6 weeks to go...and feeling awful

[Gemi33]

Hi all

I am feeling so down and panicking a bit today. I have put on a lot of weight over the last couple of years. The main reason for it was medication for a long term medical condition which I have now come off (hopefully it will stay that way). At the start of the year I booked a holiday, my first holiday abroad in over a decade and at the time I was coming off the medication – however it didn’t last and I then got ill and ended up on even higher doses until a few weeks ago. As a result I am now huge, by far the biggest I have ever been. I have lost count of how many times I have been on here or ‘started again’ but after a really rubbish year I am finding it really difficult to get motivated and feel so down about it.

At this point I am dreading the holiday. I feel and look horrible and the friend I am going with is tiny. I have hardly any clothes that fit and anything I try on looks horrible. I go away 6 weeks on Saturday and now I am just feeling like it’s too late to make a difference and I’m so embarrassed that I look so awful. I tried exante because but the products did not agree with me and made me sick. I know I obviously can’t lose all the weight in that time but is there anything I can do to make much of a

xx

You poor thing!

Sounds like your confidence has been well and truly shot to pieces. I've been where you are. I was slim until I developed a chronic health condition which necessitated medication which puffed me up and I couldn't exercise and piled it on.

Now, please don't do anything crazy like starvation diets. You will only undermine your health.

I would join a slimming club. Yes, there's only six weeks to go but the fastest weight loss usually happens in the first few weeks anyway and then slows down when you are on a diet. So how about it? Pick one that sounds good to you WeightWatchers/Slimming World/whatever and GO!

The confidence you get from tackling your issues head-on along with the initial weight loss (a lot of bloat can go in a few weeks) will really help. Plus, you'll learn about healthy eating and portion sizes. These clubs have tips on handling eating out and holidays. Handy for your trip! Heck, you might even LOSE weight on holiday! I have before...

Join that slimming club, treat the holiday as a new start sort of like a health farm idea (lots of walking, eating fresh fruit 'n' veg, the odd treat). Rejuvenate yourself and start life again.

I wish you all good luck, OP!

Sometimes the pressure of feeling you have to lose weight is the very thing which makes us eat more. Why don't you aim to stay the same and see what happens for 2 or 3 weeks. I have done all this starting on Monday and eating enough for four people over the week-end. Just aim to drink more water and walk more and stop being so tough on yourself.

Good Luck and have a fantastic holiday

Thank you both for such lovely replies. KathDayKnight50 thank you for such kind advice, feeling so down and it makes such a difference when someone is so understanding. FiveShelties - what you said about the pressure of needing to lose weight is so true, I've always thought it's just me that feels like that. People always say it helps to have a goal in mind or an event to lose weight for but somehow the pressure always has the opposite effect on me! I have looked into Weight Watchers before but found it difficult to get to meetings because of work, I do have the magazines and information though so could give it a try without meetings. Thanks again,

xx

I agree with FiveShelties about pressure. When I felt pressure to hurry up and lose the weight ASAP, it made me nervous and hungry! It was only when I relaxed and followed a plan and stopped jumping on and off scales at home in desperation that the weight finally did start shifting. I needed patience - something I am not known for

Glad our advice helped you, Gemi33 you really will be able to sort this. I wonder if there is another diet club better suited to your timetable? If not, there are some terrific online clubs available now - quite interactive.

I agree that a target can be a lot of pressure, I only manage to lose weight when the pressure is off! Rather than actually dieting, could you use the next 6 weeks to try to be more active and to eat a bit more healthily. Is there any food in particular that you eat a lot of that you could cut out? Any positive steps will help you to feel and look better and you might find that a few pounds drop off in the process!