So embarrassed - too fat for Alton towers

[Anchovies12]

So we booked a couple of days at alton towers with our 3dcs and the first ride I tried to go on (galactica) the overhead restraint wouldn't lock into place and to my absolute horror I had to leave the ride in front of everyone.

Clearly got no one to blame other than myself but a combination of teaching full time, taking venlafaxine for depression and attempting to "stop dieting" has meant a horrendous diet, zero exercise and a weight gain of about 5 stone.

What do I do? I don't want to diet as I am convinced that the diet/binge cycle is not good for me - the minute I feel deprived in any way I feel sorry for myself and can only think about the scales and eating. Yet there is no way I can exercise enough to compensate for what i eat.

Am sat here on my own in alton towers feeling pretty hideous. Haven't let on to my dh/dcs how bad I feel, have just waved them onto every ride while inside I am dying of shame

Venlafaxine is very hard to come off because it has a very short half life. In practical terms that means heavy side effects with even (seemingly) small reductions in dose.

Are you on the slow release (retard) or the standard one?

Since you already eat fresh food, it sounds like portion control is a problem for you. I'm exactly the same. I've tried slimming world and weightwatchers but the thing that has worked for me is calorie counting using my fitness pal. Use the NHS bmi calculator to find out how many calories you should be eating (I go for the middle of the range for most days).
Health unlocked (there's a website and an app) has an amazingly supportive weightloss forum full of people in the same boat.
You will never weigh this much again after today.

I've lost 5st. The last time I was at Alton Towers it was very uncomfortable.

I looked at it as needing a lifestyle change. A lot of my meds increase my appetite. I regularly snack on quark with an options sachet or skinny syrup/fruit and veg.

I changed my breakfasts to porridge or all bran with yoghurt and fruit.

A balanced lunch such as a salad, beans on toast, scrambled egg.

Then a good healthy dinner with lots of veg, a protein and a carb.

I would often eat 4 bags of crisps. I'm lucky to have one bag now a day usually 2-3 days without any.

Diet tends to put a negative in my head. But I have done lifestyle changes and feel much better for it.

Also, the tone of your posts suggest that you may not be ready to stop taking the venlafaxine. I would agree with making an appointment with your gp or seeking therapy of some kind to get to the root of your issues before making big changes.

sorry this happened- I have been there and it's awful.

Join slimming world.

OP, it doesn't sound like it's what you eat that is the problem, but the quantity. Focus on portion sizes. Use MyFitnessPal and log everything religiously. And get a Fitbit or a pedometer app on your phone and try to walk 10,000 steps a day.

I know how complex eating and weight issues can be. Losing weight is all about eating less and moving more at the end of the day, but you need to get yourself in the right headspace to commit to it.

Don't let the way you feel today be for nothing. Use it as your motivation to make some changes in your life.

I have lost almost 3st so far, and what I say to myself about the choices I make along the way to sustain that is I deserve to put myself first and do this!

I put myself first every single time I wave away cake or stay teetotal or add extra veg to dinner or skip pudding. It's a very powerful and proven psychological trick.

On to practical tips:

• I haven't changed what I eat, but the quantities of calorific foods and steady diet swaps. I used to buy 1kg tubs of lurpak light because it just went so quickly. Now I eke out Flora.
• boiled eggs are your snacking friend.
• If you can afford it, a personal trainer is an absolute godsend IF they actually understand your personal challenges and are supportive. Mine first told me not to eat after 6 - my PT session was 5-6, and I was at work before - bah! My current PT is an absolute gem and so motivational.
• remember to switch down your calories as you make progress. I lose about 100cal of my allowance per stone lost.

Hugs OP. In the bright side you can relax rather than feeling horribly dizzy after the rides!
No advice from me but best wishes!

please no sugar shakes, scammy diet clubs or similar nonsense.

The GP to check meds, perhaps some further psychiatric help and information sources that are not trying to sell you anything when it comes to food ideas. The NHS website is quite a good start. You can't out-exercise a bad diet but when you are walking, swimming, dancing or whatever you aren't eating!

the very best to you.

I didn't tell op to stop seeing a Dr. And Lipotrim is not just a shake based diet.

venlafaxine is a bitch to come off - definitely worth getting psychiatrists advice to gradually reduce, whilst beginning something else if you need to. Best to take it as slow as possible. I was basically starving myself and put on a ton of weight.

Am now on Trazadone instead which works well for me, as long as i take it each day on time the side effects are minimal - or only happen at night whilst i'm asleep (mostly dizziness/vertigo drunk like feeling). It's an older drug and not used as often but not sure why.

I’m sorry op but deprived?! I’m healthy weight and I don’t deprive myself to stay that way. I just don’t overindulge. I think you need a better shrink to work out why you are so fat. And it is not being nasty and speaking the truth.

I definitely recommend MyFitnessPal - it's free and it counts your calories for you and makes you more aware of what you're eating (you'll be surprised! Some "healthy" options are worse that "bad" options).
I've struggled for years to lose weight due to a brain tumour and a very underactive thyroid but I lose almost 4 stone in 2016 thanks to MFP.
I fell back into bad habits and regained most of it last year and began to try to lose weight on 5th August - just through calorie-counting through MFP, I've already lost 7lbs in weight and already look and feel noticeably slimmer.
All you do it log your food and drink intake and it tots up the calories for you. I've found if I do my log in the morning, then I don't snack and I think more about what I eat/drink and one day a week I have a day where I can eat and drink whatever I want so I never feel like I'm "dieting" - I've just altered my lifestyle.
Another tip is swop white bread for wholemeal - good luck x

Have a look at Rebelfit. They share your belief about the diet / binge cycle. They have lots of different programmes for different levels of fitness. It's online, and sometimes it's harsh in terms of how advice is given but it is clear and no nonsense.

Mrs Pear - as I understand it the OP is on meds for depression. The psychological issues with eating disorders (over or under eating) are very specialised, in high demand and completely separate to her depression.

There's no harm in the OP discussing her concerns about weight and eating with her GP, but if psychological help is available it will be a completely different route.

Have you looked at the virtual gastric band app?

They seem to have a lot of success.

We were there yesterday, my DH was on the cusp of not being allowed on that ride and I wouldn't say he is that overweight. The restraint things are (by necessity) very tight because of the fact that it tips you, so whilst you might not feel like it, some of the other rides would probably be fine.

Think of it not as a diet, but as making healthier choices, and don't try to change everything at once.

Maybe start with dinners: put only half of the carbs you would on your plate and fill that space with more of the proteins and vegetables. Still a nice full plate but better for you.

Once you get used to that, make another healther choice: if you eat cereal for breakfast, make it porridge instead.
Salad for lunch instead of a sandwich.
Or nuts/dried fruit instead of a chocolate bar.
Start rewarding yourself with non-food treats - a book, nail polish or lipstick.

And so on. Make it about being good to your body rather than forcing it to become different fast. No rush - the kilograms didn't appear suddenly, so it will take time for them to go away too.

And definitely talk to your doctor about venlafaxine.

All the judgemental people are out in force . I would recommend trying slimming world and if you can’t get to a class you can do it on line . It would be a good start . Also if you do still struggle get your thyroid tested . Because contrary to all the know it alls there are other factors ( as proven on a recent television programme) such as genetics and hormones . The good thing with slimming world if you have a large appetite at the moment is that some foods are unlimited .

You feel sorry for yourself when you deprive yourself of shit food? Without sounding harsh, you should feel sorry for your body and the shit you feed it - feed it healthy, nutritious foods, eat slightly less than your bmr requires and you will lose weight without feeling ‘deprived’.

Well you do sound harsh. And like an utter tool. The OP has stated that inside she's dying of shame. Have some fucking compassion, or do fat people not deserve that?

OP, I find MyFitnessPal really good. Don't do anything faddy and my biggest piece of advice is to really look at your portion control, it made a massive difference to me. It won't happen overnight, but you absolutely can and will lose weight if you eat smaller portions and cut down on sugar. I won't say cut out because I still have treats but instead of a double decker I'll have the little sticks of dark chocolate you can get (Lidl are great for them). Good luck OP and don't let anyone make you feel shit about yourself, if you're anything like me you'll have done that yourself.

MrsPear that is nasty actually. Adding ‘it’s just the truth’ afterwards doesn’t mean it’s not.

OP, sounds silly but sending you a hug. Longterm, rather than being on a particular diet, try and make healthy choices, ie a lower calorie treat with coffee, but fruit as a another snack in the day. Salad or mixed veg instead of chips, looking for lower calorie drinks which could work for you, use less spread on sandwiches, limit desserts to fruit or yogurt except on special occasions.

Exercisewise, trying fitting a walk in, either parking further from work or a short walk with a colleague at lunchtime. Be more active at weekends with the DCs, going for a walk, swimming or have a go at someone you've half fancied yourself.

Alongside all of this, talk to your GP. Are there other medication options, can they offer you any support?

Another vote for the MyFitnessPal app - I’ve lost a stone over the last six weeks or so.
I still eat the same food, just less of the sugary stuff!

I used to snack loads at work and eat lots of chocolate after dinner - I cut it down to one snack at work and one chocolatey thing on an evening. I also started weighing my breakfast cereal.

The app really helps you see where you’re going wrong and overeating. Weight loss is just maths!

Oh and depression can be a symptom of underactive thyroid . It does not mean you can’t lose weight but it is harder .

Tulips - have you ever considered a personality transplant? Because you're a dick.

Overeating and eating shit food are 2 different issues. It's 'ignorance' and 'being judgemental' that are closely related.

You obviously know the problem, big portions. So use this shock to deal with it. Buy a smaller plate/bowl and use it for every meal for a month.