Now I'm totally, categorically, completely and unequivocally disgusted with myself

[Jainarayan]

I thought Health & Healing is as good a place as any for my self-loathing rant.

I have completely let myself go to hell in a hand basket. Since about April or May of last year (2015) I put on lots of weight. I mean... 3 pants sizes weight. Do not ask me why... I don't know. I have been eating everything and anything that crossed my path, whether it was animate or inanimate, could defend itself or not.

I was still weight training up to a couple of months before my back surgery but then I stopped. There was really no reason to stop working out except for getting fat and lazy. I have recently slowly started going back to the gym and easing into my routine. Oddly, I haven't lost too much strength.

I lost about 15 lbs during my recovery, mostly from not having an appetite post-op (that can happen, I hear). That made my 42s not as snug as they were before surgery, as I was well on my way to 44s It brought me down to about 215 lbs. My goal is about 175 lbs, and 36-38 pants. Anyway, I've about had enough of this. I do not want to gain any more weight, or stay this size. I'm starting by cutting out the sugars, cookies, snacks and other crap I get from the cafeteria at work, because of afternoon boredom. I know portion control and good nutrition because I've done it before. If I did it before I can do it again.

This was Aug. 2014. Spoilered only because I'm shirtless (keep Google Ads happy though the pics are SFW).

Spoiler: Not a bodybuilder, but not a bad physique.

This is... well... this is... um... an abomination...

Spoiler: Spoilered because what is seen cannot be unseen

 

[Kueid]

In my country we have a say "Ta no inferno, abraça o capeta". It kind translates to "when in hell, hug the devil". I think it apply just well with your situation.

 

[Quagmire]

Good luck Frank.

 

[Revoltingest]

Portion control.....dang that thing is difficult.
Eating is so much fun!

 

[Jainarayan]

Portion control.....dang that thing is difficult.
Eating is so much fun!

Tell me about it... that's how I got to 230 lbs.

Oh, and btw... I'm 5' 5".

 

[Nietzsche]

Tell me about it... that's how I got to 230 lbs.

Oh, and btw... I'm 5' 5".

Little short for a Viking, aren't you?

 

[Wu Wei]

I have lost 20 pounds since January without portion control (I hate portion control, but it has involved exercise and a mostly vegetarian diet.

 

[Jainarayan]

Little short for a Viking, aren't you?

Yeah, it really sucks but don't forget I got those bargain basement Mediterranean genes too.

According to The Viking Answer Lady, the average height for the Norse was about 5' 7" - 5' 9".

 

[Jainarayan]

I have lost 20 pounds since January without portion control (I hate portion control, but it has involved exercise and a mostly vegetarian diet.

I've tried vegetarian, but it becomes too carb heavy for me. I have a problem controlling my carb intake. I can start ramping up my cardio. I definitely can't run, but I can start walking on a treadmill.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

Yeah, it really sucks but don't forget I got those bargain basement Mediterranean genes too.

According to The Viking Answer Lady, the average height for the Norse was about 5' 7" - 5' 9".

Which was still big enough for the other Europeans to think of them as Giants, towering above them...

 

[ratikala]

Namaste Thorbjorn Ji ,

I thought Health & Healing is as good a place as any for my self-loathing rant.

I have completely let myself go to hell in a hand basket. Since about April or May of last year (2015) I put on lots of weight. I mean... 3 pants sizes weight. Do not ask me why... I don't know. I have been eating everything and anything that crossed my path, whether it was animate or inanimate, could defend itself or not.

I was still weight training up to a couple of months before my back surgery but then I stopped. There was really no reason to stop working out except for getting fat and lazy. I have recently slowly started going back to the gym and easing into my routine. Oddly, I haven't lost too much strength.

Health and healing is a good place , ....and personaly I think that a realy important part of Healing is being understanding and loving towards your self , ...so no more self loathing , ....cut your self some slack ... you have had an opperation , getting back to normal is a gradual process , ...So best wishes , hope all goes well and you are back to your ols self soon , ....

 

[Jainarayan]

Thanks. Yeah, one step at a time.

 

[crossfire]

I've tried vegetarian, but it becomes too carb heavy for me. I have a problem controlling my carb intake. I can start ramping up my cardio. I definitely can't run, but I can start walking on a treadmill.

You can try something novel, like not eating anything that is beige colored.

 

[Daemon Sophic]

Yeah. Going from a heavy workout situation and training yourself to eat accordingly, followed by cessation of the workouts almost never ends well. The "core" brain keeps wanting to eat at the same levels as when you were exercising. That is why many ex-soldiers, ex-firemen, and cops away from the academy tend to really pack it on.

I have lost 20 pounds since January without portion control (I hate portion control, but it has involved exercise and a mostly vegetarian diet.

Veggie is the way to go, but simple veggie is definitely best. Whole grains, unprocessed fruit and vegetables; even nuts, avocados, and similar fatty stuff. But avoid the processed (read 'predigested') stuff. Nothing white. No potatoes, no white bread, no sugary confections, no white rice. If it "goes down easy", then you shouldn't have eaten it.

 

[allfoak]

It's not how much we eat that is the problem, it is what we eat that causes us trouble.
I eat 2 to 4000 calories a day depending on my activity, with no meat or processed foods included.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Hey, don't feel so bad. You're a lot better than me. I'm about the same height as you but I'm 300+.

 

[Madhuri]

Sound like it's time to get serious about diet. You can make healthy snacks at home to bring to work for your afternoon boredom. Even if you aren't vegetarian, any diet should include mostly veggies. But you'll want to choose veggies with low carbs. Don't eliminate fruit but don't eat too much either because of high sugar content.
The most important thing is to have a plan otherwise it's too easy to waver back to the naughty foods.

Oh yeh, and plenty of water! Try to stay away from tea/coffee or soft drinks as water replacement.

 

[Helvetios]

If this was the games/jokes/stories subforum I'd suggest cancer -- it worked for me, I was losing 5 lb/week! Jokes aside though, I do have suggestions that aren't related to diet since other posters have that covered.

On a piece of paper, write down or draw what kind of person you want to be. There can be different goals. Physical strength, mental health and discipline, better diet, losing weight, being outside more often, more positive social interactions... a lot of factors can make or break your overall health. If you want to lose weight and become more physically healthy, then you may find it helpful to work on more than just regulating diet and exercise.

To keep any progress you've made, you will need to be mentally up for the challenge of continuing to become the person you want to be, by maintaining the new habits you develop. Real success is built on the foundation of the little things you do every day, not a big jump from where you were to where you want to be. Every little task you do could be altered to help you achieve your goals. Maybe you'll walk more when you have the choice, or stand to work instead of sitting all day (can't remember your profession but you get the point).

Another note: your metabolism has probably shifted as you gained weight. You may have to be patient until your body takes the hint and starts dropping the pounds. While I have the opposite problem, I understand how frustrating it can be sometimes. But in the end I think you can do it.

 

[Jainarayan]

The sad thing is that the café does have veg. snacks pre-cut in containers, Greek yogurt and things like that. Unfortunately grabbing the cookies or a donut becomes a bad habit.

 

[Jainarayan]

If this was the games/jokes/stories subforum I'd suggest cancer -- it worked for me, I was losing 5 lb/week! Jokes aside though, I do have suggestions that may help. On a piece of paper, write down or draw what kind of person you want to be. There can be different goals. ...

I'm sorry to hear about the cancer. Hearing about other people's situations and battles does give one pause!

I went a little overboard with the goal setting... Suffice to say I set them too high and got discouraged.