Wake-up Call

[MentalHealthDealer]

I experienced the biggest and loudest wake-up call after a recent experience where I lashed out at a friend which I something I never pictured myself doing. This was all over the smallest thing where she wanted to keep a picture of us doing something fun but I hated how I looked in this picture and I ended up just blowing up about it. I hate seeing myself in the mirror or in pictures that are not heavily filtered often leading to me avoiding looking in the mirror and taking pictures that I either delete or never look at/share with others.

I am using this as my wake-up call because that is not how I want to live I am tired of going through life hating how I look and avoiding going places or wearing certain things because of it. I need to make changes and the first step for me is joining others who are on similar journeys because I have tried this by myself in the past and I always crash and burn after only a couple of days.

It's been a real difficulty for me to admit I have a very unhealthy relationship with food and my own body I want to pretend that my weight and generally unhealthy appearance don't bother me but they do. The hardest part of this for me is I work in the mental health field helping others who experience similar things but I have been unable to put the skills I know into practice for myself. I don't think many would want to admit that the thing they do professionally is something they are unable to incorporate into their own life. I am tired of hating myself and being so negative because I deserve to love myself and I deserve to be happy and healthy.

Sorry for the long rant this has been building for quit some time and I think I am ready to just put it all out there.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Welcome, MentalHealthDealer, it's good to have you with us

I think you'll find many of us have had similar experiences, both hating the way we look and pretending it doesn't matter. You've now turned the key by acknowledging that's where you are and that you're looking for a way forward.

Take your time looking through all our regular posts here healthunlocked.com/weight-l... You could start with the daily diary, where members post their meal and exercise plans for the day. And maybe join the weigh in and make Friday your day. You'll soon get to know people and everyone will be happy to share their approach and what works for them.

Wishing you success in making the changes you want and need

[Bee-bop Maintainer 2st 7lbs]

Hi MentalHealthDealer,

Try not to beat yourself up about working in Mental health and not applying strategies to yourself but, see it as a way to empathise with your clients. It is a chance to learn in a different way. Then calmly tell yourself that you are not alone in how you feel and make your changes. Any blips remind yourself that you are on a journey towards a different you and maybe even list why that is important to you.

So many of us here have had to not only loose weight be re evaluate what our relationship with ourselves is too. Be kind to yourself and remember you can do this 👍

[hjskev Host Maintainer 2 stone]

Well I think you've made a good start by admitting how you feel. The next step is to do something about it. I think a good relationship with food for women brings its own challenges because someone is often waiting for us to feed them which means having to think about food umpteen times a day. But there are lots of us on these forums doing just that and still succeeding in getting rid of those pesky pounds. There is lots of help and encouragement here, nothing judgemental. I find having to weigh in once a week keeps me on track most of the time. Good luck and hope to see you at the weigh in.