This IS RIDICULOUS! I'm FAT AND I GAINED WEIGHT.

Posts: 58
6/9/12 2:22 P

My heart is breaking for you!! I feel the same way most of the time.
YOU MUST LEARN WAYS TO DEAL WITH STRESS first and foremost.
I started meditating ( you can get a book at the library and teach yourself, or get a dvd from Amazon for about $20) and I noticed a big difference in how I feel about myself and that I am valuable.
Also, you can start doing yoga..again start with a "beginner" dvd at home from Amazon or whatever: I weigh 260 lbs and I do beginners yoga. You dont have to be a pretzel. Yoga clears your mind and releases stress like you would not believe. Even one session and you will feel better...no kidding here.
MEGAN0782: Please try this...the stress in your life is your main problem. You wont be able to lose any weight until you take care of YOU. Once you learn effective ways of dealing with the stress you are having, you will fit your "YOU" time in and those lbs will come off..
Good luck lady!

current weight: 257.0

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SparkPoints: (4,371)
Fitness Minutes: (1,132)
Posts: 229
6/6/12 3:51 A

Would you treat your best friend/sister/etc. the way you're treating yourself? No, you would reassure them of their ability to achieve their goals. Do the same for yourself. With me, if I speak it aloud (I know crazy) it helps me get past whatever is blocking me. I also found that when I tried to do a complete LIFE overhaul all at once, I slipped and quit. Make one or two small changes. For example, cut out soda and/or juice/energy drinks/any sugar sweetened beverages. Resolve to move (walk/jump rope/jumping jacks/anything) just 10 min a day or set a goal to eat breakfast every morning. One of these small changes CAN and WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. The only thing standing between us and success is ourselves.

current weight: 192.8

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SparkPoints: (24,914)
Fitness Minutes: (30,680)
Posts: 1,416
6/1/12 5:47 P

You are going to have to be your own support system and do this for yourself. Go back and read what EricaDawn wrote. Pick some small things that you can do this week and today. Get a calendar. Write down specifically what you are going to do: Exercise 10 minutes every day, eat breakfast, have a piece of fruit, whatever you pick. Then check those things off as you do them. Do it every day. Start building good habits. Forgive yourself for your lapses, but ask why they happened and what you can do better next time. Baby steps!

You can do it.

Pounds lost: 17.0

0 4.25 8.5 12.75

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SparkPoints: (5,057)
Fitness Minutes: (15)
Posts: 13
6/1/12 4:48 P

I certainly can identify with what you are saying. I also gained weight. i am trying very hard to just walk 15 minutes a day. Its one small goal and you might find it easier on yourself to start with a small goal and not try to take on so many. Please have faith. You will lose the weight at one pound at a time and we are all here to help you.

Edited by: NURSENANCY11 at: 6/1/2012 (16:49)

Pounds lost: 0.0

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SparkPoints: (1,002)
Fitness Minutes: (1,045)
Posts: 11
6/1/12 2:27 P

If I'm stressed about something or frustrated. I always try to workout very intensely. I find a song that pumps me up and I just go with it. Working out is my stress/frustration reliever, and seriously, my boyfriend even says so himself. Whenever I can't seem to squeeze in a workout of any kind and I'm all mad, he says, "Have you worked out today?" and I'll say no. But whenever I workout my frustrations and stresses, I always feel better.

Pounds lost: 17.8

0 27.75 55.5 83.25

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SparkPoints: (2,004)
Fitness Minutes: (1,580)
Posts: 33
6/1/12 12:55 P

I understand your frustration. Seems like I've been trying to lose 15 pounds FOREVER!! But start with a healthy diet. Protein, fat (good fat that is), and carbs (good carbs) = ENERGY. Then use your energy to get active, even if it's only 10 min a day. And drink plenty of water. Then have faith. ;-)

SparkPoints: (2,428)
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Posts: 80
6/1/12 12:54 P

megan.... stresssssss its a bummer...but gess what?? yu said something yurself ... yu know yu will eat when yur stressed..... the solution... prepare yur stress out fix ahead of time.. save all yur fruits for that moment or have jello. or a wonderful salad... i bet there is something low cal that yu can do... just substitute it for the usual high fat high carb......prepare to win the next battle..sooooo even if yu pig out on healthy alternatives yu winnnnnnnnnn.. goood luck

Pounds lost: 87.0

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SparkPoints: (2,353)
Fitness Minutes: (958)
Posts: 79
6/1/12 12:12 P

Oh my, I understand you. Stress is everywhere! I care for my 2 boys, 1 of which has cerebral palsy AND my 2 elderly parents. Talk about stress. Listen, I've come to find that after ballooning to 202 lbs this year, I needed to be kinder to myself. FOR ME! It's going to make me a better parent and person, overall. Don't fret over the little pounds that creep up. A woman's cycle will add 3-4 lbs or more, a month. It's just water. Ask yourself what your goals are in this journey, and start with baby steps. Please don't be discouraged. Honor yourself with a plan...plans turn into dreams. You can do this and you are not alone. It's not easy. But you're not alone. The weight will not drop off quickly...it takes weeks of excercise and reducing caloric intake. Good luck to you. We support you here, even if you can't find it around you, in life.

current weight: 173.0

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Posts: 8
6/1/12 11:32 A

I agree that you have to be kinder to yourself. I, too, have a very stressful life, unsupportive husband, unfullfilling job, etc. I have been doing the up and down weight loss/gain my entire life. I am at my limit. I logged into Sparkpeople and saw your post, and thought, "I know how she feels". I am an emotional eater and I am very hard on myself. I have done every diet out there, but all in all, to make it work, I know I have to eat less and I have to eat right.

I have written down what I have eaten today. I have my large bottle of water sitting next to me. I have a dozen things to do tonight, but regardless, I am vowing to get at least 15 minutes of exercise in tonight.....just for me! Even if it is just walking up and down the stairs, I will do it. I don't expect support from my husband, so I will log onto this website when I need the push. I owe it to myself and you owe it to yourself. I will do no one any good if I get sick because of stress, bad eating habits, extra weight. It's just not worth it. I'm worth something better. So are you.

Pounds lost: 19.0

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Fitness Minutes: (17,032)
Posts: 1,636
6/1/12 9:38 A

I think a good place to start is to speak more gently to yourself. Would you say those kinds of things about somebody you cared about? You can't mentally beat yourself into weight loss submission. For just a second... take a deep breath and ignore the scale.

Set three simple goals for yourself for this week. Set up a reward for each of those things... Example) I will get in 10 minutes of physical activity everyday this week and when I do I'll buy a new song off iTunes... or whatever. Build some momentum with small non-scale goals.

I understand what you mean about not having too much support at home. I felt like that for a long time too. My husband wasn't taking me seriously and he was still eating junk food and not working out. It felt like an uphill battle. It's still hard a lot of time but I'm the only one who can make choices for me and my body. Guess who's suddenly on the band wagon now that I'm finally losing the weight? Funny how that works out in the end. In the meantime, you have to counter their negativity with positivity of your own. Encourage yourself. Build yourself a support system either with real-life friends or sparkfriends. Blog about your accomplishments, even if they seems small because the people on this website have been where you are and KNOW they aren't small. Good Luck! Can't wait to see your weight-loss ticker start going down!

Pounds lost: 53.2

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Posts: 3
6/1/12 6:07 A

I totally understand! I was down 15lbs then got my monthly friend and gained 10 in a day. (I know it was probably bloating) But its been over a week now and i'm only down 13lbs total. Its sooo frustrating! I, like you, have NO support. Its not easy but you can do it! I feel determined to finally get this weight off no matter how hard it is. I used to wan't the fast results.. If i didn't see a visible difference in the first 2-3 weeks i would just give up. But 10 years of that has got me no where. Now I just literally take it one day at a time and only worry about 10lbs at a time. It has helped me to think that way and not worry about how long it takes to reach my goal. Eventually if I keep on this path, I will get there, and so will you! Remember it took us time to pack it on so its going to take time to get it off. It truly is a lifestyle change, but i do believe it is attainable! Tomorrow is another day, so stay strong and when you feel like you can't. Sparkpeople is hear to help! (I'm here at 3am, otherwise i would be down in the kitchen eating the ice-cream my lovely rommies bought home today!) =) GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!

Edited by: MZAUDREY at: 6/1/2012 (06:10)

Pounds lost: 6.4

0 51.85 103.7 155.55

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SparkPoints: (383)
Fitness Minutes: (499)
Posts: 13
5/31/12 11:10 P

Hang in there. Maybe walk around the block, or even just down the hall and back when you're stressed? Or have something to drink and then see if you still feel like eating. I totally hear you on the eating while stressed! I sometimes split my regular lunch into two or three parts so I know that I can eat, and then eat again, and then again, and its still really only one meal. Sometimes we just have to fake it until we make it...

Pounds lost: 7.8

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Posts: 2
5/31/12 10:58 P

I really get stressed out and confused and I know I turn to food. I try to be positive....i really do. I work 2 jobs and am constantly stressed by family and boyfriend. When I get stressed its like I CANT STOP the impulse to eat....When that happens I have NO control

SparkPoints: (2,247)
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Posts: 23
5/31/12 10:54 P

there are many reasons why we gain weight..eat wrong foods..inactivity..water retention...etc...first we have to pin point what we are doing that is not working..next we have to rid ourselves of all negativity even our own..we cant do this without positive outlooks..remember with ever failure comes eventual success...take it from me i have been on a diet for over 17 years..sometimes i meet my goals sometimes i don't..but i keep trying and that's what really matters..I gain weight ..i lose weight and i keep trying until i find that peaceful place where i am happy with my body..my health and my holistic well-being...nobody's perfect but...what makes us beautiful is our need to try and to try and to try...don't give up keep trying ..until you are at peace!

Pounds lost: 16.0

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5/31/12 10:35 P

I weighed 240 last week and now this week I weigh 244.5 lbs. I'm so fed up I dent know how to start losing this weight and I'm getting so discouraged. I dont have any support at home....just criticism. I need help. I dont feel beautiful. Just fat and disgusting. Somebody show me where to start PLEASE