This is and isn't to do with with my weight loss journey. I was signed up for Culinary Arts- Chef Training at the local community college, but the deadline for paying is on Dec 3rd, I have not yet paid. I am now having serious concerns about doing this. I just feel like I can't.
I'm trying to figure out how to explain this. I'm thinking, I'd rather take this year to focus on my weight loss, and crafts (I am going to try to sell some things on etsy). Embarking on a career based in food does not seem like a good idea, even though I love to cook, I won't have choice over what I am cooking with the program, and in the future (unless I start my own business).
I am currently on a disability pension, due to migraines, depression, and weight is an issue with it too), I have never worked, except for babysitting and volunteering, and home care for my grandmother.
Getting a job is a big issue for me. I want one, but everywhere I apply I never get a call back for. I just feel really lost right now. I am planning on moving to the US in a couple of years, but I need a work resume to be able to get a job once I am able to work there.

Sorry to throw so much at you.

Hey!

There is nothing wrong with rethinking what you're doing. I agree that perhaps a school program focused on food might not be the right thing right now if you want to lose weight. I'd say there's nothing wrong with taking a year to lose more weight, if you can do that. Lots of folks would love to have that option!

Presumably the opportunity to go into that program will still be there in a year--and by then you can reevaluate.

So--look at it as a year's commitment you are making to yourself and your health!

Jay

Sorry to hear you aren't feeling well. I would say for jobs it's not you it's the world today- seems like everyone is having a hard time

As for school maybe put that aside right now or do something else? You take care of your grandmother- why not look for a job in that sort of industry and look into schooling in that industry.

thanks for your support. It's great to see others points of view on things. I'm going to be working on my resume, I'll be away for christmas but I will work on my plan while I'm gone.

This past year I have been very blessed to have found someone that can run my business on a daily basis. With this in mind, I am doing much of my work from home...where it is quiet and I get few distractions. This has been wonderful for focusing on my eating, thoughts, exercising...so much... I am one of those very busy people that multi-task and is like the energizer bunny BUT not in a good way. If that makes sense. If you have the opportunity to take the next year and have your body, mind & spirit be your MAIN FOCUS....go 4 it! We have one life... be good 2 yourself!

With peace, Cathy

Hi CanadianCutie - I remember you from your other thread, I'm glad that worked out!

It seems as though you have already recognized the problem with the food-based industry. I think for that type of culinary stuff, you will be working with a lot of cream and sugar...if you like to cook, you may instead want to be creative and do some internet research and develop some healthy alternatives...you could even develop some low-carb, low-fat, or no-sugar recipes for 3FC users and share them here! I'd love that! I think a lot of people have recipes they would love help converting from "not diet friendly" to "diet friendly" - you might even be able to publish a cook book or web site if you got good at it.

And, I think you're right - working in a haute-cuisine kitchen, the temptation would be so high...well, and you'd always have to be taste testing anyway, especially if you are learning, because tasting is how you learn.

For home-care, if you are planning on relocating to the US, you may want to see if any Canadian licensing will carry over to US. The only thing I can think of offhand would be an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) or RN (Registered Nurse), or maybe basic first aid/CPR certification. I think most other certifications wouldn't be very transferable (but I may be in error not having anything to do with the field of home care).

Taking care of your health is first. I had a breakthrough in this, my second year of graduate school (studying to be a pastor). I was 100 pounds overweight, getting nearly perfect grades. Why, was I so concerned about getting everyone else "to heaven" when I was running myself into the grave in the process? How could I get such good grades and be such a good wife and such a good student minister and friend and mom and everything else and so competent everywhere else and then in this one way be literally killing myself?

Cutie, I also get migraines and my new migraine medicine has a wonderful side effect for me of taking away my appetite. I don't know if you are able to talk to your doctor about Topamax but it has been a wonderful help for me, both for the migraines and for my weight loss. It's now available in generic...

a few years back, I had a real desire to seriously go into cake and pastry making. I had that line of thinking, would it be the best idea for me? at around 300 lbs to be around cake and icing and goodies all day as a career? I decided to put the priority on my getting my weight down.

that said, there are new fields of the culinary arts that focus on healthy eating and cooking. if you feel like you have a real passion for it, there's no reason you can't do some research to see if you might want to go in that direction. good luck in whatever you choose.

For me, it's not just the being around the food that would be the issue, it's the looks and comments from others, "look, the fat girl working with food". I know I shouldn't worry what others think, but it's hard not to. As far as the health care end, I wouldn't mind working in the medical/health care field, but in a clerical way, not in a hands on kinda way. The only reason I'm doing it now, is cause it's my grandma. Dementia, and a stroke that left her unable to walk make it very difficult to be there, just seeing a woman that was so independent now so helpless is awful.

omg, have you seen all the heavy people that work around food?? ha. I definitely wouldn't let that be the determining factor.

maybe talking to career counselors at the school might help you make up your mind.

and I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother.

I don't think you should let fear of what others think make this decision for you. If you think that the temptation of being around the food all the time would not derail your efforts at improving your health then I think you should go for it. That said, I would like to switch careers and become a nutritionist and I am scared to start the classes for that until I have gotten all or most of the weight off. I don't have anything to tell you about how to get over the irrational fear, but I wanted to let you know that you are not alone, I have the same type of irrational fear. Good luck sorting out what to do.

My grandaughter wanted to go to cooking school so her father and I researched it. Unfortunately, there are not many jobs except at the lowest levels where the pay is usually minimum wage. If you take some time to look on Monster for such jobs you will see that 5-10 years as a chef is necessary to get a really good job e.g. in Las Vegas at one of the casinos. If you want to work in a high-end restaurant you must go to one of the top schools, but the cost is astronomical, over $100,000. And that does not guarantee you a job. To end up where you want to be you must be prepared to slog it for a lot of years. I did taxes in Scottsdale a couple of years back and saw students from the culinary academy there who had dropped out and were left with thousands in debt. If you are sincerely interested I would take one course at the junior college and see if that is the path you want to take. My son loves cooking and wants to someday start a small cafe; he has the detailed menu all worked out from his years of cooking on his own. What he is missing is the business accumen which he'll have to get up to speed on before he can even think about it. I wish you good luck with your dreams.