Has anybody gained a lot of weight back this year?

when I say a lot of weight, I mean about 50 pounds. :((( 

I cry as I know it is still a long way ahead of me to reach my weight of last year. I have two main problems.

1- my stomach size. because of the binges during 2008, my stomach got stretched and the small amounts of food I used to eat are no longer enough for me.

2- A huge embarrassment to go to the gym. The only place where I spent hours and hours working out and I am well known there. In other words, I don't want to see the " regulars" or even the trainers who used to chase me to buy PT sessions but I turned them down and I proved to them that I can lose weight ON MY OWN. last time I went to the gym, one of those trainers looked at me and SMILED without one word. It kills me. was she smiling because I am fat now or what? 

A close friend I used to trust very much, kept telling me last year to eat more because I look very skinny and unhealthy. I trusted her, now, I learnt that she was talking about my weight gain in a funny way behind my back. 

I am hurt. esp because I feel like I can't even workout to lose that weight. I tried different locations but don't feel the connection. I feel like a stranger there.

is there anyone who is going through a similar experience? can we form a support group? Does anyone have a word of advice to me? I am really getting depressed over this and don't know what to do. 

Hey, I can understand how heartbreaking weight gain must be.

In regards to the difficulty with the gym, why go to a gym at all? You could walk/run around the block, and plus this reduces the tedious nature of gymwork with a bit of scenery! I understand this can be embarassing, and if you feel this then why not buy gym equipment for your home? This is expensive yes...so hire equipment! There are always alternatives to working out at a gym...many of them!

Remember, 2009 is about to begin and you can start fresh! People say new years resolutions never stick...but mine did! As of the first of January 2008, I'm down about 45 pounds. Start 2009 with a new attitude, and I bet that this time next year you'll be posting about you're weight loss :)

GOOD LUCK!

Don't let hurt pride or fear get in the way of your health.   If you want to go back to the gym I'm sure the people there will welcome you back.  Nobody's perfect.  Everyone slips up and make mistakes.  You're certainly not the first person that ever went back to the gym chastened and asking for help and you won't be the last.  If the trainer 'smiled' at you, she was probably smiling to be friendly and get your business.   Try not to read too much into an innocent gesture.  And if anxiety about seeing a particular person is getting in the way, you're just going to have to confront that fear or you'll never overcome it.

Your stomach hasn't stretched btw ... that's a bit of a myth.  You've got used to eating more food, however.   Replacing some of the higher-calorie volume of your meals with more vegetables & salads is a really, really easy way to maintain your love of decent size portions and enjoy filling meals without packing on more lbs.   Opting for high-fibre carbohydrates instead of refined/starchy ones is another way to make smaller meals more satisfying.   Eating a little protein at each meal is another.  Takes 2 or 3 weeks to get used to eating fewer calories again.... worth a shot?

Best of luck

omg! do i know how you feel.

i've gained like 40 pounds.  i cry everytime i  think about it.  i cry even more when i see my clothes in the closet that are just sitting there.

my body has changed a lot too, not just the stomach size.  for every inch on my waist that has increased is a 5 lb gained on my body.  it sucks.

as for the gym problem, screw them and use the outdoors when you can.  or isn't there a nearby curves or something?  i can see how your facing such rude people.  that's one reason why i'm avoiding friends because they actually don't know that i'm like this right now and it sucks when i go back to school.  and that friend of yours is not your friend if she's like that.  just think how much you want to work to obtain your goal and that would be your best revenge.  at least you don 't have a binge eating problem, do you?

I sort of went through a similar situation a few years ago.  I was teaching aerobics 4 days a week and working 2 additional part time jobs (one was waiting tables) while I was looking for work after I graduated from college. I was in AMAZING shape, mostly due to the fact that I had NO time to eat, and all I was doing was running, running, running. People always told me how great I looked, and I loved wearing my cute spandex outfits to teach my boot camp class...

Fast forward 6 months after I landed the job, quit the job, and moved back home, only to get rehired at the gym to teach... I was 25 lbs heavier and hadn't worked out at ALL. Imagine my embarrassment when I had "muffin" top over my old cute shorts, AND could barely do the squats I was instructing my own class to do.  People noticed, but they understood.

And what did they say months later when I'd taken off most of the weight... "You look great!"  Everyone struggles. I've seen it in other people too, and I just think - see, it's not easy, and this is proof!  You know how to lose the weight - so do it.  Set a great example for some people who are no-doubt starting their exercise/diet regimes for the first time in their lives and need some encouragement.  A few months from now you can be living proof that it's possible through hard work and dedication once again (and once and for all).

Good luck!
-Dana

Original Post by gi-jane:

Don't let hurt pride or fear get in the way of your health.   If you want to go back to the gym I'm sure the people there will welcome you back.  Nobody's perfect.  Everyone slips up and make mistakes.  You're certainly not the first person that ever went back to the gym chastened and asking for help and you won't be the last.  If the trainer 'smiled' at you, she was probably smiling to be friendly and get your business.   Try not to read too much into an innocent gesture.  And if anxiety about seeing a particular person is getting in the way, you're just going to have to confront that fear or you'll never overcome it.

Gi-Jane, why should I confront any thing now? It takes so much energy. I mean I just need to calm down and to feel safe and comfortable so I can start my cc again. do you know what I mean? I guess my question now is how to create that environment again?

It sounds like I am the only person who gained more than 40 pounds this year. I am really hoping to hear other experiences.

Hopeless, I am sure you can overcome your eating problem. to answer your question, I have gained weight because I did overeat.

Thanks everyone for the replies. I appreciate the support.

Original Post by safina1:

Gi-Jane, why should I confront any thing now? It takes so much energy. I mean I just need to calm down and to feel safe and comfortable so I can start my cc again. do you know what I mean? I guess my question now is how to create that environment again?

You've spent quite a few months calming down and feeling safe and you chose to do by hiding away and eating too much.  So why carry on the same way when it makes you miserable?  You need to find a little courage, confidence and self-respect.  You don't find that sitting at home.   Yes, it takes energy to change something.... anything that's worth doing involves a little effort.  Yes, you need to confront your fears.   Keep putting it off... waiting until you're slim, waiting until the 'environment' is right, waiting until you feel calm and safe ... sorry but it's all just one massive excuse for doing nothing.  

Stop existing and start living.  Or one day you'll wake up wondering where your life went....