Dieting in Recovery

[arieswoman]

Has anyone been successful in a weight-loss diet since entering recovery? I have over 3 years now clean and sober, and have been strictly focusing on my sobriety. Well, I've put on a lot of weight, and I haven't dealt with the weight issue because my #1 prority has been my sobriety.

Now I'm really starting to feel motivated to do something about the weight issue. I go out for daily walks and am starting a diet plan. The concern is that I don't want to relapse. Back in the "old days", I would kind of use alcohol as a weight-loss tool: I'd drink instead of eat. That seemed to "fill the hole" inside of me and I stayed skinny.

Before I really hit rock bottom, I lost 60 lbs. by the "slow suicide" method. I pretty much stopped eating, I started smoking, took weight-loss pills(which were pretty much just prescribed speed). This led me down a dark, miserable path. It was a nightmare. I never want to go there again!!!

So if anyone has had any success in weight loss/shaping up while sober, I'd love to hear about it! It would be very motivating. Thanks!

[Sugah]

I had lunch today with one of my professors who tells me, "Sugar is my booze." She celebrated a month without sugar today - and has lost twelve pounds. She's also avoiding "white" carbs - white bread, pasta, etc.

I gained weight in rehab after awhile, but I lost it again by giving up Mountain Dew.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[deezaldog]

I also used the etoh weight loss plan. Just like most programs, once I stopped, the weight came back very fast and a lot of it. I had a jelly bean addiction that I recently stopped. I have lost some but I still have a long way to go. Some women attend overeaters anonymos mtgs. One lady lost 85 lbs with OA. Others are trying the 12 step program to weight loss. Have'nt heard of any follow up on that system. I have frequently been told this is not uncommon for alcoholics. We are so malnourished from an alcohol diet that our bodies need to replenish lost nutrients. Being an alcoholic I had to go to excess with food. I have cut way back on food intake now. I continue to take vitamins and exercise. I don't remember my joints aching so much when I was drinking. (go figure). Sounds like you have a plan in place just keep working it. At first all I could focus on was getting and staying sober. Now I am putting as much effort in weight loss as I do in my recovery. First thing I cut was Fast Food! Good luck on your progress and if you get any good info please share. I look forward to hearing about your progress.

[Mala09]

Hi arieswoman and well done on three years plus!

For me the key has been to get more exercise -- not just my little ambles around the neighbourhood each day, but uphill walks for cardiovascular workout. I found someone to walk with me -- doing these get-fit things with others is the same principle as getting sober with the help of others.

What has worked for me in terms of diet has been eating fruit instead of sugar-loaded treats. I tend to eat carelessly and opt for snacks when I am tired, so I always start off the day with a very large bowl ( more than I feel I need) of muesli, chopped nuts and fruit, yoghurt. Then I keep an apple in my bag when I go out and munch when I feel peckish.

I invite friends round at least twice a week for meals of wholewheat pasta or brown rice paellas, steamed broccoli (my magic vegetable), a little feta. I taught myself to steam chicken breasts with spring onions and ginger, a splash of soy.

It is all about balance and I look at caring for my body and health as a way of learning balance, not starving myself or stuffing feelings into food or getting into thought patterns of deprivation or punishment. It enhances my sobriety to be able to live a full and balanced life, acquire gentle discipline around meditation, eating, sharing my home and meals with others, walking and swimming to tone my body.

I'm also becoming more aware of lightening my carbon footprint and living in accordance with eco principles -- not wasting food, not indulging in passive consumerism, not being manipulated to buy things I don't need. I buy produce that is local and in season -- right now there is a big bowl of sweet dark cherries on my kitchen table -- and cook it simply to make the most of food from organic farmers' markets.

Letting go of unhealthy and immature obsessive ways of doing things is one of the greatest learning expereinces I have had in my time so far of living sober.

Love & strength & good luck

Mal

[Harley3801]

.
I know a couple of women who are in AA and also attend OA. One in particular has attended OA and uses a nutritionist . . . . she's lost over 125 lbs. in the past couple of years.

[bostonluv]

I'm the opposite. When I drink, I overeat and gain weight. When I stop drinking I also quit over eating. For me they are tied up together. Caroline Knapp wrote some great books about eating and drinking addictions that shed some new light on it for me.

[Lindsay]

Originally Posted by bostonluv

I'm the opposite. When I drink, I overeat and gain weight. When I stop drinking I also quit over eating. For me they are tied up together. Caroline Knapp wrote some great books about eating and drinking addictions that shed some new light on it for me.

I'm exactly the same. I can notice weight loss after going just 4-5 days without drinking! I've always had a semi-issue with food/weight, but when I drink I just don't care and tend to eat more. Then go and add in the alochol calories...and inability to workout due to hangovers.

Did Caroline Knapp write 'Eating, Drinking, & Overthinking"? I know I've read one of her books before, but I'm not sure I have her matched up to the right title!

[CarolD]

One thing I found very interesting......

my nutritionist said after 50 women gain 2 or 3 lbs yearly.
To avoid this natural gain....walking and swimming were recommended.

I did find I average 3 lbs a year after 50.

And I still have them ...I hate to exscersise.

[lizw]

Over the last year and a half I've lost round 20kgs.
I had to get strict with myself because the doctors said it would be harder on my body if I have an MS lapse. (I have MS).

I lost it at the rate of 500grams - 1 kg a week. I went and saw someone every 2nd week who weighed me etc... and I told them what I had been eating. I found being accountable to another person quite good. They said losing weight at a slow place is the best way to keep it off.

I excercised by walking my dog, walking myself and recently I've started going to a gym.

I changed my diet to not included a lot of carbs and now eat alot of vegetables instead. And like someone else said I stuff my face first thing in the morning with musli and fruit too.

A friend of mine has recently made a commintment to 'losing wieght' too but she calls it 'a lifestyle change' which I think is pretty smart, as then she's not going on the wagon (per say) just changing what she eats and how active she is.

I'm trying to adopt the same attitude.

[arieswoman]

Thanks, Ladies....so far, so good! I've started a low-carb eating plan, and I've been walking a LOT. Like an hour a day. The weather's great, it's wonderful to be outdoors and communing with my Higher Power, and I have a lot more energy!

This will also be a test of patience, as I, being an alcoholic, want to see results NOW!!! Meaning, going from a size 18 to a size 8 in one week! It's gonna take a good six months at least...I'm grateful for what being in recovery has taught me, it seems I can apply all my recovery tools and the 12 steps to this challenge of shaping up!

[51anna]

I just finished reading Caroline Knapp's book "Appetites: Why Women Want" and found it really interesting. She is someone who wove from anorexia to alcoholism and managed to conquer both addictions before she died. I think her book 'Appetites' shows clearly, the control-freak issues tied up with addictions.

[arieswoman]

Anna - I've also read Caroline Knapp's writings, and I enjoyed them very much. I especailly liked her anthology entitled "Party of One"(I think this was the name of it! It's been a few years since I've read her works). She's an intelligent, witty author. Although she dealt with her anorexia and alcoholism, unfortunately, she couldn't stop smoking, dying of lung cancer at the age of 43 or so.

Many of us seem to suffer from multiple addictions - or we conquer one, and another pops up!

Oops, I just checked, and the one I particularly enjoyed of hers was "The Merry Recluse". She also wrote "Drinking: a Love Story" about her battle with alcoholism.

[Latte]

I like the "Lifestyle Change" idea much more.

Diet's don't work. If they did there wouldn't be so many of them.

I like Fitday and I know that there are other sites to keep track of food etc.

I also started cooking from scratch as often as possible. No junk food in the house. Even my kids are healthier. My skinny one is putting on weight and my older daughter who is starting to get conscious about her belly is starting to lose. Even my husband is looking better.

We've been biking, swimming, and DH and I treated ourselves to a gym membership.

It is amazing.

[bostonluv]

Originally Posted by Lindsay

I'm exactly the same. I can notice weight loss after going just 4-5 days without drinking! I've always had a semi-issue with food/weight, but when I drink I just don't care and tend to eat more. Then go and add in the alochol calories...and inability to workout due to hangovers.

Did Caroline Knapp write 'Eating, Drinking, & Overthinking"? I know I've read one of her books before, but I'm not sure I have her matched up to the right title!

Caroline Knapp wrote Drinking: A Love Story about her alcohol addiction and recovery process and Appetites about her struggle with an eating disorder. She also wrote Pack of Two about her dog and I hated it. But the other books are very good. She died of lung cancer a few years ago. Too bad she didn't write about that additction also.

[bostonluv]

Whoops should have read the other replies before I wrote my answer..........

[faith08]

i am having a huge struggle with weight loss. i cannot lose even a pound--i feel if i could lose the first 2 or 3 i would be on my way but it's been really hard. and of course my addiction is what got me here and doesn't help either. (lazy addiction!!)
i just wanted to post a link to a site that is huge with exercise videos, nutrition plans, recipes, message boards, etc. and it lets you input whatever you want to keep track of. ive actually put don't drink in my personal goals. it will keep track of ongoing streaks you have.if i could just get myself to release my couch and do some of those exercises........

anyhoo before i keep gabbing here is the link:

sparkpeople