Obesity

Question
I am 19 years old and obese. I have been fat since around 10 years old. In the 8th grade, I weighed 175 pounds. In the 11th grade, I weighed 365 pounds. It has all come from over eating,depression,environment. I grew up in a single parent household run by my mother. She has always been fat and has numerous health problems because of it. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in the november of 03 and my cardiologist ordered me on a diet. At that time my weight was at its peak. I weighed 365 pounds. I made only 1 change in my diet. No soda pop at all. I figured i was gaining atleast 600 calories a day from sweetened soda. In about a 1 year period, I dropped down to 315. That is where i still linger today.  I crave fatening foods and other junk foods. Iv tried diets but I just can't stick to one. I never never eaten a salad in my life. I tasted lettuce once and nearly vomited. I just don't know what to do. I don't know what type of diet to do that lets me fullfill some food cravings while still loosing weight. Do you have any advice?

Answer
Brandon, I feel your pain. You have had rough teenage years. Now that you are getting older you have to really do some soul searching and figure out why you are eating when you aren't really hungry. Genetics play a big role in why people gain weight, but because the average weights have increased so much, we know it's not just genetics. Other reasons for gaining weight are: boredom, food cravings, lack of activity, type of food you eat, anxiety, increased emotions and depression.
Because you list a few reasons that fall into the anxiety/emotional category, I think you need to find someone to talk to. Anger over living with your overweight mom is fueling your eating. What you don't realize is that you are really angry at yourself for not being in control. Everytime you overeat you get mad and eat more. It can become a really bad cycle of overeating and weight gain. So what I suggest to you is to do some soul searching and accept that your mom is overweight, but she is not the cause, only a catalyst to your problem. Give your mom a big hug, it's not all her fault. You are ultimately in control of what you eat and what activity you do on a daily basis. You have learned her bad eating habits and have probably inherited her ability to store fat easily, but you can change those habits.
You have to commit to a life change and you have to write down your life goals. Every day is a new day and every day you must do something to reach your goal. If you can quit soda, then you do have willpower. Next commit to a daily walk of thirty minutes. No excuses ever, just make time and do it. Lifting weights is a great exercise for overweight guys. You can quickly jump start your metabolism by building muscle with weight lifting. Go out and start with some light weights at the YMCA, or buy some 10 pounders at the store along with a book on weight lifting, you can do it in your home. Commit to weight lifting 1-2 days per week. When you can motivate yourself to exercise, then start changing your diet. Sugar and other simple carbohydrates are the big culprits in fueling food cravings. Stay away from sugar, fruit juices, white bread, bagels, fast food, pasta, mac and cheese, and other foods like that. Stick with whole grains, whole fruits, lean meats, chicken, tuna fish, egg whites, vegetables, and lot's of water. Taking a daily multivitamin is a good idea too. You can have a few regular eggs per week. I hate lettuce too, but I will eat an occasional vegetable with butter or margarine on it. Get a dietitian to help you with a program, or your doctor can set you up with one if you need it.
Hope I've helped Brandon, just don't give up, it will take time. Sincerely, Laura Kraemer,Slimkids.com

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