Hi everyone,

This is my first time posting here. I am in my twenties and have pretty much been overweight for most of my life. This last November my aunt lent me her WW books and I started following them at home along with my fiance. We did pretty good. I lost 20lbs and he lost 10lbs. Then he stopped following it basically because he didn't want to put in the effort. That was fine. I kept at it until he started working opposite hours than me and I started spending most of my time alone. Since then I gained back all twenty lbs and four extra ones on top of it. Every week I say I'm going to get back into it and I do good when someone else is here with me but as soon as I start to feel a little bored or a little lonely I eat. I know I have this problem and I try to contorl it but then I let it control me. Its really frustrating. Its hard to care when I'm lonely. Food has always been the one friend that is always there for me. But it can't really be a friend when I keep adding on the pounds. I know you're all probably thinking that I should go out and get a life, stop feeling sorry for myself and so on. I would but we don't have any extra money to be joining any teams or clubs or anything. I have a few good friends here but everyone is always so busy and no one's schedules ever seem to match. Its very Frustrating. I thought maybe I could come here and meet some people who might help me to stay motivated. Maybe if I have something to do, like find out what's going on here, I won't spend so much time feeling alone and eating. I hope this post doesn't sound too much like a downer because I don't want to bring anyone else down with me. What else can I tell you about me that might cheer things up? I am a massage therapist. I am getting married to the most wonerful man in June. I have two brothers, one a year younger than me and one seventeen years younger. I like to read, watch movies, cook, walk, and socialize. I can't think of anything else right now. Hope to hear from you all soon.

Hi, we're glad you found us. Someone is always here and there is always someone to offer suggestions and help.

I can understand that you eat when you are lonely, but does it make you any less lonely? I can appreciate money being tight, been there my self. Do you have any hobbies? How about getting books from the library or volunteering your time somewhere? It's hard when your partner doesn't want to follow program, but most men will eat what you give them so you can sneak it in on him. My husband would never eat a meat replacement product, but I give him soy crumbles all the time in casseroles and he can't tell the difference.

I learned to knit, crochet, embrodrier and quilt to keep my hands busy and out of the food. When I want to eat and it isn't an appropriate time, I try drinking a glass of water and then waiting 15 minutes. I tell myself if I still want to eat, then I can. Do you have veggies in the fridge already cut up and ready to eat? Fruit available? Keep the junk food out of the house.

You can do this!

Hi Quilter,

My hobbies include reading, cross-stitching, movie watching, and cooking. I do try to fill the time doing these things but it gets a little monotonous. As for volunteering, I would love to do that but right now we don't have a vehicle so it makes it hard to do anything out of our neighbourhood. As for snacks, I keep raw veggies in the fridge all the time-I chop them as soon as I bring them home from the store. We don't buy snacks that are unhealthy-only things like ff minirice cakes and low fat granola bars. When I am eating out of boredom or loneliness none of htese things appeal, so I make something and usually eat way more than I should. I know I can do this. I am glad I can come here and hash it over with people who go through the same things. Thanks for listening.

Rhubarb,

I can understand eating out of loneliness. I've done that a few times myself! (Also eaten out of anger, frustration, depression... gee, I guess you can say I am a true emotional eater!) It IS hard to deal with. and boy, do I understand losing weight, then regaining it back PLUS. I lost 53 lbs a year before I married my husband and over the past 6 years have gained that 53 lbs, PLUS 39 additional pounds. (And I can't even blame that on getting pregnant, as I was at my heaviest before the pregnancy and ended up weighing 1 lb less the day I was induced.)

I have to say though, you do have several positive points in your favor and you need to acknowledge that!!
--#1, you came here for support and encouragement. Many people would just keep on being lonely and eating out of loneliness!

--#2, you already have a habit of having healthy snacks on hand. A lot of people don't have that, and that can be a hard habit to develop!

--#3, you KNOW you can do it! You've lost that weight before, so you know that you can do it.
This is something I try to tell myself too, but when I look at the total amount of weight I need to lose to get back to where I was... well, it gets discouraging. That's why I am breaking it down into 'mini goals'.

I guess the only real advice I can offer is what I am trying to do myself -- keep trying, post here often, and try to look at what you are doing right -- not just what you are doing wrong.

Best of luck!

Tracy
227 / 210 / 200 (first mini goal)

Thanks so much for your encouragement Tracey I'm so glad there are wonderful people here like you I just have to keep focused and try to keep busy. Today is going great so far. I'm back journalling, keeping within my points, and am going to do my Pilates video after supper when it starts to cool off. The other thing that I have going for me is that I LOVE WATER I'm so glad to be here I get instant motivation being here, talking to so many people who are going through the same struggles as me. It gives me energy-and if you all can do it, so can I

oh, I wish I loved water! I used to be real good about drinking it, then fell out of the habit. I tend to have a real sweet tooth which is another one of my failings... (ice tea, colas, etc)

And I am blushing at being called wonderful.

Tracy

Hi,

MY name is Karen, I am also a lonely eater. My husband who is great by all accounts has a real problem with my weight gain. It has been real hard to lose these 25 pounds for the past two years. Everytime I start to watch what I eat, something happens and I eat even more. I hate the way I feel and look, but it is hard to feel good when my husband does not like to touch me because of my weight. I was on phen/fen and now am going through the testing and lawsuit. WW worked when I went to the meetings but now that I am not going I can not seem to lose the weight with just the books. I bought a ab/slider and have yet to start using it on a daily basis.
So, what do we do when we can't help our selves? We go to good people who can understand our problem and support them. Remember to ask yourself way you are eating, do you really need to eat that or that much. Do you like to read? Knit or play cards. Get up and do something has been my motto lately and it is helping some. I hope you can do the same and try to keep busy. Good luck,
Ladybug3

Please check out the Women Helping Women...WW forum. We're from all walks of life, from the USA and Canada...some are young, some are older, some are married, some are single...we even have a few grammas!

Some of us are doing WW at home, others go to meetings and share the info. There are too many of us struggling with the same weight issues for ANYone to be lonely. Drop by and say hello!

Peace

Rhubarb,

Please feel free to jump in on the Weigh In At Home thread. We'd love to have you.

Carla