Depression and Weight IssuesHave you been diagnosed with depression, are possibly on depression medication, and find it affects your weight loss efforts? Post here for support!
here I am again, obese and unmotivated but I KNOW I need to do something starting today. Different place in life though from the last time I lost weight. I'm 50, a new empty nester, hubby is annoying, and I have no direction yet. the same is my job, my house, my pets, and overweight again. This new start has been in the long time making. Been feeling fat and very low self esteem for about a year now. This summer, not working has brought it all to a head (I'm a 30 year veteran teacher) I go no where, dress in moomoos, and eat ****. Obviously no interest in any form of exercise. Until this past week. I started thinking seriously about what I need to do to change my thoughts. Depression has always been a part of my life, take meds so I know this will help if I help myself. I also need to keep these changes etc to myself in the real life - no telling hubby or friends what I am doing - this is extra pressure and then I feel worse when I screw up or fail - learned that the hard way. Anyways I started eating healthier foods along with the junk food. I think I am ready to try the healthy food -alone- that I like this week. Its always been in the fridge just never ate it. I have so much time on my hands I have to try some form of movement, sitting around playing on computer, etc while smoking cigs is just making me feel disguisted with myself. Though I do management to do one major chore a day and keep up on housework. I also take naps everyday. That I know is from no energy and being depressed over what I have let myself become. Hopefully that will stop once I go back to work. The thing that makes me feel the worse is I can see it in people's eyes how they are put off by what I look like - I know it is probably mostly in my own head, but people can be cruel so I know it happens.So here will be the real me, I am really hoping venting and talking gives me the strength to make goals for myself to lose weight and start feeling better about who I am. I sound shallow talking about what my body looks like but this is where I am right now. And that's not going to change unless I start doing something about it. I really do want to be happy and carefree. Yet, I am realistic I know its not going to happen overnight or with somebody telling me I am just right....I have got to do some work with myself.
You have come to the right place! I suggest you join the Ups and Downs group - a group of women fighting weight and depression and helping each other through.
I have used exercise to help lose weight, tone up, and especially to help with my depression. It works for me. I have not been on meds in more than a year, and I am very happy with how I feel at this point in time. I have gone from no exercise at all to at least an hour six mornings a week. I started with swimming- then added walking, a few machines in the gym, a combination. If there is a YMCA near you, you might want to try it out. I am 63 years old and look and feel better than I have in years.
I know exactly how you feel about thinking people are looking at you with pity - been there, done that.
I think your naps might be part of the depression - another thing I have done.
So, my advice is get moving - walk, swim, join a water aerobics class, try chair yoga - do SOMETHING. It will really help. Once you get the good feeling from exercise,you will want to watch your diet. And, as you know, it is a domino effect. Once you start to lose, you are encouraged to diet, you lose more, get more encouraged, etc.
well I didn't do as bad as I thought I would yesterday....though the little Debbie snacks have to go. woke up today with a splitting headache, didn't sleep well last night. thank you menopause. headache gone now. just had special k and some greek yougart. hubby got me something that looks exactly like cauliflower but it is green. what is it? I decided I was going to try POKEMON Go to see if that gets me moving...I can see why it is addicting....pouring rain here ...so I am going to have to wait to try it out. I have this narcasstic on and off again friend...we have been off for awhile...I got a text last night about why I am so mean. for the very first time in 10 years I just didn't want to bother dealing with it. this morning I just texted I don't want to deal with it anymore - not anything different from what I said before. the difference comes with how I feel inside - I really feel no interest in reconnecting.tomorrow my mom has been dead 2 years...this makes me so sad....well regretful....thinking I could of made more of an effort to know her better....everybody loved her...she was lovable. feeling restless today. all my chores are done, even the ones I created. I probably will be back on later, these days I have no one to talk to.
As I read these posts I couldn't help but see myself in so much of it. I am 51. In 2011 I weighed 195 and felt amazing! I am 5' 8" so 195 is actually okay for me. I was a size 12/14. I had left my husband of 22 years with whom I had had a pathetic miserable marriage. I became very very happy with a man 12 years older than me. After 6 months I returned to my husband because of our son who had stopped talking to me. I got big again. Topped off at 292 within a matter of about 2 years. I know about the looks of pity. I know about depression...have lived it most of my life as well. However, I know how amazing I felt just 5 years ago and I am determined to get back to that.
Anyways, this is supposed to be about weight loss...years ago I had done the original WW points system and did well on it, didn't have much to lose back then but I knew it worked because I could eat ANYTHING I wanted, just had to count the points. Also, I never felt deprived on it because I could eat ANYTHING I wanted so long as I could count the points. That plan is no longer available thru WW, but there is tons of stuff online. The main thing you need is to find "how many points can I have on the old weight watchers plan" and the "old weight watchers calculator" (which you input the calories, fat, fiber and it gives you how many points that food/drink is) and "old weight watchers food list" in which they have already calculated the points in many foods.
I began last Tuesday morning and as of this morning was down 6.2 lbs. I have gone out to eat 3 times. It's the kind of plan that nobody has to know you are doing anything because you are eating normal food and what you want. I have a skinny cow ice cream sandwich everyday 2 or 3 points depending on which one you buy. I also have Izze soda everyday which is 2 points (not super sweet). You learn the points of foods you regularly eat and it is so doable. I know a Tbsp of butter is 3, yes REAL butter. LOL I know the bread I buy is 2 points a slice. Right now I am allowed 31 points a day. I do not exercise, yet. I am too miserable this big to exercise. When I get 20-40 lbs off I will think about exercising again.
I wish you the best. If you need me just "holla".
Last edited by EMERALDberry; 07-25-2016 at 12:44 PM.
oh wow... thank you for reading... I thought that I have problems but reading your posts made me understand that there are people suffering much more than I do... Not sure why but this kinda gives me strengths to fight more and more now... I'm sorry so much for you. I hope that you're going to get well!
I have hit rock bottom, again
