How long did it take?

[ValidRouge]

How long did it take...to get FAT?

We all read posts from people who have fallen victim to the "I didn't lose 15 lbs in the first week" or perhaps we've fallen victim to it ourselves It got me thinking this morning that it took me basically 15 years to get this fat ...Oh I've lost some here and there, but when I started in January I was the largest I've ever been, and 15 years ago was the thinnest I've ever been.

Then I asked myself, why would I ever begin to think that I could lose all that in six weeks, or six months?

Certainly it won't take 6 years...but even if it did, isn't that a bargain? 15 years to put it on...6 years to take it off? But then, why do we always hear, "its harder to take it off than put it on?" It took me 15 years and I'm sure alot of calories burned to put that weight on...and it might take me 2 years tops if I practice some self control?

So, I'm starting my day with a little bit of a different perspective...maybe someone else will too. How long did it take for you to get fat??

[sunflowergrl]

Re: How long did it take?

That is a great point!!!! The last time I was really think was high school, which was almost 15 years ago!!! I am at my heaviest now, but I have weighed everything from 140-179 in those 15 years! I never even thought about it that way. Actually, I worked had to put that fat on, I ate a LOT of fast food, pizza, cookies, candy, anything I could get my hands on. I am NEVER going back to that way of life, even if it takes me 15 years to lose the weight (but I know if won't). Thanks for the insight and GOOD LUCK!!!!

[Heidi3]

Re: How long did it take?

That is an awesome question!!!! Really and it is sooo true

Most of my life about 30 years was spent counting calories I swear!!! and eating less than 1000 a day most of the time..I was either underweight and under nourished or fat.....and even if I was ok I would not have seen it! ..I never was content with what I ate...and I never ate anything in moderation..it was either too much or not enough.....I really believe I starved myself fat!!!! For probably 30 years!!!!

so exactly how long I was fat ...who knows...probably half the 30 years I was dieting?

I took my time with this ..the first thing I let go of was the time factor....when I was hovering around goal I set a day to "call it good" on the advice of a friend....and go figure ..after that I kept loosing weight until about 7 months ago when I began to naturally hover at 105-110...
other than that I just relaxed and enjoyed the journey..for the first time in my life ....hope this helps someone

[Heather150]

Re: How long did it take?

It started at conception

[Momtofour]

Re: How long did it take?

Wow, I put it on much faster than all of you. I met my husband in August of 1990. I gained 15 pounds by our wedding in August of 1991. I gained 50 pounds by August of 1992. We were happy, in love, and eating terrible food all the time. I stayed there until 1997 and then ballooned another 50 pounds within a year. I bounced between 220 and 250 until last year.

[Angelasherell]

Re: How long did it take?

I was fine until I had my son. Ate what ever I wanted but after I gained that 45 lbs, I was done. The first 20 came off a few years later and I have been arrying an extra 25 ever since.

[allierw26]

Re: How long did it take?

Mine started at conception, too.

[RationalBeing]

Re: How long did it take?

This is an interesting and great point to have

Thanks for the new perspective!

[Analog6]

Re: How long did it take?

Yes, it took me 2 years to put on most of it, and then another seven to get to where I was, at 131 kg (289 lbs). The 2 years were between my Achilles tendon injuries in 1996 (both ankles) and the operation to fix it. Then more lbs just kept creeping on until I changed my mindset and started this.
Prior to my accident I was between 145-154 lbs and walked 8-12 kms a day (to and from work and often an extra walk) but I couldn't do that with my ankles - I could barely even drive the car and stairs (and we lived in a 2 storey unit) were agony.
This WOE has saved my life, I'm convinced. Last year when I had the flu, on three occasions after a hard coughing fit my eye filled with blood, so I was obviously rupturing small blood vessels. My BP must have been off the scale. Now is is normal.
God bless Dr A!

[changing]

Re: How long did it take?

I didn't really have a problem with my weight until I was 20 and got put on some hefty anxiety meds. Well, the cure was worse than the illness!! I went from 170 to 280 in a year and a half!! I went on the Atkins diet then, and lost 80 lbs but treated it like a diet and gained it all back in 2 years... not making that mistake this time.

I think we as a society have a tendency to overprescribe... I feel now that taking up a new hobby like martial arts and talking to a therapist would have bee much better than taking those pills that were making me tired, fat, and lazy... sure, I wasn't nervous, but the weight made me MISERABLE. Now, I've been off them for quite some time, and I'm feeling happier than I've felt in years. I'll take off this weight. I don't care how long it takes.

[ValidRouge]

Re: How long did it take?

I lost about 30 lbs on Atkins 2 years ago...and when I fell off the wagon, I was still 30 lbs overweight. It took those two years to put 50 lbs on. It would be great to lose those 50 lbs by July, but I'm planning on it taking one day at a time. I know it's possible, there are far too many people here who have done it.

What I'm NOT going to do is allow myself to become discouraged if it doesn't happen. As I said before, even if it takes me a year or two years, it's still less than it took me to put it all on.