I feel fat, lazy and unhealthy.I need to improve myself but just can not get started. How should I begin?

Question

I am 31, overweight (I had Gastric Bypass, but it all came back). I hate to drink water even though I know I should. Instead I drink about 10 cans of Diet Coke per day. I know I should not snack, and I eat a box of triscuits per day, plus other junk food. I quit smoking, but now I am addicted to the Committ Losenge, which probably is not much better. I know I should excercise, but I hate it and can not get motivated. I know if I were reading this and someone else wrote it, I would just think "How about getting off the couch and quit eating?". Somehow, when it is you, it is much harder to do. I just feel like such a mess, I can not even get started and instead just keep getting worse. Just a bad cycle. My question is, what should my first step be? How can I even start? I am just sick and tired of feeling so bad about myself, but at the same time do not have any motivation or will power to do anything about it. Ideas?

Answer 1

Nothing will change unless you make your mind up to change it. It sounds to me that it's not a motivation problem as much as a psychological problem. Consider seeking support, either from a support group like overeaters anonymous or a certified psychologist.

Answer 2

First of all, congatulations on quitting smoking. That is the 1st healthy thing you did for yourself. Pat yourself on the back!

The next important step you have taken is realizing that you need to change your lifestyle. It shows you care about yourself. I don't know how overweight you are, but I'm assuming it is at a point where it is overwhelming since you are having trouble trying to get motivated. Try doing just little things to help yourself feel you are being more active...when you go to the store, park further out in the parking lot so you have to walk farther, buy yourself some 5 lb. hand weights and use them while you are watching TV...anything to help you feel you are doing at least something. Eventually, you'll want to do more. A friend of my husbands lost about 70 lbs. by watching what he ate and cutting out sweets 6 days a week, and ate what he wanted the 7th day...maybe not the healthiest, but it worked for him. This way you don't feel as though you're depriving yourself and you have something to look forward to.

You can do it! You HAVE to do it if you want to live a long and healthy life. Get started and stick to it...good luck! Hugs to you:)

Answer 3

Hello 31 I am 45 and can relate to your story and let me assure you that you are not a mess you just need a point in the right direction as I received just a few weeks ago. I promise you (and I don't know you from Adam) that I am here to listen, pray, and support you ... I lost 21 pounds (30 more to go) and 2 1/2 inches in my waist in 30 days on a natural and healthy "No Diet Weight Loss Plan" and this was without any exercise. I say no diet because you do not skip meals, eat special foods, you just eat normal foods. I also stopped drinking sodas and began drinking a "Healthy Energy Drink" that only cost $1.oo per serving. I have been told that you are not suppose to send web links through this service. E-mail or IM me through my profile and I'll send you the web link that changed my health dramatically ... Pastor James

Answer 4

Since you appear overwhelmed, break it down into smaller pieces.

Those 10 cans of diet soda each day are going to send you to an early grave. Try to get by on 6, for now.

Convince yourself every day that it's ok, good, and healthy to feel a little hungry all the time. I equate sex and food; hunger's a good thing, not a bad one.

Your exercise regime has to be more sexual too. Who wouldn't like that?

Take these baby steps and then see what follows once you realize not only are they not bad, but you start to feel better about your situation almost right away.

Answer 5

First, no more diet drinks, here's what they don't tell you, diet sodas, sweeten low etc=lukemia, diet sodas and frankfurters = brain cancer. By the by your hooked on the cola too.Try buying a pack of water, the 8 to 12 oz bottles you'll have to drink them otherwise you'll be throwing away money. Have a regular soda twice a week to satisfy your brains need for food and your sweet tooth.. You are lucky I'm allergic to triscuit.Substitute all your snack junk foods for prepared cut up fruits and vegetables. Put them in different easy access dishes on the kitchen table. Its amazing how you can aquire a taste for fruit and vegetables when there is nothing else to eat. Wean off your lozenges with the fruits and vegetables too. Whenever you get the urge to smoke or lozenge eat the fruit, eat the fruit, and eat the fruit and drink your water until you're satisfied and the urge goes away. Hon its not about not eating, everyone has to eat its about what your eating . On the third day of weaning off your lozenges STAY IN THE HOUSE!! This will be your worst day, have your fruit and vegetables and water ready. Eat and drink until the whining, crying, and cursing stops. After you have weaned off the lozenges. Then you can work on your weight. continue to buy fruits and vegetables and water. Go to a health food store and buy some 'SEA SILVER". Not the GNC type stores . A "STURDEE" type health food store. Take as directed and watch the weight come off. As soon as you start drinking the SEA SILVER you'll have to start exercising because you'll become flabby if you dont. to begin with, remember those exercises we learned in junior high and high school. Start with those and do the stuff you had in high school dance class. If you can't remember these, start playing your cd's and dance for and hour 3 times a week. After you lose all the weight that you want, to maintain your weight, continue with the SEA SILVER and a work out video. I am so sure the SEA SILVER will work. Get back to me with your good results.

Answer 6

Start by promising yourself that you will only drink 2 cans of soda a day. That's it. And throw away your committ losenges. Every time you reach for that box of triscuts, make yourself go for a walk around the block, and then count out the suggestion size of triscuts and have an apple with them.

Personal suggestion-look into your local Curves. I know you said you hate working out, but if you have a good Curves in your area, you will find a supportive staff and other Curves members. Plus, if you actually make a payment into working out, it might motivate you to go. Curves is only half an hour, three times a week. Just look into it. See if it is something that might work for you. Ask if you can try it for a week. Working out will boost your energy level and your confidence about yourself. As you make small steps in the right direction, the bigger steps will get easier.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Find a fun physical activity. I personally love DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) which is a video game and I would play for 30 mins a day (bought the home version).

Also get rid of the soda! I used to hate water too but now I drink tons. It was tough at first (I got bad headaches) but now I only drink soda occasionally and usually find it too sweet. Also, if you can't bring yourself to do the water thing try starting with drinking home-brewed tea (you can add as much sugar as you want, it's not as bad as all the corn syrup in the soda) and carry it around with you in a water bottle.

As for eating, try to eat less at a time. More small meals are better for your metabolism. Try packing snacks like carrots to take with you or have handy around the house. Fruit and Veggie snacks are good.

Answer 8

Get rid of the coke first! That much pop can not be helping. Try flavoring your water with lemon or drink tea. Real sugar is better than artificial! replace the triscuits with something that real doesn't amount to much like carrots or various types of veggies. If it makes it easier buy pre-made veggie trays to have around for a while. Once you start to exercise your body with naturally feel better. Exercise doesn't have to be running or jogging. Walking, jumping rope, riding a bike, dancing all very good things. You're only 31 don't waste your youth and ruin your future health.

You can do it, make yourself, it's worth it! : )

Answer 9

A body at rest tends to stay at rest. That's inertia. Get a treadmill and put it in front of the TV. Then get on it and walk while you are watching a favorite program.

Cut out junk food. Eat fruits and vegetables. Drink V-8 juice instead if Diet Coke. You'll get used to it. Other than that, eat what you've always eaten, but less of it.

Answer 10

diet coke is loaded with harmful chemicals. on myth busters i saw a violent reaction when mentos candies were added to diet coke. all of the co2 gas exploded out of the coke. imagine what it must do to your insides. drink more water. eat more balanced healthy meals... don't starve yourself.

Have you thought about conseling? You may suffer from a lack of self esteem. Sometimes you can't wait for the ship to come in... you have to swim out to it. Try to associate with positive people. Keep a journal of your thoughts before you go to bed at night. You mentioned addiction. I think you may suffer from codependcey as well. Lot's of people have a problem like that which becomes a socially acceptable drunk. Society for some reason doesn't condone those codepends as harshly as other addicts. Forgive me if I'm sounding a little course. There is a book called "codependant no more" which I found helpful myself. don't compare yourself to other people because it will take away your motivation. only compare yourself to where you were yesterday. try to collect metric so you can monitor your progress. it's best to eat 4 or 5 small meals (good food like chicken, vegetables, rice/potato, and salad). keep away from sugar. sugar causes your metabolism to slow down which means your not going to burn calories. don't starve yourself... that is why you should eat more small healthy meals and less big meals. But, I don't know about a gastric bypass. You should get medical advice before you make dietary changes. for exercise i'd stick to daily walking for a month or so. Gradually, build up your walks so that you can do a couple of miles in 30 minutes to an hour. keep track to measure your progress. you'll feel better about yourself after you walk. eventurally lifting weights could be added to your training as this further increase the burning of calories. In your situation, I think you have to escalate the importance of you health in your mind. You must make these small steps soon. Set goals and take action. Imagine yourself like a skier would before he goes down the slopes. you can do it. positive visualization is very important. find a way to make your walks fun. if you have the time, you could volunteer to help someone else. if you dwell too much on your problems that is all you'll ever see. have faith. don't give up. you can do it.

Answer 11

Congratulations on quiting smoking :) The first thing you need to do is change your surroundings! put that T.V. in the garage and forget about it. you won't miss it I promise. The next thing you should do is get rid of the unhealthy food in your cupboards, kiss the diet coke goodbye and toss it! Now its time to go shopping. I love shopping at whole foods, or eastern market because all the food they sell is organic and all natural. Healthy food doesn't have to mean bad food, try new things, look up gourmet recipes and try to find healthy beverages you like, like white tea, soy milk or juice.
The next thing you should do is find a hobby that you like! it can be anything, just something that gets u up and motivated, even if its just painting the living room. do something spontaneous, like have a spa day, or go rock wall climbing. not all exercise is sweating it at a gym! find an activity that you like to do, like a sport, yoga or even just walking.
life's an adventure! find what you love to do, and do it! and its always best to remember small goals, always keep our dreams within our reach and success only a step away :)
hope this helps.