Hey!
I am a 24 year old - 28-30 stone - life ruled by an anxiety disorder.
Time to change!
First things first!
Joining a gym on Monday for those days where the weather is too miserable ( Scotland weather) to be out and about i can either go swimming or into the fitness suites etc.
My anxiety disorder makes me paranoid about how others perceive me so this will be a huge challenge for me but I need to do it!
Wish me luck!
Welcome!!! Good luck with your new healthy lifestyle. The good news about being big is when you start you can really see some good results. Don't forget to take your measurements so you can feel proud when you start shrinking! Use the forum regularly as it really does help to get support from others. Fingers crossed for you 🤞
Thank you I will be just have to forget about my paranoia, auntie is also doing it with me which should help too 
Hold your head up high! Don't forget your can't outrun a bad diet so focus on what you are eating.
I have been doing that this week and got a date with. The gym next week dreading it but I keep reminding myself it will be good for me
Hi and welcome, Veronica
Take a look at the Pinned posts section to the right of your screen (bottom if you're using a mobile), or in the drop down on the 'Posts' page (it says 'arrange by'). Read the Welcome Newbie thread, then move through to the challenges, where we hope you'll find at least one that will appeal to you.
Move down to the Topics, to find a variety of threads, collated into specific topics for ease of access and we ask that you also 'file' your own threads, so that others won't miss your important news.
Take a look at the NHS 12 week plan, as a lot of people have been successful with it, making sure to enter your details into the NHS BMI calculator, to get a calorie allowance tailored to your personal requirements. Don't forget to take your starting measurements and a 'before' picture, as they can be very motivating on days that the scales refuse to co-operate.
To the right of the HOME page (bottom on a mobile), you'll find Events. In there, you'll find links to our daily Weigh-in's (you will choose just one day per week), our Daily Diary, where we post our menu and exercise plans, for accountability, advice and support and our “What's happening today” thread, where we pop in for a chat.
Be aware, that the HU app doesn't give you access to all of our important features, so we advise that you use the full website page.
We've found that to get the best out of this community, we need to be active on the forum, as it's where we exchange information, get motivation and inspiration and make friends. We hope that you'll join us here, regularly, too.
It's only left for me to wish you well on your journey
WELCOME! these changes will help heaps with your anxiety. I do totally understand the crippling effects of the disease, every step on the path will take you closer to being free of it! GOOD LUCK AND KEEP THE FAITH!!!!!!!!
PS start small. Dont think youre going to have a 1200 calorie diet and a 45 min a day gym session.. that is crazy. Start small small small. 10 mins on a machine even just walking. Cutting out the junk for 2 weeks while you get used to good wholesome food before cutting or restricting. Just wee ideas. Dont get overwhelmed!
Thank you
I jave been hping on wee 10 mins walks here and there, o just have to be careful not tp over do it and since ive started i have walked over 15km in just under a month! So i thought id give the gym a go
Good going! You are on a good track Veronica! Stay with it!
Thanks
Please try to 'zone out' with regard to others in the gym.
I have no doubt that they wil be impressed that you've taken the step of joining the gym in the first instance.
You're doing this for YOU, so walk in there, head held high and don't give anyone else in there another thought!
Good luck!
Thank you
Hello V3rronicaa, Good for you taking these steps for a healthier life. If you do it now you will save yourself from health problems later.
One of my daughters wanted to lose weight and join a gym, but agonised over it for a couple of years as she thought that everyone would stare at her because she was big. Earlier this year she went along with a friend and absolutely loved it! She realised that most people who are there are just concentrating on themselves and she hasn't felt that she is being judged at all. She is now quite happy to go alone and is seeing results from her hard work.
Go for it and good luck! Let us know how you get on!
This is the first stage in building a whole new you. I started about a year ago and back then I wish I'd known a few things that I know now:
Firstly, despite my fears of ridicule, I've had nothing but kind comments and encouragement throughout my journey, whether I've been at a gym, swimming pool, out walking or at my dance classes, or just saying "no thank you" at buffets. You will get so much respect from so many people along the way and soon they will be asking you for your secrets to success! Who knows, you may lose your anxiety disorder along the way.
Secondly, as the weight comes off your confidence grows and grows and the improvement in health and mobility is so amazing. Even a small loss makes a big difference. It is worth every sacrifice along the way and there isn't a cream cake or bar of chocolate in the world that can compare with the feelings you're going to get when you first walk past the Evans or Simply Be shops because all of the clothes are too big for you.
I bet someone's already pointed you in the direction of the NHS BMI calculator to find your suggested calorie range but if not then do check it out. Your daily calorie allowance is often a lot more than you expect and the weight comes off just as quickly as if you eat fewer calories. I know this sounds strange but someone on this forum told me about this last year and it was good advice. It's even more important if you have a fair amount of weight to lose, as I did, and it means that your weight doesn't rebound when you try and stabilise (which is what I'm doing right now).
Good luck to you and your lovely Aunty - we're all here to cheer you both on x
Thank you all for all of your support and kindness, I think this is going to be really good and I'm going to try to make the most out of it. I'm going to try and get into a routine of going to the gym daily whether it be to the fitness suites etc or just for a leisure swim
Hi,
Some brilliant advice given as always. This is my 2nd week and am in my 40s and god I wish I had the balls your showing 20 years ago. I couldn't even walk down the aisle to my own wedding due to anxiety and very low confidence. Instead of grabbing life by all it was I hid away. I don't know you but I am so proud of your spirit. Don't ever lose it, remember to be kind to yourself and I wish you all the best .....do come and fill us in how your getting on and we will be sure to cheer you on x
Thank you I look forward to letting you all know how I get on
I have a severe anxiety disorder too. The meds helped make me fat but I am trying. Glad you are on your way to better health.
Thank you
Welcome to the group, you have made your first steps. There will be times when you feel invincible and other times when you feel you are getting no where but don't give up, keep posting on the forum and you will get loads of support. Good luck
Thank you so much 😁
Hiya.
I know how you feel. I've been caught up in depression and social anxiety for so long, and the anxiety and depression prevents me from enjoying my life. I pretty much spent most of my time from 14-18 years, alone in my bedroom, not doing much.
With my anxiety, I sometimes experience moments of panic about possibly having other, more severe mental disorders. A few months ago, that basically happened, and then it suddenly occured to me that the source of what mostly contributed to my mental illness was my weight. That's when I decided to begin my weight loss journey.
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It's incredibly brave of you to join the gym, and contemplating doing activities like swimming. That's a courageous and clever leap, because you'll be working on your social anxiety, all the while improving your physical health. A lot better than me!
I'm over 20 stones, too. As you begin your journey, you'll lose weight. Even if you work on your diet first. You'll be surprised. I didn't exercise for the first 2 months and still lost weight. I'm now exercising to help it along. Exercising helps a lot for weight loss, and makes normal activities like climbing the stairs much easier.
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Good luck, and I hope to see ya around!
Wow thank you for your encouragement! I feel very empowered and I do hope as I shed the weight that my mental illness may get better also. I wish to congratulate you on your progress and wish you luck in the future!
Hi V3rronicaa and welcome
Wishing you all the best with your weight loss journey, you can do this. Have a good first week
Thank you ☺
Good luck and remember in the gym everyone is in the same boat, even the fit looking posers are there to stay fit and healthy and nobody is judging anyone even if sometimes it feels that way. Just don't make the mistake I always make and go at it too hard and hurt yourself. If you spend a week with a sprained ankle or a pulled muscle you lose some progress and it's harder to go back. Take things at your own pace and enjoy it!
Thank you! And we will
Hi you are amazing for doing this and congratulations to you. Do check out your NHS Bmi calculator as this gives you two amounts to eat between to be able to lose weight that is for your own personal weight that you are. This will drop as you lose weight so do keep an eye on it but it will get easier and easier. Do make sure you eat the higher amount as it gives you amounts to drop with if you have problems but if you eat the lower amount you cannot help yourself because if you eat less than these amounts your body thinks you are starving it and turns what you do eat into body fat and this weighs more than eating the extra calories does so it stops you from losing weight and sometimes puts weight on instead. Please don't make this mistake as I did this for years and just kept messing about with weight and often put weight on. I have now lost 2 1/2st just with eating between these two amounts. All the best and good luck with your journey.
Thank you So much and congratulations
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