[Darapsych]

I am 47. I am now 220 lbs. I am disgusted with myself and can't seem to lose weight. In fact, when I try to lose weight, I gain more! I have had eating issues since college... tried the purge thing but it never worked- I never lost enough that way. I have yoyoed up and down weight wise for all of my adult life.
I have gained steadily over the last 10 years from 135 lbs. I was once 109 (too thin but loved it) back in 1996 from Phen/Fen. Phen/Fen helped me not think of food and obsess about it. I ate because I was hungry. I ate to live and now I live to eat as trite as it sounds. Had to go off the drugs of course once Fenfluramine was pulled. I try to exercise but it is sooo much harder now than when I was lower weight. Fat gets in the way. I am married to a wonderful man, have an awesome teenage son, two cute doggies... but still once I start eating I don't want to stop.
I don't really have a question... just wanted to put it out here and see if anyone else feels this way or knows a new diet pill (LOL). This is scary to write all this... but feels safer then other places.

[NoLeafClover]

Well i do understand how you feel. I am a major binger. Some people get upset and loose there appetite but when i get upset(which is alot) or even when i'm content I allway feel the need to eat. It makes me intensily happy in that moment and then ofcourse I feel like crap after im finished. Its an obsession with me as it is for you. I was Bulimic for 10 years. A few months ago i stopped purging but continued binging and packed on 30lbs,and i was a normal weight to start with. So now I'm over weight. Before my ED got bad i was 20lbs less than that so my ED is responsible for taking me from underweight to now 60lbs over what i should be. I never tried Phen Phen because it was not available at the time but i used xendrine with ephedrine a few years back and almost lost the entire 60lbs,but once they pulled that off the shelves it packed back on. Yo-Yo indeeed. Anyways,sorry about the babble. If you ever wanna talk just PM me. :-)

[amante]

Dara,
I'm walking in your shoes too. It's a rollercoaster, the binging, the purging, the low self image, the trying to diet but can't make it through breakfast any given day. I have no willpower to lose weight. I love to eat and love food period, I love all the bad stuff and will not constrict myself at all. An ED and having a life where food is the total comfort sucks. I have a very large plateful of stress in our lives currently, and I just cannot stick to anything. I am 5.3 and weigh 238Ibs. Obese, my belly hangs over and is disgusting, I wear size 22 clothes, I know people stare at my weight and comment when in public places. but at the same time I don't have the drive or willpower to change my eating habits, I even have 3 young boys that I should be losing the weight for and I'm not. I had a surgery that was botched by the doctor in the OR, and suffered with mentally disabling conditions afterwards, I'm on depression meds and sleep meds and I've gained 40 Ibs since the surgery 3 years ago. I just feel so fat and unhealthy. Even my 6 year old comments on my bum and belly being so large. how do you try and motivate?

[ChipmunkGal]

Dara - I'm glad you feel safe here. You are safe here! I know how you feel. I felt the EXACT same way you do. Hang in there and don't give up! I know you can lose weight....naturally without surgery or medication. It's difficult and takes an extreme amount of determination but I know YOU can do it! I'm not just saying this. I know YOU can do it because I did it myself. I'm 5'3" and I used to weigh close to 280lbs......I'm now down to a fluctuating weight of 129-131lbs. Im not an expert of anything but I'd suggest a few things to help you start out:

1-Buy and read the book called "Abs Diet". It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle changing revolving around "power foods" and solid fitness advice.
2-Buy and read the book "Embracing my big fat *****". It's a lifesaver! I still read it today. In fact, I was just flipping through it a few days ago.
3-Try to incorporate exercise in your life whenever you can. Purposely park further away from the door, never take the elevator but instead use the stairs, take a walk during your lunch breaks. I know these things sound pointless but EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.
4-This is the BEST advice that I have....this sounds like it could be false but believe me it's true. The best way to lose fat is to ADD MUSCLE. I SWEAR THIS IS TRUE. You can google this and research it yourself. MUSCLE BURNS FAT. As you increase your muscle mass, it makes your body work A LOT harder to keep it. When you eat, your muscles demand the calories FIRST in order to quote "stay alive" so you are less likely to gain fat because your muscles will be "eating up" your calories. Now it's not that easy to add on muscle mass without joining a gym BUT you can still do it if you are creative. There are types of exercises called "body weight" exercises that you can do at home in your bedroom or living room. These will include squats, lunges, dips, push ups, crunches, leg lifts, leg extensions, squat thrusts etc. You can check out Youtube and search for examples of these.

I have so much to say about this topic! I'm not a personal trainer and again I'm no expert but the "tips" that I'm giving you have worked for me. I've spent A LOT of time researching, reading, testing these techniques out. I will post again with links for you.

Hang in there and email me if you want to talk about this more!

All the best,
Melissa

[amante]

Melissa,
that is great of you to post the support for us here. Congrats on your great weight loss. that is so inspiring.

Hi Dara,
I'm in the same boat as you and the rest of the posters. It is an endless struggle to lose weight. The only time I was successful was in 2005 when I lost 70lbs. in 6 months but gained it back a couple years later. I lost it on the Atkins diet. Although I lost it on the Atkins diet I had no idea of all the negative things others were saying about that diet. It was just recently that I am hearing all the negative info on how unhealthy it supposedly is. I actually started it again 2 days ago but will work closely with my doctor so he can keep an eye on things. I just hope these negative things are not all true. Even day 2 has been a struggle. My wife has potato chips and doughnuts all over the house but I am resisting. I hope I have the strength to get through the induction plase which last 2 weeks.

Anyway, please don't give up. I hope that each and everyone of us finds what works for best and gets the strength to follow through. Peace - Dennis

Originally Posted by Darapsych

I am 47. I am now 220 lbs. I am disgusted with myself and can't seem to lose weight.