Quote:
Originally Posted by Esofia
Sometimes I feel like the only person on this forum who isn't on their umpteenth diet! I gained weight relatively recently, and this is my first attempt to lose it. Since so much of dieting is in the head, this probably means that I approach things differently, and that different techniques will work for me than those which are ideal for someone who, say, has been overweight since childhood and is on their thirty-seventh diet. I'm sure there are benefits and disadvantages to both situations, I'm just curious to hear more about this one.
I'll chime in on this one. I was not overweight as a child, probably because that was in the 50's when people ate at home. I had no choice but to eat what my mother prepared or be hungry. She didn't prepare something else for those who didn't like what she was serving. That just wasn't in the budget.
When I "went out into the world" I started to go to restaurants, socializing with my friends, and had money to buy candy and junk food whenever I wanted it. That's when I gained 25 lbs. I went on my first diet at 21. I had no idea about dieting. I knew that junk food was out, but I wasn't aware of what was protein and what was carbohydrade. I just started to eat less. I was still living at my parents, and my mother still put what she wanted on the table with no other options. I started to take a serving of meat, potatoes and veggies and then walk away from the table. Nothing else to eat until breakfast the next day. I also joined an exercise class and went 2 days a week. I lost the 25 lbs and kept it off for awhile. Then, when I would start to gain it back, I started buying diet books. The problem with this was, I started to get information overload. I was trying to combine the best of each diet, and that doesn't work. You can't start the day out doing Low Carb and finish it off with Low Fat. Eventually, I settled in with Low Carb and kept the weight off for 15 years. Enter husband. My husband does not have a weight problem. He loves carbs and sweets. He said to me "You're thin, you can eat whatever you want." Boy did I prove him wrong! I started eating like he did. Fried potatoes, pizza, cakes and cookies. I gained, and gained, and gained. He stayed thin. I've been trying to lose 60 lbs for 20 years. I know what works for me, but I cannot get back in the groove. I have lost 35 lbs in the past couple years, mostly due to illness. Illness that was probably caused by overweight. I will not give up. If that means I have to start diet number 61, then so be it.
From your stats, you don't have a lot to lose. My advice, get it under control NOW. It was always something I was going to do and I brushed off any information that stated that overweight causes health problems. There are lots of overweight people who appear to be healthy. After I turned 50 all **** broke loose! I developed heart disease, and now have been diagnosed with diabetes. I am so angry with myself because this was all avoidable. I know nobody lives forever, but I have put myself in a risky position. I had it under control and I let it go. Don't listen to people who say "You look fine the way you are" or "A little bit of pie won't hurt you." You know what you want to weigh. You know what's healthy for you. You're in charge. When you gain weight, you're the one who has to deal with it, not them.
I know this is long, but you asked! LOL
Carol