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Depression+Weight Gain=MORE DEPRESSION

Tagged as: Health, Teenage<< Previous question   Next question >>
Question - (19 December 2011) 4 Answers - (Newest, 20 December 2011)
A female United States age 30-35, anonymous writes:

about 5 months ago when i was told i wasnt aloud to talk to my boyfriend anymore i got very depressed and gained some weight. i didnt think it was that much at 1st but now im realizing, since its winter, that some of my pants and coats are really tight. How do i shed this poundage before i turn 18 in 81 days???

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A male reader, LovelessAct1 United States +, writes (20 December 2011):

I agree with all the talk about "healthy" weight loss. Like many things, there is a right way and a wrong way to go about becoming more active and/or losing weight.

There are certain things you need to take into account such as your metabolism, previous weight, current weight, current exercise routine, sleep schedule, and eating habits.

You don't want to get into anything rigorous if you A) don't have a normal sleep schedule (around 8 hours a night, at a typical time of night) B) don't have a normal eating schedule (breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner all consisting of a balanced meal - no skipping meals) or C) have any medical issues that could affect your ability to exercise in some way. If any of these are abnormal, intense exercise can lead to issues that won't help you meet your goals and won't have you feeling any better physically or emotionally.

Also your current weight can be something to take into consideration. If you were already considered underweight by medical standards and gained some weight, besides your clothes being too tight this could be considered healthier. If this wasn't the case, then you need to gauge how much you should lose to get into that healthy range based on your height, bone structure, etc.

With all that said, if we assume you were of an average weight, have normal sleep/eating schedule, and do not have any medical concerns, I would look into starting a simple workout routine of 3-4 days a week, usually every other day. Get into basic cardio with some weight training mixed in. This will make you feel healthier. I wouldn't recommend solely running as your only source of activity, as it can really strain your knees. Run for a bit, do some other cardio machines, do pliometrics, circuit training, and end with some weights.

Also, its good to work all parts of your body when doing weights; this will give you more balance overall. There is a lot to learn when it comes to weight training so do a little bit of research and find out what works best for you. But always remember to do so with your health in mind NOT your looks. Some of the things you'd do to lose weight can be harmful to your body; make sure you look into it.

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A female reader, Miamine United Kingdom +, writes (20 December 2011):

Miamine agony auntWalking.. walking in winter keeps you walm, and because you have to work harder the weight falls off. It's too hard to cut calories at winter, because your body wants the extra food to keep it nice and warm.

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A female reader, k_c100 United Kingdom +, writes (20 December 2011):

k_c100 agony auntWell what do you weigh and how tall are you? How much have you gained? What dress size are you? What are you currently eating? Do you do any exercise? What are your main weaknesses when it comes to food? Where have you been going wrong with your weight?

Without this information it is hard to help you.

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A female reader, bluecow United Kingdom +, writes (20 December 2011):

bluecow agony auntok you need to look at healthy weight loss. I'm not a fan of the VLCD's (very low calorie diets) unless under prescription from a doctor and with proper support. I also detest all the fad diets.

So... you are wanting to lose fat at a achievable rate to an achievable target.

I dont know what you weigh, what your activity levels are, how high you are OR what your target is. Everyone is different, and your own muscle mass will effect your weight.

Personally I prefer to measure weight loss in cm and inches rather than in lbs. This is because muscle weighs more than fat and so you may not lose much weight (if you dont have much fat to lose) but you will lose inches.

ok.

It really is very very simple.

First decide how much you need to lose... then divide it by 3. That 1/3 is your first TARGET. Its much more achievable than looking at the whole amount in one go. By splitting the lbs into more managable targets you dont feel like you have so far to go each time.

Eat a healthy balanced diet and excercise. The very basic rule of thumb is that you need to be burning more calories than you are taking in to achieve weight loss. Excercise slowly to start if your a beginner and then increase the time and effort you put in. To begin with a 15min fast walk which increases your pulse rate is enough per day. Drink 4 pints of water a day - with at least 1/2 pint with every meal. You might want to think about splitting your meals into smaller portions too so your never going long without food.

Remember that a healthy balanced diet does include the occasional treat too. I dont mean a huge binge on all your favourite fatty foods, but treat yourself once a week to something you really LOVE. I firmly believe that if you deny yourself its the quickest way to fail.

The trouble with simple is that actually it can be very hard, when food is your crutch. You need to look at swapping food for something else whenever your feeling down. If the hunger pangs strike drink a half pint of water. Then get out of the room and DO SOMETHING! Anything, just dont sit there watching tv thinking about how hungry you are. Tidy your room, paint your nails, you get the idea.

Now once you reach that first target do something ULTRA SPECIAL. Like have a manicure, pedicure, buy some new shoes, have your hair done, have a 3 hour bubble bath... you get the idea.

Weigh yourself once a week, and take your measurements at the same time. Do not weight yourself or measure yourself any more than this... its neurotic and unhealthy.

Reaching that first target will spur you on to keep going. Depending on how much you have to lose, you might want to split your ultimate goal into 4, 5 or even 6 (if its a large amount).

The thing about weight loss is not to treat it as a "diet". Its a whole new lifestyle. Your not just doing this to achieve the goal weight, your doing this to achieve a happier healthier life, and its something you will continue to do.... if you dont the fat will pile back on.

I cant promise that you will be at your ultimate goal in 81 days but you will be well well on the way there. You will also find your skin is looking better, your body will feel tighter and more toned and your confidence will be soooo much higher.

All the studies done on depression in relation to excercise vs pills vs counselling have proven that excercise is the BIGGEST way to get better. So even when your having a really bad day - force yourself to get out of the house and take that walk.

HUGS xxx

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