Anyone else struggle with weight?

I'm in the same boat!

I've gone up and down most of my life. And I think you are exactly right when you say it is not a matter of not understanding or knowing what has to be done in order to lose weight. I agree it is not about dieting. But it is also pretty difficult to get and stay motivated on your own when you feel crappy, which I think holds a lot of us back from doing what we know needs to be done. So it becomes easy to seek temporary comfort in what makes us feel good in the moment - and the easiest and least painful, in the short term anyways, is food. (says the arm chair psychologist in me, anyway! )

I think it is a great idea to have a group of people to cheer each other on.

I have really packed on the pounds since I got fibro. My blood sugar levels started going up because of it - so I had no choice but to change my ways. I joined a doctor-run wellness program on April 19th. As of today, I have lost 22 pounds. I have a very long way to go, though. I know what I'm allowed to eat each day which has helped me a lot. I've found I don't need nearly as much food as I thought I did. It's not about will-power, it's a life change. I would love to be part of a support group here. We all need all the help we can get.

Wow, I'm overwhelmed with the response! In fact there are tears streaming down my face just knowing I'm not the only one fighting this. You are all so wise and I think that's probably because you have lived with this demon for so many years.

Joy...that is so great that you've lost that much weight. And steppingstone, that is a great accomplishment! Shiela, callgirl, livenlaugh, lostnomad, just being able to say out loud that it's a problems is huge! For me it is anyway. I always keep it to myself and suffer on the inside. I also am one who soothes the pain with food and with fibro Pain is our middle name.

My first concern when I posted this was...how does this relate to fibro? Are we way off topic? And as Sheila shared, once fibro hit and we went 'down', the weight went up. How can you continue to stay active when the pain is so intense just breathing some days. I do think that our overall health and especially any weight issues can have a HUGE impact on our fibro pain. Just try to carry a 10# or 20# sack of potatoes from the car into the house...how does that make us feel? It's even worse when that 10 or 20 or more pounds is stuck under our skin and we carry it everywhere.

Does anyone have some ideas on what sort of support would be not only helpful but convenient? If it's not convenient then I know I'm one who will have so many excuses in my mind that will lead me to fail. I know that success breeds success so by helping each other we not only will experience success but we will be surrounded by it. Do we want to have a time during the day when we can meet in a chat room? Do we want to have a time once a week? Do we want to exchange email addresses? IMHO others from all over the forum are welcome so feel free to share the information. I would think others with chronic conditions could certainly feel better if the weight was under control.

If you will share ideas on what you think would work best then we can get things going. This is not MY thing ...I'm just the one who posted the idea. But this belongs to all who would enjoy support in eating more healthy and taking good care of our bodies.

Keep in touch and we'll get this off the ground...
Chutz

Hi nervegirl!

I hear your desperation and totally understand. We'll get going in the next day or two even if it's a very small group. Helping each other live a better life with more quality is part of what Healing Well is all about.

Hugs,
Chutz

Bless you Chutz is all I can say. I have so much weight to lose. I know it's hard on my body, but the pain is so bad at times I just want to cry at the thought of moving. Eating healthy costs so much and in these times, for us anyway (one income) it's hard to find the extra money to buy fresh, healthy alternatives. I have a friend that has had fibro for 18 years and she told me if I lost 30-40 pounds I would feel better. I know she was trying to help, but it still hurt my feelings. I would love to be a part in this with all of you.

Some things that would be a great help my way and maybe others also would be motivation, sharing recipe ideas that are economic, emotional support, giving that extra nudge when I just don't feel like moving even though I know it would make me feel better and I know there are more ideas, but the fog has just taken them away. Just knowing I'm not alone means a lot.

Thank you Chutz for bringing this into the open for all of us.
Cathie

I think one thing we need to try and do is encourage one another to do some type of exercise even if it is just 5-10 minutes of something that we can do. The exercises mentioned in Fibro 101 are good to start out with. Share healthy recipes. I don't know if I am gonna weigh myself anymore, maybe do measurements instead...got on the scales yesterday and it said I gained weight when I no my clothes have gotten bigger. Can be frustrating I think if the scale doesn't move.

Just some ideas. :)

I have struggled with weight problems all my life.  I've lost at least two hundred lbs. in my lifetime and I keep gaining it back.  I have tried a lot of different things in my life from WW, diet pills etc.  It all works for a little while then it creeps right back on.  I'm 62 years old now and just about give up on all of it.  My doctor talked to me about lap band but I've heard a lot of controversy about that too. 

 

I think if we had a group with the same problem it would help.  Just like our Fibro Family helps so much.  Let's all put our heads together and see what we can do.

 

God Bless!

Shannon

I think I've been on every diet ever devised.  Counting calories is a pain.  Diets don't work.  You have to find an eating plan that you like and that can be a way of life. 

 

I've lost a lot of weight and kept it off for over five years.  I still would liket to lose another 20 pounds but it isn't "urgent" now.  I watched the carbohydrates that I ate.  I didn't eliminate them at all.  No one will get me to stop eating potatoes!     I became an avid label reader and I now know what foods to buy.  I don't even have to think about it.  I found a good bread that is nearly half the carbs and calories then regular bread.  It's called White Wheat and you can find it in the grocery.  It looks and tastes like white bread but is made with wheat flour.  It has only 13 net carbs in TWO slices.  Anyway, I limit myself to around 120 carbs a day and that includes snacks.  That is equivilent to a 1,200 calorie "diet" but it's not a diet.  I can eat anything I want but keep to that daily number.  That was a key for me.  If I "can't" have something, that's exactly what I crave. 

I'll join in and help if you gals are interested. 

Sherrine 

 

Count me in too, Chutz. I have joined weight watchers and have lost 26 pounds recently and plan to lose more, but would welcome the daily extra support from everyone. And I wouldn't mind sharing some support along the way too.

Lindaloo

I think this is going to take off!! And with Sherrine to join in helping us and everyone else we will be a great group! I too was thinking of a chat/meeting time but was thinking about daytime as opposed to evenings. What does that do for everyone.

Chutz

For me I'd like to lose 50 lbs, but I don't see it happening. In the last year I've lost about 15-20 without changing my eating habits.
No idea where it went but I don't miss it. I'm 5' tall and weigh between 195 and 205. The dr is all about "You need to lose weight"...
well I seriously push mow between 8-10 hours a week after working a strenuous job for another 40. With my knee problems back
it's harder to do but even with all this activity I don't lose. I did have a co-worker bump into my stomach when she turned fast and
she said "Wow. You're solid". I can pack those cellulite cells real tight. Even at this weight I wear between a men's 34-36 or a ladies
14-16.