Stressed and Desperate

[TharBeBlue]

As unhealthy as it is I am 18 and very overweight. Since 4th grade I was verbally abused ever hous of every day at school and secluded myself (I was not abysses at home). Now, I have bipolar and depression and no will to move. I want to lose weight so bad but every time a stranger stares at me I have anxiety attacks and hide to stress eat. I have no real friends other than a few online and I'm a total recluse except when told to do yard work or go out to help my mother. What makes weight loss harder is that my parents are both VERY obese and it makes it hard for me to stat true to a diet since they bring so much junk home.I am in no way able to afford any type of pull or equipment (I only own ankle weights and a stability ball) and because of the depression/bipolar I have little to no will to do anything let alone work out. In addition a social phobia prevents me from walking/running/working our in public. All in all I'm living a pathetic existence. So I ask you now. What am I to do...? I don't even know where to start. Even though I only eat one meal a day, no snacks, low carbs I still retain my weight. Help me, please.

 

[San2]

My first piece of advice would be - seek professional help for your mental issues. Get yourself checked out, see if there is anything that they can help you with. You can't tackle all of this at once, and right now, your mental health is much more important than your weight. So start with that. And I don't mean drugs, necessarily (even though they can be a tremendous help). There is more that they can do - counselling, group therapies, stuff like that. Start there, and once you have a grip on that, you can move on to other things.

 

[Husker1]

Bipolar II here, have you actually been diagnosed? If so, try to avoid Lithium as a prescription. I'm on it myself currently, but if it ever appears I'm fighting against it while dropping the pounds I'm moving on to a new drug. If you didn't already know, Lithium can mess with your thyroid and cause weight gain. This little piece of information was left out when my doctor originally convinced me to go on it, and when I called him on it some weeks later his response was 'It's statistically the most effective, so we don't always tell people.' Dick move in my eye's, but he seems convinced my dosage is to low for weight gain.

I'd recommend calorie counting, and just keeping a strong eye on your intake. works great for this, I have a friend whose 400+ and he's been loosing just following the instructions the site gives, which are really basic (though not always entirely accurate)

Starting out is the hardest part, but when you see the fruits of your labor, either in the mirror or on a scale, it become's not only motivating but almost turns into a hobby.

Sounds like your parent's aren't helping your cause, I can kinda relate, I was pretty heavy set myself in high school and it's hard to diet when you live with a grandmother who baked cookies on a regular basis. Have you told them you're trying to loose weight?

Try to find a way to get some physical activities in, even if it's just walking at night (thats how I started). Listen to music while you do, makes you less aware of whats around you. A trick I used on myself.

Hope that helps.

 

[TharBeBlue]

Bipolar II here, have you actually been diagnosed? If so, try to avoid Lithium as a prescription. I'm on it myself currently, but if it ever appears I'm fighting against it while dropping the pounds I'm moving on to a new drug. If you didn't already know, Lithium can mess with your thyroid and cause weight gain. This little piece of information was left out when my doctor originally convinced me to go on it, and when I called him on it some weeks later his response was 'It's statistically the most effective, so we don't always tell people.' Dick move in my eye's, but he seems convinced my dosage is to low for weight gain.

Though I am not officially diagnosed it runs in my family and I am at the prime age (and have been) for showing signs of its surfacing. When I was younger (late elementary/early middle) I took Ritalin and Focalin for what they said was ADHD. That turned me into a zombie and depressed me further. What I'm most afraid of is the unnatural medications they prescribe doing the same thing. I don't want to change who I am, I just want to be less disgusted with life all the time.

I'd recommend calorie counting, and just keeping a strong eye on your intake. works great for this, I have a friend whose 400+ and he's been loosing just following the instructions the site gives, which are really basic (though not always entirely accurate)

I'll be sure to check it out

Starting out is the hardest part, but when you see the fruits of your labor, either in the mirror or on a scale, it become's not only motivating but almost turns into a hobby.

I wish I had your bravery, good sir.

Sounds like your parent's aren't helping your cause, I can kinda relate, I was pretty heavy set myself in high school and it's hard to diet when you live with a grandmother who baked cookies on a regular basis. Have you told them you're trying to loose weight?

I've told them countless times, each time they promise to make an effort to join me (or at least support me) then they go around and cook all this bad food that's FULL of crap and they never speak of it again. I feel so destroyed and ignored.

Try to find a way to get some physical activities in, even if it's just walking at night (thats how I started). Listen to music while you do, makes you less aware of whats around you. A trick I used on myself.

Considering my neighborhood (not BAD buuuuttt...) no night-walking will be taking place. I'll try to get my mp3 player fixed for walking, though. I live, literally, a 6 minute walk from a park with trails. Its all a matter of surpassing my social issues.

Hope that helps.

I'll try. I'm just...afraid I'll fail again. Three years ago I was on a diet and lost 30 pounds but had major surgery and lost all faith for a while and regained it all with more. I'm just...a little discouraged, ya know :'3? Know any good support groups...?

 

[TharBeBlue]

My first piece of advice would be - seek professional help for your mental issues. Get yourself checked out, see if there is anything that they can help you with. You can't tackle all of this at once, and right now, your mental health is much more important than your weight. So start with that. And I don't mean drugs, necessarily (even though they can be a tremendous help). There is more that they can do - counselling, group therapies, stuff like that. Start there, and once you have a grip on that, you can move on to other things.

I've just...convinced myself that the professionals don't care so why should I? In my head, they're totally in it JUST for the money and when I leave that room they just pop my file into a desk and forget about me completely. I could NEVER open up to something like that.

 

[Nostalgic]

I hear you on the professionals doing it for the money, that's how I felt when I had teenager depression,
Sure, they need to earn a living but there are some out there who generally do care for their patients they just also need to pay rent. Find the right person for you.
They are there to listen and give outside points of view. It can be a great help.
I agree with getting this looked into befor your weight loss goals.
I am also not a fan of mediation for mental illness but understand in some cases it is needed. You can discuss this with your couscilers and try natural things before taking anything else.
I would start a sport anyway, not focusing on losing weight just exercise as doing sports release natural happy hormones in us.
Only you can change things,
Your eating habits don't sound healthy at all which can also make depression worse. Have you spoken to your parents about this?
I think eating better and sport will definite help lift your moods, I just wouldn't focus to much on a weight loss project until your making progress on your other problems.

 

[Omega]

While on line forums and support groups can help - I think that it is always wise to consult real life doctors and medical experts - people that we see in real life...

If you are not satisfied with those that you have seen in the past - seek new ones until you find someone that you can work with.

I think this is true for all medical conditions...

I think that it cannot harm to learn what you can about the situation since we make the best decisions from an informed standpoint... Check to see what the best authorities that you can find think about the subject and think about whether the opinions that you are given make sense...

Check out forums by all means - I got a lot of good advice from coming here which really helped me with my weight - but remember that the people that post on forums may not be any better informed than anyone else... People do not always have the qualifications that they say - if they claim to have any...

Treat any advice as you would the advice of a well meaning friend... People may sincerely want to help - but may be mistaken about their understanding of situations...

 

[Nostalgic]

^^ well said.