BrownEyedGirl
New member
Hello there. I am a 26 year old woman who has had it with her weight yo-yoing.
My weight problems started when I was young, stemming from poor nutritional guidance, both parents have problems with their weight; one is medically obese and the other falls into the overweight catagory. I was a heavy child that grew into an obese adult. My highest weight was 290lbs and I stand straight at 5’9½”. On my 21st birthday I experienced a very triggering moment while looking at the pictures from my party and decided it was time to do something about my weight.
I abused the Atkins diet – I won't say that I "used" it. I abused it by continuing for a good deal longer than intended on the introduction phase – in order to lose weight. A friend of mine and I decided to do this together, thinking that it would be the "best" - meaning the fastest results and at that time, I equated fast results as the best thing. I was foolish in so many ways and I was thinking of it as a diet, not as a series of lifestyle changes. This has bothered me for quite a while, still does. For while the diet did work for me, and I achieved many of my goals, the way I got there does matter for me. When I reached 170lbs I have to admit, I was thrilled. At this point in my life, I met my future husband.
My husband is a fantastic guy and he was fully in support of my "getting healthy" plan, but when he discovered how I was losing weight, he was very concerned. My calorie levels were extremely low, which I agreed was the more likely reason for my weight loss as opposed to counting carbohydrates. The calorie levels that I was eating at are below the 1200 mark; which I know is unhealthy and ill-advised. Honestly, though, at the time I had no idea how many calories I was eating as I was single-mindedly focused on carbohydrates. Another mistake on my part.
I began eating appropriate levels of calories, but my body was used to an unhealthy lifestyle (the starvation mode, as my husband calls it) and I paid the price. 230lbs (60lbs gained) within 2 years of changing my lifestyle; it did nothing good for my self esteem, though I tried to comfort myself with the fact that I was eating “healthier”. I have lost back down to 200lbs by eating healthier combined with slightly lowering my calories; however, I seem to have hit a plateau here and I have not lost or gained any weight within the last 3 months. I do not feel that I should lower my calories, but perhaps I am wrong (imput/feedback is welcome). I am currently eating 1800 calories per day (this varies, of course, but usually I am on target to within 50 calories).
With Atkins I did not exercise and I am not accustomed to exercising at all. I admit it, I am lazy. I also suffer from knee troubles (dislocations, which I have had corrective surgery for in both knees – but they still hurt a good deal), most likely the remnants of the effect of my obesity on my joints. My husband and I own an Elliptical Trainer, which has seen less than 20 hours of use in the last 6 months. He doesn't need the excercise, he maintains around 145lbs (5'8" when standing straight) with little to no effort at all. Can you tell I am jealous
? I would very much like to get into a routine, but I feel both hindered and overwhelmed/intimidated. I know that the most likely source for continued weight loss lies within excercise, I just need to find the motivation to get started!
I have read quite a few of the “Sticky” threads and made use of the various calculators. I am in the process of formulating a new eating plan as I type this post up and I am hoping that I can find what I need to get where I want to be (150lbs is my final goal). I am hoping to find support and others who are in the process of their weight loss journey. I find personal experiences help me more than other stimulants (e.g. buying clothes that are too small; which usually leaves me feeling horrible about myself, rather than stimulating me to do anything about it).
Anyway, this is my rambling introduction to your website and I thank you for taking the time to read it.
My weight problems started when I was young, stemming from poor nutritional guidance, both parents have problems with their weight; one is medically obese and the other falls into the overweight catagory. I was a heavy child that grew into an obese adult. My highest weight was 290lbs and I stand straight at 5’9½”. On my 21st birthday I experienced a very triggering moment while looking at the pictures from my party and decided it was time to do something about my weight.
I abused the Atkins diet – I won't say that I "used" it. I abused it by continuing for a good deal longer than intended on the introduction phase – in order to lose weight. A friend of mine and I decided to do this together, thinking that it would be the "best" - meaning the fastest results and at that time, I equated fast results as the best thing. I was foolish in so many ways and I was thinking of it as a diet, not as a series of lifestyle changes. This has bothered me for quite a while, still does. For while the diet did work for me, and I achieved many of my goals, the way I got there does matter for me. When I reached 170lbs I have to admit, I was thrilled. At this point in my life, I met my future husband.
My husband is a fantastic guy and he was fully in support of my "getting healthy" plan, but when he discovered how I was losing weight, he was very concerned. My calorie levels were extremely low, which I agreed was the more likely reason for my weight loss as opposed to counting carbohydrates. The calorie levels that I was eating at are below the 1200 mark; which I know is unhealthy and ill-advised. Honestly, though, at the time I had no idea how many calories I was eating as I was single-mindedly focused on carbohydrates. Another mistake on my part.
I began eating appropriate levels of calories, but my body was used to an unhealthy lifestyle (the starvation mode, as my husband calls it) and I paid the price. 230lbs (60lbs gained) within 2 years of changing my lifestyle; it did nothing good for my self esteem, though I tried to comfort myself with the fact that I was eating “healthier”. I have lost back down to 200lbs by eating healthier combined with slightly lowering my calories; however, I seem to have hit a plateau here and I have not lost or gained any weight within the last 3 months. I do not feel that I should lower my calories, but perhaps I am wrong (imput/feedback is welcome). I am currently eating 1800 calories per day (this varies, of course, but usually I am on target to within 50 calories).
With Atkins I did not exercise and I am not accustomed to exercising at all. I admit it, I am lazy. I also suffer from knee troubles (dislocations, which I have had corrective surgery for in both knees – but they still hurt a good deal), most likely the remnants of the effect of my obesity on my joints. My husband and I own an Elliptical Trainer, which has seen less than 20 hours of use in the last 6 months. He doesn't need the excercise, he maintains around 145lbs (5'8" when standing straight) with little to no effort at all. Can you tell I am jealous
? I would very much like to get into a routine, but I feel both hindered and overwhelmed/intimidated. I know that the most likely source for continued weight loss lies within excercise, I just need to find the motivation to get started!I have read quite a few of the “Sticky” threads and made use of the various calculators. I am in the process of formulating a new eating plan as I type this post up and I am hoping that I can find what I need to get where I want to be (150lbs is my final goal). I am hoping to find support and others who are in the process of their weight loss journey. I find personal experiences help me more than other stimulants (e.g. buying clothes that are too small; which usually leaves me feeling horrible about myself, rather than stimulating me to do anything about it).
Anyway, this is my rambling introduction to your website and I thank you for taking the time to read it.
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