Is there any point in me trying to lose weight?

I've always been on the large side - about 11 stone and 5 ft 7.  I'm 18.

I went to the Amazon last summer for 5 weeks, and lost about a stone and a half, but that was only really because I was doing serious amounts of physical activity constantly and eating barely anything.

Since I got back, I managed to maintain that weight, and I was happy with my size.

The only exercise I did was basically walking to and from school (about 2 miles each way.)

In February I was diagnosed with Thryroid Cancer, and now everything's gone downhill.  I spent basically all my time in bed just being depressed about it, being in hospital after my operation/at home recovering, or forced to sit in a tiny room in isolation getting radiotherapy.  I wasn't really allowed to exercise.  That's all (hopefully) over now, but I feel really lonely now, as my friends have all lived their lives without me, organised things etc, and I'm not really included in anything anymore.  It's as if I'm being avoided.  The word 'cancer' kinda leaves people not knowing what to say, I think.  My A levels (last set of school exams) are coming up in about 2 weeks.  I always put on weight during exams because I'm stressed, and these ones are more stressful than any of the previous ones, as I have missed about 2 months of school since January (when we started learning the stuff for this round of exams) and I have very high offers from my universities which I have to meet to actually go to uni in October!

Since February I have been steadily gaining weight; I'm now 10 stone 11.  My dad has a concept 2 rowing machine - if I use that every day for about 20 minutes, will it actually make any difference, and if it does, will I get muscley shoulders? I'm a girl, and I'd hate for that to happen.  I used to swim for my county and I ended up stopping because I was beginning to look a bit like a man...  

I don't go to school anymore (we finished a week ago), so I miss out on walking, and I really need to do something new to make up for it.  I also recently passed my driving test, which I kinda wish I hadn't because it means I'll just be really lazy.

We have a swimming pool in our garden, but as we live in England it's usually really difficult to make yourself swim in it - when you get out of the pool icicles practically form on you.

My basic question is should I actually try to lose weight now, or should I wait until after my exams (when I'll weigh even more I'm sure) ?  And will I ever have the motivation to do it?

Instead of worrying about losing weight... Maybe just focus on eating healthy and moving anyway you can - walking, swimming (if there is ever a good day!), I don't know if the row machine will bulk you up but I don't think it would be too bad.

Just changing that may help you feel better about where you are and what you're doing. And THAT will give you the motivation to continue. The weight loss will simply be a bonus.

HUGS

Whether or not you will ever get the motivation is something only you can answer as the only real motivation comes from within and our own personal want to change things.

You miss the walking, get out and walk, do it just for the enjoyment of the sunshine and the fresh air, the weather is supposed to be fab this weekend for the Bank holiday on Monday so make the most of it.

Should you lose the weight?  That is your choice, do you want to, are you happy as you are, are you healthy?  No one else can tell you what is right for you or what you should do all we can do is support and help you if you want it.

I am more than happy to chat to you if you want help but you have to make the initial decision of what you want to do.

Personally I walk everywhere and that is the only exercise I get and its working fantastically for me and its free so I have no excuses.  I get out after dinner and do around 4-6 miles and at the moment its great. 

If you want any encouragement I (and I am sure lots others) will be only too happy to help but do you want to lose the weight?

I'd like to encourage you to keep walking too. You're under a lot of stress and exercise can help you cope. If you're ambivalent about losing weight, leave that alone for now. You don't need to be more stressed and frustrated. But DO get more exercise.

11st is a perfectly healthy weight for someone 5'7".  If you used to swim a lot you are probably more muscular than other people, even if you no longer exercise regularly.

I agree with post #1... focus on eating healthily, exercising for fun and feeling better about yourself.   You're not fat.

If you walk, you'll feel better, so you'll eat better, so you'll study better, so you'll walk better.  I think you should go for a walk.

Exercise clears the mind and gets your blood flowing. I find it "awakens me" (corny, but true).  You don't have to wait till after exams - do it now - it'll help you through exams.

About your friends...I don't think they're trying to be nasty.  I think they don't know how to approach the situation.  You've been through something that is so remote to most of them.  They're probably feeling very awkward right now and aren't sure what to say or do.  It's also likely they're feeling guilty for not being around during your recovery.

Could you call one of them to get things going again? Maybe you could talk a little about your illness (so that it's not so taboo). Tell them you're feeling better and you'd like to go out or visit. Someone has to take the first step.  You sound like a nice person - I'm sure they'll be glad to have you back.

Movement actually facilitates learning (helps your brain imprint the new information).  Try to find a way to study and walk or some other low-impact activity at the same time.  Maybe get a digital recorder and record yourself reciting notes and then listen to it while you walk. 

I definitely wouldn't worry about weight - that will just add to your stress levels.  Focus on healthy eating and light activity. 

When I was doing my A levels I was majorly stressed about not putting on weight but I was also conscious I'd have to have enough energy to fuel all that brain power! So I ate enough calories to maintain my weight and planned meals and snacks meticulously so I never went hungry and I felt in control. (Which was nice seeing as I didn't have much control over exams)

And by the way, don't give yourself too much of a hard time if you don't do as well as you'd like this year, I remember before I came to uni everything seemed like it had to be done RIGHT NOW to keep up with friends who'd also be moving away, I didn't want to be left behind or miss out. But the truth is you have your whole life ahead and resitting one year of college might be frustrating but it beats pushing yourself too hard through tough health/personal issues and having a breakdown afterwards (trust me, I did this). Take some stress off yourself, it sounds to me like you've had a tough time so don't make it any harder. I also strongly advise you to submit mitigating circumstances for your exams and make your firm and reserve uni choices aware of your situation as they may reduce your offers.

All in all, keep eating healthily, exercise to de-stress and study as best you can, but don't make yourself ill! I'm sure you'll do really well in your exams but if you end up resitting or taking a gap year it's not the end of the world and it's definitely not your fault!

Good luck :)

Will you ever have the motivation? That's up to you. Deciding you'd like to weigh less and be healthier is a decision you make every day: Fruit instead of cake, biking instead of driving, eating smaller portions. So I say start now with the little things: Stay away from the bad snacks during exams, try to keep your weight steady, and you'll come out ahead. Then after exams set up a program and get long-term goals. Get a coach if you need one. Join a group. Support is important. 

I've just come out of a backslide myself. I lost track of the person I'd like to be. I'm not going to beat myself up and say "Oh, what's the use?" Rather, I'm going to use it as motivation to get back on the horse. To steal from President Obama: Yes we can!

I just wanted to say and 'hello' and tell you not to stress or worry too much about things...

you are a really strong and courageous person battling against cancer. I'm sure if you wanted to lose weight and set your mind to it you could.

I'm just wondering- are you on any medication or could your treatment have casued you to gain some weight ??  Due to your recent health problems I would maybe consult with your doctor or nurse before starting a diet- if you are still recovering (you say it was only in February, yes??) you might need a certain number of calories a day to keep your strength up and aid your recovery ??  I don't know- it's probably best to check it out.

I wouldn't say that you are too overweight...for the next month- 6 weeks while the exams are on I wouldn't bother about dieting- I would just concentrate on eating healthy and staying well.  Then if you want to lose weight- do it after the exams have finished and can also concentrate more time on it.  A bit of excercise and fresh air will do you the world of good- you have to have study breaks- why don't you take a short walk "around the block" during them.

You seem to be feeling really low because of your illness and on top of that very stressed over your exams- I think it might help if you talked to somebody- does your school have a counselor or could you have a proper conservation with your parents??  I got really stressed over my exams- worrying about having to achieve high grades/ worrying that I would be a failure -and looking back it would have helped me to talk to somebody- I should have used the University counselling service.

Are the exam boards and Universities you applied to aware of your illness??- if not, then enquire with your school how you should go about informing them.  In my opinion, I am a member of staff within the Chemistry Department, University of Southampton, they should be informed- they might be able to give you special consideration considering your circumstances- we are very understanding and caring people!!

Don't worry too much about your friends- it's probably like you say- they're not too sure what to say to you, etc...  I didn't have too many friends at school- for another reason- I was bullied- but when I started University that all changed- I made hundreds of new good friends- and you'll do the same trust me.  Freshers Week (the first week of the new term) everybody is in the same boat- new to the University and the city and not knowing anybody- so everybody is really friendly- that's the time to go out and make friends and have fun!!  You might also find your diet changes when you go to University- especially if you live in a hall of residence where you have to cater for yourself- you will be with people from all around the world- I'm sure you'll discover new and interesting foods- I certainly did!!

I just want to wish you well with everything!  All the best

Love Jenny XX

Sorry....  I confess that I focused on the 'Thyroid Cancer' and zoomed past most of the other posts. 

To address the cancer issue, I too was diagnosed with cancer last year, and had a segment of my thyroid removed (I have renal cell carcinoma, which they thought had spread to my lymph nodes and my thyroid this year).

First off, thank goodness they found it!  At your age, that had to be a shock!  I hope that they feel confident that they got all of the cancer cells out of your body.

I know what you mean about your family and friends not knowing what to say around you.  It is very awkward to chat openly with someone who has cancer, and until they realize that you are willing to share your thoughts, they might continue to try to avoid you.  But don't worry, they all come around, and if they don't, then you know who your true friends really are.

As for the depression, that is very normal.  I can't even begin to tell you how many nights I sat alone and cried, not wanting to be a burden on my family, wondering if I was going to live or die, and so many other morbid thoughts.

For me it was a matter of accepting my situation, and then realizing that weight loss was no longer something I needed to do to become healthy, it was something I had to do it to live longer!  And that meant eating clean.  At your younger age, you might not be seeing that bigger picture of mortality, but if you do, then you know what you have to do to keep the cancer at bay and to live a LONG full life!  It sounds like you are at a relatively healthy weight, so rather then focusing on losing, focus on eating healthy (as has already been mentioned).

While your other stress factor is the upcoming exams, mine was a high-stress job.  I found that meditation worked for me, and as someone else mentioned, exercise.  Exercise is a wonderful way to get out some of that bad mojo!

It took awhile for me to get my life back to normal, but I did, and I'm a much better person for having gone through the experience.  Now it's just a matter of keeping that optimistic outlook and staying on track.

Sending you hugs and wishing you nothing but the best!