and I forgot to say myself and my partner want to try for a child soon, our first X

tenifan

Need more info, op!

Why do you work so much?

What weight would you like to be?

Pecker31

tenifan wrote: »

Need more info, op!

Why do you work so much?

What weight would you like to be?

I work as a manager in a hotel so it comes with the job! I would even like to be 13/14 stone or just something comfortable. I feel very unhealthy and very unattractive

newmug

I'm 32, 6' 4" in height, and I used to be 23 stone. Lost me job, now I'm 17 stone. Dole diet for ya!

MugMugs

Pecker31 wrote: »

I work as a manager in a hotel so it comes with the job! I would even like to be 13/14 stone or just something comfortable. I feel very unhealthy and very unattractive

Join Slimming World.

Worlds your oyster OP

tenifan

Op.. I searched your previous posts. Sounds like you could do with some professional help, as you being overweight sounds like it's linked to your anxiety and (what sounds like) sleep apnea (not a diagnosis, see a doctor)

Congrats for posting here though. You acknowledge there's a problem.

Long hours can be awful, and I'm not going to say I worked long hours and kept a healthy weight. I piled on the pounds, now work a job with normal hours.

Still, eating chips and bread is just looking for trouble. Does the hotel have a leisure centre where you could go on your break?

Alf Veedersane

Pecker31 wrote: »

Hi I recently weighed myself and I am approaching 17 stone.... to say I am embarrassed is an understatement. Of course I know what got me into this situation but I really don't know how I am going to reverse it. I have no drive and I am so burnt out from work that I have no energy. Today I am working a 14 hour day, had bread for breakfast for 2minutes and my tea was carrots and bread as I didn't have time to sit down and eat. I am so weak now and hungry that all I want is chips as by the time I go home it will be 10pm.

It is a vicious circle that I can't get out of .

You can change things around - it's not a vicious circle. You've just been making bad decisions.

The good news is you can turn things around just by making good decisions.

The bad news is it won't be easy to start with but when you implement the positive changes.

With long days at work, being prepared is crucial. Make time to prepare lunches and dinners in advance. If you have a healthy dinner to come home to, you won't be inclined to go for chips.

It is hard work to get into that habit if it's alien to you but it's either make an effort now and reap the benefits or be miserable.

Utilise the knowledge of the good folk here.

Chancer3001

Buy a lunchbox.fill it with salad and meat.

Try that, see how it works.

cmyk

Pecker31 wrote: »

Hi I recently weighed myself and I am approaching 17 stone.... to say I am embarrassed is an understatement. Of course I know what got me into this situation but I really don't know how I am going to reverse it. I have no drive and I am so burnt out from work that I have no energy. Today I am working a 14 hour day, had bread for breakfast for 2minutes and my tea was carrots and bread as I didn't have time to sit down and eat. I am so weak now and hungry that all I want is chips as by the time I go home it will be 10pm.
It is a vicious circle that I can't get out of.

As others have mentioned, you've posted here and acknowledged there's an issue and are looking for advice so that's a great first step.

Reversing it will take time, effort and consistency/persistence from you, there is zero way around this, but it's more than doable than you might think and doing it will be an achievement you can be proud of.

My advice...tackle the biggest issue you have with the smallest change you can make first and work from there.

How often do you work 14hr days? Is it shift work? Do you have time off at weekends?

Pecker31

I get one day off a week and I'm usually bet! I know I'm making excuses for my weight but it's gone so bad my drive has gone and my lust to do anything!

Alf Veedersane

Pecker31 wrote: »

I get one day off a week and I'm usually bet! I know I'm making excuses for my weight but it's gone so bad my drive has gone and my lust to do anything!

The choice is yours: if you don't really want to do anything about it, you can keep telling yourself there's no way to tackle it or that you're not able to.

If you do want to, you find the will do do what needs to be done.

PauloMN

Pecker31 wrote: »

Hi I recently weighed myself and I am approaching 17 stone.... to say I am embarrassed is an understatement. Of course I know what got me into this situation but I really don't know how I am going to reverse it. I have no drive and I am so burnt out from work that I have no energy. Today I am working a 14 hour day, had bread for breakfast for 2minutes and my tea was carrots and bread as I didn't have time to sit down and eat. I am so weak now and hungry that all I want is chips as by the time I go home it will be 10pm.

It is a vicious circle that I can't get out of .

First thing I would address is the dinners. Given your long work days, the probability of you wanting to spend time preparing meals after work is zero I'd say. What I'd suggest is that you batch prepare dinners which you can freeze once cooked, and just defrost and reheat as you need them. We always have a few meals prepared in the freezer and they are so handy for those hectic days when you can't face cooking. Stuff like Thai chicken curry, meatballs in bolognese sauce, chicken in white sauce etc. - much healthier than chips and fried food and ready in minutes. Rice, pasta or noodles can be put on with these.

Once you start eating right you'll have the energy to do more, then you can look at an exercise programme - but getting the food right first is the important thing imo. The idea to bring your lunch to work is a good one also, have stuff with you rather than filling up on more bread and chips. Make sure to bring a couple of pieces of fruit and plenty of water.

thomas anderson.

Haxelrm wrote: »

you will have to make some stuff decisions

Sounds delicious

desertcircus

I'd echo what was said about preparing batches of dinners. I also make sandwiches each evening for the following day's lunch so I don't eat garbage.

If your hotel has a gym, you can make use of it. Do half an hour on the treadmill or exercise bike before or after work two or three times a week - it adds up quickly.

Lastly - nobody should be working fourteen-hour days as standard. Either you're taking too much on, or your employer is mistreating you. You need to look into this, because as long as you're doing those hours you'll struggle for motivation.

cmyk

Pecker31 wrote: »

I get one day off a week and I'm usually bet! I know I'm making excuses for my weight but it's gone so bad my drive has gone and my lust to do anything!

There's always a way to tackle things if you genuinely want to make it happen. I can tell you from very recent experience, when and if a baby arrives, any free time you have is eroded immediately, so make your changes right now.

You work in a hotel right? Do you know the kitchen staff? Can you have them make up a good lunch and maybe a dinner you can take home with you so you've got no excuse for stopping in a chipper and get some decent nutrition in at the same time.

Everyone knows what constitutes a healthy meal, a good protein source and vegetables is a solid start, you can even make healthy choices at a carvery if that's the type of food you might have access too.

What about your other half, does she make dinner at home, can she make extra for you?

Nerdlingr

Can you not eat something healthy from the Hotel Kitchen? You get breaks during the day right? Instead of eating bread and Carrots for breakfast get the chef to rustle you up something nice for your lunch and tea. I used to work in a hotel years ago, the chefs would take two minutes to throw a some chicken and veg into a wok and do up a mean stir fry.

Pecker31

cmyk wrote: »

There's always a way to tackle things if you genuinely want to make it happen. I can tell you from very recent experience, when and if a baby arrives, any free time you have is eroded immediately, so make your changes right now.

You work in a hotel right? Do you know the kitchen staff? Can you have them make up a good lunch and maybe a dinner you can take home with you so you've got no excuse for stopping in a chipper and get some decent nutrition in at the same time.

Everyone knows what constitutes a healthy meal, a good protein source and vegetables is a solid start, you can even make healthy choices at a carvery if that's the type of food you might have access too.

What about your other half, does she make dinner at home, can she make extra for you?

I'm a female :-) my other half is male but we live separately. I live alone. I've signed up for Unislim and cleared out my presses and freezer and cut out all fizzy drinks as a start. I'm starting Unislim Tuesday and my boyfriend is so supportive - I'm looking forward to getting stuck in. Positive attitude eh! X

Alf Veedersane

Even something like homemade soups will give you something filling and nutritious without requiring a lot of kitchen time. Oncet he veg is chopped, your job is done and you can kick back and wait for the heat to do it's thing. Prep time is less than half an hour. Put on a bit of myoosmic and it's done before you realise you'd started.

Tupperware -> freezer -> win.

tenifan

Pecker31 wrote: »

I get one day off a week ...

Sorry, but 14 hour days and 6 day weeks?
Are you certain you actually work 84 hours a week?

Alf Veedersane

To be fair, the OP didn't say every day was a 14-hour day.

Pecker31

Four days are fourteen hour days and the other three are 9-12 hours! I'm currently job hunting. X

ScouseMouse

Gonna send you a private message today (when I get a chance).

Think you will need to read it.

Blacktie.

I know what it's like working long hours. I've been doing similar hours myself the last year or so. Preperation is key. I usually cook a batch of about 6 lunch and dinners on my day off and then know a few things I can cook fairly quickly that are still a decent feed for the days I don't get. This plus some small snacks like yoghurt and eggs (not together!) keep me going fairly well.

intellectual dosser

I think most of the advice being given is solid, I dont have anything new to add but I felt like chipping in because I also used to be 17 stone, I'm down to 15 stone, have a good bit further to go but feel much better about it all.

Most have been mentioned - here are my picks:
- Identify all the changes you need to make but make them one at a time, don't start big and overwhelm yourself.
- Be prepared, both mentally and in your cupboards/fridge.
- Get some sort of exercise in, if your hotel has a gym get there for 30mins a day. Take stairs instead of lift etc.
- Get your OH on board with what you're doing - talk to them about it regularly.

You say you have no drive, but you still took the time to create this thread, there is obviously some desire. Once you get started and begin to improve the drive should increase, you should start to enjoy it.

bucketybuck

Pecker31 wrote: »

It is a vicious circle that I can't get out of .

Of course you can, if you actually want to. Excuses won't do it though.

I do find it hard to reconcile the idea of somebody on their feet for 14 hours a day not being able to lose weight, you must really be tucking into the junk food. And you say you have no drive or energy? You don't need energy to eat right, in fact you have no energy because you aren't eating right.

I'd imagine some very simple changes to diet would make a massive difference to you.

tenifan

Pecker31 wrote: »

Four days are fourteen hour days and the other three are 9-12 hours! I'm currently job hunting. X

Good! You need to have a work-life balance. Looks like work has taken over and your health is suffering.

Small steps in the meantime.
Visit the doctor for any anxiety/sleep issues
Sort the diet out.
Try to get in some exercise!

btkm8unsl0w5r4

op, do try some exercise. I used to think that I was too tired to exercise, but you have more energy when your active, so you not so tired all the time. Its a catch 22 and those initial few month are the hardest when you have to force yourself to be active despite being tired.

It will get to a point where doing some exercise is essential "relaxation" time, and your mood will suffer without it.

Good luck.

lighterman

One thing I've noticed in the replies here is people saying make the dinner night before to have when OP gets home or have kitchen staff make something to again have when OP gets home.

The OP states she gets home at 10pm.Surely 10pm is too late and the OP should be advised to eat her dinner a lot earlier than this

Alf Veedersane

lighterman wrote: »

One thing I've noticed in the replies here is people saying make the dinner night before to have when OP gets home or have kitchen staff make something to again have when OP gets home.

The OP states she gets home at 10pm.Surely 10pm is too late and the OP should be advised to eat her dinner a lot earlier than this

The OP isn't being advised to have a big heavy meal before bed. Nothing wrong with having something healthy to eat when the OP gets home.

tenifan

lighterman wrote: »

The OP states she gets home at 10pm.Surely 10pm is too late and the OP should be advised to eat her dinner a lot earlier than this

You can a smaller meal fairly late. Then instead of eating first thing in the morning, eat a little later.

V.W.L 11

29 years old,6' 1" & 18 stone,amazing what can happen when people quit cigarettes

Muahahaha

OP I'd seriously look at changing your job because those types of hours are part of the problem. Furthermore I thought there was employment law in this country that states 48 hours is the maximum working week anyone can be asked to work. Working 6 days a week with 3 x 14 hour shifts and 3 x 9 hour shifts sounds like exploitation to me. If your employer has you rostered for more than 48 hours a week I'd be discussing your options with a good employment solicitor, I'm aware of cases where hotels have had to pay thousands of euro in back wages to employees who they exploited.

I also used to work in the hotel/pub industry and by the time I was 30 I was around 18 stone, 6ft tall. For me it was bad diet and drink that did it, toasted sandwiches and crisps were my staples along with a few pints after work most nights too and that might be followed by chips or a burger, or both. These days I'm out of the industry and am down to 13.5 stone with still a bit to lose. But trust me when I say that long hours is not conducive to weight loss because you're spending so much time working when it comes to eating you automatically make choices that are based on convenience and speed rather than being based on nuitrition. Take aways replace cooking pretty easy as when you're wrecked after a days work you don't feel like cooking, nor even shopping.

Its good to see that you've had a wake up call and realise your weight and lifestyle isnt sustainable. For me the wake up call came one day when I had weighed myself that morning at 119kgs. I was one kg from needing a new scales. Then later that afternoon I was watching an Irish rugby game and saw the line up where they give the weights of the players. Even the heaviest bugger was only 108kg. It was the wake up call I needed to go do something about it and I'm glad I did now as if I hadnt I've no doubt I could be a 25 stone candidate right now.

As others have said planning your meals in advance is key. Soups are a fantastic way to lose weight, a bowl is only around 200 calories yet is extremely filling. Think of doing what I'm planning to do for the winter- I'll spend an entire day shopping, prepping veg and making soup. By the times its finished I plan to be left with
5 litres butternut squast soup
5 ;itres tomato and red pepper soup
5 litres carrot & corriander soup
3 litres of base soup to make seafoos chowder.

Like you I live alone so I'm mainly cooking for one. I've got lots of 500ml tupperware containers so when all the soup has cooled down I'll freeze it into those and each container will give me 2 x 250ml bowls of soup. So over the entire winter I plan to eat around 75 bowls of soup and by doing it this way I'll have prepared the entire lot with less than six hours work. Freezing them in double portions means that I'm never eating the same soup for more than two days in a row.

Apply the same philsophy to all your eating. By cooking stuff in large batches and then freezing it you can have a selection of good meals always waiting for you in the freezer. Think about buying a slow cooker, they're only 20 quid and they allow you to throw in loads of ingredients and then just set it to cook for 8 hours, overnight if you want. I cook things like stews and chilli in 2kg batches, then eat some over the next 3 days, then freeze the rest into double portions and defrost it on those occasions when I get in from work and am too tired to cook a full meal from scratch. Effievtively what I've done is ensured I always have 2-3 different types of meals in the freezer, already cooked and ready to go. Before I would have just rang for pizza but now I've no need because I have food that tastes even nicer in the freezer and is also a lot more nutritios and lower in calories. By planning your eating in advance it helps to avoid making bad choices at the last minute.

Other bits of advice is to find an exercise that you like and stick with it, minimum 3 times a week. For me I've done the gym thing and while I'm not against it totally I found that it wasnt the most efficient use of my time and I think with exercise and managing your time is very important. With the gym I would do 40 minutes cardio work (jogging, cycling, rowing, croos trainer for 10 mins each) and after that I'd go for a 20 minute swim, I found two things 1) I was spending almost 2 hours of my time door to door to complete 60 minutes of exercise) and 2) exercise in that environment may not be efficient, i.e. you tend to take breaks between the machines where your heart rate drops, also a break between the cardio and swim as you get changed.

Just this summer I bought a good bicycle which is light weight and designed for speed. Now I can leave my front door and I am exercising from the second I leave to the second I return. It is a far more efficient use of my time than the gym. I've lost two stone in the last four months through cycling. When I began I was very unfit and I remember my first cycle was 9km and took me a shocking 37 minutes. Just today I cycled 26km in an hour and two minutes which is a vast improvement. I think cycling is a superb exercise for weight loss because the one good thing about it is it doesnt matter how heavy you are you can still do it. Even if you are 20 stone plus if you get up on a bike 3 or 4 times a week after a month the muscles in your legs will have strengthened dramatically and even though you're carrying a lot of weight you'll still be able to cycle at a good intensity for up to an hour or even more if you want. Just a few days ago I overtook another cyclist on one of my routes out the back roads of the airport. The guy I overtook must have been 20 stone plus, his arse was so big it was hanging off the saddle. I kinda grinned glad my weight is no longer that bad but also thought to myself fair play to him, if he sticks with it and eats well then the weight will fall off, just like its done for me.

The other thing I'd say is to make sure you use the new technologies available. Myfitnesspal.com really helped me to understand what I was putting into my body, by counting calories and logging exercise it really gave me a visual aid of what I was doing. It also helped me make the right eating choices at the right times. When you know you have burnt 600 calories from an hours cycling and you know a Big Mac meal is 1100 calories it really gives you perspective on how your eating choices are extremely important. I also using Mapmyride.com app for cycling, its a GPS tracker which is excellent for comparing times on your routes and knowing how many kilometres I've cycled over the week.

Finally learn how to snack as healthily as you can. I'm a sucker for crisps, chocolate, all that junk. Nowadays I try to eat more fruit and always have bananas and kiwis on supply. But everyday I give myself a treat, which is a snack which must be under 100 calories. There arent many out there that fit the bill, so far all I've found is packets of Skips or Rancheros which are both around 90 calories. Thats my little treat for the day, it mightnt be good for me but if I'm exercising and eating well otherwise then theres not much wrong with it.

lighterman

Great post below.

Slightly off topic Muahahaha but where do you get the 500ml tupperware. I can't find it for sale anywhere

Muahahaha wrote: »

OP I'd seriously look at changing your job because those types of hours are part of the problem. Furthermore I thought there was employment law in this country that states 48 hours is the maximum working week anyone can be asked to work. Working 6 days a week with 3 x 14 hour shifts and 3 x 9 hour shifts sounds like exploitation to me. If your employer has you rostered for more than 48 hours a week I'd be discussing your options with a good employment solicitor, I'm aware of cases where hotels have had to pay thousands of euro in back wages to employees who they exploited.

I also used to work in the hotel/pub industry and by the time I was 30 I was around 18 stone, 6ft tall. For me it was bad diet and drink that did it, toasted sandwiches and crisps were my staples along with a few pints after work most nights too and that might be followed by chips or a burger, or both. These days I'm out of the industry and am down to 13.5 stone with still a bit to lose. But trust me when I say that long hours is not conducive to weight loss because you're spending so much time working when it comes to eating you automatically make choices that are based on convenience and speed rather than being based on nuitrition. Take aways replace cooking pretty easy as when you're wrecked after a days work you don't feel like cooking, nor even shopping.

Its good to see that you've had a wake up call and realise your weight and lifestyle isnt sustainable. For me the wake up call came one day when I had weighed myself that morning at 119kgs. I was one kg from needing a new scales. Then later that afternoon I was watching an Irish rugby game and saw the line up where they give the weights of the players. Even the heaviest bugger was only 108kg. It was the wake up call I needed to go do something about it and I'm glad I did now as if I hadnt I've no doubt I could be a 25 stone candidate right now.

As others have said planning your meals in advance is key. Soups are a fantastic way to lose weight, a bowl is only around 200 calories yet is extremely filling. Think of doing what I'm planning to do for the winter- I'll spend an entire day shopping, prepping veg and making soup. By the times its finished I plan to be left with
5 litres butternut squast soup
5 ;itres tomato and red pepper soup
5 litres carrot & corriander soup
3 litres of base soup to make seafoos chowder.

Like you I live alone so I'm mainly cooking for one. I've got lots of 500ml tupperware containers so when all the soup has cooled down I'll freeze it into those and each container will give me 2 x 250ml bowls of soup. So over the entire winter I plan to eat around 75 bowls of soup and by doing it this way I'll have prepared the entire lot with less than six hours work. Freezing them in double portions means that I'm never eating the same soup for more than two days in a row.

Apply the same philsophy to all your eating. By cooking stuff in large batches and then freezing it you can have a selection of good meals always waiting for you in the freezer. Think about buying a slow cooker, they're only 20 quid and they allow you to throw in loads of ingredients and then just set it to cook for 8 hours, overnight if you want. I cook things like stews and chilli in 2kg batches, then eat some over the next 3 days, then freeze the rest into double portions and defrost it on those occasions when I get in from work and am too tired to cook a full meal from scratch. Effievtively what I've done is ensured I always have 2-3 different types of meals in the freezer, already cooked and ready to go. Before I would have just rang for pizza but now I've no need because I have food that tastes even nicer in the freezer and is also a lot more nutritios and lower in calories. By planning your eating in advance it helps to avoid making bad choices at the last minute.

Other bits of advice is to find an exercise that you like and stick with it, minimum 3 times a week. For me I've done the gym thing and while I'm not against it totally I found that it wasnt the most efficient use of my time and I think with exercise and managing your time is very important. With the gym I would do 40 minutes cardio work (jogging, cycling, rowing, croos trainer for 10 mins each) and after that I'd go for a 20 minute swim, I found two things 1) I was spending almost 2 hours of my time door to door to complete 60 minutes of exercise) and 2) exercise in that environment may not be efficient, i.e. you tend to take breaks between the machines where your heart rate drops, also a break between the cardio and swim as you get changed.

Just this summer I bought a good bicycle which is light weight and designed for speed. Now I can leave my front door and I am exercising from the second I leave to the second I return. It is a far more efficient use of my time than the gym. I've lost two stone in the last four months through cycling. When I began I was very unfit and I remember my first cycle was 9km and took me a shocking 37 minutes. Just today I cycled 26km in an hour and two minutes which is a vast improvement. I think cycling is a superb exercise for weight loss because the one good thing about it is it doesnt matter how heavy you are you can still do it. Even if you are 20 stone plus if you get up on a bike 3 or 4 times a week after a month the muscles in your legs will have strengthened dramatically and even though you're carrying a lot of weight you'll still be able to cycle at a good intensity for up to an hour or even more if you want. Just a few days ago I overtook another cyclist on one of my routes out the back roads of the airport. The guy I overtook must have been 20 stone plus, his arse was so big it was hanging off the saddle. I kinda grinned glad my weight is no longer that bad but also thought to myself fair play to him, if he sticks with it and eats well then the weight will fall off, just like its done for me.

The other thing I'd say is to make sure you use the new technologies available. Myfitnesspal.com really helped me to understand what I was putting into my body, by counting calories and logging exercise it really gave me a visual aid of what I was doing. It also helped me make the right eating choices at the right times. When you know you have burnt 600 calories from an hours cycling and you know a Big Mac meal is 1100 calories it really gives you perspective on how your eating choices are extremely important. I also using Mapmyride.com app for cycling, its a GPS tracker which is excellent for comparing times on your routes and knowing how many kilometres I've cycled over the week.

Finally learn how to snack as healthily as you can. I'm a sucker for crisps, chocolate, all that junk. Nowadays I try to eat more fruit and always have bananas and kiwis on supply. But everyday I give myself a treat, which is a snack which must be under 100 calories. There arent many out there that fit the bill, so far all I've found is packets of Skips or Rancheros which are both around 90 calories. Thats my little treat for the day, it mightnt be good for me but if I'm exercising and eating well otherwise then theres not much wrong with it.

Mink

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

With long days at work, being prepared is crucial. Make time to prepare lunches and dinners in advance. If you have a healthy dinner to come home to, you won't be inclined to go for chips.

It is hard work to get into that habit if it's alien to you but it's either make an effort now and reap the benefits or be miserable.

The above is key! It seems like an awful pain in the bum doing lunches for work the next day or preparing things but it becomes second nature after the first two weeks.

I didn't learn to cook until I was coming up to giving birth to my first and I suddenly realised that this kid was going to be relying on me for food. Once you find a good recipe and do it a few times, you have it under your belt and build on from there. I NEVER thought I'd be able to cook what I can and I've a freezer full of homecooked healthy dinners now.

Pecker31 wrote: »

I'm a female :-) my other half is male but we live separately. I live alone. I've signed up for Unislim and cleared out my presses and freezer and cut out all fizzy drinks as a start. I'm starting Unislim Tuesday and my boyfriend is so supportive - I'm looking forward to getting stuck in. Positive attitude eh! X

Good woman yourself. Start with that, get out for walks, maybe venture into doing couch 2 5k in the next few months and then maybe some fitness classes/strength training a bit down the line.