A Lifestyle Change

[JCandKT]

Hi all.

I heard about this forum on the podcast the other day when someone challenged Pete to a marathon.

I've been overweight my entire life. When I was a kid, I was cute---round face, chubby legs... as a teenager, it really started to become an issue, and was made fun of incessently by siblings and schoolmates. Because of various health issues (heart condition and asthma) I wasn't the most active kid on the block. I'd rather lose myself in a book then workout.

Now, as a 28 year old full-time career girl/part-time university student, I find it difficult to dedicate much time to working out. I've just started a new job and they offer exercise classes on our lunch break - so I've joined the Yoga class that meets on Thursdays. It's been excruciating and fun all at the same time. I've been doing that for 3 weeks. I also drink a ton of water during the day, but I'm confined to the desk for 8 hours during the week. I'm going to try and walk around downtown on my lunch-break on the days I don't have yoga or work out in the gym in my office.

I also have intenstinal/digestive problems - where I can become really sick after eating and lose everything within minutes of finishing a meal. While my doctor tries to figure that one out (she thinks it's stress) I've asked her... if I'm losing everything I eat, why don't I lose weight?

She tells me I don't eat enough! That I should be eating every 3 hours. That's hard! I usually only eat a light lunch and dinner - spaced very far out between meals. It gets especially hard when I'm active with school (I'm off for the summer semester). My doctor tells me I'm starving my body and it's storing fat/nutrients because it never knows when it's going to receive food again.

My husband and I are definitely not snackers... I think our portions at meal-time are just tooooooo big!

I've decided that I'm done being overweight and not healthy. My husband and I have made a pact to lose 10% of our body weight by our trip to WDW in September (approximately 28 pounds). Now that may be a lot, considering it's only 12 or so weeks away, but we're going to try.

I just have wasted entirely too much of my life carrying this extra weight around...I just don't know how to be any different.

I guess I'm just posting this... hoping that by exposing myself to someone... that I can have the courage to hop on this journey of lifestyle change.

Thanks for listening.

 

[Dashzap]

Have you talked to a doctor about a good rate for losing weight?

I'm under doctors orders to lose weight, but they tell me only to lose 5 pounds a month...

oh and try to get a wii fit...it's great for getting going

 

[swim-mom]

Hi Katie

I think the most important thing is to make a lifestyle change that will decrease your weight. However, when people concentrate on a specific number it becomes almost an obsession. For example, some people become so fixated on a number that if they don't meet that number they just throw the towel in and pack on more weight.

Consider adding more cardio workouts a week and eating three meals a day for a start...........that may be solution rather than a magic number that may not be ideal for your body.

Just my two cents, but at 33 and 4 kids I have been in your shoes

 

[JCandKT]

Have you talked to a doctor about a good rate for losing weight?

I'm under doctors orders to lose weight, but they tell me only to lose 5 pounds a month...

oh and try to get a wii fit...it's great for getting going

My doctor said a good goal for me would be 10%...didn't give me a time frame. We'll see if it can happen before Disney - but I won't be upset if it doesn't ---- but 10% right now is my goal. I think that alone would do wonders...and man, what an inspiration it would be!

 

[JCandKT]

Hi Katie

I think the most important thing is to make a lifestyle change that will decrease your weight. However, when people concentrate on a specific number it becomes almost an obsession. For example, some people become so fixated on a number that if they don't meet that number they just throw the towel in and pack on more weight.

Consider adding more cardio workouts a week and eating three meals a day for a start...........that may be solution rather than a magic number that may not be ideal for your body.

Just my two cents, but at 33 and 4 kids I have been in your shoes

Yeah... putting a number can be scary. Right now, I'm just concentrating on actually getting up and MOVING! The yoga class/gym at my work helps. Walking the pup helps. Walking at lunch helps.

Now I just have to eat! Better, of course, but those little meals really do make a difference.

I'm just sick and tired of feeling sick and tired all the time!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Katie, Welcome to WISH!

I am so happy to hear that you are making a commitment to yourself and glad you have your doctor with you to give advice.

Now what can you do? I'd recommend exactly what you have started with in your increasing movement. Make your goals small and ones that you can accomplish to help you stay focused. Find goals that let you have fun and success!

That eating thing is really important and of course not always easy. What your doc is trying to offer in the way of advice, I think, is that you have to find ways to "fool" your body. Our incredible machine that it is needs to think it is not being starved. Hence the eating every 3 hours. You can cut your portions for your 3 meals to accommodate this. Can you pack some healthy snacks that would give you nutrition and make it convenient. Snacks don't have to be considered snacks exactly. Walnuts, yogurt, or such things along with your balanced meals could be considered as the fuel needed.

If you can include that in your daily calorie and nutrition count you may find the key the doc was leading you toward.

I would also recommend logging everything you eat. I find that sparkpeople or fitday is a good online resource to log what I eat and keeps me on track with that fueling.

Please let us know how you are doing as this too is a good way to keep on track--helping others and being helped by posting.

You can do it!

 

[JCandKT]

I weighed myself when I worked out for the first time...about 4 weeks ago...and then I weighed myself again yesterday before yoga and I've...lost...5...whole...pounds!

I can't tell you how exciting this is!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I am so happy to read of your progress! You are doing it!

Onward and downward!