Is it just me. Are there others out there? Being fat is depression. I look in the mirror and just want to cry most days. On a good day I when I look, I suck in my stomach, look at myself from the side and think It's not so bad, it will evenually go away, but not until I do somthing about it (I'm on the right path now).

I am extremely self conscious. I stress about what I'm going to wear each day. I worry about walking to the mailbox and hoping no one looks out there window or drives by and sees me. I won't even walk along side my son while he rides his bike in fear someone would be watching. I'm constantly fussing my clothing and trying to carry my weight gracefully. When ever my husband has his friends over or any company over that that matter, I feel so large and clumsy. I know I imagine myself to be 10 times larger that I really am. And in front of people, I try to hide the fact that I'm out of breath after just climbing a set of stairs behind them.

I've been low-carbing for almost 2 days. I feel better on the inside. I just have to be patent and soon I will results on the outside.

Thanks for being supportive.

Rae

hi Rae,

oh boy...i can so relate to where you are at. In fact I did all the things you talk about.

I started out around the same weight as you are currently...but 11 months later I am a normal sized person ( with still some fat to lose) and none of those old paranoia's remain.

You have found a great new way of eating that will serve you for the rest of your life if you let it. Take it one day at a time and before you know it, it will all be second nature.

it won't happen immediately but rest assured it will happen if you stick at it.

Good luck...you can do this

lesley

Now, don't be fooled into thinking that you're the only one who is self-conscious and depressed about your weight. I guess I turned the corner when I could no longer hide my rolls of fat....no matter what kind of clothes I bought, no matter how big and loose they were, my fat showed through. Nothing looked good on me. NOTHING. I'm a newlywed and my wonderful husband loves to buy me clothes.... but it wasn't fun anymore. I'd leave the store empty-handed and in tears. I had to do something and I found LC and this board.....

But I want to show you something.... here, click this link and scroll down 'til you see my picture I recently posted. I feel worlds better now!! And you will too....very soon.... I promise. I'm not "thin" but I'm thinnER and the scale keeps moving in the right direction while I continue to eat wonderful food and I'm never hungry. What more can i ask for?

It's a great eating plan and you've found some wonderful support here....just keep coming and keep posting. We're here for you all the way!

I'm so happy that you're feeling better now that you're low carbing. One of the things that Dr. Schwarzbein talks about in her book is that eating high carb will affect your seratonin in such negative ways... no wonder we're all depressed when we eat high carb! You'll feel a million times better really soon.

More importantly, though, is that the reason you feel so negatively about your weight is that our culture puts such a high value on being thin. Women are expected to look like adolescent girls, which is an unreasonable expectation. Most of us can't achieve that appearance healthfully, and when we look at our womanly bodies in the mirror, we are disappointed because we don't look like Courtney Cox or Britney Spears.

The reason to LC is that you LOVE YOUR BODY! Everyone, repeat after me: "I LOVE MY BODY! I LOVE MY BODY! I LOVE MY BODY!" Now that I'm eating LC, I love my body more and more. Not because I've lost a tremendous amount of weight (I've only lost 3-4 pounds), but because I know I'm gaining muscle because of all the protein I'm eating, and my insulin level is much better. I'm not hungry all the time, and I feel great.

Kmarie

Tell me about it! I guess that pressure from the public, TV, radio of what’s attractive has pushed me into losing weight.

It’s only been 3 days and I find my cravings diminishing. J

My father-in-law is a low carb, eat healthy fanatic. After a heart attack several years ago, the doctor put him on an low fat diet. His lipids, cholesterol, and other blood levels rose and with frustration he started reading Protein Power and began following the low carb way of life. Soon after he went back to his doctor, his blood levels were improving, the doctor was amazed. Since then he has read several books on the subject, such as Sugar Busters, Eat Drink and Be Healthy, The Zone, Atkins and of course Dr. Schwarzbein book.

Actually, every time he visits, we always get an ear full. He convinced me to start reading Protein Power a couple years ago. I’ve started LC diet a few times before… now I’m determined. Just recently, He again suggested Dr. Schwarzbein’s book. I’ve liked what I've seen so far with Dr. Schwarz's book. I do understand and look forward to the benefits of such a lifestyle. Benefits that I’m most excited about, scars and cellulite fading, I can't wait. LOL

Thanks for being so supportive.

Rae

Teri, You look wonderful!!! That is a great picture.

I can't wait! Thank you!

Dear Rae,

I've been both depressed and overweight all my life. I caught on to low carb very early on in my life and have been able to keep my weight sort of normal (I go up and down by about 30 lbs - ) most of my adult life....

but I still struggle with depression, and find that as my weight creeps up, the depression gets deeper and deeper.

I've just started back on Atkins because I am quitting smoking (and some other stuff as well) and didn't want to go any higher weight wise...I was up to my "high" weight of about 160...and want to get down to my "low/slim" weight of about 138....no big deal, you may think...but...I've been where you are. I was so upset and unhappy with my weight, esp. when I was younger, that it was ruining my life. I became a recluse, all i did was stay in bed, reading and eating. As I look back at those days, I was sooo sad.

Be good to yourself! Give yourself a chance (a real chance...a couple of months, at least) with low-carb...and you will be amazed...the weight will come off, and you will feel better.

Remember, when you cheat you are only cheating yourself out of a great chance to be slim (and maybe happy, too)

I'll be thinking of you. You GO girl!

culli

Hi to everyone.

I am so glad I found this forum. I've tried so many times before and I would give up after a day. When I start to feel down, I just log on and read through forums and it keeps me busy from eating... and gives me the and power to keep going. This is day 4 for me. I've lost 5 pounds. Only a small amount but It feels great!

I will not allow myself to fall back this time... want this too badly.

Thank you all for keeping me company.

Rae

ShutterShy......

It's wonderful that you have begun your journey to a new slimmer you!! Congratulations on choosing LC as the way to do it. When you feel ready....consider adding exercise to your regimen. I'm suggesting this because of the effect of exercise on brain chemistry. I'd suffered most of my life, off and on, with depression. BUT.....since LCing and starting exercising, I've been able to quit the anti-depressants and have the best sense of well-being I've had in my whole life. It's so easy to get started too, if you just begin with a walk around the block. Before you know it....you will be walking miles and celebrating your ongoing weight loss!

Check out the Exercise Forum....where you will find the gym logs of many of the forum members who have chosen to make exercise a regular part of their lives.

Marlaine

What has been most comforting to me is knowing that I am not alone in "hating being FAT!". For years, I've hidden myself away, too self-conscious to see old friends, cringing when I knew people were looking closely at me, buying all those "big shirts" to properly cover myself... and suffering alone. Just reading that others have the same thoughts is a comfort to me, and seeing so many here that have beaten those thoughts & feelings is an inspiration.

Best of luck, Rae. Just know that you are not alone.

A year and a half ago when I was 26 pounds heavier than I am now, I used to go grocery shopping in the middle of the night so that nobody I knew would see me. In the daytime, I would get into my car in the attached garage and make sure the garage door was closed before I got out of the car when I returned because I didn't want my neighbors to see me. I avoided all social situations and was very reclusive because I was so ashamed of being fat. At my current weight, I am no longer nearly as depressed as I was but I am still not comfortable with myself at this weight. I would love to be able to buy an outfit because I really like it and not because it's slimming. I know I have come a long way because a year and a half ago, when I made a Wal-mart run at 3 AM, if I could find something that would fit around me, that's what I bought. I We shouldn't allow our emotional state to be ruled by our weight, but society has given us a heavy burden by equating being fat to somehow being immoral. The main reason I want to lose weight is because I don't ever want to be as depressed as I was when I was 26 pounds heavier.

Last night, in the heat of an argument, my husband called me a Cow.

How, now?

so.

i feel very different this morning. determined. pissed off....and
how
now
will i deal with thiiis relationship???

i know the standard reply is to leave. now.

but...things are not always so easily arranged.
does any one know what thiis situation is like?
Last night, in the heat of an argument, my husband called me a Cow.

Gosh! Where does anybody get off calling another person names like that? How old is your husband? What's being a "cow" got to do with what's bugging him? What kind of a person says something like that knowing that this is a vulnerable issue for you? I don't care how mad a person gets, name-calling and belittling is totally unacceptable!!! Get your husband a book on how to express feeling without killing his precious wife in the process!

I hope this guy's got some redeeming qualities that keep you in a relationship with him. If not, maybe you need to rethink the situation. We all need partners that are loving and supportive, not ones that go for the jugular in the heat of the moment.

I have all ideas that you are a wonderful person, but happen to have a lack of self-esteem. I can say this because I spent most of my life struggling with weight issues and spent tooooo much time thinking I was "less than" other people. I know how cruel people can be towards "less than perfect looking" folks!!! But I'll be darned if I'm going to be married to one of them!!!

Keep working on your weight AND your self-esteem, tell this guy his behavior is NOT OKAY and that if he doesn't change it - SEEEEEEEE YAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!! (and mean it - you really do deserve to be treated as the wonderful and precious person that you are ALREADY!!! FAT OR SKINNY!!!!!!!!

Sorry. I have a pet peeve about inconsiderate jerks!!!

Hey Guys, I spent many years being depressed and fat and I've come to learn that, for me, the actual depression changes your body chemistry in such a way that you actually put weight on. So, what comes first? It's hard to tell because things generally turn into a vicious cycle. Fat leads to depressed leads to more fat leads to more depressed, etc., etc.

Well maybe consider this. I've kept my weight rather low the last 15 or so years, but it's because I was off and on depression medication. I didn't have a bunch of weight to lose when I ran into "Protein Power", but I was still struggling and now that I'm a bit older it's getting even harder. I also wanted off my depression medication because it has some funky side effects that are tough to take. Plus it seemed like the more carbs I ate the hungrier I was (like a raging lunatic by 11 a.m.!) and I was starting to be tired all the time. Anyway, I picked up the book and saw where the Eades referred to "depression being the result of insulin sensitivity." Holy Moly!!! I jumped all over that. Because, I think, if you're depressed you not only crave more carbs (and you do - I mean, who binges on pork chops?), and your body chemistry holds onto more fat because your Brain Chemistry is messing with it. So, I've made some incredible discoveries since starting the low-carbing!!! I learned that if you not only cut the carbs, but add cod liver oil (it's really yukky, but heck, what's to lose?!), extra calcium, magnesium citrate (or chelate), and B complex you can actually MANAGE your depression which is keeping you overweight!

And guess what, after almost 6 months IT'S WORKING!!!! I'm off the meds, quit smoking (and you know you ALWAYS gain weight when you do - why do you think I continued to smoke?!!), and have more energy than I know what to do with!!!! I also just ordered a book on Omega Fatty Acids (which fish oil is jammed with, oh, and also flax seed oil) because they're calling these things the latest breakthrough in treating depression!!!

Ok. My point is, is that maybe by getting rid of the blues you won't be so hard on yourself while you're dropping your weight. And you know you're going to lose the weight because this diet works!!!

I'll keep you posted on my personal experiment if you want.

Yeah... the way I see it being fat isnt easy. There is always somethere to make you feel bad.

When I walk down the street, I feel like someone is giving me a disgusted look. They are being grossed out by my chubb. Not only that, teenagers can be cruel, too. I am so conscious that I cant even eat in public. I hate going out with my friends, cuz I feel ugly. I don't go to clubs because I m fat and I feel like I dont fit in with my crew. I love swimming and I always have. I used to swim everday but then I started gaining weight and put on a T-shirt.. but now I am way too embarassed to even step into a pool. There are so many things I love that I am so conscious about. Only because I ahve heard so many rude comments that now I cant stand the pain anymore.

NOw I tend to pretend I didn't hear. But yeh, I hear everything. Every single word is like a stabbing knife. I feel like crap. Sometimes even people close to you say things that hurt so much and they don't even realize it.

Everyday might start out happy, but at the end of the day there is always someone to ruin a perfectly happy day.

Maybe its just me? Maybe I take things to the heart. But I just can't help it anymore. I am broken inside. It's hard having people come up you and say, "Natasha, you used to be so pretty, what happened?" What do you mean what happeneD? I just gained weight, doesnt meant I got ugly.

I can't weight to lose the weight.

I guess I am a bit down today.. so just blabbing on. Have to let it out somewhere. After so many damn years, I am letting anything out. Finally I can relate to people, who feel exactly the way I do...

Though this time i m very determined. I'm going to make it no matter what

Tash