when you use to be skinny and muscular

[Anonymous]

I'm struggling with my weight and the emotional aspect of gaining. I know better, but it feels like it just hit me out of nowhere. Perfect storm this past year+ of a long illness, resurgence of thyroid issues, and peri menopause.

I am now 30 lbs heavier than I've ever been. Most of my friends stayed single and didn't have kids. They're still traveling the world for athletic pursuits -- climbing, biking, hiking. And I'm sitting on my a$$ every day because I'm depressed and feel extremely embarrassed I've become this way.

I am trying to control my intake and find energy to get back to exercise. But then I look in the mirror at these huge boobs, squishy arms & belly, and cellulite butt, and feel exhausted, sorry for myself, and don't want to go anywhere.

Obviously I need to get over myself. I know that.

Anyone have helpful suggestions? What's worked for you when stuck in a weight-loss, body image funk?

[Anonymous]

Well now you know what’s it like from the other side! It’s not so easy as “just do it!” And yet, that’s the answer. You just have to do it. And it’s very hard. But you do it anyway.

[Anonymous]

Nothing really worked for me except eating less and losing weight. I tried it all but ultimately there is a cost to being overweight as a woman that I was no longer willing to pay.

[Anonymous]

Life happens OP, try not to feel so down on yourself. I am sure you are beautiful!

When I need motivation, I go full keto for a while. You’ll drop a bunch of weight quickly, and that’ll motivate you to continue on.

[Anonymous]

I lost 40 pounds during Covid by cutting out junk (but I ate a ton) and going from essentially zero exercise to a daily brisk 5 mile walk on the treadmill (with an incline) - nothing too hardcore. It took about 7 months and I was not obsessively counting calories or weighing myself. I was 48 at the time.

One thing I did try to keep in check was my attitude and outlook. I didn't beat myself up over being overweight - I had valid reasons for getting there, just like you do. Feeling bad about yourself is not very motivating. Try making some small changes and go from there.

I didn't get on the scale at all until I was sure I had lost some weight, and before too long it became habit to eat better and be more active.

[Anonymous]

I've lost it all with WW. Twice. And what the 'twice" tells you, is that ultimately it didn't work. I've gained it all back both times. And the last time I did it, I was losing weight "safely" -- 1 to 2 pounds a week -- and when I got down to my goal weight I was in my doctor's office wondering why I was almost fainting and my hair was falling out. It was the long-term calorie deficit.

I'm sorry. I've gained it all back and then some. I have tried almost everything and haven't found an answer.

[Anonymous]

In my experience with peri, what worked before stops working, and in my case, insulin-resistance increases. This leads to much more extreme feelings of hunger if you simply try to reduce your caloric intake without addressing the insulin resistance. In my case, intermittent fasting and lowering carbs helped me to stop that hunger and sugar addiction. I almost did a Whole 30 (with no potatoes), and that radically changed how I felt.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the replies.

I'm trying to focus on macros to give me a better sense of control. We'll see how that goes for a few weeks. Maybe if I drop a pound or two, it'll help my outlook a bit and I can stop beating myself up so much!

[Anonymous]

Give yourself grace.

Is your bmi in the obese range? If not then focus on being healthy, sleeping well, having good friends and enjoying your time with your children.

Far more important than weight.

[Anonymous]

I want to help you get over cost and convenience issues of eating better:

I had a belief that if I were rich or had more time I could lose weight.

So I put it to the test. I spent a few days pretending I was rich. Convenience + health. Basically, what would a busy, wealthy doctor do? (And I know all doctors don’t eat healthy)

It wasn’t as expensive or difficult as I thought. If you order out anywhere, what’s the healthy option? Get that. The salad may cost the same as the burger. Or maybe $2 extra, sadly. But it’s not going to cost you $500 to eat healthily.

For convenience, some money makes up for it. Like ordering salad instead of putting one together yourself. But again, a full set of salad ingredients at the store would cost me $15 (and make me 3 salads). A single salad is max $10. But again, better than me going to the store and spending $15 on ingredients, still having to make it, and getting tempted by more snacks and soda which also costs more.

Healthy food only costs a lot when you are trying to simultaneously eat healthy + continue to eat junk. Produce and meat by itself doesn’t cost that much and fills you.

[Anonymous]

I would recommend hiking. It’s so enjoyable to me that it doesn’t feel like exercise. It does wonders for my mental health being outside (especially now with the fall weather and beautiful color).

I’m not sure where you live but some easy local options are Great falls, Scott’s Run and lake Needwood (in Rockville). I’ve lost 15 lbs in the last year mostly from walking and hiking a lot.

[Anonymous]

I agree, start with hiking or vigorous walking. There is literally no barrier to entry. It's good for you, meditative, non-competitive. The more you do, hopefully your self-esteem and energy will improve.

[Anonymous]

You have to tell yourself to get up and exercise. Walking is great exercise. It’s my favorite. I also do 15-20 minute classes on you tube. The more consistent you are the easier it is. The hardest part is getting started. You’ve got this!

[Anonymous]

This was 100% my situation as well. Started gaining during the pandemic lockdown (emotional eating, and not working out), with peri menopause underway. Gained a total of 35-40 lbs. I tried making healthy changes and kept losing / gaining the same 5 pounds.

What worked for me was going to a weight loss clinic, where I was prescribed phentermine. Phentermine -which I took for about 3 months--helped give me a kick in the pants, and massively slow/stop my emotional eating. I have a lot of momentum now and have lost 20 lbs. I also committed to going to the gym and working out 5-6 days per week, and eating a healthy diet. It was hard to stick with it for the first 6 weeks, very hard! But I kept at it and now both workout / eating right are second nature to me.

Good luck -- you can do this!

[Anonymous]

I found that listening to Weight Loss For Busy Physicians (you don’t have to be a physician) to be really helpful. Maybe that or a similar podcast? I’d listen while doing dishes, walking the dog, and it helped motivate and change my mindset.