MUST do it. Not want, not should. MUST.

[Stella]

So after my breakdown involving 35 sweaters and a whole lot more tears in the Marshall's dressing room and the fact that it was the third time in a week I've started crying while getting dressed, it is no longer an option to lose weight. I've gained 25 lbs in less than two years and I just can't take it anymore. I MUST MUST MUST lose the weight. I am a bad image of the real me and I don't feel like myself anymore. I feel like a ghost of myself, a padded up ghost. I can't wear my clothes anymore. My fat jeans don't button. Even a lot of my underwear don't fit. Not to mention all my cute fitted blazers. I don't want to accept this "new" body and I shouldn't. I don't have to. I just have to work - lots of sweat and tears and no more bread and cream sauces. At least for a while.

MUST GET SKINNY.

:happyscale: :wee: :exercise: :waiting: igout: :sadscale: :mmm: :guilty: :banghead:

I'm kinda full of mixed emotions.



(And please, don't tell me how skinny I am. Body issues affect everyone and I am technically overweight for my height, so please - if you're going to tell me I don't need to work out, I appreciate the sentiment, but what I need is a good kick in the ass. I'm not skinny and it's not okay and it's not me "getting older." It's me being lazy and eating french fries and eating because I'm depressed. I don't feel pretty, toned, energetic, or sexy. I used to. I want it back and I need it back. I'm embarrassed that I've let it get this far.)

[MDPhDWife]

Re: MUST do it. Not want, not should. MUST.

:therethere: I can totally relate to what you're going through. I too have recently gotten off track with my lifestyle changes I'm trying to make. I need a buddy to kick me in the ass too, so if I kick your ass will you please kick mine? :sadscale:

[Stella]

Re: MUST do it. Not want, not should. MUST.

I WOULD LOVE TO!

[MissCrabette]

Re: MUST do it. Not want, not should. MUST.

Hey, can I be your buddy too? I know how it feels when you don't fit into your old clothes anymore and you realize you need to do something about it.

I don't need to lose any weight but I need to tone up and gain some muscle. I've been sitting on my flabby butt for way too long and it's time I changed that. Right now I'm working on increasing my daily steps and I am ashamed to say how little I walk. I'm doing an indoor walking program (Leslie Sansone) five times a week because it's so darn hot outside. Then I get to work on my abs, arms, and butt (Tamilee Webb's "I want that body") three times a week each.

OK, I'm rambling but what I was trying to say is that I need a buddy to keep me motivated. We can do it! :wee:

[Stella]

Re: MUST do it. Not want, not should. MUST.

Yay! I love this! It is SO motivating to know that I'm going to have some support. I think we should each make a ticker with our weight loss goals (or work out goals or however you want to measure it!) so we can let each other know about our progress.

Thanks guys! :grouphug:

[Stella]

Re: MUST do it. Not want, not should. MUST.

Here's mine!

[MissCrabette]

Re: MUST do it. Not want, not should. MUST.

Well, since I can't make a ticker for my situation, I'll just post regular updates. Today's my day off from walking and I'm scheduled to work on arms and abs. :exercise:
This is really exciting! Checking a little box works great for keeping track of workouts but isn't all that motivating.

[GrayMatterWife]

Re: MUST do it. Not want, not should. MUST.

MUST GET SKINNY.

(And please, don't tell me how skinny I am. Body issues affect everyone and I am technically overweight for my height, so please - if you're going to tell me I don't need to work out, I appreciate the sentiment, but what I need is a good kick in the ass. I'm not skinny and it's not okay and it's not me "getting older."

You may be technically overweight...or you may be OK but just heavier than what you'd like. I have no idea and I won't belittle your concerns by pretending they aren't valid. But, for whatever it's worth, I think you should change your focus: what you should get really serious about is getting HEALTHY, not skinny. Skinny is for 13 year old girls and anorexic models strung out on smack. Healthy is way more attractive and better for your mental well-being.

Don't even get on the scale as you begin. Throw out your scale. Work on lowering "junk" caloric intake, building muscle mass, getting limber, and building cardio stamina. Just make a commitment to improve your health. You sound like your weight gain is really bothering you, both physically and emotionally! As your body shape improves, you'll find you're sexy and your old self, regardless of how much weight you've lost (bearing in mind that muscle mass weighes more than comparable fat mass).

[Stella]

Re: MUST do it. Not want, not should. MUST.

MUST GET SKINNY.

(And please, don't tell me how skinny I am. Body issues affect everyone and I am technically overweight for my height, so please - if you're going to tell me I don't need to work out, I appreciate the sentiment, but what I need is a good kick in the ass. I'm not skinny and it's not okay and it's not me "getting older."

You may be technically overweight...or you may be OK but just heavier than what you'd like. I have no idea and I won't belittle your concerns by pretending they aren't valid. But, for whatever it's worth, I think you should change your focus: what you should get really serious about is getting HEALTHY, not skinny. Skinny is for 13 year old girls and anorexic models strung out on smack. Healthy is way more attractive and better for your mental well-being.

Don't even get on the scale as you begin. Throw out your scale. Work on lowering "junk" caloric intake, building muscle mass, getting limber, and building cardio stamina. Just make a commitment to improve your health. You sound like your weight gain is really bothering you, both physically and emotionally! As your body shape improves, you'll find you're sexy and your old self, regardless of how much weight you've lost (bearing in mind that muscle mass weighes more than comparable fat mass).

Yep, I think about it that way too. But the clothes issues have added skinny to the list of adjectives like healthy, lean, strong, and limber.

If I didn't know what weight felt good and looked good on me, I'd say just "get healthy." But I know my ideal perfect healthy weight, with muscle mass, and that's my target, not to be 85 lbs. It's realistic and takes muscle mass into consideration.

My base muscle mass from high school/college is probably why I only gained 25 lbs! I used to work out three hours a day and lift weights and then my muscle memory was so good that it was a snap for me to get in shape again. This time around, not so much. Of course, the sprained ankle still isn't helping.

Anyway, thanks for the advice. I'm not going ano or anything - don't worry. I got both ends of the spectrum covered now. Besides, I was the one who said we ought to change the name of this forum.

[houseelf]

Re: MUST do it. Not want, not should. MUST.

I agree with Abigail. I can never commit to getting to X pounds. You can commit to working out damn hard five days a week and writing down absolutely everything. Try to make a goal of what you CAN control.

Kelly

[Bittersweet]

Re: MUST do it. Not want, not should. MUST.

I sadly so know how you feel. Food has become my default - I eat when I'm sad, happy, bored, etc. It has taken its toll. I realized I hit bottom while begging a friend to remove a picture that shows my whole body from her facebook profile. So, if you need yet another buddy consider me there. I'll add a ticker if I can figure out how.

[Stella]

Re: MUST do it. Not want, not should. MUST.

I've been eating much better and I think I can feel it too. I haven't been working out hard core (still only so much you can do with a sprained ankle!) but I've been doing crunches and arm weights when I can and this morning and I did my pilates DVD. We were both hurting! haha. Soooo... I'll weigh myself tomorrow morning and see if there have been any changes! Yay!

[MissCrabette]

Re: MUST do it. Not want, not should. MUST.

Good for you, Stella. Small steps are good.

I've been a little bad about doing my workouts until today. I have an excuse but still... Today I did the walk and I'll be doing the ab workout later this evening.

[Stella]

Re: MUST do it. Not want, not should. MUST.

Well, needless to say, that didn't last long with the ankle and everything. I actually gained two pounds after that...

Earlier this month, I joined the med school gym. SO is allowed a guest for $15 a month on a semester by semester basis, and so far - so good! I mean, not great, but good.

I've gone to the gym 5 or 6 times in the past two and a half weeks and I've been trying to eat better without following any crazy diets. I have lost 2.5 lbs so far! Yay! I'm finally under 150 (barely..haha) and I'm really glad. I hope I can continue to lose the weight over the holidays. To me, that will be a great accomplishment even if it is only a couple of pounds at a time.

Yay! On my way to skinny-town.

[moonlight]

Re: MUST do it. Not want, not should. MUST.

That had to be really hard with a bum ankle! So glad to hear you are back in the gym! And I so love how you call it skinny town! made me LOL!