In need of advice/suggestions

[Modifiziert]

Hey all, I need some advice. I'm kind of in a situation as far as weight goes. I'm 5'5.5", and I'm 275lbs (and thankfully still fit into my size 18 pants...comfortably!). I'm going to be starting school soon, working on cars in the Collision Repair Refinish program, and I got myself a job at Jiffy Lube, so I get to move around a lot.

My problem is, is that I've been overweight since I was about 10, and no matter what I've tried to do about it, nothing ever helps. You know a lot of people do mother/daughter activities together? For my mom and I, it was dieting together. I've tried diet and exercise, various diet pills, Atkins, Weight Watchers, etc. The one way I lost weight was when I was in a mandatory gym class at my high school 10 years ago. That's the last time I remember my thighs not rubbing holes into my jeans...that's when I realized that I CAN lose weight, but I WON'T unless I'm forced to. I've found that I cannot have any choice or say in the matter, because if I do, I may as well sit on the couch with a bag of chips and a pop in hand.

Joining a gym really isn't an option for me at this point, because I work 40 hours a week, and I'm going to be in school 40 hours a week. Luckily, I have to move around a lot at both places! I don't eat a whole lot of junk, either. My husband and I bought a family size bag of chips for when my family was visiting a few weeks ago, and it's still sitting in the pantry.

I'm hoping all this new activity and me continuing to eat how I'm eating will help, I really do. I won't have time for a gym, and I barely even have time to walk our dog (which yes, I know we need to do more of).

I guess the advice I need, is, what else should I do? I have no problem thinking up great ways to lose weight, and I get real excited about them...but when it comes down to it, they fizzle after a few days. I'm actually looking into Lap-Band as well, as it's a lot safer than gastric, and it FORCES me to eat less and eat well. Any other ideas/suggestions?

Sorry for the novel ><

[WildChild]

Flat out the only way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you consume and the only way to really keep it off is to maintain a healthy balance of good diet and exersize. You should alway start with a physical to make certain there aren't any contributing health concerns. Losing weight in a rational manner will affect your health positively in a broad range of ways. You'll sleep better and be less likely to suffer from apnea, you'll have more energy, more stamina and be less likely to have trouble with your joints.

Don't use your work and school schedule as an excuse, find ways to make it part of your solution. When you have a break, take a walk. Pack food for your day and plan a good balanced diet that will fill you up so you are less likely to turn to fast, fatty junk. When you walk, don't stroll, keep a good pace. Have a few errands to do? Plan them so you park in a central spot and walk. Take the stairs when you can rather than an elevator. It all adds up to more calories burned throughout your day. You didn't get this size overnight, you won't take it off overnight either. Personally, I don't own a scale I go by how I feel and how my clothes fit. If I feel good about how I look, why care about the number? Just stick with it, enlist your hubby too.

[Modifiziert]

Thanks for the response, although my work and school isn't an excuse. I'm saying that since I have to move around a lot at both places, (doing oil changes at work, and putting car body parts on and taking them off at school), it'll give me a bit of a workout there. I already do take the stairs whenever there's an option, and I know the success won't happen overnight.

I will start monitoring my calorie intake, though, and see how that goes. I will admit I do get frustrated and let down when I don't see results right away, but I'm trying to not be like that and set myself up for failure.

[Little]

Forty hours of work AND forty hours of school? I took 22 hours one semester plus 23 hours of work, and it was almost unbearable. You might get a different reaction from your body here than you think you will. Stress and lack of sleep cause your body to retain weight, not drop it. Please be very careful with such a strenuous schedule.

[Modifiziert]

Yeah I'm actually thinking a lot about that now. I start school next week, so I'm going to see how it goes. If I can't take it, I'll see about going part time to about 20 hours.

[Little]

Are you talking about academic hours? 20 hours is a full load (that's more than full time) and 40 would be downright impossible. If you haven't been in school for a while, an academic load of 12 hours (borderline full time) should be MORE than enough, especially while working.
Eating well and getting active are good first steps, but your body will probably get used to you working fairly quickly. You don't have to join a gym; going for a brisk walk 3 days a week and stepping it up as you get used to it can often work wonders. Don't buy into the diet tricks or exercise gimmicks. You shouldn't have to spend an arm and a leg to lose a few pounds.

[Modifiziert]

My school schedule is this : Monday-Friday 1:30pm-9pm. so it's what, 37.5 hours? Close enough to be considered 40. Im going to be working 7am-1pm Monday to Friday as well, and a shift and a half on weekends.

It's a trade school, the classes and hours are set, it's a 51week school, and there's nothing I can do to change them. The only hours I may have control over is my work, and he doesn't want part timers...so if this doesn't work out, I'll be looking for another job.

[Debra]

Tough schedule, but if you want to lose weight bad enough, and nothing is stopping you health wise, then you can do it. It boils down to will power, motivation, and conviction.

If you want something bad enough, you'll achieve it. Just be patient with yourself, allow for forgiveness, and move on with that. You have a tough journey and a lot of women are going through it as well, you're not the only one. Just keep trying and don't give up.

[sourpuss]

Can you walk to work and school? You have to get there somehow and adding an extra 20 minutes of walking a day won't overload your schedule. In fact, it might be good to give you some 'alone time' to sort out your thoughts and relax before class and work. If you can't walk there, can you at least park a mile away and walk the rest?

[WildChild]

Did a schedule something like that when I first went back to college in my early 20s. I worked a 60 hour week and carried a full load at school. Made the deans list, did that for 2 yrs and then ran out of steam and had to scale back. Pace yourself, you don't have to do it all, all at once. LOL