I’ve become fat and I’m so down

[FFFAAAATTTT]

I have been kidding myself for a long time. But it’s on my mind constantly. I’ve gone up to a size 16 which for my small frame is big. I took this pic of my stomach to try and act as a deterrent to myself. The last two days I’ve acquired a double chin.

I’ve been through a lot (ditching abusive family, suffering from PTSD and body dysmorphia) and I’ve come to rely on chocolate and big bowls of sugary cereal as a pick me up.

What do I do? Smaller portions? I’ve already given up cheese as I’m slowly becoming vegan.

Sorry for a very self-indulgent post. I just feel so shit today.

Typical day’s food:

Fruit
Small amount of granola
Chocolate bar
Tuna salad
Pop chips
Thai curry with rice
Coco pops with sugar

No one looks good at that angle. I don’t think self loathing will help you get to where you want.

Give yourself a break. Cut the carbs. Do some enjoyable exercise.

You'd be better off cutting the many carbs from your diet than the cheese tbh.

You're hardly massive! So you have some stomach fat - it won't be impossible to shift!

Your weight does NOT define your worth!

Ditch the granola (very high in calories, fat and sugar) and the sugar on the coco pops. Make one small change at a time and do NOT put pressure in yourself to change drastic things overnight. You will not succeed.

Could you go for a short walk every day and build up slowly? Get somebody to go with you if possible so the time passes quickly and makes it more enjoyable/less of a chore solely focused on weight because it doesn't need to be!

Remember what I said - weight does not define you and it certainly does not define beauty.

It's just tummy fat you can shift this pretty easily with a few changes in your diet. you need to cut the carbs and sugar:

Fruit - have berries of some kind (strawberries raspberries blackberries blueberries are all good)

Small amount of granola- switch for a Low carb granola- There's plenty of options

Chocolate bar- Ditch this completely but if you have a sweet craving perhaps a couple of squares of dark chocolate occasionally

Tuna salad- good option

Pop chips- no idea what this is, Probably full of carbs suggest to replace with a little bit of cheese or celery and peanut butter

Thai curry with rice- replace the rice with cauliflower rice

Coco pops with sugar- I assume this is a late night snack, try and replace this with berries and fresh cream or some greek yoghurt

It looks like you need to eat more proper food, then the sugary snacks will go automatically.

This is fixable OP. Go into your cupboards this afternoon and get rid of all crappy food. Chocolate, biscuits, crisps, the whole lot, then you can't fall into temptation. Look up some healthy, filling meals (you don't have to be living on salad all the time). Protein is your friend! And GET MOVING. Find a group class, swim some laps, whatever you enjoy doing (and if you can do it with a friend, even better). Walking doesn't really do a lot but it's better than nothing, and I'd avoid running by yourself, as it is demoralising when you begin. All the best, you can do it!

Have you considered a vegetable

Your diet is deficient in them

You look fine

I feel the same way, I can’t seem to shift the baby weight after my second and I’ve lost motivation.

I’m 2 weeks into massively reducing carbs and cutting out sweet treats entirely (with the exception of fresh berries) and I’ve lost 2kg which has helped me to stick at it. Also really upped my water intake which I think has also helped.

Well you have to stop doing yourself down for a start, and anyone will look like they have tummy flab if they slouch and take a photo! Sixe 16 isn't bad, if you want to work on it do, but it doesn't make you a horrid person. Also you can have flabby bloated 16 or tight 16. A couple of days off the junk /booze can make you look more toned regardless of actual size xx

I do work out, I do a 25 minute dance/ kickboxing workout every day without fail. I think it’s food that’s the problem.

Re vegetables, there was loads in the salad and the thai curry- which was vege.

I’m often v constipated as well and covered in spots!

The constipation and skin will probably stop if you low carb/no carb.

Try replacing the evening cereal as a first step. If you are just grazing rather than hungry then maybe salad?

Why vegan? It’s not healthier - lots of substitute have loads of sugar and crap in them.
Just don’t have chocolate in the house.

How old are you op?

I think vegetables and protein is the answer. Shit all carbs.

And certainly don’t beat yourself up about it

Why vegan? It’s not healthier - lots of substitute have loads of sugar and crap in them. Just don’t have chocolate in the house.

You may as well say "why food?" There are different branches of dietary veganism, from junk-food veganism to plant-based. Veganism is about cutting out animal products. It's a lifestyle not a diet.

I agree with not having junk food in the house in the first place. If you're eating properly filling veggie meals, you shouldn't require snacks at all, so begin tracking what you're actually eating on something like MyFitnessPal. You might find you need to up the veg content if you're so hungry you need to snack all the time.

You've developed a double chin over the last 2 days?!

Coco Pops are sweet anyway (and junk) without adding sugar.
Cut out the snacks.

Veg, fruit, more veg
I try and aim for 10 a day (I don't always hit it but usually get 7!)
You can eat a shit load of spinach/mushrooms etc for v few calories

For the constipation, drink more water. I suffer dreadfully when I haven't drunk enough!

From my experience don’t get caught up I. The diet culture - the cutting carbs or fasting or some other fad diet. I have had eating disorders and the weight will always go back on unless you are willing to make this fad you new permanent eating pattern.

Slow and steady does it. Reduce portion sizes, introduce fruit and veg, don’t cut anything out, just reduce the high calorie high fat treats and increase the high nutrient ‘good’ stuff.

Any only eat for you like: don’t punish yourself with healthy food you hate. That won’t last.

I have lost 20lbs since Christmas. Slow and steady. I don’t feel like am starving myself. And have still enjoyed all the food groups - just in moderation.

Good luck!