Weight loss angst

[leosapiens]

I just can't stay commited to it. Gaining weight is easy, because it's a road filled with immediate satisfaction, and yet there's no results that are tangible enough to keep to losing weight. I just.. Want to be pretty, and healthy. I want to have more energy to do all the things I want to do. And yet every time I start, I can't last over a week without starting to eat unhealthy again.

It's so frustrating, and makes starting again just a bit more discouraging every time. I eat when I'm edgy, I eat when I'm bored, and I can't stop myself. I keep telling myself that this time it'll stick, but believing it gets harder every time I start over.

I'm trying to come up with a non structured structure, like a bit of walking every day, on the way from work, not eating sweets and carbs, but eventually stuff pile up and I give up, and stuff myself with chocolate for no good reason, and hate the people that say it's all a matter of "just wanting". I guess I don't want it enough, then? Should just stay fat.

[LaMbaL]

Try and start by slowly cutting down on the sugar in your diet first. One of the most effective ways to do so is by eliminating softdrinks and drinking lots of water instead. Also, there is no replacement for exercize. Its by far the best way to lose weight, feel healthier and have more energy.

But dont try and do everything at once; its not who you are (yet), and thus you will fail. Imo its best to slowly shift your patterns; thats why I recommended to start by cutting out sugary/softdrinks, and try picking up some form of exercize 1-2 times a week. Get used to it, and then push yourself a little further.

Take babysteps, make it easy on yourself. Give your metabolism time to adjust. But in the end you do have to keep taking steps, and keep making an effort. Noone can lose your weight for you, only you can do it.

[Kasi]

I'm backing LaMbaL up on the exercise thing. I've noticed that for me, and most of the people I see who lose weight and keep it off, they start with exercise first, switching out sodas and such for juice and water, cutting down proportions to 'normal' sizes, I recommend checking out what's good for most foods. Then start cutting out sugars and calories.

It's a long, long process. The problem with ADHD is, we slip one time, probably not even that much, and we obsess on it and see that as our complete failure. You just need to realize, stuff happens, like grandpa's sweet potato pie. It doesn't mean everything has been completely derailed. There's still apples and salad you can eat later. No point in being healthy if you're going to make yourself completely miserable.

Never, EVER try to restrict yourself completely. It never works. Ever. Trust me on this one. Like, I know, I will never get rid of chocolate from my diet completely. Not gonna happen. That's okay. Same with pasta. Or bread. That's okay. I just start eating healthier versions of it and in normal sizes. Whole wheat bread. Pasta made with lower carbs and extra benefits.

Biggest thing is really getting your portions right, and eating regularly during the day. Like three meals and two snacks. It's a good rule to make sure you eat every three hours or so during your day. You're less likely to binge out if you keep yourself fed.

Good luck.

[leosapiens]

Thank you! I will try to start exercising, although it's usually hard to steal the time for it. I have already moved to just sparkling water 90% of the time. The main thing is to make self not give up, and the portion size issue. I can't seem to stop eating, even when full.

[LaMbaL]

Originally Posted by leosapiens

I can't seem to stop eating, even when full.

Maybe you should look into Wellbutrin, it has helped me with exactly this issue, among others. With Wellbutrin I feel I have so much more control over my impulses, and imo the same mechanism that makes Wellbutrin an official quit-smoking-aid also makes it a good tool to help you control your food intake.

[leosapiens]

I'm not sure how dangerous it is to mix anything like that with Ritalin?

[LaMbaL]

No problem. I took the two of them together for a while, and am now taking Wellbutrin alongside Concerta. Works great, they seem like a perfect tag-team for me.

[Sandy4957]

When you exercise regularly, you will desire healthier foods.

I can't explain why that happens, but it always does for me. It doesn't mean that you won't occasionally crave the "bad" stuff. It just means that the healthier stuff will be more appealing.

My latest "trick" has been working very well. I don't aim to "eat healthier." I've just made a "rule" that I have to have 2 vegetables or fruits (i.e., one veggie and one fruit is fine) at every meal. That adds up to six servings of vegetables and fruits per day. And the thing is that it's not about what I DON'T eat, it's about what I DO "get" to eat. So I "get" to have an apple. And once I've eaten the apple and drank a V-8, I can have all the eggs and bacon and toast that I want.

But curiously enough, I don't want as much of the eggs and bacon and toast.

Eating that way is causing me to plan ahead a little, which is resulting in a better overall mix of foods.

Just a thought. I'm no star on this front. I'm heavier than I want to be, don't eat as healthfully as I'd like, and I don't exercise as regularly as I want, either. But little tricks like that add up to me being more fit and more active than many.

And babycakes, I'm sure that you're plenty beautiful regardless of weight...

[425runner]

Very true! Wellbutrin XL helped me to overcome my addiction to wine and food. I was literally eating english muffins with Nutella all day, every day...but the Wellbutrin helped me change my eating habits. It helps people quit smoking so I think it overall helps to control impulsivity

Originally Posted by LaMbaL

Maybe you should look into Wellbutrin, it has helped me with exactly this issue, among others. With Wellbutrin I feel I have so much more control over my impulses, and imo the same mechanism that makes Wellbutrin an official quit-smoking-aid also makes it a good tool to help you control your food intake.

[Flory]

just be careful you dont go too far the other way, i think its slighly easier for the impulsive in us to do so...anorexia blew big time and i feel was exacerbated by my adhd,...any advice i give you would probably be triggering..so i'm going to keep my mouth shut on this one. though i can highly recommend sugar-free candy and lollipops etc fo when you crave something to eat, im very orally fixated..when i first started dieting (before it became an ed) i used to make myself a hot drink when i was wanting food, sparkling water blended with fruit juice is also good, crunching ice cubes or ice pops all were good ways of getting that eating satisfaction without the calorie suicide..and i can certainly vouch for exercise once your calorie intake is significantly lowered it doesnt require hours and hours in the gym to lose weight, im talking something as little as walking the dog for 30 minutes a day, a few situps and pushups at home, hoovering etc etc, it all adds up