Post by Wavey75 on Sept 22, 2017 14:00:31 GMT
I've had a lot of trouble with weight and trying to lose weight, but I am failing with every passing year.
I was diagnosed with ADHD as an Adult, after being referred to a bariatric surgical team where I was fitted with a gastric band, which did not work for me.
I was given support following the failure of the gastric (lap) band to try and determine why this wasn't working for me, and after several years no conclusive solution was ever reached, before the various support teams had to discharge me without answers.
I also have a physical disability (a mobility issue) and I use a walking aid to support my right side, as my hip, knee and pelvis are all not able to support me, despite being pinned and reinforced where needed.
I find exercising in a gym incredibly dull. The repetitive nature of it really works two ways on me:
1. I constantly lose count a lot or forget the routine I'm doing.
2. If I try to write things down, I forget what it was or where I left the paper, etc.
I've had lots of people say things like: "You need to work at it, nothing comes to those who don't work for it. y'know." and other helpful sayings like: "You got to work hard to get what you want in this life" "You just need discipline, be firm with yourself." & "Stick to only eating three times a day."
You get the idea.
I'm not moaning or complaining, but I find exercising utterly dull and sometimes painful. I'd love to play a sport, like I did when I was younger, but my knee won't allow it. I'm convinced I could get rid of the walking stick and crutches if I somehow slipped into a medically induced coma for 12 months lying there while living a a drip to wake up to a slimmer me with atrophy (is that right?) in my muscles and a few weeks of daily physical therapy, that would be great.
Another solution I had was if I didn't have to think about meals at all, and it was all done for me and there was nothing else to eat, I could do it, providing I am kept busy, and by busy I mean able to do things I want to do and not have to do.
since my solution is a long stay fat camp or boot camp, which is tens of thousands of pounds a head for a year's accommodations, I thought that a good way around this would be to commit a crime (remember, this is just a solution, not a declaration of intent!) one that would ensure incarceration of at least 1 year, but then my options for work and travel would be severely limited, so that's out.
I am posting this in the hopes that someone out there has a solution that I can take and run with, other than those "helpful" little sayings that are common sense, but for some unknown reason, out of my reach.
I've often "forgotten to eat" if I've been busy doing things I enjoy or if I've been preoccupied with something else and lost track of time, but it's not until someone reminds me I haven't eaten, do I start wanting to eat ... yeah, I know. I even start to experience physical symptoms, belly rumblings, etc.
I also been at the other end of the sale where I've forgotten I've already eaten! yeah, I've had days with 2 breakfasts or 2 lunches or 3 dinners, it's nuts.
What I need is someone who I can meet at the gym and who will show me by demonstrating it to me, what I need to do to warm up and cool down afterwards, then to keep a track of the things I do, because I’ve forgotten what machines I have or haven’t used and written down the wrong day’s work out, etc.
I get confused about when I did what (not often, only when it comes to things I have no interest in or no patience for).
I can’t afford a personal trainer every visit, but I would need at least 2 weeks of someone demonstrating the warm up and cooling routine before it sunk in and then someone to keep a track of what I need to do today, etc.
I’ve had people suggest certain apps and other services, but nothing has worked because visiting the gym (for me) is not fun, not fun at all. I feel incredibly self-conscience and very aware of my size and that I’m already out of breath and I’ve only just walked in the door.
I think I’ve got it down why the gym doesn’t work. It’s because I find it boring and if something’s boring I generally don’t do it. When I’ve tried to push myself into going to the gym, and for the first 2 weeks, it’s difficult because I fell no benefit at all, but then I start to notice it and that’s where it drops of or the interest fades. Because I need to lose at least 8 to 10 stone (or 50 to 60kg) it’s going to take 12 to 18 months of slow and steady weight loss of about 2 pounds a week, plus 2 weeks of nothing every 6 to 8 weeks, which is probably closer to 3 years. It’s one thing to drop a dress size in 2 weeks, but when you’re starting 18 sizes away from the average size for the UK, it’s kind of hard to motivate yourself to start or continue.
I know, I know, I sound like I’m giving up, but I’m not. I know the gym is only a means to an end, but keeping up going is expensive, it’s time consuming and for a long time I’m not going to see any difference for at least 6 months or more.
I think if I ever got to the point of being able to remember my own routines, and the warm up and cool downs, I think I could do it successfully, the only problem with that is I don’t have the money to get to that point, because on top of gym membership (£30 a month) there would be a £35 an hour personal trainer, and if I went to the gym 3 times a week, that’s another £460 a month, then there’s the travel and so on. Before you realise it, you’re spending over £500 a month and now you’re living outside your means, which then leads to worrying about money, which causes a drop in your already low dopamine levels, which then leads to reducing your gym visits because you’re working longer hours to pay of the debt. And you’re so tired, that you’re coming home with diner because you won’t get time to cook because of the longer hours at work because of the debt you accumulated in going to the gym, but know you can’t remember any of those routines so you’ll need to get another personal trainer when you go back to the gym to help you get started again. By the time you do make it bac to the gym, you’re possibly heavier than when you started before.
Is it any wonder why we’re all getting heavier in today’s society? I’m sitting here hoping I catch and eating disorder, WTF is that all about??
Anyway, if there are any ADHD adults out there who have found a way to succeed, please let me know.
I’m considering a 2nd bariatric surgery called a sleeve. What this does is cut away 75% of your stomach, so your stomach goes from a large kidney bean shaped, to a smaller, thinner banana shape. The idea behind this is that unlike the band, instead of stopping food entering your stomach (which just led to regurgitation for me, yuck) the food goes into a much smaller stomach and the stomach’s wall’s then (supposedly) send signal to your brain that you are full).
For more information on a sleeve gastrectomy, visit this link here.