How can I feel better after gaining weight?

[aliceinwonderland7]

I recently put on 20 pounds and went from thinking myself very pretty to feeling like no attractive guy will ever look at me again. All of my clothes are tight, I don't want to wear my favorite things, and I've lost confidence, and all of this is causing me a lot of depression and anxiety. I am eating better and going to the gym now, but the weight is taking a long time to come off. In the mean time how can I stop hating myself so much? I'm really down on myself right now and need some good positive advice, thanks.

[pilotsteve]

Your definitely a typical female. Most women won't even listen to this but there are more guys out there that like a little meat on their ladies than not. typically most girls want to be too skinny. This makes you look like a stick. No Breasts, no hourglass figure with the hips, no curves to the legs in the calves so you look silly in heels. 20lbs is probably a good thing if you were previously a stick. Now you mentioned its taking a long time to shave the 20 lbs off again. Well if you lose it fast you will gain it back fast if you lose it slow you are able to keep it off easier. Remember its OK happens to everyone your life is not over I promise.

[Lucifatianu]

I think the first thing you should do is not worry about it, losing weight takes time and will renew your self-respect when you are back at whichever weight you feel comfortable with. Be happy that you were smart enough to stop matters from getting worse, a lot of people just keep over-eating until elevators struggle to carry them up and down. You're doing a good thing, you should feel proud of yourself for using intelligence.

Although, I must also add in that many girls do make a big deal out of nothing.. You may be the only person who's noticed that you've gained weight, twenty pounds really isn't much, unless you were petite before.

[RedSmartie]

I was like that. I was a lifeguard between my junior and senior years of high school and I was very fit. Then senior year came and I didn't really have motivation to stay thin so I gained a lot of weight. I found it was a lot easier for me to feel good about myself by looking at pictures of plus size models and realizing how pretty they looked despite being much larger than me. If they could look good at that size, I could look good at mine. That kept me confident until I was able to lose weight. I didn't get back to looking like 17-year-old lifeguard me but I at least got back to a weight where I now feel pretty good.

[Anonymous]

You should start counting your calories, it's very addicting. If that doesn't keep your mind off sad thoughts then I don't know what will. Track down what you normally eat a day, then set a goal for yourself, start persuing that goal. It's such a good way to get excited and motivated about getting into shape. Stop focusing on the negative side, on how you look, and focus more about the positive habits that you will develop, and how good you will feel in a week or two. A healthy diet is all about having a healthy and positive mind too.

[dwelz314]

you have got to love your self, you are beautiful and you have to believe that and make your self happy it is always nice to hear complements but in turn the most important complement comes from you, there is no reason to be up set with your self you can change if you want to overall it all comes down to the way you treat and talk to your self you have to make you happy

[kereru]

buy new clothes that fit you properly, true, clothes shopping sounds like a nightmare when you are bigger and don't like the way you look but you will find things that flatter your curves and make you look gorgeous and help you accept yourself the way you are...which is really important if you ever want to lose the weight, you need to be feel strong and confident if you want succeed, not miserale and self loathing.

[Mellontikos]

If you were fit to begin with, 20lbs is nothing.

It's not that hard to lose it, but diet is like 80% of the effort. I don't mean not eating, but rather eating smart.

I would take 2 months, and work up a plan on what you're going to eat everyday, as well as how you are going to exercise.

BodyForLife would be a good start for great beginner knowledge.

[anonymous0418]

Alright, when you let it give you anxiety and depress you, you gain more weight by stressing yourself out. I know, it's hard not to, but it's true. Find clothes that fit your body the way you want them to feel instead of tight. Weight does take a long time to come off, so just feel better about yourself because you are taking the steps to be lost weight. Congratulate yourself because you are eating better and taking the time to work out, most people don't.

[Prof_Don]

This is first-hand advice.

First thing you have to do is think about your good qualities...to boost your self-esteem.

To finalize the process, start doing the things to lose the weight; to be honest your confidence won't fully return until you see the excess weight you gained start coming off.

P.S. We're not experts here on this site, but we can definitely give you some peer-to-peer advice.

[Anonymous]

Really? Losing weight is about the only way to deal with that. It's hard, but it's so incredibly satisfying. I put on some fat on my middle over Christmas/Thanksgiving seasons, but over the last month I've been curbing what I eat, drinking more green tea to kill my hunger, as well as walking and going to the gym.

You deal with the extra weight by examining your habits, seeing how you *are* losing weight, and saying "At this rate, I'm gonna be great for swim season!"

[melody4890]

You need to be patient! The weight will come off as you continue to exercise and eat better. Just be patient and focus on activities that make you feel good and that you enjoy. Try not to think about guys. Don't let other people determine your self esteem (or else it's a never ending story).

[Babygurl2012]

Relax 20lbs isn't that much and going to the gym is good but remember just because it don't look like you are loosein weight you probably when you go to the gym fat burns off but you build muscale muscale ways more then fat

[Anonymous]

That weight to come on over night, and it won't come off overnight, just be persistent, positive and in the time you aren't at the gym spend time bettering your life and doing things to keep yourself busy, pick up a new hobby.

[shiller]

You need to stop focusing on the weight you gained, by all means eat better and do activities, but the clock moves the most slowest when it's watched.

[liltabbixxo]

^I dig this answer

[Anonymous]

I think you need to tell yourself that it's OK being a little heavy, and that your doing all you can to get the weight off. And until you get all the weight off, you just have to keep telling yourself that and keep positive!

[avans]

Try hanging out with new people and don't think about how you look, try to educate your self more, read books or other stuff

[Anonymous]

just don't give up! it took me 6 months to drop 20 pounds and I couldn't feel better!

[hotxos]

Stuff some more it feels so good!

[froggyboy51]

relax...if anyone judges you. They aren't worth it