If You Are Overweight, How Much Does It Bother You??

Updated on November 19, 2012
J.B. asks from Marrero, LA
23 answers

I am only asking this bc I HATE it sooooooooooo much!! Like I just don't think I can stand another second of it, but well it takes time to get it off, so that's life of course. But I feel so uncomfortable, my back hurts everyday that I don't excercise, my feet and legs are kiling me at the end of the day, I get winded so easily, my clothes are tight, the rolls on my back are just so awfully uncomfortable, on and on..... I have put a lot of weight on since I had kids and it is fast weight gain so that does make it worse I think. The thing is I have friends who have always been as heavy as me or heavier but they seem to navigate life ok. Does weight make you unable to funtion in life? I like to go hard and feel comfy in my clothes and all this weight just makes me miserable!! On the plus side of things I weaned my baby, started weight watchers, and I have an awesome work out program that is a physical therapy approach so I won't hurt myself!!!! Just wondering if I am alone here!

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So What Happened?

Well ladies week one on WW and I lost 6.4lbs :) One little payoff of being pretty chunky is you lose fast right at first b4 leveling off to 1 to 2 lbs per week! I was hungry a lot but I think my bod was just in shock!! I do feel better knowing I am doing something proactive to get healthy, now my heart goes out to folks I see who are my size or larger, I KNOW how hard it is to move etc when you have like 100lbs or more to lose and I know how unbelievably tough it is to get it off. Before, when I was a healthy weight I would wonder how it could happen that someone could gain a ton of weight, well now I know!! I am doing this the WW way though, I am not going to worry at all about the total poundage, just working one goal at a time and so far I am well on my way to my first 5% weight loss goal. Mandy B, you are such an inspiration, I love hearing people that did it the old fashioned way, eating right and exercise :) Thanks for all the support!

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D.F.

answers from Boston on

Oh boy you are so NOT alone!!!! I see recent photos of myself and wonder who the hell that is. ITS ME!!!
I have just recieved my Jilliam Micheals body Shop work out system. I am loving it! First week so I am so sore!!! On the bright side...I am on my way!

2 moms found this helpful
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J.T.

answers from New York on

I'm not overweight but any extra pounds go to my stomach and I hate it. It's so uncomfortable unless I'm in sweatpants. So I can imagine how you feel. My good friend at work yo yo's some and he can't stand when he's heavy bc he finds it so uncomfortable. Main reason I'm writing though is to ask if you've completely eliminated carbs. My husband did and lost 20lbs so fast I worried he was sick. I eliminated wheat too a while ago and instantly lost 5 lbs. Carbs really seem to be the enemy.

2 moms found this helpful

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

I needed to loose 15 lbs and it bothered me tremendously. I was diagnosed with severe arthritis in my knees in January and knew then I was going to loose the weight. It took me 10 weeks to loose the weight and now looking back I can't believe I was unhappy with my weight for 3 years yet it only took 10 weeks to fix and I am back in a size 4-6. Time goes by regardless so you might as well be loosing weight. Now that saying comes to mind if I ever am tempted to eat junk. "Nothing taste as good as thin feels". Good luck!

Edit - I lost the weight by cutting simple carbs. I don't eat bread, pretzels rice, and pasta. I don't eat junk food either (candy, cake, ice cream, donuts etc.) I eat all the fruit I want though, I eat bacon, steak and chicken. I eat lots of nuts and some cheese. I have a protein shake that I mix every morning for breakfast. I drink water and hot tea. No soda or juice although I do typically have a low carb mixed drink on Fridays. (Happy hour you know:)

4 moms found this helpful

M.B.

answers from Tampa on

I did hate it so I did something about it. Over the course of a year I lost over 100pounds just by exercising and eating right. So now I'm at a very healthy weight.

4 moms found this helpful

K.B.

answers from Milwaukee on

i'm over weight and it doesn't bother me. i'm still the same person inside and if someone doesn't like the way i look-oh well. my husband loves me and my son loves me. i'm very active in our school system and at my church. it doesn't change me!!!

3 moms found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Las Vegas on

It bothered me enough to Join OA (over-eaters anonymous) I am not too overweight, but enough that I decided enough was enough. I did other programs such as WW and they have their merits for sure, but I got tired of writing my points down... so then I said, let me try an OA meeting and so far,it's been 5 weeks and I am down about a one pound a week (this, mainly through cutting out junk) which although I didn't eat a ton, apparently I ate enough that I am down 5 lbs total..
Since taking this journey, I have learned a lot about myself and what some of my food triggers are...
I know some people who do WW and OA and find it helpful ...

So , you are not alone...
I wish you all the best..

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M.M.

answers from Chicago on

I know what you mean! I am thin now (could be even thinner and working on it!) but I remember the feeling of being fat, not able to bend, struggling walking uphill, being tired all the time, not being able to feel good no matter what I was wearing. All that was only at 26 lb overweight! I get what you are talking about! Let it be a motivator. Now I am able to run, spend a day on my feet and not feel tired, I can fold myself into yoga positions - and I would rather die than give it all up without a fight. I made me a priority, it is addicting, yes. I look good, I feel good, I feel strong, competitive, confident - you will get there. Stay disciplined, work out, eat less. It will take time - but you will get your body back, maybe even better body than you had before. Virtual hugs!

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B.F.

answers from Dallas on

Bothers me enough now that I have kept walking for exercise for about 9 mths after my town built an indoor track. . I have tried to change bad foods for good. I have never wanted to diet because I know it would just be a temporary change. I have lost a sum total of 5 lbs. it is discouraging. I have lost inches. I gain weight when I start because I gain muscle. I have kept it up because I don't want to be old and stiff and fat. There is a lot of arthritis in my family. My mother was a diabetic and I was gestational diabetic. I have a 50 percent greater chance of being diabetic.
All I can say is keep it up! I am going to try!

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C.B.

answers from Reno on

no you are not alone. 5 weeks ago i went to a bariatric weight loss doctor and started their non surgical weight loss program, i have lost 10.4 pounds and 1 1/2 inches in my waist, i am starting to see results and am feeling so much better. i am exercising daily and i love it, learning a new way of life for my health and it is rubbing off on my family. good luck to you. :):):):)

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T.S.

answers from Philadelphia on

I 'WAS' before joining Weight Watchers in January. I was at 169 and my daughter just turned one so I couldn't call it baby weight anymore. I finally reached my goal and I feel SOOO much better about myself. If you really want it, then you will do what you have to do to feel better.

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S.M.

answers from Columbus on

I know what you mean! I am very pear shaped so I'm used to carrying extra weight in my butt & thighs. But after my 1st was born, I got a bit of a spare tire around my belly, and I was miserable! I couldn't find any jeans that fit comfortably, I was sore all the time, I hated it!

Eventually I kicked myself in gear long enough to lose 40 pounds, and I feel soooo much better. I'm still not down to my "ideal" weight, but I have a much easier time finding clothes and I don't hate my reflection.

The key for me was doing core exercises (they help strengthen your back muscles) which made me feel results much faster with less pain, which in turn helps me want to keep doing it! Check if your insurance covers physical therapy, that can be a nice SAFE way to get started. I only had to go to 2 sessions at my chiropractor's office and then I was able to do the exercises myself at home. I did end up buying an exercise ball and stretch bands. There are also exercise videos you can watch on youtube for free.

The only dietary changes I made were to switch from sugar to Truvia in my coffee, drink more water, and eat a salad before dinner every day. I still eat pretty much whatever kind of food I want, including chocolate, so I don't feel like I"m starving or suffering.

Hang in there, lady, you can do this. Once you make the first step, you will feel so proud of yourself and grateful for the improvements you are making to your health. Good luck!

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K.B.

answers from Tulsa on

What is the name of your workout? I have injured myself and would love to have help working out safely without hurting myself worse.

Weight never bothered me until I became a caretaker to my husband. I am exhausted and sickly though I am losing. I once lost 12 pounds in 14 days and was so weak it was not worth it. I had been too sick to eat.

It does hurt now that I am older. I can't wait for it to be gone and I won't gain it back because it affected my health. I don't care how I look though I know that is weird to most people.

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T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

It only bothers me because as a younger woman I could pretty much eat whatever I wanted and I never had to work out that hard.
In my mid thirties (after three kids) I was a size 8 to 10 and weighed 145. Even though I'm only (barely) 5'5" I carried it well.
Now I'm 44, a size 12 to 14 and weigh 165.
I still "look" pretty good because I work out and eat well but it's hard to find clothes that fit, and it's SO frustrating not being able to lose just 5 to 10 pounds without 1) starving myself or 2) suffering from a nasty case of food poisoning or the stomach flu.
I think if you are in pain, or feeling winded, you need exercise more than dieting. Cutting calories IS more effective when it comes to losing weight, but if you want to FEEL better you need to get moving, no doubt about it! Good luck, it sucks getting older!!!

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A.K.

answers from Bloomington on

It only bothers because I workout more than the average person & haven't been able to drop weight. Very frustrating. I have a pretty strict routine & make sure I work hard. I try to tell myself to get over it because I feel good & not suffering with any ailments due to being obese. You sound like you're off to great start.

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

I hate it. It's a reminder to me every day of the one big, important area of my life that I have failed in. I need to lose about 50 lbs to get back to my healthiest adult weight, and even that I thought was 20 lbs heavier than I should have been. My problem is that diet and ridiculous amounts of exercise (like, triathlon training 6 days a week and 1200-1500 calories a day) yield so little weight loss that after killing myself for 8 weeks and losing only 5 lbs, I just say screw it and go back to moderate exercise (I'm in pain if I don't exercise at least a few days a week) and eating what I want, which is a reasonable diet that will also include something sweet every now and again.

1 mom found this helpful

☆.H.

answers from San Francisco on

I started gaining weight out of nowhere in my mid 20's and have been battling it ever since. I feel like I have been trapped in someone else's body and I'm just not me anymore - if that makes sense.
I'm not as able to function as I was before gaining weight, but past times when I have lost weight have not completely fixed things. There has been some permanent damage - for instance, osteoarthritis in my knees and no longer being truly happy with eating a reasonable portion . All I can do is hold out hope and keep trying.

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H.P.

answers from Houston on

Lady, you are singing my song! I was always very well dressed and put together. Now, I don't even care anymore, except I do care. My clothes don't fit, and I'm uncomfortable. What helps me--while I work on the losing part--is to buy clothes that fit my present body. It's hard, but I feel so much more confident, and that gives me the energy to get up and move around more. When I finish breastfeeding, I plan to get back on the pill to jump-start my weight loss. It bothers me because I'm used to being all fit and sexy and full of energy. However, I tell myself that this is temporary, and that makes me feel better.

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S.A.

answers from Chicago on

Hi J.,

You are not alone at all! I am at my heaviest weight ever. I had just joined a gym and was starting to go low carb (for real this time) when I found out I'm expecting my 4th baby. I am very concerned that I'm starting this pregnancy at such an unhealthy weight. I have been eating very carefully and will be able to use the gym to exercise during the pregnancy. I am going to try and keep my weight gain to a minimum, but I know I will be so depressed seeing the scale going up.

It sounds like you have a good plan. The key is to be consistent. Good luck!

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A.M.

answers from Kansas City on

of course you're not alone! we all struggle with it. (ok not WE ALL- but sooo many of us)

the thing is it's different for everyone. there are a million variables. how long have you been overweight factors in because if it's been pretty much your whole life (like me), you adjust and it's more your "normal". i was more freaked out and NOTICED more, losing 30 lbs, than i ever obsessed about being fat. lol. also, HOW big. are you so big you can't fit into airplane seats or theme park rides? uncomfortable in a regular car? are you outgrowing all your clothes so you are uncomfortable on a daily basis because your clothes don't fit right? are you just overweight, or are you really out of shape? i can speedwalk uphill on a treadmill for 45 minutes and feel great - but to look at me you wouldn't know that. i usually kick skinny girls' butts when it comes to something physical. i am overweight, but actually very strong and healthy. do you "hate" the fat because you hate fat people, and you hate yourself for being fat? or do you just notice because it's not "normal" for you? there are a lot of factors.

but in general, no, i don't obsess about it too much - i am really trying, but the last couple weeks, i've been lucky to maintain. we have had some issues come up that have required more of my attention. BUT - my house is clean, tricky finances have been successfully managed, i've had some great time with friends/family, and most of all, my potentially adhd son is getting the best of ME, because i've been spending that workout time researching, reaching out to people, learning as much as i can to help him.

it's all about your focus and your priorities. a person only has so much energy to think about things. some have the "normal" everyday routine stuff down to a thoughtless habit, so other things take precedence in their thoughts. myself, i have to work really hard at the basic home maker stuff, and i work full time, AND i have these issues with my son at school right now, so i don't have much time to think about my weight. i am still watching what i eat and i'm doing "ok", but i don't have that INTENSE focus i really need to lose the weight as i did before. and i'm not being too hard on myself about it, because i have been this way my whole life. and quite honestly, i don't feel the need to apologize for it because right now i am 100% comfortable with my son's issues being my first priority.

ETA--
if you're talking about looking in the mirror every day and bemoaning my disgusting state - no, i don't really do that. i feel that would be ignorant, because it's really counter productive and harmful. i love myself too much, and i have way too much going for me to put myself down, obsess over a couple rolls or jiggles. i have waaay too much to be thankful for in my life. and if i had the time to obsess over it like that, i would have the time to devote to REALLY getting serious and losing it. that is exactly how i look at it.

if you are spending that much time "hating" yourself, you have time to fix it. it's simple math. calories = weight. burn more of them than you take in. right? that's the reality. if you are putting undue pressure on yourself, expecting "magic" results, then yes, you're going to be miserable and stay miserable. talk to the people that are helping you, at ww, pt. maybe they can help you have more realistic expectations, if it's bothering you this much.

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L.M.

answers from Cleveland on

I should lose 20 but apprarently it doesnt' bother me enough because i haven't been able to make the changes to my life that i need to. so i guess you should be lucky it does bother you and motivate you.

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J.T.

answers from College Station on

It only bothers me in that I can't seem to get it off, no matter WHAT I do. I hate to go shopping to buy clothes because it only reminds me of my failures. DH doesn't mind. Still thinks I'm beautiful, and tells me so.

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L.M.

answers from Orlando on

no u are not alone. i gained about 15lbs since my boyfriend moved in a year ago :/ once it comes on it is sooooooooooooooooooooooo hard to get rid of it. it's only 15ish pounds but it has made a HUGE difference in my self confidence.

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M.T.

answers from Austin on

You are probably speaking for half of America. Extra weight is horrible on your body. I figured that even before I got pregnant I was basically carrying around my 11 yr old all day. My knees will start to hurt, my feet hurt, clothes are more expensive and not always comfortable. When I was in HS and right out of HS looked great and loved it. Had my first baby and put on 100lbs that didn't come off. I've done it all. I even had a trainer who made my meal plan and exercise regiment. Working out 4 to 5 days a week and starving still didn't get me down to what I wanted. Met my hubby and working out every day went out the window and the weight came in the window. Now pregnant with my 3rd and was overweight before pregnancy. The thought of putting on another 40 to 50lbs was upsetting. A friend of mine introduced me to Visalus which is a vitamin drink. I asked my dr about it and he said was even safe while pregnant. I started drinking it in the morning although I add pb, dark choc syrup, milk and banana and still it's only 200 calories and I'm full for several hours. Any diet or meal plan I try that I'm still hungry after I won't stick to. This is even ok for kids. It's packed full of vitamins and fills you up. A friend of mine does it how it suggests and says it's like a vanilla shake. Usually for lunch I eat the Smart Ones meals which are on the WW plan, they are inexpensive and are good. We've also started using a co-op for our produce and if I remember right on WW fruits and veggies were almost unlimited or didn't count against your pt system and they are healthier. At the end of my pregnancy I'll know exactly how much I've lost but I'm at 31 weeks and I've only gained 13lbs. I figure btwn losing fat and gaining baby I've lost abt 18lbs over the past few mths and still eating the things I want just in moderation. The shake def helps bc I'm am def a a.m. eater. If I don't get everything my body needs in the am then the rest of the day is shot and no food in sight is safe. My son is measuring in the 98% and a lb larger. He's extremely healthy and I'M NOT HUNGRY! Wouldn't hurt to look up the shake. Can be used as part of your WW plan as well and you'll end up with more available calories throughout the day so if you have leftover points and really want that piece of chocolate then you have the room on your list for it. Good luck and hang in there. I feel you.

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