Newbie needing lots of support

[Chamaolegirl]

Hi, I am new to forums but not new to losing weight. I've been on the ultimate roller coaster ride for the last 15 years. Its been an emotional and physical journey that has seen ups and downs. Currently its been on a downward slope. I know I weigh over 300 pounds but haven't been on a scale since Spring time. I was on unemployment during the summer and thought that I would get into shape and try to get a great job but the weight just stayed and I got fatter. Still no job and lots of free time but I just can't get my brain to move past the pity party. My husband has stopped showing any affection towards me, and won't start until I show some improvement. But that only makes me sadder and not motivated to do anything. He is right in the concern he has for my weight and that he wants me to be healthy for myself and kids but he doesn't know how to be a positive support. So I thought I would try this. I need all the support I can get. I tried working out with a friend that weighs about the same as me. Thought we could work through our issues together but it became a more of a competition than support and encouragement. So I have had to go through this journey alone and now I am in need of some much needed encouragement and positive reenforcement. Im excited to share my stories with all of you and learn from your experiences.

Chamaolegirl

 

[Omega]

In my experience the best way to GET support from a forum such as this is to GIVE it out...

Let me tell you a little about my story. I joined the forum when I was a pretty big lady myself. I am only 5ft3 so you can imagine that I had a problem on my hands.

I got heaps of support and it really helped to see me through the tough times. When things went wrong - like I was working hard and getting no-where my friends were there on the forum to help me talk things through. They came up with ideas of how I could change my program around - maybe eat a little differently or exercise differently. When celebrations came and went and weight was gained - they helped me get back on track.

I honestly made so many good friends here - that it is beyond description. My facebook friends list is full of friends that I made here. There were times when we all said that the people that we knew in real life didnt understand us the way that our weight loss friends did. They knew how I felt as they were fighting the same battles...

How I did it....

I started a diary and listed what I was doing. Whenever anyone left a message I visited their diary and read what was happening for them and left a message. I thought about what they were doing and if I could think of any suggestions - I did so. I didnt do just drive-by postings of "you are doing great" as some people do - I took time to consider how people were doing. I visited other diaries too - generally active ones where the owner was obviously still coming to the forum and posting regularly. Preferably people who were at a similar stage in their project to myself - because so many people leave when they get to goal - and people that have been coming to the forum for a long time may well have more friends than they could ever visit already - so are going to have little time to cheer someone new on. I for instance would make a useless new friend because I hardly ever get round to visiting my current friends here...

Joining clubs and challenges are also great ways of making friends.

The friends form your support network and really help to see you through...

As far as the weightloss goes - you know what to do. It is all down to nutrition and exercise. Read the sticky posts in those sections.

A free account from is useful for logging your food and exercise and seeing your calorie balance and checking that the nutrients are at the right levels - e.g. you are getting enough protein, fibre, calcium, healthy fats etc.

Good luck with your project.

 

[KaraCooks]

I'll echo what Omega said.

Also I'll say this. For me everything changed when I stopped thinking of what I was doing as being tied to losing weight or optional. What I mean by that is that I decided I wanted to be healthy and strong and happy and that I didn't care about the weight as much.

I ate healthier food because it was important to me to not put chemicals in my body.
I worked out because it made me feel good.
I lifted weights because I wanted to be strong.
And I did all those things because I decided they were no longer optional.

I did them because I realized that doing them was like getting up to go to work in the mornings. Some mornings I love what I do and I can't wait to get to work. Some mornings I don't - I didn't sleep well or I feel grumpy or whatever. But I do it ... because like the work or not, I like the results.

And before I knew it, I'd lost 80 lbs.

Sometimes it takes walking away from the weight and just being healthy to get you on track.