frustrated

[pkljess]

I'm 22 years old and currently weight 215 pounds. At my heaviest (230) I was just horribly miserable. I've tried various diets, all with no success. How I lost the 15 pounds, I'm not overly sure, but was happy about it.

My doctor has tested for thyroid problems and there are none. I have an irregular heart beat (from birth, just recently on beta blockers for about 3 years) so I know that I have to fix this problem. My doctor has put me on different diets, but as I said none of them have really worked, and to be honest I feel as if even my doctor has given up on me.

I have tried eating healthier and excerise as much as possible, but I just can't get rid of this fat. My job right now is working at a front desk, so it's hard to get in the exercise. Can you give me any advice to help me? My self-esteem is at an all time low and find myself making excuses as to why I don't want to come home for visits (my sisters are incredibly fit and thin, and it's just a constant reminder that I'm not).

[James G Beckerman, M.D.]

The first thing to recognize is that you are definitely not alone in this.  There are so many people who are motivated to make a change, but honestly just don't know where to start.  And the health care system makes it more difficult sometimes by presenting a monolith of rules that you have to follow - which is sometimes impossible.  It sets up a culture in which you feel like you've failed before you've even tried.

So why not turn it on its back?  Choose just a small number of things that you can do.  It may take longer, but it will work.  Check out my first blog and my last one too to get some ideas and maybe some motivation too.  In late December I'm actually publishing a book about these little solutions called The Flex Diet - check us out at www.theflexdiet.com - thanks!

[Jaquta]

I think fat can sometimes be stubborn like that.  I use to drop weight really easily but now it just seems like a huge struggle.  I try and rationalize it by saying that that fat is comprised of x many calories.  (Someone on this forum previously mentioned calories in fat/ weight.)  If that is a lot of calories it could take a while to burn off.
If there is more energy burnt off than taken in there should eventually be a difference in the numbers on the scales, in how your clothes fit and how you feel, etc.

I think it's important not to give up.  It's easy to become disspirited but it's important to keep doing what works.

I think a good place to start would be to read Dr Beckerman's first blog.  I think keeping a diary of everything you eat and drink could also be valuable.  Exercise is also good.  You could try basic things like taking the stairs, parking your car a distance from work so you have to walk.  Same goes for shopping.  Some people recommend doing exercises in your chair.

For emotional issues I would recommend Dr Gould's website shrinkyourself.com.

Good luck.