With other serious problems to deal with where do I find the willpower to stick to a sensible eating plan.....

Question

Most of my life(with the exception of before pubity)I have ranged between 8.1/2 and 9.1/2 stone.Until I got breast cancer at 52 & had to come off HRT & stop smoking.Hence I put on 3 stone.I then was diagnosed with osteoarthritis as well,& needed a knee replacement.Thank god I was given the all clear last September for the breast cancer & I am walking well on the new knee.But I have had to retire.Apart from the fact that I am 60, I'm not really fit enough with the arthritis to work as a Florist.The trouble is I hate being fat,it really pulls me down physically & emotionally.I have lots of other problems, financial,family,& healthwise,& I just can't seem to get stuck into a good eating plan,although I know from experience that it would make me feel so much better,being fit.I just can't get my willpower back.I'm normally so strong,when I make up my mind,I do it.I'm now nearly l3 stone,hate looking in the mirror,only food & alcohol seem to cheer me,I sleep a lot, to block it all out.Help!!

I know your going to say,until you sort out your other problems,you won't be able to stick to an eating plan, but my other problems aren't solvable,there long term.I've got DVD's on everything to try & make you feel better,diet books galore and even hypnosis tapes, I've joined weight watchers, slimming magazine, but nothing seems to work.Anyone out there got a solution to get rid of this awful fat. My sex life's completely gone out the window,and I don't want to socialize anymore even when I can afford to go.I just hate the way I look, it's making my life hell and me hell to live with.

Answer 1

You have been through a lot but sometimes adversity can be a spur to try and acheive.
You sound depressed, I think your first port of call should be your doctor for a heart to heart. Councelling may well help put you back on track again. If you are depressed you will find it very difficult to apply yourself to losing weight, and you certainly will not lose it whilst you are drinking. Start trying to curb that otherwise you will have yet another problem to deal with.
I have health problem and also was very very heavily overweight. I was diagnosed as diabetic almost 7 months ago and that was the kick I needed to put me right. I am now losing weight and controlling my blood glucose really well. I am using the GI Diet by Rick Gallop and I have lost 5 stone in that time.
So make an appointment with your doctor, it really is the first step...and plese be honest with him about the drinking too;

Answer 2

Well, It all starts with the need and want. Is it what you desire? Take it in baby steps. One step forward at a time.. We all have struggles with eating right. I give you a thumbs up for surviving the things you have gone through.. You have a strong will. I think.. In stride you can do this. I started by adding.. healthy snacks.. Like let's say... instead of chips have a yogurt. Or try raw almonds which are very filling and healthy. Also... if you are a pop drinker such as myself.. replace half of your pop with water.. and then in a week rehalf that intake again till you are having only one a day.. all these lil things add up.. I would not suggest though crash dieting.. Those are always unsuccessful. Never cut anything completely out of your diet.. You will feel deprived and you like me will fail by doing so.. just remember portion sizes. Reward yourself for eating great all week by allowing yourself 2 meals of choice on the weekends.. be it from a restraunt or home cooked.. I keep this in mind.. Food is fuel.. Not fun or comfort.. for some reason it keeps me eating fruits and veggies more often.. I wish you all the luck.. and remember it's gotta be something you want.. Don't do it for anyone else...

Answer 3

O.K., first things first. You've got oodles of will power, but if you sit down and write out a diet plan for yourself, you'll fall off the wagon sooner or later, and then berate yourself (quite wrongly) for lack of will power.

I would suggest that you get yourself some vitamin and mineral supplements, including B vitamins. (Don't overdo the vitamin & mineral supplements, too much is as bad as too little.) Try to get some fruit &/or juices into your diet, to help you get vit C. Natural vit C is safe, artificial vit C in large quantities is associated with cancer. Alcohol tends to burn the vitamin B out of your body, and you need vit B to use your vit C.

Next, you need a good counsellor to help you work through some of the other issues you are going through. It sounds to me as if some of your self esteem was tied up in being between 8 1/2 & 9 1/2 stone, and some more was tied up in your work. It's not easy when these things are ripped away from us by chance. For now, try to trust me when I say that you are a worthwhile human being.

At this stage, don't worry about eating junk, instead, try to add healthy food to your diet.

When you've worked through some of these issues, I think you will find it much easier to stick to a sensible eating plan.

Answer 4

Good grief it's not surprising you have eating issues. Will power shouldn't be necessary to loss weight and maintain that weight loss. The key is to make changes you are happy, enjoy, and can stick with forever. I must have given the same advice 100 times but I still believe it, join Weight Watchers, it is by far the simpliest method to discover what you need to do to make permenant changes to your lifestyle and so achieve long term sucess. Good luck

Answer 5

sorry
u sound like u have lost all hope
thats a crime
fight man
what have u done in life
go out there
and try to achieve something
its tougher for u
but hey
everyone has some trpuble