What are some effective weight loss strategies?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 25 years old, and I hate how I look. My BMI is 44, and I just keep gaining weight no matter what I do. I have tried so many diets, but nothing works. Sometimes, I end up eating way too much, and other times, I barely eat at all. I feel so alone, and I avoid going out with friends because I am embarrassed about my size. My periods are all over the place, and my acne is awful. I am worried about college applications and wonder if my weight will hold me back in life. I want to be healthy, but I am scared I will never look normal. Can you help me find a way to lose weight that actually works? And is there someone I can talk to about how I am feeling?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

It sounds like you are going through a tough time. It is completely understandable to feel frustrated about your weight and appearance. Remember, you are not alone in this. It is essential to take care of your mental health along with your physical health. Let us focus on finding a healthy and sustainable way for you to feel good about yourself. During COVID times, I faced similar issues. I gained weight and put up a big belly, and I was not doing well in my personal life as well as professional life. Life at that time was really bad. I tried focusing on one thing at a time. The first thing was to accept my appearance. It does not really matter how you look. All that matters is how you carry yourself up, and that boosted my confidence. I started home gym but did not see any results, but I was not disappointed with that. Rather, I cut all the sugar in my diet in any form (not even a bit of it).

I am personally a determined person. I can only tell you what worked for me, but it might not be the same for you. I focused on my professional and personal goals, promised myself to not touch alcohol or sugar, and did almost daily workouts till I achieved my career goals. For personal goals, there still are many constraints, and it really helped. I made it a ritual, and I started seeing results the about six months. Now it is almost two years, and I have stuck to my daily regime, with a few small breaks of not more than a week (the maximum), because once you get back from a break, initially, the body's response is to relax more, but that is a trap, do not take breaks in the beginning, avoid long breaks if you do take some break, consistency is the key.

You are definitely not alone. You can consider talking to a therapist or counselor about how you are feeling. They can offer you support and guidance to help you navigate these emotions. Do focus on your mental health also because it is what drives us. Always have a positive attitude toward life, even if it keeps on throwing all the crap on you, accept it as a challenge, and keep yourself motivated to accept any challenge. You will definitely do good. Take care, you are not alone.

I hope this information helps you.

Revert in case of queries.

Regards.