A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:This is most definitely a confidence and health issue.For a while now, I have been trying to lose weight, because I'm low on confidence and my partner and I's sex life has suffered from it, simply because I can't bear to have him touch me or sometimes look at my naked body - I am a UK 16-18.I'm usually used to bloating around my period but this month, the bloating hasn't reduced. It's just stayed and I don't know what to do about it, exercise seems to do nothing - I walked 3 miles uphill yesterday for example.It makes no sense that my diet is great, I get good exercise and have more stamina than much slimmer friends, yet my body is holding on to this much fluid all of a sudden. I don't know if it's stress/anxiety as I'm moving away, or maybe I am not getting enough water?Either way, this situation is depressing and I don't think it's fair on my partner. What to do, besides go see a doctor? :(
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reader, anonymous, writes (28 June 2010): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionI don't mind at all k_c100.
Exercise, more protein, less carbs, hell of a lot of determination, active hobbies and a bit of stress thrown in for good measure. :P
A
female
reader, k_c100 +, writes (28 June 2010):
 Congratulations! How did you do it if you dont mind me asking?
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reader, anonymous, writes (28 June 2010): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionBeen a while ... but I'm 5 stone lighter now. :D
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reader, anonymous, writes (16 September 2009): It sounds like you are just retaining water, which is part of being a female in her reproductive years.
The best thing is to drink more water, believe it or not, it helps your kidneys flush out the waste in your system.
If you are a drinker, stop as that causes a lot of bloating and swelling.
Also, if you eat a lot of processed foods, look at the amount of salt you are consuming in one day and cut that down as much as possible. I find cooking meals from scratch, I control the amount of sodium, I don't like the taste of too much salt. Fast food is absolutely loaded with salt, stop eating fast food if you are eating it now, and you will see a big change.
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reader, anonymous, writes (16 September 2009): Accept yourself as you are--fat, slim, or whatever. There is too much emphasis in some countries on weight. Everyone has a different metabolism. Even though you don't want to hear about going to a doctor, you might think about it. It could be that you have an under active thyroid or other problem that medication could help. I am on thyroid meds and lost about 15 lbs. after I went on it.
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reader, anonymous, writes (15 September 2009): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionThere has been some lovely responses here and some great tips - some I knew but some others I had no idea! Thankyou, I will bear those in mind. I usually get this very same bloating during a period and the best I can explain it is that it hasn't gone down yet, a week after. Usually by this time the "excess" is gone. It often feels different, too. I can tell that this is water, as I've said feels like a hot water bottle! Usually it is firmer.
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reader, anonymous, writes (15 September 2009): About your self confidence. I understand how you are feeling and that is your motivation to lose weight.
But instead try accepting your body right now for the way it is. Be grateful for it, you are healthy and young and you are walking, your body is serving you.
You are the average size woman (for the US) so you have plenty of company in the world.
Your boyfriend thinks you are attractive just the way you are, and I am sure he likes all of your jiggly bits. So embrace your body and don't be shy or ashamed of it, letting him show you how he feels about it can help boost your self confidence if anything. Most men are just happy to have a naked woman in bed with them!
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reader, anonymous, writes (15 September 2009): Grapes are a high glycemic food, avoid them, you may be insulin resistant. Also, no oranges or orange juice or banannas.
Nuts are a tasty and very filling snack. Just eat a very few and you will feel satisfied....for the hungries.
You probably do need a check up just to be sure about your bloating. If it is water retention, eat less salt, and drink more water. If it is digestive, eat more fiber or take fiber pills, like Citrucel daily. If it is gynocological, you will need a workup there.
But, more likely it is not, belly fat is the last to go when toning up and loosing weight, frustrating I know.
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reader, anonymous, writes (15 September 2009): I am gonna put this in short format:
Weight loss is simple math.
Calories eaten - Calories burned = proper weight
Avoid foods with high fructose corn syrup and sugar
(It is katsup, spaghetti sauce, crackers, cereal, bread
processed foods, sweets) Read the labels
Starches: Avoid these
Eat Whole Grain Breads
Eat Whole Grain Pastas
Eat Brown Rice
Avoid Corn and Corn products
Avoid Potatoes and Potato Prodcucts
Do not eat Fried Foods, chips, fries, chicken, fish
Eat 5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day
Avoid high glycemic fruits and veggies like bannans and corn
Eat foods high in fiber, beans, nuts (are great satisfying snacks, just limit the calories) et.
Fiber helps keep bloating and digestions regulated, plus helps you avoid getting types of cancer. It gives you a feeling of fullness.
Limit Alchoholic Beverages to 6 oz per day (one glass of wine with dinner) Taken with food is best.
Eat Lean meats like chicken turkey pork and Fish, baked, not fried
Weigh your food, control portion size, a serving of chicken is the size of one deck of cards.
You can load up on any amount of salad you want, use low fat dressings, balsamic vinegar and olive oil is great!
Drink a glass of lukewarm water before a meal, it helps fill you up and stave off hunger.
Drinking Tea can substitute for water during the day.
Avoid diet sodas, and by cutting out sugared colas you can drop weight quickly.
http://www.lifeclinic.com/focus/nutrition/food-pyramid.asp
Above is the healthy eating Pyramid and how much you should have.
If you want to loose weight you have to excercise and limit calorie intake to less than what you are eating now to maintain your weight. Probably about 1300 calories a day for you.
Keep a jornal of what you eat, you have to count the calories to know what you are eating. There are several online journals that you can use to track and look up calories of foods. Calorieking.com is a free one
Do some weight training to build muscle mass, Muscle burns more calories (even in your sleep).
If you follow a calorie count program and keep track, and do moderate excercise, you should loose a health7 2 pouns per week.
What you are after is a lifestyle change, not a quick fix where you will gain all the weight back once you start back to normal habits. Don't think of it as being on a diet, you aren't you are just eating right and excercising.
Aerobic excercise will really help as well. Cycling is about the best aerobic excercise their is, and I don't mean a stationary bike. That and swimming. I don't like to swim, but I swear by clcling to loose weight and keep muscles toned.
Just do the math.
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female
reader, k_c100 +, writes (15 September 2009):
Well that sounds like you are doing all the right things so maybe diet is not the reason behind your bloating, it might be worth going to see your doctor.
While I have been trying to lose weight the major thing I have found which helps give me a flat (well, flatter!) tummy that isnt bloated is to completely cut out processed foods, including anything you might buy in a jar, tin etc. Even if it says "low fat" - generally if it is in packaging that helps it to last a long time (tins, jars, frozen...etc) then it will have lots of chemicals in it and it will be highly processed. I made the mistake of eating low-fat ready meals that were under 400 cals if I couldnt be bothered to cook tea, or I would buy the supermarket's versions of low fat sauces thinking because it was low fat and low calorie it would mean I would lose weight. The no white food rule always helps too (except dairy) - so no potatoes, white pasta, white rice or white bread. That is a major cause of bloating - I find potatoes are the worst. So I have completely stopped eating them, including jacket potatoes and it has really helped!
But now, since I cut out ALL processed food (apart from bacon!) I have lost 1 stone 5 lbs so far and I only have another 9lbs to go! It has made a huge difference - I feel so much less bloated and the weight is coming off much easier. While it is a pain to have to cook everything from scratch, it does make a big difference! And running appears to be the best form of exercise for shifting the weight after much trial and error! I used to go to the gym, spent a lot of time walking, doing weights at home, pilates....I pretty much tried every form of exercise you can think of but the only one that has had real results is running 5k four times a week. It sounds hard - and it is super hard at first but it really works and you get used to it after a while. I have been running for around 2 months now and I have lost nearly 10lbs in that space of time and I have got a much more defined body because of it! Running outdoors is so much better than what you will achieve running on a treadmill - the uneven surfaces give all your muscles a better workout.
I know running seems tough and you might think that walking will do the job - it really wont. I used to walk for nearly an hour a day and never lost a pound - it is all about the running. Even if you can only run for a few minutes then need a walk, this is fine! You will gradually see your fitness building up and you will be able to run slightly longer each time. Just measure out a 5k route and do it as often as you can, once you get used to a route you can start making little targets like "I'll run to that next bridge and then you are allowed to walk".
Aside from this I think you are doing all the right things and you will see some results soon. If the bloating doesnt go away within a week I suggest you see your doctor - they will be able to help further with this issue.
I know how hard it is to be overweight and it really does affect all areas of your life, but you should feel proud of yourself that you are doing something about it. You could just lie down on the sofa and eat all your favourite foods to make you feel better but instead you have been strong and decided to change your life for the better. And you should feel very proud of that! It takes a huge deal of commitment and strength to decide to lose weight, and it is so hard at times when you dont see results quick enough. But I have learnt that if your weight loss is taking a long time then you are much more likely to keep it off and stay at a healthy weight for the rest of your life.
Well done for making this change and I am sure soon you will see the results of all your hard work! There really is nothing more satisfying to drop a dress size, when your jeans are all too big it is the best feeling in the world! I'm only 5"3 and was a 14/16 and now I'm pretty much back in all my old size 12 clothes, it feels amazing and really makes all my hard work pay off. Try not to worry about your partner too much in all of this - you are losing the weight for you, not for him, so it doesnt matter what he thinks as long as you know that you are trying your hardest. Your partner will love you for who you are and should be supporting you throughout this, so he will just want to see you happy. Keep on doing what you are doing and keep focused, and at the end of the day even if you see no real physical changes on the outside, you know that on the inside you are healthy and that is all that matters.
I hope this helps and good luck!
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reader, anonymous, writes (15 September 2009): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionHi k_c100.
I am controlling my calories, anything from 1200-1500 a day. I used to eat a lot of chocolate, like Maltesers and Mikado (you know, those chocolate-covered thin sticks). Now the only time I have any of these is if it's offered occasionally, and I find one mouthful is enough. I've made my plates smaller at mealtimes: I now eat little and often, and any snacks I have are usually grapes or celery. I've stopped eating very late at night too as this would not have been helping me either. I've put myself on a mainly vegetarian diet but still eat leaner meats like chicken and turkey. I use skimmed milk, and low fat options where I can. I am also not having as much white bread and pasta, instead opting for the multigrain bread and pasta.
In fact, my diet is downright boring ... *lol* But yet, my belly feels like a hot water bottle!
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female
reader, k_c100 +, writes (15 September 2009):
Without knowing exactly what you are eating it is hard to say. Exercise doesnt really have much impact on bloating - it is normally to do with diet, water and hormones. If you want to outline what you eating then I might be able to help, but you would have to be totally honest about what you are eating rather than leaving out the odd thing here and there (we all do it!).
I was around 2 stone overweight this time last year and I put myself on a diet and started exercising. I wasnt really losing any weight and still felt as bloated as before - I couldnt understand why! The reality was even though I was on a diet, it was the wrong kind of diet and I was just convincing myself that my diet was "great" when in reality I could have tried a lot harder. I'm not saying this is the case with you - but if you are still bloated then the chances are you are not eating the right foods. But without knowing your meals and snacks (and drinks) on a daily basis I cant really help much further!
Feel free to respond to this with some more info and I will try and help!
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