I need help and encouragement

I've read this group off and on for a while now. So I thought I might as well join. I got on the scale this morning and I weighed 169. I'm five feet tall! :crazy: :cry: Well I'm not quite to crying, but it is disheartening nonetheless. It is the most I've ever weighed in my life.

It's been a real struggle controlling my weight all my life. This latest weight gain over the last year, I think has more to do with stress eating than anything. Yes, it's a problem for me. I do better sometimes than others, but not this past year.

I've been really insecure about my job situation. THere's been a threat of a lay off or a rumor of one about every quarterly report at my company. I was even laid off for three weeks last August. It's very sad because otherwise, I LOVE my job. I would keep doing it till I retire. I love the work and I love the people there. They are the kind of people that I would be friends with outside of work. And I might add that I'm very good at it. So, I decided yesterday that I just wasn't going to let it get to me anymore. Whatever happens, happens. It has nothing to do with me or anything I could have done differently or better. So, I'm going to stop beating myself up about it.

I want to get down to between 110 and 120. That is what I weighed in high school and were I feel most comfortable in terms of feeling sexy and finding clothes that fit and look good.

PLease say something encouraging, I could really use it.

Welcome to the group. :) Today is a new day and things will only improve from here!!

My advice would be: get your gameplan together today..how are you going to improve your eating habits? Do you need a structured "diet"? You've pinpointed that you have a tendency to eat when stressed, next time you're stressed, what are you going to do INSTEAD of eating?

Do you enjoy exercising? It can be a great stress reliever as well as helping you be healthy and strong. Find an activity you love. It doesn't have to be at the gym, there's alot of great workout videos out there.

You can do this, you're already on your way to getting started. :)

I am SO glad you posted here! Boy, it sounds as if you are having a bad go of it! What with your job situation, and then you had to go and get on that old scale, and actually see the bad news!

Today is a new day though. It can be the beginning of a new path for you! It seems to me that perhaps you have gained some extra weight because of the tremendous stress and strain from your job. That would certainly be a normal response anyone would have! You must remember that you have done your absolute best at your job, and like you said, 'whatever happens, happens'.

Please take good care of yourself, and try not to put any additional stress on you that would be too trying. Eat healthy, smaller portions. Get good sleep. Take time to relax, and be kind to yourself. The weight will come off, and you will feel better about you and your circumstances.

Here in this forum you will find some of the most supportive people you can imagine! We're so glad you found us, and look forward to your continued participation!! :hug:

You have come to the right place! You can do it! We will be here to help. Take small steps. The first is to only weigh once a week. Some people will disagree with me on that, but if you weigh everyday, you set yourself up for disappointment, you will fluctuate during the week, and nothing is more demoralizing then seeing an increase from one day to the next. So my theory is always weigh once a week at the same time of day, in generally the same clothes. Also, measure yourself now! Your weight might not fly off, but you'll begin to see loses in inches and in your clothes. Also track what you eat, even if it is a nibble off of someone elses plate. You'll be surprised where you can cut back, and how much you are adding calories by nibbling.

I am also a stress eater, and I have found new outlets for stress. I now take yoga, and when I am overly stressed, I don't go straight home, I might just walk through a store, just to relax a bit and to avoid running home to the fridge! And of course posting here has been heaven sent!


You can do it! GO, GO, GO!

I've been on WW for a month now and have done ok.
I did cheat last week and missed the meeting-I had to work a double at work the same day. Right now I feel guilty but I know I have to do this.

Look-if I can lose weight anyone can! And I get quite a few recipes from my meetings-if you want any of them pm me and I can forward the recipes every week to you. I've tried a few and they aren't too bad.

You're looking at losing about 50 lbs or so-- that's pretty close to my goal, too. I've been working on it since the beginning of February and I'm down 15 lbs so far (well, I started TRYING about a month earlier but I was still eating way too much). It's been a pretty steady 2-3 lbs weekly since I got serious about dieting and exercise. Sometimes it's frustrating-- you want it to happen faster-- but you've just got to tell yourself that steady progress is good enough.

I'm 50 years old, and I've finally realized that if I don't do something about this now, it will screw up my health for the rest of my life. You sound a bit younger than me (it was the reference to high school-- I barely REMEMBER high school!) so you've got plenty of time. What you're really after is a complete change in the way you live-- less food intake, more exercise, no "eating for the wrong reasons"-- and that takes time.

Best of luck-- you really can do it!

Welcome to our group!

Lavenderdiva posted a great site a while back, www.fitday.com It's free, and you can keep track of your calories, as well as your activity level. It helped me lose 25 lbs.

There are many success stories here, and many who are in the process of losing weight, but we're all here for each other.

I think it's important to have a game plan (like exercise, changing eating habits), but to also take things day by day. It can be quite overwhelming to think "I've got 40 lbs to lose", but to just get through the day, defying old habits and those pesky cravings...and give yourself a bit of reward, even if it's a nice bath, or some time alone...is helpful.

Good luck! We're here for you! :grouphug: