Newbies

Hello OliveOyl
I have been staying off the forum for a time while I get over something I am going through…but, I always read the comments as they come through. I would much prefer if there was a PRIVATE MESSAGE option on the forums, because sometimes I think it is necessary, and I would prefer to Private Message you.
My heart goes out to you girl, and I just want to say, don’t give up…you have had so many things against you, and now is the time to put them on the back burner! Stand up against them, don’t let them beat you down.
I am in a similar situation physically, and emotionally as well…it is very depressing being in so much pain and being obese and needing to eat right and exercise!!! It is a catch 22 situation…and there is so much pressure which then causes the stress emotionally. And then having to prepare meals (which I hate doing too), and for a husband who expects everything to be as it used to be, not understanding what you are going through.
I hear you Olive. I have felt exactly how you are….last year I was ready to throw the towel in!!! I felt absolutely hopeless, helpless, and a huge waste of space in the lives of my family and friends. I couldn’t exercise to lose the weight, and I had no energy to do anything anyway…I was turning 60 and getting fatter!!! The things I wanted to do I couldn’t do anymore…I couldn’t run around with my grandchildren which was the worst thing. How were they going to remember me? As this fat wobbly lady with a double chin, who was too lazy to do anything??? That is not me inside…I want to do those things! I live to do those things, only they would never see me in that way unless I did something about it! It was so depressing, and my thoughts weren’t helping. One day, in my desperation, I just burst with shame and self-despising about what I had become, and cried out to God to help me (this wasn’t just a normal little prayer for help)…I must have cried for half an hour to Him. Afterwards, I picked myself up and shook myself off, and did what I had to do! I felt much better for it of course…a good cry and rant away from everyone else always seems to change things for the better…clears away all the cobwebs, clears the vision! And then the last week of December, I was on Facebook, and I noticed an advertisement for Trim Down Club on the side of the page…now I had seen that before, but I normally don’t get involved with diets…tried one before online and couldn’t get into it, and didn’t like the cost. Anyway, when I saw it, I realised this may just be my answer from the Lord. So I clicked on it and read about it. As it didn’t cost too much I decided to give it a go. And here I am…I have lost weight and put it back on…but I am hanging in there as I know the plan is working for me in other ways…and it is working for so many others. At this time I just have to get over what is holding me up, and I will be back into it fully again.
I don’t know if this is helping you, but maybe just knowing that there are others here who understand your plight….people have the same physical problems, the same battles…and although my husband is much more caring since we became Christians 31 years ago, he still has his moments…he still expects me to serve him, and look after his every little need, and prepare food that he wants!!! Lol…Give it time Olive…I too had to put up with preparing two different meals for a few weeks, and then my husband decided to try some of my stuff! But don’t give up…don’t let him stop you from doing what you need to do about your weight and what you eat! Just do it for you.
Don’t give up…it will be slow going for both of us. Get back on the site, and read, read, read…write up a list of you have to…but try to follow any instructions they have given in the plan.
As far as your BMI goes.If you click on your APPS at the top of the home page, there is a PROGRESS METER. Click on that, put your weight in, and click on the BMI button, and it shows your BMI.
I do hope you don’t give up Olive…keep going…you know what you need to do…don’t let those obstacles win the battle! You need to do it ONE DAY AT A TIME! Change your thinking, and don’t voice your negativity about it…learn to be thankful for the small things. If you fall over, don’t worry about it, get up and brush yourself off, and face it again. The main this is to get the weight off so our joints don’t get any worse. I have been struggling with extreme sleepiness, and was just too tired to deal with worrying about food…it was just causing me more stress. I had to get myself over the tiredness and depression it was causing me, and now I am almost ready to tackle it again.
All the best as you make your decisions….look at your options, weigh them up and make your choice Olive. Regards, Bev.

Thank you apensa and Seaborngirl! I guess there is some kind of support here. The BMI feature doesn’t work, BTW. I tried doing that before my first post and it made me MORE frustrated. I used to teach nutrition. That’s why I never eat the 5 bad foods. I really need support and accountability. I am just too tired to do anything more than what I have to do. I miss playing with my grandkids, too, but I am powerless to change. Wouldn’t it be great if someone could take care of US for just 2 weeks so we could eat well and gain strength to take care of ourselves? I was really hoping for more help than I can get through this website. There seems to be no one here except other people who are in a bad way…well-meaning, nice people, but blind leading blind. We are ALL messed up or we wouldn’t be overweight! I like to blame my extra pounds on prednisone, but I put the food in my own mouth. Thanks for your kindness. I guess I am done. It takes all my strength just to walk to the bathroom. How did I ever think I could effect a positive change in my life. This is not life. Good luck to you all. I’m getting out before things get worse. I’m sure you’ll all do great.

OliveOyl: If you taught Nutrition, you probably realize that dieting is taking one step at a time. Otherwise we would all get depressed if we expected to lose the weight that took years to put on, in a short time. Also, if we lose it too quickly, it comes back on easily. Then it is depressing. This is a great, healthy diet plan. I really wish you would stay with us and try it for a while. You can always quit when you are sure it’s not for you. You mentioned that all the people on this plan have problems — yes we do – “overweight problems”. If we didn’t we wouldn’t be here. You don’t expect people who don’t need to be on a diet plan to be here, do you? It’s like going to church. All the people there are sinners, or we wouldn’t be there. That doesn’t make us all bad. We’re there to learn about Christ and how to live to become like Him. As far as cooking for your husband, I have to also, and probably most of the women here do the same. I cook his meal first (food he likes) and then I make mine and sit down and eat with him. Mine doesn’t take as long as his does. Just because I need to lose weight doesn’t mean I’ll make him eat what I eat unless he wants to. He didn’t make me gain weight. I ate wrong and now I want to become healthy again so hopefully I can live longer. I am 71 yrs old and have lots of pains and have steroid injections to help, but may need a couple of different surgeries yet this year — Knee replacement & my back for spinal stenosis. I’m trying to lose weight so when I do have the surgeries, I can move around better while healing. Yes, we all have our own health problems to deal with, but we are concerned for everyone else here too. It’s all part of life. Giving up is giving in to our own weakness. Then you will feel worse. Don’t let weakness control your life. Be stubborn and be strong. That too works by taking one step at a time. I hope this helps in some positive way.

Duhhh….Sorry about that. Seaborn, I know you made that post. Don’t know why I said Chia. I guess I was just blinded by your beauty. Whew….Did I get out of that one OK? Wait a minute. that won’t work. what about the rest of you?……..You are all beautiful!!!! I better quit while I’m still able to quit.

Olive…..you have to start somewhere. I believe Seaborne is correct though. Maybe you need something different than what you can find here. I don’t want to sound unkind but it sounds like you need a lot more support from your family and medical professional.

OliveOyl: regarding the challenge of your husband’s eating habits, that is the usual case for many, many people embarking on a journey to get healthy. Small (almost imperceptible) changes along the way ultimately add up and become second nature. Patience is key, the same as it is with your grandchildren. When you go through the Menu Planner, try to check off foods that he likes (even if he won’t do it with you, you probably know what suits him), and just make them a little better than they would be otherwise – remember, you don’t have to be perfect, just a little better each time. A little less oil in the frying pan here, a smaller portion of junk food there, a growing percentage of whole grain carbs mixed in with the regular, etc. Take advantage of healthy foods that we take for granted – for example, red spaghetti sauce and ketchup are particularly good for men.
In the meantime, there are exercises you can do for yourself, that won’t bother trouble spots. These include water aerobics and low-impact calisthenics. Again, start slow and work your way up. Take advantage of TV time, etc. Our support team will get in touch with you.
A final note about predisone: this program is low in carbs and high in protein and calcium, which is the recommendation for recovering from steroid treatment.

OSSIE: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THIS SENTENCE?: “A final note about prednisone: this program is low in carbs and high in protein and calcium, which is the recommendation for recovering from steroid treatment.” If a person has been on Prednisone, what exactly does this plan do? Does that include steroid injections for inflamation in parts of our bodies? This is what I get for my lumbar and bad knee, (bone-on-bone).

Hi, OliveOyl. The late-evening binging is a big part of steroid therapy, an precisely one of the targets of this program. The fact that you will always be on steroids points to the need to pay attention to protein and calcium, as well as to the antioxidant-rich foods you say you already like. Good fats like flaxseed and olive are also very, very important here. After a while of eating good protein-rich breakfasts and having regular meals and snacks throughout the day, the evening cravings will subside. Try also to think of something that relaxes you as much as eating, or that is as much fun, and make it a point to do that every evening. Distract yourself until it becomes second-nature not to binge.