Friday, 27 February 2009
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I Solved My Problems With Weight Loss
I'm one of those people who has always been heavy, and I mean always. When I entered the sixth grade, I already weighed 160 pounds and was only 5 feet tall.
Because of my weight, the muscles in my hips never formed properly and I have issues with them.
These issues, depending on how heavy I am at the time, either don't bother me much or cause me to collapse because my hips give out.
Around eighth or ninth grade, my grandmother went on Weight Watchers, and invited me to try it. I did, and within a few months, I lost 32 pounds: I weighed 180 instead of 212. My hips didn't bother me anymore, which was great. However, once my grandmother moved away, I quickly gained the weight back. I tried again two or three times over the years, and would lose weight before gaining it back.
I kept failing for so many reasons. Not only was Weight Watchers expensive (and still is), but I was the only teenager at the meetings in a crowd of 30-something women. I also felt like I had too much stress and because of my level of obesity, I didn't see immediate results - which really hurt my motivation. Now, after trying and failing so many times, I think I've figured how to navigate this process pretty well.
Here are my solutions:
Problem: Weight Watchers (WW) was (and still is) expensive
Problem detailed: It costs a good chunk of cash just to join WW - usually around thirty bucks or more. I happened to join during a promo period, so I didn't have to pay (that was sweet). But the fact of the matter is, it's 10$/week to go to the meetings and weigh in. In the first few months of WW, they give you important handouts that detail the WW plan. Plus, if you buy the WW food... that is seriously expensive.
Solution: If you know the internet well, it is absolutely no problem to find all the information on those handouts online. Sure, it's kind of illegal, but what isn't these days? Google can find you anything.Problem: I was the only teenager.
Solution: I stopped going to the meetings. It was wasting me money and made me feel like a loser, because only "old" people seemed to have weight problems (keep in mind I was like 15 at the time).Problem: Major stress. Stress makes me eat hardcore.
Solution: That stress is long gone because the events that caused it are long gone. So, this kind of went away on its own.Problem: No motivation. There was no one encouraging me to lose weight - it was me all by myself. I'm not a loner when it comes to undertakings such as losing weight.
Solution: I got a boyfriend and found some people who were also losing weight. We would all talk and it would keep me motivated. Plus, losing weight with a friend is always pretty cool.Problem: I didn't adhere strictly to the WW plan. I would cheat by not writing in my food diary. Plus, I often lost the diary.
Solution: I made a food diary on Xanga! It's impossible to lose your Xanga account, and I live and breathe Xanga. It just made sense.Problem: Because of my level of obesity, I didn't see immediate results and quickly got discouraged. When a skinny person loses 10 pounds, it's pretty easy to see because it's a good percentage of their original weight. When a heavy person loses 10 pounds... it's not that easy to see.
Solution: I now track my weight by percentages, not pounds. Plus I made an online graph (via Skinnyr) that visually shows how much weight I've lost. I'm a sight person, so it really helps.Now, my weight is creeping back up on me (I now weigh 220), and I know I need to get back on it. I have no excuses this time - I fully intend on shedding 60+ pounds. Now that I know my faults and the many reasons I've failed before, there really is no way that I can't succeed this time!
Have you experienced similar issues while trying to lose weight? What kid of problems losing weight have you had? Did you ever need help finding solutions for them?
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- From: psycho_ash@xanga
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Comments (15)
great werk get bak atit you can doit peace
Seems like the bigger problem is you're trying to just lose weight. Try instead to vow to live healthier and pick a goal that isn't weightloss. I made my goal to run a half marathon and it motivates me to run as much as possible. I also made my goal to avoid processed foods instead of just high-calorie foods. So far it's working well and I am committed to making this a permanent lifestyle change. Good luck to you!
Weight loss has to be accompanied by increased activity. It doesn't mean you have to join a gym or do 30 minutes of calesthenics every morning. But you can add activity into your day in so many ways. For me, it's knowing I really need to do this that makes me resistant (I am diabetic and should be getting a lot more exercise than I am because the exercise will force my body to use the glucose that builds up, and I need to lose about 60 pounds.) I've gone up and down, done the whole gamut of gimmicky weight loss programs. I quit Jenny Craig when their "counselor" couldn't understand how my weight could remain at 163 for 4 weeks but I lost 2" off my waist, an inch each off my bust and hips and that I had increased my level of activity by 200% (which included weight lifting.) Too many of these programs hire people to "sell" their system, not because they know anything about weight loss, exercise, fitness and nutrition.
Your best bet - talk to your doctor and get a referral to a nutritionist / dietician.
I've always been pretty large. I currently weigh in at 200 pounds at 5'4". Although I have always been muscular, my muscle is starting to be replaced with fat as I enter my 20s. I need to change my lifestyle, not just go on a diet. I have the same problem with motivation that you do. Good luck on your weight-loss!
I agree with Shake_down. Instead of just trying to lose the weight, focus on living a healthier lifestyle. The problem with weight-watchers and other plans where the food is portion controlled, is that once you stop buying their food, you have to eat regular food again and that is a difficult adjustment when you have been told what to eat and exactly how much of it to eat.
You already know what a healthy portion looks like because you've been on the plans before. You are a smart young woman so you know what is healthy and what is not. The key is learning how to balance foods that are good for you and allowing yourself to enjoy things that are good but not too healthy. It can be done. A nutritionist would be able to help you to do this.
Adding exercise also helps. It doesn't have to be only done at the gym, find something that you enjoy that gets you up and moving.
I'm also agreeing with Shake_down and Erika_Steele. The easiest way to keep yourself motivated is to find a reason to keep your weight down OTHER just knowing that you should because someone said its unhealthy or you want to look good. I've never been HEAVY, but I did gain some extra weight after puberty that I didn't like on my frame (I'm barely 5'1" and was used to being naturally small), so I was chubby, and it affected me. When I started running regularly, I wanted to keep my weight down and wanted to eat healthier because it made me feel better when I was running.
Now, running isn't for everyone, I understand :) Especially if you've had some hip problems, but there are other activities that are fun and will get you outside. Find a pretty place to bikeride/explore (that's what got me into running... I wasn't running fast, but I loved getting out and exploring trails/new country roads, even if I had to walk some of it to get where I wanted to go), or maybe rollerblading, skiing, swimming. Anything that will keep your interest :)
I guess those are just the physical activity aspects... but if you have a reason to be fit, it will be easier for you to manage your eating. I agree that doing something like signing up for a race will help to motivate you to get outside. It worked for me! And almost everyone I know who has successfully lost and kept weight off did something along those lines... they had a physical goal outside of weight that kept them going. Soon, you get into the lifestyle, and it's so much easier to manage :)
Good luck! I know you can do it :)
That's one thing I've noticed that throws off so many peoples weight loss, not seeing results. I have a cousin who was trying to lose weight a few months ago; she pretty much gave up when she didn't see results in a matter of two or so months. That's why I think setting up goals is a good idea. Like, say you want to lose x amount of pounds before x date. You may not see the physical changes at that point, but you'd definitely know that you were doing good because you either got close to the goal, or met it entirely.
I also have another cousin who was trying to lose weight for the job he was going into. He was not trying to do it in a healthy way, so he lost it at about the speed of a female. He's lost over 30 pounds, I believe, and for the life of me, I can't really tell a difference. Depending on someones body shape, you might not see a major difference until they've lost half the weight they intend to lose.
Nevertheless, find something that inspires you to lose weight. If you feel like overeating, think about that (or look at it, if you can get some kind of visual inspiration). That helps a lot of people, so it's worth a try. Do like the subway guy did, walk at least 20 minutes a day. Just generally exercise more, more, more. Etcetc.
Oh, and once you do lose ten or so pounds, don't make the mistake of letting yourself eat whatever you want for a day. I've seen that throw people off, too. Good luck. :D
It's super easy to get discouraged when it comes to losing weight. I made a new years resolution last year to lose weight and I did. I lost 80 pounds last year by cutting back majorly on the things I was eating and played a TON of Dance Dance Revolution and went on a lot of walks. The pounds came off and at the beginning of the year I weighed around 210. I now fluctuate between 130 and 140 =]
I recommend finding fun ways to stay active!
you CAN DO IT!!
I really liked weight watchers its one of the only things that has helped me loose weight besides nutri system. I really think I should of stayed part of the program but like you when you were 15 i feel out of place because I'm the only teenager when everyone is in there 30's. I feel like if I had had more motivation I would have stuck to it.
I believe you can do it, I think i can to i just reward my self every 5 pounds with a present. More like my parents bribe me with money (lol).
What has been working for me is, I went to one of those weight loss hypnosis things it worked really well. I thought it was fishy but after i went it was really relaxing. I now go to the gym three times a week and I basically eat the food i want in smaller portions.
it's always hard to lose weight especially if you're under stress and have no motivation. but maybe you should take up jogging? do it 3-4x a day for 30 min. you;'d be surprised of the results. you might not get it quick, but you'll definitely get results. and do your best to resist temptation!
Hey.
You can do it. :)
Yeah, I gained a bunch of weight this year too, and got to 160, and that's when I knew I had to do something, and ever since the beginning of the year, I've lost 12 pounds.
What's my solution? Honestly, Just exercise! I still eat the same as I have always ate, except I've cut back on the amount of coke I drink, and I go to the gym for ONLY 45 minutes a day, and I am seeing great results....
I mean, that's the best advice I can give you!
The elliptical works wonders!! :)
I don't believe in dieting. It's just a fad. You'll get sick of your diet, and then gain the weight back, but if you just gradually work towards eating healthier and make it a habit to work out, then you can keep the weight off for good...Once you establish good habits, then thats when long-term weight loss works!
I dont have anything particularly insightful to say right now, but I do know that I weighed over 200 pounds in 6th grade, I think? Luckily for me, I am healthy inside and I dont have any problems because of my weight.
I did Weight Watchers for one solid year and all I managed to do was keep off the weight I lost in the first month. I tried Weight Watchers several times before with the same result. For some reason my body doesn't do well on WW. I would love to get down to a size 20 because I love the clothes in www.metrostyle.com I would just love to be able to wear hipper clothes. Right now,I would just settle losing weight to get into my fat clothes...LOL. After you have been in WW for a year,you know the program. You can lose weight if you want to. It is just a want to situation. Right now,I don't want to start something I am not going to finish. I will probably start some time next month.
everytime i didnt clean my plate, my parents brought up the whole "kids in africa starve!" story and made me eat everything.