Weight gain

[BrokenHopes]

The last month or so I have gained about 8 kilo. I feel absolutely horrible about it. I have such a hard time being in my own body, feel trapped in a heavy bloated disgusting meat sack. Im scared because l have used food to escape my pain and reality.
My weight have fluctuated alot through out my whole life. But the last years it had been better and I worked hard to eat healthy and excersise.
Now Im in a depression for the 500th time and it all went out of the window.
I will somehow find the willpower to eat very little 800- 1000 calories a day. I have no energy for excercising so will mainly be still.
Anybody have any tips on how to eat little? What to eat to not be hungry and so on?

 

[OrcWitch]

If you're trying to eat little calories, I like those little bags of frozen veggies. They are cheap where I live at least, and there is a big serving of them that comes out to 200 calories or so. They're fine in a frying pan or roasted in the oven, and with hot sauce and other seasoning they can be really tasty and filling.

 

[BrokenHopes]

If you're trying to eat little calories, I like those little bags of frozen veggies. They are cheap where I live at least, and there is a big serving of them that comes out to 200 calories or so. They're fine in a frying pan or roasted in the oven, and with hot sauce and other seasoning they can be really tasty and filling.

That is actually a very good idea. Will make sure to get some bags of frozen veggies. Do you use oil to roast them in the oven or just like they are?

 

[OrcWitch]

That is actually a very good idea. Will make sure to get some bags of frozen veggies. Do you use oil to roast them in the oven or just like they are?

I use butter or olive oil in a frying pan, in the oven I cook them without any oil.

 

[BrokenHopes]

I use butter or olive oil in a frying pan, in the oven I cook them without any oil.

Cool, thank you.

 

[ClownMe]

I've gained a fair bit of weight over the past few months as my depression has gotten worse. I relate so much to what you're saying, it's awful.

 

[narval]

i can understand so much
My weight is going up and down since a lot of time. 2 things helps me lately (if i have the anticipation and laziness does not strikes badly):

• NO money for buying shit (or just the necesary money for the mandatory). One cannot buy trash food if you buyed first (IE) vegetables and doesn't have more cash or spent all the cash in, IDK, metro/bus/taxy/gas going to work... and the bank card conveniently in home well kept
• Just walking everywhere if it's reasonable. 40 minutes to the center it isn't too much (i live in small city :) )

 

[BrokenHopes]

I've gained a fair bit of weight over the past few months as my depression has gotten worse. I relate so much to what you're saying, it's awful.

Yes it is truly horrible. And clothes dont fit no more either Atleast we are not alone.

i can understand so much
My weight is going up and down since a lot of time. 2 things helps me lately (if i have the anticipation and laziness does not strikes badly):

• NO money for buying shit (or just the necesary money for the mandatory). One cannot buy trash food if you buyed first (IE) vegetables and doesn't have more cash or spent all the cash in, IDK, metro/bus/taxy/gas going to work... and the bank card conveniently in home well kept
• Just walking everywhere if it's reasonable. 40 minutes to the center it isn't too much (i live in small city :) )

Thank you. I cant use the money advice because I already spend more money than I should on food. Ordering home and shit.

The walking is a good idea. Used to walk alot before but I hate moving around with this much more weight. I want to escape my body and it is better done being still. Few walks might do me good though.

i can understand so much
My weight is going up and down since a lot of time. 2 things helps me lately (if i have the anticipation and laziness does not strikes badly):

• NO money for buying shit (or just the necesary money for the mandatory). One cannot buy trash food if you buyed first (IE) vegetables and doesn't have more cash or spent all the cash in, IDK, metro/bus/taxy/gas going to work... and the bank card conveniently in home well kept
• Just walking everywhere if it's reasonable. 40 minutes to the center it isn't too much (i live in small city :) )

Thank you. I cant use the money advice because I already spend more money than I should on food. Ordering home and shit.

The walking is a good idea. Used to walk alot before but I hate moving around with this much more weight. I want to escape my body and it is better done being still. Few walks might do me good though.

 

[Makko]

I recommend learning to stir-fry using a wok for lean and spicy food. Explore different seasonings and find what suits your taste (there are thousands of styles). I like to add lots of chili, sichuan pepper, garlic and aromatic herbs.

 

[OhSoTired]

It's a very difficult situation. I grew up in an abusive home where it felt like food was the only good thing in life. Until I was about 13 I regularly over-ate until I would get sick. Then I bounced between eating too much and not eating for days. As an adult I definitely ate my emotions all the time and still battle this often. When I decided to make changes I used an app to track calories. First I just set my goal high, just to see how many calories I was usually eating. Then I lowered my goal just under that. From tracking the foods, the most important thing I learned was what foods I felt were not worth the calories and slowly started to make changes. I have lost about 50lbs in about 6 years. Now, when I start to fall apart, and binge on nothing but junk for days, I try to remember that a few bad meals or even a few bad days doesn't undo all the work I've put in. I only really lose all the work I've put in, if I give up completely.

 

[OrcWitch]

Just walking everywhere if it's reasonable. 40 minutes to the center it isn't too much (i live in small city :) )

I think the only reason I'm not overweight is because of riding a bike everywhere for everything. But it's also only doable because I live in a small city. In a larger one I was walking and using public transport. I love food quite a bit

 

[All Things Must Pass]

At least it's reversible.

 

[noname223]

I have atypical anorexia. My medication slows down my metabolsim so I can only eat a very few things in order not to gain weight. I am very hungry every day. I like eating carrots they are cheap and have very low calories.

 

[OpheliasFlowers]

I agree with the suggestions about walking, and eating veggies and fruits as a large part of your diet. I struggle to put on and maintain weight so I'm calorie conscious in that respect (just it's the opposite reason as those wanting to lose weight) and because of my stomach issues my diet is quite limited, and therefore I don't get in a lot of calories. So I'm familiar with a diet/food intake that doesn't contain a lot of calories. One of my staple foods due to my stomach that is low calorie (unfortunately in my case) is SOUPS. Try to eat more soups. They will fill you up and help keep you hydrated. Just be sure to try to find the low sodium kind, or if you've got the energy to do so, make your own soups at home. I've also found some good snacks to be dried kale chips, or other kind of veggie-based chips (Brad's is a good brand. You can find them online). I get them for the nutritional value but for me it sucks that so many high nutrition foods are low calorie. lol

Anyway, I understand about struggling with weight and wth how weight can affect a person mentally -- it's just I understand from the opposite situation. I wish I weren't so emaciated looking; I avoid looking at myself in the mirror and I *hate* bathing or changing clothes where I'm forced to see this body I'm stuck in.

Good luck to you. I know altering eating habits is hard but I know you can do it. xo

 

[NumbItAll]

Try to eat enough lean protein so you can avoid overeating: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_leverage_hypothesis

I think some more research is needed on this but it certainly lines up with my experience. Ever since I prioritized eating enough protein several years ago it became easy not to consume any excess calories. I've never done any emotional eating though so not sure if this would help but it's worth a try. At least it will help you preserve muscle while losing weight. :)

 

[BrokenHopes]

I recommend learning to stir-fry using a wok for lean and spicy food. Explore different seasonings and find what suits your taste (there are thousands of styles). I like to add lots of chili, sichuan pepper, garlic and aromatic herbs.

Hey thanks. I will definetely try this.

It's a very difficult situation. I grew up in an abusive home where it felt like food was the only good thing in life. Until I was about 13 I regularly over-ate until I would get sick. Then I bounced between eating too much and not eating for days. As an adult I definitely ate my emotions all the time and still battle this often. When I decided to make changes I used an app to track calories. First I just set my goal high, just to see how many calories I was usually eating. Then I lowered my goal just under that. From tracking the foods, the most important thing I learned was what foods I felt were not worth the calories and slowly started to make changes. I have lost about 50lbs in about 6 years. Now, when I start to fall apart, and binge on nothing but junk for days, I try to remember that a few bad meals or even a few bad days doesn't undo all the work I've put in. I only really lose all the work I've put in, if I give up completely.

That is great work you have done! It is really hard this battle with food. I also used food for comfort from a really young age. I used a calorie app when I lost weight but I have almost gained it all back now. It is so scary when you feel you loose control.

I have atypical anorexia. My medication slows down my metabolsim so I can only eat a very few things in order not to gain weight. I am very hungry every day. I like eating carrots they are cheap and have very low calories.

Thank you! Carrots is a good idea. Sounds like a struggle to be hungry so often.

 

[Makko]

Hey thanks. I will definetely try this.

Magical tip: black bean paste. Get it at an asian store. The super easy way to make anything a salty & savory flavor bomb.

 

[BrokenHopes]

I agree with the suggestions about walking, and eating veggies and fruits as a large part of your diet. I struggle to put on and maintain weight so I'm calorie conscious in that respect (just it's the opposite reason as those wanting to lose weight) and because of my stomach issues my diet is quite limited, and therefore I don't get in a lot of calories. So I'm familiar with a diet/food intake that doesn't contain a lot of calories. One of my staple foods due to my stomach that is low calorie (unfortunately in my case) is SOUPS. Try to eat more soups. They will fill you up and help keep you hydrated. Just be sure to try to find the low sodium kind, or if you've got the energy to do so, make your own soups at home. I've also found some good snacks to be dried kale chips, or other kind of veggie-based chips (Brad's is a good brand. You can find them online). I get them for the nutritional value but for me it sucks that so many high nutrition foods are low calorie. lol

Anyway, I understand about struggling with weight and wth how weight can affect a person mentally -- it's just I understand from the opposite situation. I wish I weren't so emaciated looking; I avoid looking at myself in the mirror and I *hate* bathing or changing clothes where I'm forced to see this body I'm stuck in.

Good luck to you. I know altering eating habits is hard but I know you can do it. xo

That is really interesting to hear someone from the opposite perspective. I was always a bit jealous of your kind but I see now that is also truly a struggle.
I also hate bathing and especially changing clothes now that in such a short period they dont fit anymore. It is a extremly awful feeling to feel stuck in your body. I feel it everyday. Even when I was 8 kilo less I could not stand it.

Good idea with the chips and soups. I hope we have those chips here.
Thank you! Wish you all the best in your struggle.

Try to eat enough lean protein so you can avoid overeating: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_leverage_hypothesis

I think some more research is needed on this but it certainly lines up with my experience. Ever since I prioritized eating enough protein several years ago it became easy not to consume any excess calories. I've never done any emotional eating though so not sure if this would help but it's worth a try. At least it will help you preserve muscle while losing weight. :)

Thank you! I used to eat high protein when I was loosing weight. The problem is when Im depressed and want to drown my sorrows in food. Anyhow will take your advice to my arsenal.

 

[OrcWitch]

One of my staple foods due to my stomach that is low calorie (unfortunately in my case) is SOUPS. Try to eat more soups.

Your situation with the struggling to gain weight sounds very difficult.

I have forgotten until your post just how much I like canned soup. It is one of those foods that I have every few years, enjoy it quite a bit and then wonder why I don't do it more often, similar to peanut butter&jelly sandwiches. Thank you for the reminder.

 

[OpheliasFlowers]

Your situation with the struggling to gain weight sounds very difficult.

I have forgotten until your post just how much I like canned soup. It is one of those foods that I have every few years, enjoy it quite a bit and then wonder why I don't do it more often, similar to peanut butter&jelly sandwiches. Thank you for the reminder.

Chicken noodle with a good PB&J sandwich, or tomato soup with grilled cheese are such wonderful comfort foods and are especially wonderful in the winter (I grew up in a midwestern northern state with bitterly cold winters) after being outdoors.

I'm glad to have reminded you of something you enjoy. :) Thank YOU for that. I hope you'll enjoy some delicious soup and sandwiches soon (say that 3 times fast!) <3

That is really interesting to hear someone from the opposite perspective. I was always a bit jealous of your kind but I see now that is also truly a struggle.
I also hate bathing and especially changing clothes now that in such a short period they dont fit anymore. It is a extremly awful feeling to feel stuck in your body. I feel it everyday. Even when I was 8 kilo less I could not stand it.

Good idea with the chips and soups. I hope we have those chips here.
Thank you! Wish you all the best in your struggle.

Thank you! I used to eat high protein when I was loosing weight. The problem is when Im depressed and want to drown my sorrows in food. Anyhow will take your advice to my arsenal.

Thank you for the kind words for my own weight struggle. I appreciate it very much.

Oh and I hear you about the clothes issue. My clothes hang off of me and I hate it but I keep hoping I'll gain and then they'll be ok again. It's frustrating when the gaining never happens though.

It is indeed an extremely awful feeling to be stuck inside your own body - a body that you hate and that doesn't feel like 'you'. I wish you all the best in your journey to lose weight and feel better and happier. Here's to both of us being able to successfully 'remodel' these 'homes' we're stuck inside. Will be keeping you in my thoughts.

 

[Angst Filled Fuck Up]

I do low carb/keto periodically because I always eat too much pizza and cookies and shit. I go from one extreme to the other. Like 4000 calories a day to 1000. But because I am so tall the weight does really fly off once I go low carb. It works really well, and fights insulin sensitivity, so it kind of turns off the hunger hormone. You feel rough for the first few days but then it gets better and you don't even miss food much. Just recently I lost 17lbs in two weeks, but of course I'm working on putting it back again as I fell off the wagon once more. Sigh.

 

[Darkmoon Queen]

The last month or so I have gained about 8 kilo. I feel absolutely horrible about it. I have such a hard time being in my own body, feel trapped in a heavy bloated disgusting meat sack. Im scared because l have used food to escape my pain and reality.
My weight have fluctuated alot through out my whole life. But the last years it had been better and I worked hard to eat healthy and excersise.
Now Im in a depression for the 500th time and it all went out of the window.
I will somehow find the willpower to eat very little 800- 1000 calories a day. I have no energy for excercising so will mainly be still.
Anybody have any tips on how to eat little? What to eat to not be hungry and so on?

Weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise. The good thing is that if you just hold out and stop eating junk, the cravings completely disappear, making it far easier to lose weight.

I wouldn't go straight to 800-1000 calories a day, that's very difficult to sustain long term. Try 1200-1400 for sustained, realistic loss.

 

[clown_17]

I relate to this. It's mostly because of my meds so there's not much I can do. I follow a diet that still has snacks but they're all healthy (no sugar, dairy, limited carbs). It's helps a little but not a lot.

 

[stilldreaming]

Since I've always been fairly active, I've never had huge variations in weight (though I did like to gain/lose 10 lbs repeatedly, so vexing).

What worked for me was just gradually increasing my veg and bean intake with everything I eat. I eat whatever I want, I just can't eat too much of it because of all the veg and beans filling me up. Basically: all naturally high fiber foods are naturally low in calories, and fill you up very effectively (for me, far more satiating than protein, whilst also being lower calorie).

Our gut microbiome needs to be changed slowly so that it has the time to propagate the necessary microbes to digest whatever we're eating a lot of. I started by adding just a handful of spinach to my curry / spaghetti etc. Then after a few weeks I added a spoonful of lentils. Etc etc until I'm easily consuming huge amounts of greens and beans/legumes when I eat, and too full to eat dessert even if I wanted to.

Oh and if I'm stressed I try to eat fruit and nuts more frequently especially in the morning when I'm more motivated.

So this might be a stressy day:

-usual breakfast of porridge (microwave oats for 1m20, add frozen blueberries and cinnamon, then microwave another minute. Add chia seeds and ground flax)

-within 2hrs later: have an apple / piece of fruit

-very filling early lunch (either cook something, or have leftovers, or a sandwich. Sandwich will either be PBJ or a hummus sandwich spread quite thickly with hummus, or a very easy burrito I've been enjoying lately, can provide details if you like). Frozen broccoli always on the side too / mixed in, only 3-4 florets is needed for a serving. Start with one or two and build.

-asap have more fruit / nuts when I can, and try not to listen to the stupid 'nah I'm actually FULL' voice that'll want me to eat more later if I don't preemptively silence it. (Often we're 'full' for healthy food but not for junk...most people wouldn't eat a second apple, but don't hesitate for a second slice of pizza)

-dinner: I eat something quite light, if I had eg pasta for lunch then I might have some grapes, it's probably all I have room for tbh. Carrots and hummus (maybe some grape tomatoes too) if I need extra.


Microwaving greens wilts em really fast, you can pile a plate very high with eg kale, and after just a minute it's down to nothing and will mix easily into whatever.

Basically for me, processed food is too addictive when I'm stressed so I stick to minimally processed stuff (eg pre-made hummus, low-sodium tins of beans etc).

I stopped cooking with oil too as oil is just excess calories, you can water fry (with plain water or broth). Fat, salt, and sugar encourage my appetite too much, but fortunately plants have fiber which help stabilize the blood sugar, which helps lead to much fewer cravings.

Feel free to pm if you have any questions. I'm kinda confused how much I still go through all my healthy habits, but I guess it's worth it because physically at least it does help. Whatever else I do wrong, no one could fault my diet / exercise / sleep routine........

Good luck x