Facebook Pixel
EmpowHER Guest
Q: 

I am tired of being fat

By Anonymous August 27, 2009 - 11:13pm
 
Rate This

I am a size 20 and I'm sick of it. I'm tired of looking in the mirror and not liking what I see. I want to start a diet but I'm feeling so overwhelmed I'm not even sure which type of program to try. I was thinking of maybe even working with a coach or something who could help me with food choices, portions, cheer me on, etc. I don't want something that offers super fast weight loss even though I wish I could be thin again really soon. I know that kind of plan is not right. I really need some help and ideas and encouragement so I can finally succeed at this and maybe get to ask for some new outfits by Christmas.

Add a Comment8 Comments

Hi, Anon!

Thought you'd like this EmpowHer post from a similarly minded woman:

https://www.empowher.com/community/share/changing-my-mindset-towards-healthy-eating-and-exercise-one-day-time

September 1, 2009 - 8:57am

Dear Anon (original post),
I'm curious if you have received some of the help, ideas and encouragement you were looking for?

Do you have any other specific questions we can help you with?

I wanted to chime in with my weight loss story, too. I have always had a negative perception of Weight Watchers for some reason, but after a few years of not being able to lose my pregnancy weight, I joined the online version. It took a lot of dedication, rearranging my priorities where it inconvenienced my family (unfortunately, since I am a SAHM I needed extra babysitting help to get to the gym at times, but they were ALL supportive), but I was able to work out 1 hour 4-6 times a week, and keep track of everything I was eating online by following the WW guidelines. It worked, and I lost 20 pounds in 6 months. It was not easy, but I feel so much more energized and could not have done it without online support and a gym full of women to socialize with!

As Diane said, you can start now with small steps and either go it alone or meet with professionals (personal trainer and/or Registered Dietitian) to help guide you. The more help and support you have, the better your results. You can definitely see some results within a few months if you stick with your diet and exercise plan...and that is extremely motivating and rewarding!

Let us know what you try!

August 30, 2009 - 1:41pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Hey I understand everything that you are going through. I too am on the same mission as you, I am overweight and I decide that it is time to get all this weight off. I have joined this online support group call spark people it is a group that helps give support and encouragement for those trying to lose weight. It also provides meal plans, what types of exercise you could do and how many calories to intake daily. And the best part is that it is free.So give them a try and see how you like it. Remember it is called SparkPeople.com

August 29, 2009 - 7:56pm

Hello again, that was my posting above. Another thing I forgot to mention is that a healthier you starts at the grocery store. Try to stay away from things like chips and sweets that could sabotage your willpower if they are in you cabinet at home. =)

August 29, 2009 - 5:41pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Hey there! That's awesome that you want to get healthier and feel better. I used to be a size 18 when I was a senior in high school. I had been overweight my whole life, thanks to my fabulous German heritage and mom making high carb and high fat foods! Like you, something told me it was time to wake up and do something about my weight. I joined a fitness center that was family-oriented and started off slowly by doing cardio. I cut all deep fried foods and soda out of my diet. I took a few classes that were offered for the members- cycling, aerobics, weight training, etc. to see what I liked. I started watching people work out with the machines, then started doing them myself, with help from the fitness staff. Then I went to the bookstore and started reading fitness magazines to get ideas on different exercises and good foods to eat to feel my best and get good results. Some great ones are Oxygen, Muscle and Fitness for Women, and Women's Health. Anyway, I just realized that it wasn't a diet I needed to go on, I just needed to change the way I was eating. I learned that I needed to chill out on the carbs (breads, rice, pasta and potatoes) and start eating more protein(red meat, fish, chicken, turkey, cheese, yogurt, eggs). I found out that when you are working out that your body burns carbs first, then fat, and lastly protein (which is what your muscles are made up of). Simply put, the less carbs you take in, the more your body can burn fat as fuel. It's really important to read your labels on foods that you buy. I've even taught my 4 kids what to look for when reading a nutrition label. Anyway, try to make it a priority to do something physical every day, whether it is a bike ride, an hour of weight training at the gym , or a fitness class.
It took me about a year, but I lost 75 pounds, and have maintained my current weight for over 20 years. You will be amazed at how wonderful you will feel, and how much less stress you will feel- not to mention overall health. I hope this has helped. Please feel free to send me an private message (click on my name at the top of post) if I can help answer any of your questions. Good luck!! =)

August 29, 2009 - 5:31pm
(reply to Anonymous)

Wow! You have a very inspirational story, as well as providing very specific details that are helpful for women wanting to lose weight...thanks for sharing!

August 30, 2009 - 1:35pm

I hear you, Anon. It is really, really hard when we finally decide we are just tired of being overweight and MUST do something about it. Good for you!! That's a huge step and I'm really proud of you.

And I'm extremely proud that you know that the shortcut, quick-fix programs just won't work. There is much truth to the saying that we didn't put it on overnight and we can't get rid of it overnight.

Can you tell me a little about your life? That will help in knowing what sort of plan might work best for you. Do you work in an office or do you stay at home? Are you someone who prefers to cook, or do you prefer convenience foods?

Do you have access to a computer during the day? (There are many good online weight-loss sites for someone who's inclined that way).

Are you the kind of person who prefers to work on something by herself? Or would you rather have a partner or be part of a group?

Do you exercise? If you are not exercising right now, do you like it when you do?

The key to finding a weight-loss program that won't overwhelm you is to make sure it fits into your life. It can't be the kind of program that requires you to do handstands and eat kiwifruit three times a day, LOL. It has to fit your personality and your life so that sticking with it will be easy for you.

And think about what works for you longterm, as well. Have you lost weight in the past? Were there aspects of it that were particularly successful or not successful for you?

Are there a couple of future goals that you would like to accomplish? And sure, those could be pounds-lost goals, but that's not quite what I mean. I mean more like your Christmas goal of a few new outfits (in which I know you would look fabulous and so proud of your efforts!) I have found that the more small things I look forward to, the easier it is to resist things that will sabotage those goals. Maybe you'd like your rings to slip on and off easily, for instance. Maybe there's a favorite pair of jeans that you want to just slide into with no hesitation. Maybe you want something specific to look different -- your ankles in sandals, for instance, or your stomach when you are wearing shorts and a T-shirt. By starting to become aware of all of these small things, you will have lots of little motivations that really mean something to you to help you keep on your plan.

Let me know some of the answers to my questions above and we'll see what sites we can find for you that seem to fit your life. And in the meantime, congratulations for taking this first big step!

August 28, 2009 - 9:35am

Fret not. Sometimes we just need to get to the point where we are really sick of something about us or what we do (not just our weight) for us to start doing something about it. Weight is just yet another problem that anyone can face in this lifetime and just like any problem, it can be resolved with a TON OF DETERMINATION and hard work.

In my case, I gained 60 pounnds due to pregnancy and the worst gyne ever. Now, after 6 months of giving birth, I am slowly but SURELY going back to where I belong in terms of weight although the journey has not been easy to say the least.

You can also check http://www.squidoo.com/getting-to-know-bill-and-jim and maybe be inspired by how to lost their weight. In my opinion, all you need is the right attitude and loads of determination and you should be good to go on this one. Good luck girl!

August 28, 2009 - 2:49am
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy
Add a Comment

All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.

Beauty

Get Email Updates

Beauty Guide

Have a question? We're here to help. Ask the Community.

ASK

Health Newsletter

Receive the latest and greatest in women's health and wellness from EmpowHER - for free!