I am 54, and need some serious advise about weight, some deperession, in a rut.

[Anonymous]

I am in a major rut. I need help. Advise and more.

54, always was considered to be beautiful. Until about 8 years ago never had a problem with weight.I am a comfort eater and I have experienced some major devastation in the last 6 years or so, and along with that came weight gain. I am good at camouflage and am a good dresser but inside I feel like shit. I avoid pictures, hate looking at myself some days and don't' get why I do not have the motivation to do something and stick to it.

Have a wonderful husband, 4 amazing kids (3 out of house and 1 graduating). Have had some hardships but working through them. I need to lose about 30 lbs maybe even 35. I LOVE food, and eat a lot. I have almost no willpower. I would do anything to be a size 8 again. I don't need to be "skinny" just trim and mostly to feel good about myself.

I am starting to teeter on having depression because of it. I am sure someone out there can relate. Any advise? Quickest way to jump start some weight loss in hopes that it will motivate me to keep going? I really feel stuck. Suddenly I am feeling older, less healthy, fatter and therefore my self esteem is suffering badly. I put on a good and strong front but inside i feel somewhat worthless. The sad part is this is the first time I am saying/writing these words. I think anyone who knows me well would be shocked to hear this from me. The one who always seems to have it all together.

Please no snarky comments, that's the last thing I need right now. Don't want to say something nice then please don't say anything at all.

[Anonymous]

Just give up processed foods and sugar and cut down on salt, which naturally happens when you eliminate processed junk. Don’t worry how much healthy food you are eating. You will lose a pound or two a week.

[Anonymous]

What do you enjoy doing? Golf? Tennis? Walking? Gardening? Crochet? Surely there is something you enjoy besides food. Figure out what that is and spend more time doing that and less time eating.

[Anonymous]

Just change one thing OP. Stick with it every day for three weeks. Then you’ll automatically add another. You can do this!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just change one thing OP. Stick with it every day for three weeks. Then you’ll automatically add another. You can do this!!!!

Sugar first? What else and in what order? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Ugh. I feel the same way OP. I am 30 pounds heavier than my college weight. Look ok in clothes but I know the truth. I do cardio and weights and still can’t shake the weight.

[Anonymous]

Hi PP. I’m turning 55 next month. I feel all of what you wrote. Also need to lose about 30 lbs. But would be really fine with 15 gone at this point.

Here’s what’s working for me right now: lifting weights. I joined Planet Fitness and have committed to going every morning Mon-Fri and doing a 30 minute weightlifting routine. It’s been the lift I’ve needed. Even though the scale isn’t moving, clothes fit better and legs & shoulders are getting toned. I followed this program: https://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/muscle-and-strength-womens-workout (I didn’t do the cardio)

On the weekends I go for a 3-5 mile walk.

Now I’m slowly starting to look at the food, especially the breads. I dropped the vanilla syrup from my daily cold brew. Stop eating by 8pm.

Finally, I just got my prescription for menopausal hormone therapy (Prempro). I’m just done with the night sweats disrupting my sleep. I’m crossing my fingers that this will help.I can’t ignore how interrupted sleep might be impacting the weight loss.

Please be gentle with yourself. As another poster said, pick one thing and focus on that.

[Anonymous]

NP. Yes, quit sugar first. Then start walking every day. It won’t help you lose weight, but it’s good for your health & will make you feel better. Do these two things only. Then cut out bread/carbs during one meal. Stick with those 3 things. Do NOT try to do everything at once. You will get discouraged.

The most important thing to remember is this is a forever thing, and if you accidentally screw up, don’t punish yourself and give up. Just refocus and start over next day. Slowly add free weights and more veggies. Start walking quicker and longer. Begin thinking of cutting out foods that have high calories. And so on.

[Anonymous]

Just give up processed foods and sugar and cut down on salt, which naturally happens when you eliminate processed junk. Don’t worry how much healthy food you are eating. You will lose a pound or two a week.

I did this and started walking 5 miles most days and dropped 40 or 45 pounds over 6 or 7 months without much effort. No tracking, weighing, calorie counting, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in a major rut. I need help. Advise and more.

54, always was considered to be beautiful. Until about 8 years ago never had a problem with weight.I am a comfort eater and I have experienced some major devastation in the last 6 years or so, and along with that came weight gain. I am good at camouflage and am a good dresser but inside I feel like shit. I avoid pictures, hate looking at myself some days and don't' get why I do not have the motivation to do something and stick to it.

Have a wonderful husband, 4 amazing kids (3 out of house and 1 graduating). Have had some hardships but working through them. I need to lose about 30 lbs maybe even 35. I LOVE food, and eat a lot. I have almost no willpower. I would do anything to be a size 8 again. I don't need to be "skinny" just trim and mostly to feel good about myself.

I am starting to teeter on having depression because of it. I am sure someone out there can relate. Any advise? Quickest way to jump start some weight loss in hopes that it will motivate me to keep going? I really feel stuck. Suddenly I am feeling older, less healthy, fatter and therefore my self esteem is suffering badly. I put on a good and strong front but inside i feel somewhat worthless. The sad part is this is the first time I am saying/writing these words. I think anyone who knows me well would be shocked to hear this from me. The one who always seems to have it all together.

Please no snarky comments, that's the last thing I need right now. Don't want to say something nice then please don't say anything at all.

First, sorry things are tough. Writing it out can be liberating. Good job taking that step.

Second, I see most people are talking about cutting out processed food. Sure, if that is 'easy' for you
Otherwise, I would really suggest trying to regularly excercise every day because in my personal experience it makes a huge difference. Try to listen to a podcast you like or watch a tv show you like if you are using a machine. Drink a lot of water. If you have trigger foods (which could be processed or unprocessed...for me, diet soda really makes me want lots of sweets but so does watermelon), try to avoid them but focus on the excercise aspect first imho. If you are not at risk for disordered eating/recovering from an eating disorder, you might want to try intermittent fasting. For some people, it can help jumpstart weight loss. A bunch of friends have done it, and even if they don't lose weight on it, they have said it had reframed their relationship with food.
You might also want to consider talking to a therapist to help you with some of the underlying issues you describe....
Good luck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just change one thing OP. Stick with it every day for three weeks. Then you’ll automatically add another. You can do this!!!!

Sugar first? What else and in what order? Thank you.

I dont think I'd cut sugar first. I'd add in exercise first. A salad a day. There is nothing wrong with sugar, in moderation. I eat dessert once a week when I've earned it through exercise.

[Anonymous]

I'd do the following things first:

Track what you eat
No eating after 7:30pm (pick your time)
Drink 64 oz of water a day

Do that for three weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd do the following things first:

Track what you eat
No eating after 7:30pm (pick your time)
Drink 64 oz of water a day

Do that for three weeks.

+1

And tracking doesn't even have to mean weighing and measuring food. For now it can just be writing down what you are eating to bring more self awareness.

[Anonymous]

I'm not trying to be mean, but it seems like you have a lot of self-worth wrapped up in being attractive and that "you used to be beautiful". I think it could help your self-esteem if you accepted that at 54, your looks will not be valuable as they once were.

Regarding losing weight, I would focus on cutting out processed food, especially carbs. DCUM has a lot of low carb haters, but it worked for me and I lost 30 pounds and I've kept them off for 15 years.

[Anonymous]

I’m 53 finally committed to WW. List 13 lbs since September.

I eat eggs, ff yogurt, oatmeal, chicken, turkey, vegetables and fruit. (Unlimited)

I have 1 piece of bread a day, tops.

No cheese, pasta, beef or rice.

Walk every day.