Do you find that changes of weight affects your mind?

[SilentMute]

Having just turned 38, I am aware of the big 4-0. Also, I recently participated in a National Survey, and there is nothing like a survey to make you feel truly pathetic.

Anyway, I started eating even healthier than I had been already. I started exercising more than I had been. I've lost 13 pounds and am developing muscle. I've even managed to cut down on sugar.

Great, right? Well, not quite. Mentally, I feel like I'm becoming a little unglued :out:. In fact, in the past, this has always sabotaged my efforts at having a healthier lifestyle. The thinner I am, the more nervous I get.

Admittedly, I actually like myself when I look like a great big Gerber baby. I don't know if it was being bullied as a kid, but I associate weight with strength...though I know that really isn't true. However, it seemed that having a few pounds prevented you from being bullied. Also, I become very striking in appearance when I'm thin, and that is actually rather distressing as well. People expect more out of me. I get more attention from men. I realize that all of this probably contributes to my distress.

I'm trying to find alternate ways of coping. Tai Chi has helped. I also realize I get overly stimulated more easily, and so I have to take more breaks in my normal schedule.

However, I was curious whether anyone else has had this problem?

[tonywalt]

Also, I become very striking in appearance when I'm thin, and that is actually rather distressing as well. However, I was curious whether anyone else has had this problem?

You could always be somewhat overweight and still be healthy, that way you would not be as striking and also get less (or possibly little) attention from men.

[Calidore]

I guess the thing would be to establish, if possible, whether these changes are physical in nature (in which case I'd think it was the diet) or psychological (knowing that you'll be bringing on attention that you don't want to deal with) or both. If physical, you may be able to fit that by altering the diet. Psychological is harder, but also doable.

[Buh4Bee]

Silent Mute- I think it may be a matter of trying to find some sort of compromise and balance. As we age, men are going to be less interested, so maybe you have that to your advantage. They are looking for the younger prettier woman. In addition to this factor, most older men either can control themselves, are married, or fall into another category. Why worry about your appearance as much as just trying to be healthy and maintain a healthy weight and life style? All that teenage drama may be behind you and you just have realized it yet. Or I could totally offend you with my opinions, but food for thought either way.

[SilentMute]

I was doing it for my health, not my appearance.

What happens to us when we are younger tends to make an impression, Buh4Bee.

And actually, I look much younger than my actual age. Most people still think I am in high school, so even if men like younger women...they still ARE looking at me. Teenage boys are asking me out, and then get horrified when they find out that I am the same age as their mother.

I think my diet is pretty healthy. I'm not doing one of those extreme diets where you eat all cabbage.

Maybe I'll ask this on the diet forum.

[Darcy88]

When I put on a few pounds I get depressed. I think I'm mildly anorexic or something because if I have even 5 extra pounds on me I feel awful and think myself hideous. But if I get too skinny I get low blood sugar attacks that are very damaging to my peace of mind. I feel best at 160 pounds. I'm 170 right now. At one point a few years ago I was 135 and I had to eat every hour in order to avoid hypoglycemic attacks. I usually exercise three hours a day to keep fit but I've been too depressed lately to do that.

If food relieves your bouts of nervousness then its possible you're just experiencing low blood sugar.

[cacian]

Not the mind as such. I think it would affect more my life style and the people around me more then anything. I do not see why they should suffer while I decide to suddenly drop the food quota.
I enjoy dining/eating with my family and for that reason I think I won't change a thing. We cook and eat the same food around the dinner table everyday. I feel it is important. I would not want my family to be affected by my sudden decision to change food routine. Anyway I have never dieted and never will.

[Helga]

eating healthy isn't necessarily a diet. I try to eat healthy because I want to feel good and I know what I was eating wasn't helping me feel better. I am not thinking about a diet at all, I am average in every sense of the word, weight, height and even shoe size so my looks are pretty much the only thing I don't have a problem with.

My mom has a problem with my weight though, she often tells me that I have gained weight, I'm 1.68 cm and 60 kg (you do the math) I have been the same shape and size for a long time and it's not about to change.

Unfortunately I don't have close to the same 'problem' as Silent though, I'm never asked out