Tineyjo's Journal, 27 Mar 19

It is very HARD to exercise when you are morbidly obese - believe me, I KNOW, having weighed 302 in 2004! EVERYTHING is exercise - getting a shower, getting dressed, tying your shoes, doing the dishes. Remember, you're carrying around almost 100 pounds extra with you in everything you do. Don't be hard on yourself on the exercise. Just try to do a little MORE than you do, each time you do something. If you fold the clothes, put them away, too. If you get a shower, shave your legs. If you go to the store, park 5-6 spaces farther away from the door, or go down all the aisles where you don't need anything. Part of the problem could be that you are getting too FEW calories! God designed our bodies to prepare for times of famine. Your body may be thinking, "There's so little food coming in! I better hold onto all these calories so I'll have energy when the big famine hits." REALLY. At your weight, you should easily be eating 1,500-1,800 calories a day - probably more than that. Try not to make it potatoes and cereal though. Strive to have healthy vegetables, fruits, meats, and fats. You CAN do this!  

I totally agree with debbie cousins. Just do what you can. I know it is frustrating, but you will build strength and stamina. I agree that everything is exercise when you are very heavy. Start slowly, and you will be surprised at your improvement over time, if you stick with it. i tell myself that no matter how little i do, it is a million times better than sitting on the couch. Also agree about eating more. Hang in there! 

@Tineyjo, I agree with everything Debbie Cousins said. I weighed 285 pounds at my heaviest -- a 42+ BMI. It was so difficult to move at all, plus I was very depressed. I think it goes without saying that being morbidly obesity tends to make everything about life "heavy," physically and emotionally. It's difficult to change eating habits AND make the effort to exercise. My suggestion is to approach "diet and dieting" as if it is a brand new adventure.  

[CONTINUED] I also looked at your food diary for today and totally agree with Debbie on the very low amount of calories you are allowing yourself. You're literally *starving* yourself of essential nutrients in addition to sufficient calories to "run the plant." The effect of this is to "shut down the plant." By that I mean, shut down your metabolism. This is the last thing you want to do. I also noticed that you are on "your own diet," likely the product of a "deprivation" mindset. (You know: "I can only lose weight if I deprive myself.") That is a LIE. To get an idea of the calorie level to aim for, try the calculator at this website: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-many-calories-per-day 

[CONTINUED] Once you have an idea of a weight-loss calorie level that is REASONABLE, then you will want to choose a new *kind* of diet. No matter what appeals to you, you'll be SHOCKED at the amount of food you can eat if you concentrate on "hearty" *above-ground* vegetables! The "leafy greens" are great, of course, but I'm not talking about those. Rediscover the produce department and try different things.  

Focus on the things you can control and don't stress too much about the things you can't. Weight loss is all about what we eat, exercise is for our health. As these other ladies have mentioned, focus on getting in more nutritious food and don't restrict your too much. Last year I was couch bound for a month while my insurance company avoided letting me get treatment for a bulging disc, it was awful and I couldn't even stand to prepare food to eat. I still lost weight because I found a way to still eat healthy. You can do this, just give your body time to heal, eventually you will be able to move more. 

[CONTINUED] Maybe your upbringing was similar to mine. We ate tons of potatoes and rice with butter and gravy, and much smaller portions of canned corn, peas, and string beans. We NEVER ate the beautiful, fiber-filled vegetables that I discovered much later in life -- broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, all different kinds of tomatoes, colorful bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, etc. Try them! FILL UP on THEM! Then, look for quality protein. Add to your vegetables your favorite meats, poultry, fish, seafood, and even cheese. By the time you get these foods onto your plate, it'll be much easier to LIMIT starchy vegetables and RARELY eat refined ("manufactured") carbohydrates like bread, cereal, and pasta, and sugar.  

LASTLY, don't take on too much too soon. The point of this new approach to your health is *not* to hurt yourself! That is counter-productive. An injury would put you three steps back. So, be gentle with yourself, Tineyjo! And remember that you can come back to FS again and again for ideas and support. 

Awe thanks guys/gals this is the best place for motivation. I do have a lot of vegetables just not every night sometimes we just eat what we have at the end of the month there are four of us here like the other day we had fresh green beans we have a garden planted just nothing has grown yet we planted a little late. I also eat a lot of bake or grilled chicken breast cause there are a lot of different things you can do with it. I try to stay away from "DIET" programs as they tend to be really expensive most times. The reason I started doing this weight loss in a big way is because my mom passed Feb 14th, 2019 and the doctor kept telling her she needed to get up and move around stop smoking (which I have done not even electronic cigarettes nicotine.) but she did not listen and I needed something to take my mind away from that. we love vegetables even my children love them yay! And we have nothing but salad a few times a month cause we all love the vegetables my problem is or was until my husband bought me these portion control cups I ALWAYS overate and NEVER got off my behind to do anything other than sit in front of the tv or computer sad face now I have my 7 year old walking with me every day. For me though how to diet and where to start and what I really need to know is all new for me there are so many diets and books and people saying this is the right way no you should be doing this not that it gets overwhelming to where I just want to give up so I figured if I just watched what I ate, had small portions (by the way I make a big plate and separate it into 3 or 4 other bowls so I don't over eat and I have some for the next day I read somewhere meal prep is best) and exercise well in my case walk, do a few squats, maybe some jumping jacks, oh and my 7 year old loves body groove which we do every other day I do not know what else to do. I know it is a process but can I not make it go faster? I do not own a mirror there is not one in my house other than a small one on my wall. Also let me say I drink water all day almost everyday I may treat myself to 1 can of soda 1 every couple of months or some juice but I have black coffee and water during the day I have diabetes so I can not have sugar and so I tend to just stay away or I will go crazy with it. oH and I do energy drinks. again thanks everyone with the comments and help and support this place is great maybe I will stick with it this time round.  

I'd tried and failed to lose weight in the past only because I did too much to fast and couldn't maintain the pace. It was overwhelming so I'd quit and regain everything lost plus extra until I was well over 300 lbs. The difference this time is that I started making the changes very slowly. The small changes add up over time, but when done slowly I barely noticed so I didn't rebel. I could barely walk even with a cane, had a disability parking placard, had balance issues, migraines, digestive issues. It's taken nearly a while, but I've lost 134 lbs and my diet is unrecognizable compared to 2 years ago. Just do what you CAN do today, and tomorrow, do just a little bit more. If 5 minutes is all you can do today, tomorrow do 6. Don't PUSH yourself down a path, just nudge yourself gently in the right direction.  

Lots of good advice from all the above. Nothing to add but slow and steady wins the race. Good luck!