Been gaining weight, I've lost my diet discipline (and it's driving me nuts!)

[Miranda Catherine]

I've been full time for more than 27 months now and during that time I've been very happy, but there've been some times when my path has had washouts I had to find a way around. My mom had a moderate stroke a year ago December 12th, I fell in love with a good man that had both chasms and Everests, and my brother died from a failed liver transplant on July 10th. On the day I made my commitment to live honestly, meaning living as a woman, I weighed 226 lbs. I quit drinking beer and all alcohol on that same day, July 13th, 2011, but I didn't know I'd lose much weight, but I did. I got down to 160, with my goal of 145 looking and feeling very attainable, but in the middle of April of this year my brother's liver started failing (not that we knew it) and I took him to the ER to get it drained. He never left the hospital, dying nearly three months later in the hospital where he got his liver transplant. It was more than fifty miles away, in nearly constant traffic and sometimes taking two hours or more each way. I had been on a non stop diet when he got sick and by May I was at 160. I'd lost 66 lbs., and during the times I was going to see my brother I'd often grab something at a fast food restaurant if I was lucky. Usually though, it was a candy bar or two, washed down with a Dr. Pepper. I've gotten up to 183, and haven't seemed able to regain my former discipline in dieting. I think I'm using food as a drug, and I'd never even thought of doing that before I quit drinking, because I had alcohol as my dope. I tried using a few diet substances to stop, but one made me feel so awful and the other did nothing. I've stopped gaining, I think, but I'm vain and I liked being on my way to thin and want to get to my ideal weight. Any suggestions? Please, Mira

P.S. I'm still with my S.O. and he's a definite plus in my life, but since he is I want to look my best for him too. We're very much in love.

[Randi]

You obviously know how to do it.  I've been going to weight watchers for 18 months and after losing 25 lbs, I gradually got back to where I started.  I'd be very happy to be at 180 lb.

I also know how to lose weight, but I love my alcohol and good food.

Best wishes for a fresh start with the new year, for both of us!

Randi

[Miss_Bungle1991]

Gaining back 20 or so pounds sucks, yeah, but don't let that get you down. Just look at what you did to get those pounds back and correct the path you are on. I've been having my own issues with weight and all that too. I had one point where I also gained back 20 pounds after losing around 60 pounds. I didn't let it get to me. I just looked back on what I had been doing wrong, decided to cut that stuff back out and just get back to what I was doing before. You just need to keep going is all. You can do it!

[barbie]

I have caught a cold for more than a month, and I have not been able to run outdoors frequently. I worried about weight gain, but I think it is OK. As my activity decreased, I decreased the intake of carbohydrates as possible. For example, I usually eat rice at dinner, but instead I eat fish and even meat. Of course, with a lot of vegetables.

And, every night I drink alcohol beverage of less than 6% alcohol, and sometimes a half bottle of red wine. Alcohol itself does not increase your weight. Side dish does. Thus, when drinking, I stop eating rice or other carbohydrate food, but eat hot soup, chicken or duck meat with a lot of vegetables.

My weight is about 147 lbs (67 kg) with 6 feet height, and my goal is maintaining 143 lbs (65 kg), requiring at least 3 runs every week.

barbie~~

[Jill F]

You and me both.  The holidays are making me eat and drink.   I promised myself that I'm going to go with the flow for now and spend January and February living super healthy again, and hopefully losing 20 pounds in the process. 

I will walk 4 miles a day, eat a low calorie semi-vegetarian diet (must have fish!), stop snacking and have no alcohol.  Hopefully this will get me back to the great habits I had about two years ago. 

Tonight it's spanx for Jill.  *le sigh* And a chocloate chip cookie.

[emma.b]

Well, shall I say footing again ? My experience ... I was 220 lb (now I'm 154 lb for 6 ft height, a weight that I'll keep as I feel it's right for me ) First, I had to be really really motivated to work on my diet. I started by cutting alcohol, just like you did but I also started ... meditation. I don't know if this is the secret that made me continue and fight for my weight but it felt so. I understood quick that if I was to "agress" myself again (forcing myself to do anything) it won't work (or at least not for longtime). So living in self-harmony made me accept sufferance differently. So my idea was, if something feels bad for myself and I have to do it, change the way I see it and my brain will interpret it differently. In this case, I wasn't doing this to be beautiful or slim (that's not something important in my reality) but to be outside like I was seeing myself inside (a woman). I guess everyone have different motivations, but the key would be to find the powerful one.
I know it sounds weird or even stupid, but it really worked for me to keep being vegetarian and keep doing my jogging 3 times a week.

[kathyk]

I lost a decent amount of weight, then settled on a plateau and can't get past it.  I feel good but overeat just enough to never loose anymore.  No matter how much willpower I try to toss into the mix it's not working.  I'm sorry you've gained some, and it really sucks.  I've had a weight problems for half my life so I know how you feel.

Want to start a club here to "loose 4 pounds a week"?  I'm worried it'd add more stress to my situation if I fail.  But I need some motivation.

K

[Rachel]

Miranda Catherine, I am sorry for your loss and your brothers illness. I hope he is well.

You had some major life events to deal with and juggle.

You have a goal, motivation and regained focus; you go girl!  Go for that dream weight.

[lilacwoman]

to diet you just have to not buy the fattening stuff.
we had a prog on UK telly about fatties and they bought tones of junk so obviously it was around the house all the time.
just don't but fattening stuff.

when the urge to eat comes have drink of plain water and then chew a single piece of chewing gum to fool your guts.

[Miss_Bungle1991]

I drink a lot of water but I never was much of a gum person.

[Miranda Catherine]

I know I have to get it together again, because as my body becomes more bloated, my self image grows steadily, inexorably worse. I'm still 40 lbs. lighter than I was when I first began my transition, but I had never been overweight until 2000, when I had a knee surgery and it became terribly infected. So the eleven years of being overweight had been even harder for me because I never got used to being overweight. My self image keeps telling me as I'm gaining weight that I'm becoming more masculine, even though I don't really think it's true. I hate it when my negativity begins to take over, but I think I just have to do what it takes to live within that self image, because I'm not sure if I can change it. I have to lose weight and keep it off to attain my best self image, and I'm positive I can do that, and I'm going to, beginning now. I'm going to post my weight loss per week and keep it honest. If anyone wants to lose and do the same thing, maybe it could help us. If it could, post here or PM me. Hugs, Mira

[kathyk]

... I'm going to post my weight loss per week and keep it honest. If anyone wants to lose and do the same thing, maybe it could help us. If it could, post here or PM me. Hugs, Mira

I just posted my weight this week and it went up.  Too much good food on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,156250.0.html

This setback will change !

[Miranda Catherine]

Hi Kathy and KittyKat,
       
      I just joined your little "Friday Weight State" club. Great idea, ladies! My starting weight is 182.4. I gained at least two lbs. in the last four days. The only thing missing was a trough! We'll get to our     
      desired weights, though, if we just have a little discipline. 145, I'm coming!!!! Hugs, Mira                     

[Eva Marie]

Recently I got down to 162lbs from over 180lbs and I did it by eating a lot of salad and walking 3 or 4 miles every day, and cutting out beer. Alas the holiday season arrived with good food and alcohol and the weather has not been the best for my daily walking, so I've been gaining it back.

I plan to get back to what I was doing before and lose that weight again.

Once I got used to eating light and getting exercise it felt normal; I felt a lot better physically. Eating heavy does not feel normal to me now.

I hope that everyone that wants to lose weight finds success; it can be a very hard road to travel.

[Tessa James]

I hear some New Years resolutions being considered and confess mixed feelings about fine food, friends and fat.  I love em all but don't want to be the later.  There is a phenomena associated with diets being the more we focus on our weight the hungrier we get?

My practical considerations are about staying active and not having to buy a new wardrobe too soon.

Motivation?  Let's see what we can gin up after the holidays