Why do I sabotage myself? Quit smoking (16 mos now) but my metabolism shut down. If I go under 700 calories a day, my metabolism shuts down to the point that I start GAINING weight. Get so discouraged!! I do great for a couple of weeks and then a binge will set me back a few more weeks. Have lost 22lbs now but have 56 to go. On the pity pot today!!! Sometimes it just doesn't seem worth it @ 46yrs. old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[This message has been edited by LindaK (edited 03-09-2000).]

Linda, Why are you trying to eat under 700 pounds??? Don't you know that in order to lose weight, you have to eat? You need to eat sensibly, healthy. Try and follow the food pyramid to get what you need. Also do exercise to boost your metabolism. Congrats on quitting smoking. My last cigarette was last night at 9pm. If you want to e-mail, mine is Weily@jahoopa.com

Linda, I have to agree with Weily. Your body is protesting too little food. Pick up your calorie intake to at least 1200 per day and exercise. And drink lots of water. It helps! The water helps with the smoking thing too. Carry your water bottle around with you from room to room or whenever you go out. My last cigarette was 8 yrs. ago. I'm 45. Good luck!

Guess I left some info out. I wasn't INTENTIONALLY limiting intake to 700, it just happened because I was so busy & it only lasted for a couple of weeks. Making a concerted effort to eat more, now that I have seen the results from not eating enuf. Does the water thing really help? Haven't noticed much difference with it. Yes I do exercise!!! Walk for 25 minutes @ lunch (@4mph) then hit the gym on my way home for another 30 min on the eliptical crosstrainer.

[This message has been edited by LindaK (edited 03-09-2000).]

ps..long story short...
keep a bag of baby carrots with you and EAT THEM ALL DAY LONG :) Baby carrots are sweet,helps to satisfy the "something always in the mouth craving"(a cigarette)and crunchy(potato chip substitute). Water is a great help in curbing your appetite for food and smokes. I notice I do better with weight loss when I'm drinking my 48-64oz a day..no matter how much exercise I might do!March 19th will be two years without cigarettes for me.This short story sure turned long ;)

Thank You so much all of you who responded! Feeling better today! Another question tho. How do I get rid of my mothers face that stares back at me from the mirror every morning?!!!

Linda..I've been thinking about your question about your mother's face in the mirror. I was hoping someone else would answer it for you!For years I felt the same way about my grandmother. Whenever I saw her the first thing out of her mouth was"You really need to be watching what you eat you know"not hi how are you.Her voice and my mother's were always in the back of my mind and the more I thought about their comments or"heard them"(I'm not Sybil..I don't usually hear voices :)lol)I would eat more just to spite them I think. It wasn't until I read in a health book(don't remember the name)to sit in a quiet room,close my eyes and to visualise myself on the road to health that I came up with my mantra"I want to loose weight,I can loose weight,I will loose weight" that I was able to slowly force my Grandmother's and Mother's comments out of my mind. Whenever I thought of them I would think these thoughts. Walking also raised my self esteem and gave me more energy to think and do other things as well. Slowly I also realised that they truly loved me and wanted what was best for me,they just didn't know how to put it in a more tactful or helpful way. I hope that one day you can look in your mirror and see yourself as the person you want to be.Good luck and think positive!

I have been on a diet rollercoaster since I was 14--I was not fat at 14, but that is when my mom started being an areobics instructor. I am very close to my mom, but I have felt inferior towords her because all of my guy friends would have rather dated her than me. She looks great!!

Now I am 30 and she is thin and I am not. I almost feel like I am fat in rebelion against her!! I am a grown up and it should not matter now. But 3 years ago I lost 40 pounds and looked FAB, my mom said "I never thought you would really lose the wieght". She is very supportive, the comment was meant as a compliment, but it hurt down to my soul, especially now that I need to lose 80 pounds.

I know the my weight is MY problem, no one else put the food in my mouth and not exercize. I just felt the need to express this rebelion. Thanks for listening.