I am 3 stone overweight, have been suffering with depression for the last 4 years.?

Question

I have tried every diet i have heard of, they all work if you stick to them, but that is my problem, I just dont seem to be able to stick at anything. I feel such a failure. I sometimes think whats the point, I might as well eat and drink what i want, then I look in the mirror and hate what I see.

Answer 1

Get the attitude out of your head that it's a "diet." A "diet" suggests that it is a short term eating plan, often extreme, that you will apply for a given amount of time, and once those "12 weeks" have passed, you'll return to your old ways.

Instead focus on establishing healthy eating habits in general. Eliminate the mind-set that you must follow a lock-down diet plan. There are plenty of tasty, healthy options. You like sugary and fattening foods? Reward yourself once in a while.

For breakfast, try having yogurt, or cereal, with a glass of orange juice. Make fruit smoothies, which taste great and are healthy (without adding all the sugar that they add at "Jamba Juice" and "Robecks").

For lunch and dinner, look up recipes which combine a lot of different foods but have an exquisite taste due to the combination of foods. Experient with chicken, turkey, and fish (all healthy proteins) in different recipes. Add mushrooms and other vegetables, or a lightweight sauce.

Do some research online for food alternatives to some of the things you are having now. If you search "healthy desserts" or look in a cook book, you are likely to find some recipes/meals that are reasonably healthy for a dessert and still taste good. Going through this process will make it easier to resist those chocolate chip cookies.

Answer 2

I have the same problem. The thing that i recently learned is that you have to find something you enjoy. For example, if your on a cabbage soup diet and you hate cabbage..it is not going to last long.

I also suffer with depression.. and do get highly discouraged too

I hate going to the gym. I get so bored..I find nothing more boring than walking on a tredmil for hours and getting no where. it seems pointless...litterally. If im going to walk, i want to be walking somewhere lol.

However, I LOVE swimming. I recently got a membership at an indoor pool that only costs 40$ for the entire year at the community center in my town. Since i got the membership a month ago, i've been going to the pool about 3 times a week, and its because i love it. The exercies also helps with the depression.

I get frusteraited too. Its like, you spend a week dieting, and you get NOWHERE! sometimes it doesnt seem worth it. but it is...and if you find an activity that you enjoy doing, something that you can stick to...give yourself about 3 weeks, and you will see an improvement.

Answer 3

You are in the vicious circle, eat get depressed, get depressed eat. You don't need to try any faddy diets, you get fed up and lose interest then stop. What you really need is a slimming buddy. If you already have someone who wants to lose weight then great you can help each other out, instead of reaching for the chocolate bar reach for the phone. The best way to lose weight is to join a slimming club, this gives the added incentive of having to stand on scales in front of everyone each week. A slimming club also gives you balanced meals and a treat, so you don't have to go without all the time. If you are of the persuasion that once you have one you can't stop, you can save up the treats and eat them all at once. The advisors will probably tell you that this is not good, neither it is as you are not breaking the habit of binging, but if it gets you through each day knowing that you have a bunch of treats to look forward to on a Saturday night watching the T.V. or going out for a drink or a meal go for it. Your body counts the calories it takes in, not when they go in. It is obviously better if you can get yourself into a solid routine but whatever gets you through. If you have a bad day all is not lost and you don't have to starve yourself either. Get one of those, small portions, of roast beef in gravy or chicken casserole from the freezer cabinet load up your plate with colourful veggies, have that as your main meal and that will undo most of the bad day. It will certainly stop you putting weight back on and not afraid to face those scales. If you don't have a buddy you may be able to get one at the club, they are just as desperate for help to lose weight as you. Good luck

Answer 4

OK lets ditch the whole concept of a diet.A healthy eating plan sounds better diet is out out out....

What about looking at exactly what you might change in your normal every day eating,and maybe we can substitute an item or two.

For instance if like me you have a sweet tooth instead of eating chocolate head for 70% dark coca so cool to be seen eating a square of this.Leave it so other people can see the bar,no not really...better to flash a water bottle.

Other trick is to carry with you in your handbag a small travel toothpaste and tooth brush if you clean your nashers it stops the desire for something sweet, trust me I do this if I am eating out to stop the need for dessert!dried fruit as well works.

Drink water before a meal this helps.

Exercise! yeah the thought of a gym with everyone else who looks super fit is off putting but there are other things.

A brisk walk to work get off a stop before your normal stop and walk to the office it is amazing how the body's endorphines will give you a lift (no drugs needed) if you have stairs walk the stairs every morning this is my routine and I walk 6 flights, murder to start but now easy.

Join a dance group great fun I learnt how to Salsa (sexy) and then discovered Hoola Hoop classes I was in tears of laughter but what a good time still go just for the feel good factor.
It is also an item you can buy and use at home make sure you have space other wise things will get broken.

Started swimming ( love it, ) in order to get into the pool I imagined my self as a Hollywood film star head held high straight back and oozed confidence if I can do this so can you!

Find a sport you enjoy roller blading great way to fall into a guy literally....Roller Hockey not something I am good at (crash....)

As for your body image 3 stone that will move provided you help your self.

Set your self a small rule will eat less and find alternatives each day will have breakfast, lunch and an evening meal, if one day I fall by the wayside thats allowed because tomorrow is other day and I shall and can succeed.

My self image is going to change:
I will not compare my self to any one else we are all different and unique thank goodness if we all looked the same how boring.
I will find one thing I like about myself eyes? hands, feet, hair,my personality and each day I will remember those good points.
(I love my bust seriously that is one of my focal points)
Loosing about 1/2 lbs is a great way to loose over 2 years at this rate my lost was 2 stone.
If you start to portray a positive vibe about you then the rest will fall into place...

Feeling a failure no more but instead feeling healthy,fit,and good about you.
Not wanting to look like an A list celebritie but wanting to look like you do not set your self goals that are not achieveable and most important love what and who you are,and think about the changes that will make you feel better on the image side of things.
I am not a skinny thing but have a womanly body curves and a bum, my frineds say it is the Sophie Loren look hips bum and frontage.

Good luck you can and you will do it!

Answer 5

really your happiness should not be dependent on how you look. if you feel like shedding weight would help you feel better about yourself, they u should. set targets that are easy to reach so that way you feel like you are doing something. rather than going on a diet for say one month where you cut out this, that and the other and hope to loose all 3 stones, set smaller goals say aim to loose 10 pounds in 2- 3 weeks and before you know it you will be where you want to be. exercise helps a great deal also so u might want to start doing some sort of work out like walking to start with. you could also book to see a nutritionist at your local health centre. good luck:-)

Answer 6

first; stop reading fashion magazines, all they do is dent your confidence.. size 0 stick insects only exist in the fashion world.

cook your own food; dont buy precooked meals, even weighwatchers.. they are all full of stuff you wouldnt want to eat...

use ingredients... and know what youre eating..

dont drink alcohol... 1 alcopop is equal to a jam doughnut...

buy a dog and start walking... at least 2 miles a day, the dog will love you (it will also eat all the scraps) and the weight will slowly but surely dissapear.

good luck and stop worrying about what other people think... their opinions arent worth anything unless you value what they say.

Answer 7

believing in yourself is the first start. try going for walks maybe around the local shops or around the park once you make the first move to believing that you are not a failure you will be able to stick to diets. you could try talking to your doctor about your low self esteem. We are all the same we need the boost to get started . but going for a walk everyday will really help. you need to pamper yourself and tell yourself you can do this treat yourself. YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE YOUR JUST HUMAN. get started today. go for that walk.

Answer 8

grab a an old photo of yourself from a time wen u were happy, stick it to your fridge door, hav one last day of eating wotever u want..............then, wake up next day, look at th pic on fridge and start a diet where u only eat foods tht are 10% fat, i.e. look at th percentage of fat per 100 grams, NOT per meal. if its under 10g per 100g u can hav it, i lost 4 st this way, im now a fitness instructor and looking t start new job as coach in gym, and as swimming teacher, never been happier
keep your head up,, believe,, and it wil happen.
also, pop to local gym and ask for one week free trial, u may enjoy it, and exercise is great help, even if u do a good walk in th evenings, it all helps
good luck hun
x

Answer 9

and after looking in the mirror that's what gives you depression so be very firm with yourself and make up your mind to diet and stick with it and your depression will vanish when you see the weight falling away

Answer 10

it's a vicious circle, find ways to improve your happiness before you start the diet, then you might have more success. ;-)