I need help

[HoneyBeez1234]

Hi, I'm an 18 y/o female, and I have struggled with my weight since I was very little. I've always been chubby, but when I was around 7 or 8 was when it really started bothering me (AKA when I started getting bullied for it). When I was 12 or 13, I started losing weight very quickly because I stopped eating entirely, and I was very unhealthy and very uncomfortable all the time. After I gained a little bit of weight back, I was happy with my body for about 2 years; I was in sports and working out regularly, so much so that it didn't matter what I ate because nothing affected my weight. But sometime in the last year, I started gaining a lot of weight quickly because I'm no longer in those sports and don't have time to work out. I'm in college now, and I don't have time for everything I used to do. I don't have time to cook every day, and I don't have time to go to the gym. I need help figuring out what to do. The number on the scale doesn't bother me as much as how my body looks and feels. I feel gross and fat (even if I know in my head I'm not). No matter what kind of diet I try, I either don't see results or I can't stick to it. I just really need help figuring out where to start.

[springersrule Moderator 76kg]

Good morning HoneyBeez1234 and welcome to our friendly forum. I'm sorry to hear about your struggles and the bullying you went through in your early years, that can have a lasting effect on how we see and feel about ourselves. You say its more the look and feel of your body that you are concerned about so i wonder if you are seeing and feeling the lack of muscle tone you had when you were more active before college? Can i suggest you have a look at some of the workouts of Dr Rangan Chattergee, i particularly like his 5 minute kitchen workout, it can be fitted in while making breakfast and waiting for the kettle to boil. His mantra is "everyone has just 5 minutes"

On the diet front, the main thing is to eat as fresh as possible and to eat just your meals, no snacking in between Do you have time on a weekend to make some meals that you can freeze for later in the week? Have a look at this month's Springers Specials which is about "being prepared" food wise when you know time is short or you'll be home late. There are ideas for batch cooking and for quick to make meals that you may find helpful.

Our forum is all about peer to peer support so please have a good look around and then start joining in. We advise joining the Weekly Weigh In and the Daily Diary as a minimum. You will find lots of inspiration and support on both of these pinned posts to help you be happier with yourself and turning things round.

Here is a link to our Pinned Posts to get you started, healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

I wish you the best of luck for our journey and if you get stuck or cant find something just shout out xx

[HoneyBeez1234 2024 May in reply to springersrule]

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I really appreciate how nice everyone is on here. <3

[springersrule Moderator 76kg in reply to HoneyBeez1234]

You're very welcome HoneyBeez. The peer to peer support here is second to none xx

[Hopalong1 3 stone]

Hello HoneyBeez1234 Good to see you on. I would recommend recording your way of eating and exercise on the Daily Diary. I feel it helps me stay accountable and there are lots of methods from other members. Today's link is below

healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

Good luck with this fresh start x 😊😊

[Frenchfields 2024 January]

Hi and awelcome. If your 18 you have just started college or perhaps uni, and if you're really so busy perhaps you need to first look at your time management, could you get up an hour earlier to exercise. This is also a busy time in college but you'll get a summer break shortly so long enough to set yourself up in good eating habits and maybe start running. Running is free and you can do it anywhere, try something like couch to 5k from nhs. Or most colleges have a gym or pool nearby often free for students. Do you not get an activities afternoon to do sport? Most colleges encourage there students to participate.Sticking with a diet is the hard bit especially if you have a social life but if you can build a habit of 3 satisfying and healthy meals most days you'll go along way to being there. There are plenty of healthy food options that need little preparation, just a bit of planning. If your body is making you miserable then its important to you to do something about it. This is a very supportive forum and people on here will give you advice, food tips etc but we can't give you any more time in your day so that's over to you.

[focused1 Maintainer 13kg]

I would actually diary what you have eaten in a week and I suspect you will realise what is adding up to be more than you thought . Make a lazy packed lunch for the next day by throwing a pile of salad in a tub and maybe a chunk of grilled chicken which you have already cooked 1 chunk for your evening meal the night before . Prep and freeze at weekends and don't shop as often . The half hour shop time could be spent making something to freeze . Nothing has to be complicated and many recipes are easier to make in less than 20 mins . I think this is very common when you are a student . Could student services help you with what is available ?

[HoneyBeez1234 2024 May]

I like the lazy packed lunch idea. I'll try that when I get back home (I'm at my parent's house this week for a short break between the spring and summer quarters at school). We don't really have student services though.

[wa2un7 Maintainer]

I understand exactly how you feel. My daughter has the same problem. No matter how mush she loses( 5 stone on two occasions) she can’t see it in the mirror and tge downward spiral starts. I wish I had an answer for you but unfortunately I don’t. However the support you can access with regular participation in this forum will be invaluable.