How do we find support?

[GreenWiggly]

Hello, all! I'm looking to add fitbit friends. I'm looking to lose 40+ pounds. I think some friendly competition and encouragement would help. I don't have a timeline, it's just my long-term goal. I have struggled with my weight and depression for most of my life. A few years ago, I took charge of my health and never felt better. I quit drinking alcohol and soda, smoking cigarettes, and eating processed foods and got up off my buns. (cue the montage of me running past an assortment of delicious things and waving a middle finger at 'em) I lost a lot of weight and the compliments just came rolling in. It was a totally new experience to me. I felt beautiful for the first time in my life. I became more outgoing, made friends a lot easier, and enjoyed every day. I was happy.

You know? Like really, happy.

But then...

Life happened.

I became depressed, unmotivated, and my weight spiraled out of control. I picked back up some old habits (drinking and eating junk, but thankfully no more cigarettes). Here I am, tight clothes, easily winded, tired, cranky, and just wanting to generally lay down and die. I'm not at my heaviest, but no where near where I'd like to be. After watching the scale climb to new altitudes--whenever I could muster the strength to actually get on a scale--I knew I had to make some serious changes.

I asked my boyfriend if he wanted to diet with me.

Sure.

One week, several beers, and three nights eating out later, I knew I was going to be on my own.

I asked my sister if she wanted to work out with me.

Yeah, I need to start moving more. This kid is wearing me out (pointing at her toddler).

Ok, so these aren't exact quotes, but my sister is juggling medical school and raising a family. Our time schedules are so different that I knew this was going to be something I need to do by myself.

After reading about fitbit online, I got pretty excited and felt like it would be a great motivational tool. Something to track where I'm at and push me to lose weight. I love playing videogames, so the leaderboard aspect of communities is really fun to motivate me to push myself harder everyday.

I'd like to find more support, but I'm not really sure where to start. I live in a city where I don't know anybody except my sister and boyfriend. My co-workers are strictly business and none of us communicate outside of work. I feel like I'm in a tough spot to stay motivated.

I'm just wondering if anyone out there has been in my position and what you did find support.

[Odyssey13 · Accepted solution]

@GreenWigglyWelcome to the forums.

You came to the right place. Many of us are on our own with motivation, while some are doing this as a couple or family and others are competing with co-workers.

Sounds like you're taking the reins of your life back and heading for success. Don't stop going forward and don't look back - you're going to make it this time, GreenWiggly!

[GreenWiggly]

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@Odyssey13 wrote:

@GreenWiggly

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Wow, that really touched my heart. Thank you. 

Thank you so much. :')

[Bear35]

Welcome!! The thing I came to realize, upon the start of my journey is, that you can depend on people for support.....but that its really hard to find that one workout buddy that has the same kind of schedule you do and will adhere to ALL nutritional habits you need to instill in yourself. So, for me at least, I go at it alone. Is it hard? Well, yeah, sometimes it is......BUT the mark of a true friend is one that you can rely on when the going gets tough. When you feel the need to just tank your nutritional habits that you are trying to instill in yourself for a much healthier you.......reach out and let someone know it. If they know you well its even better because they want whats best for you too and will talk you through it. I am really lucky because I have a few I can go to in times like those. Just remember that in times where you might want something that's horrible for you, especially when everyone else is eating/drinking it, that you are on this path for you and no one else. It doesn't matter if "everyone is eating/drinking it", doesn't mean you have to too. 

Also, I have to say this.......take the word "diet" out of your vocabulary and replace it with "lifestyle change". Why? Its because, to me at least, the word "diet" means "can't have" and it correlates with the feeling that this way of eating is temporary too. Lifestyle change, to me, means a change for the better......habits that you are trying to reinforce that you want to stick around for a long long time. 

Just my take on things.....hope I helped you a little.

Bottom line here though.......always remember you are beautiful, that this process IS worth it, AND you will get through this and succeed.

[another_debbie]

OMG, it's like reading my story! OK, 3 years ago, I worked very hard at losting 90 lbs. My motivation was my 40th high school reunion. There was no way I was going to that, "fat". I tweaked the food wheel to what works for my body, along with exercise. 90 lbs in 1 year and I had my weight close to what it was 40 years prior. I looked really good and felt great. Then, I lost my motivation to continue. I did it all wrong but still, didn't gain it all back. But it was a slow creep and I didn't do anything about it. Then my son moved back home and our eating lifestyle changed. To add to it, I tripped and broke my arm. Life just went downhill from there. Now, I'm back to needing to lose 40-50 lbs just to get back to where I was 3 years ago but the complication to that is, I'm also 3 years older. Dang, life just seems to happen.

My son has been losing weight, since he started working fulltime. He suspected it was from walking. He didn't like any of my pedometers so last weekend, we both bought the Fitbit Flex. Well, he now knows why he's losing weight. He can't eat enough calories to even maintain, based on the amount of walking he does. Doesn't exactly make the best partner for me. How does an almost 61 year old compete with an almost 34 year old? I can't and we refuse to even get into that mode. The best he can do is encourage me to keep moving and so far, that has worked. The first day I tried walking 1/2 mile, I thought I was going to die but by the end of the week, I was walking a mile. So I have ramped up my goals a little more to make this a little more challenging. What are my limitations? How my body feels but I do know how to challenge myself. I just need to motivation to keep challenging. Guess the clothes in my closet hasn't been enough or I won't be in this position to begin with.

At the end of the day, life still happens.

[Odyssey13]

@GreenWiggly  You've got others in your corner. How is it going for you these days?

@Bear35  Each day is a new challenge and we humans thrive on challenges, don't we? You need an avatar, a picture by your name!

@another_debbie  You did it once and now with FitBit and this community, you can do it again. Life is never dull and it just keeps coming at us. Don't stop making progress. You and your son are on the right path. Good for you on continuing to walk and get things changed in your life.

[fancy87]

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" Happy stepping you can do it!!