Where do I start!

[Peanut1]

Hi, I'm a 23 years old, 5 feet tall and weigh 170 pounds. I've put on about 40 pounds in three years due to a medication I was taking. It really destroyed my self esteem. Now I'm terrified to go on vacations or be out in the summer due to the way I look and it's starting to prevent me to do the things I use to love. I have grown out of all my clothes but refuse to buy new ones because I'm afraid of what size ill be. The last time I went I was a 12 US waist.
I have started to get on the right track food wise, eating omelettes for breakfast, salads with protein for lunch, veggies and fruits as snacks, nice home cooked dinners, but I need to fix my late night snacking and those late night dessert dates with friends.
It's just every time I look at myself in the mirror I lose all hope and motivation so I turn to the couch. I don't know how to get up and convince myself everyday to workout and stop the snacking.

 

[Omega]

Well done for making so many good changes - it sounds like you are really on a roll with your project. OK - so there are aspects of your food plan and exercise that could do with improvement - all that means is that you are not perfect.... I've got news - no-one is perfect.

We can however identify areas for improvement and address them - like with the rest of it - identify things one step at the time and add it into your lifestyle and try to turn that into a habit because habits are always the easiest to keep up...

Exercise really helps weight control and weight loss - and I see that you do not mention exercise... I am strongly in favour of wearing a pedometer all day long and going out for a walk or a few shorter walks depending on your daily timetable... A lot of experts agree that we would all be healthier if we made our daily stepcount at least 10,000 steps - although it can be much more if you have the time and energy.

On top of this you can start work on those snacks - fruit snacks are often healthier than a lot of other things. As far as desserts go there is low fat yoghurts or you can make sugar free jelly.

Also worth looking at whether you are drinking enough water as water can fill you up. A lot of people mistake feelings of thirst and think they are experiencing feelings of hunger... On top of this - sufficient water helps our kidneys to function correctly which in turn allow the liver to do its job - part of which is processing the fat in your diet... Drinking sufficient water really helps your body a lot.

On the topic of motivation I posted to someone else the other day and part of that could have been made for you

Be sure to feel good about every thing achieved. Don't beat yourself up on days when you do not hit your target - just try and some days you will hit it.

Feelings of success often breed motivation.

Feel good about every ounce of weight lost too. Don't focus on how much you don't like your current weight - more about how wonderful it is to know that you are back in control and doing it in a healthy way.

I know that Cate has built a lovely thread on motivational sayings and thoughts that may be worth reading too.

I have just started some threads on the basics in the "challenges" section - because I am actually in a similar boat - having been away for the forum for quite a long time and gained weight... Join me in those threads and we can compare notes on how we are managing with those basics. I have a lot of successful weight loss experience and am going through just these steps with you.

Set up a diary too - so that you can make friends with other people on the forum. Visit their diaries and see what they are doing... Maybe support them and they may visit your diary to support you too.

 

[Peanut1]

Thanks for the advice.
I desperately need to drink more water during the day. I usually only have 1 or 2 glasses a day. I didn't know it would make that big of a difference.
As for exercise once it gets a little warmer around my place I'll be able to take my dog on walks which will help motivate me to get out a bit. My friend bought me a journal and has basically been harassing me to workout, but I've only managed to do it one day so far (part of a cardio video). It's hard for me to get up and move when I just can't see myself ever being a size 4 US again so my body instantly goes to whats the point in trying?

 

[Omega]

Everything is possible in terms of weight loss - you just have to believe it.

I can say this as I have a lot more weight loss experience than my ticker would imply.

I have gained quite a lot of weight recently (a bit similar to yourself) and only just come back to the forum.

I did a big project with this forum some years ago where I lost 168 pounds and went from being very very big to bony.
There is a point in trying - bodies are amazingly capable of shrinking down - more than you would think possible.
Young people's bodies shrink better than older people's and you have your age on your side.

Some young people have lost almost as much as you weigh and ended up with no stretch marks.

Believe in yourself.

 

[Kemberly Mc]

Hi, I'm a 23 years old, 5 feet tall and weigh 170 pounds. I've put on about 40 pounds in three years due to a medication I was taking. It really destroyed my self esteem. Now I'm terrified to go on vacations or be out in the summer due to the way I look and it's starting to prevent me to do the things I use to love. I have grown out of all my clothes but refuse to buy new ones because I'm afraid of what size ill be. The last time I went I was a 12 US waist.
I have started to get on the right track food wise, eating omelettes for breakfast, salads with protein for lunch, veggies and fruits as snacks, nice home cooked dinners, but I need to fix my late night snacking and those late night dessert dates with friends.
It's just every time I look at myself in the mirror I lose all hope and motivation so I turn to the couch. I don't know how to get up and convince myself everyday to workout and stop the snacking.

 

[Kemberly Mc]

Hi Peanut! I'm on a medication for my thyroid, and losing weight has always been a problem for me. I have found a product that seriously has given me back my life. I take it daily, and since November I have lost over 24 lbs. I went from 220 lbs to 196 lbs. I know how frustrating it is to watch the scale keep going up. I have a blog that is [Advertising removed] where I talk more in detail about my journey. Your invited to check it out if you like. I get in about 5k to 7k steps a day. My sugar and salt cravings were gone in the first week I tried the product, and I had my endocrinologist tell me that it was approved, as well as my family physician, and my oral surgeon that just removed a bad tooth last month. I'm rooting for you, I know from experience that this can be very depressing, and you just feel alone. I'm here for you if you need to talk.

 

[Peanut1]

Everything is possible in terms of weight loss - you just have to believe it.

I can say this as I have a lot more weight loss experience than my ticker would imply.

I have gained quite a lot of weight recently (a bit similar to yourself) and only just come back to the forum.

I did a big project with this forum some years ago where I lost 168 pounds and went from being very very big to bony.
There is a point in trying - bodies are amazingly capable of shrinking down - more than you would think possible.
Young people's bodies shrink better than older people's and you have your age on your side.

Some young people have lost almost as much as you weigh and ended up with no stretch marks.

Believe in yourself.

Wow 168 pounds ! that's awesome. My hardest part is believing in myself. I'll try. that's all I can say

 

[Omega]

Take it from me - you can do things that you are apt to think is impossible. Loads of people have here.

It doesn't happen overnight - but in life all the best things are worth waiting for...

No need to buy anything ( - except new clothes for you new thin size )

I certainly didnt take any magic pills or potions.

Basic exercise - things like walking, wrist weights that cost negligible amounts in supermarkets, sit ups, crunches etc
Good nutrition - learn about things like fibre, protein, calcium, water, sodium, different kinds of fat.

The biggest thing - apart from a level of knowledge - is the motivation to maybe deny yourself some favourite foods that do you no favours....
Half the time (or more) we eat out of habit, because we are stressed, because it is there, because someone else is eating it and we want it too...
If we can control that we can make real changes.

 

[Peanut1]

Hi Peanut! I'm on a medication for my thyroid, and losing weight has always been a problem for me. I have found a product that seriously has given me back my life. I take it daily, and since November I have lost over 24 lbs. I went from 220 lbs to 196 lbs. I know how frustrating it is to watch the scale keep going up. I have a blog that is on wordpress.com called Weight Loss Support Group where I talk more in detail about my journey. Your invited to check it out if you like. I get in about 5k to 7k steps a day. My sugar and salt cravings were gone in the first week I tried the product, and I had my endocrinologist tell me that it was approved, as well as my family physician, and my oral surgeon that just removed a bad tooth last month. I'm rooting for you, I know from experience that this can be very depressing, and you just feel alone. I'm here for you if you need to talk.

Thanks and I'll have to check out your blog. I'm finding that the more I read the better I feel .

 

[Peanut1]

Take it from me - you can do things that you are apt to think is impossible. Loads of people have here.

It doesn't happen overnight - but in life all the best things are worth waiting for...

No need to buy anything ( - except new clothes for you new thin size )

I certainly didnt take any magic pills or potions.

Basic exercise - things like walking, wrist weights that cost negligible amounts in supermarkets, sit ups, crunches etc
Good nutrition - learn about things like fibre, protein, calcium, water, sodium, different kinds of fat.

The biggest thing - apart from a level of knowledge - is the motivation to maybe deny yourself some favourite foods that do you no favours....
Half the time (or more) we eat out of habit, because we are stressed, because it is there, because someone else is eating it and we want it too...
If we can control that we can make real changes.

My budget is pretty tight so I'm trying to avoid buying and spending as much as possible. I'm pretty confident in my nutrition for the most part (other than my late night snacking that I want to cut out completely), it's just getting up and exercising that's the challenge.