I was scrolling through my Instagram and came across this highly relatable and dead honest post by Gayle King, photo above. I also have janky toenails and none of my pants are fitting but I am too scared to post a photo of either my scale or feet, so kudos to her for doing both at the same time. It’s a slideshow where she showed the progression of her weight gain and toenails growing out. I can’t believe she takes photos of her scale! I write it down but it would never occur to me to take a picture of it.
Gayle wrote:
CRISIS! The weight struggle is real! fatter than I’ve been in long time .. & scared to get a pedicure (big sigh) swipe left for the way we were …ideal weight says Dr is 163… not happening anytime soon .. blaming corona quarantine & Halloween candy corns I just bought ! Make it stop!
I doubly relate to her as I have also been mainlining candy (and ice cream). Last week I bought a bag of harvest mix (it was Brach’s, all other brands suck) and a bad of Jelly Bellies and I ate both of them within two days. This is what happens when I go to CVS for something I “need” and just have to pass through the candy aisle. There’s so much stress lately that it’s hard to know what else to do. I do exercise and try to do my favorite things, but it’s hard in this lead-up to the election when we’re stuck at home. I’ll eat healthy-ish one day and the next day half of everything I eat is garbage. I recently ordered some CBD oil though and that seems to be helping a bit.
Anyway I feel you Gayle, hang in there and you do your thing. We’re in this together and I pray we have good news and systemic change coming soon. I’m not going to beat myself up the next time I eat a ton of candy. Halloween is coming up and we’re anxious about dying and the election, we all get a pass.
OOh I forgot that Gayle has a show on Sirius. It’s a call in show and airs Thursdays from 5 to 6pm EST on channel 109. I’m going to listen to that.
The struggle is real. Love her for posting this.
I do as well. I love that she showed not all woman are meant to or do weigh 130 pounds, that woman can weigh over 170 pounds and be strong, healthy and normal. I just didn’t love that she called herself “fat.” I think she looks terrific.
Frankly, I’d KILL to weigh 170. No specifics; let’s just say I’m well north of that. I applaud her honesty and forthrightness!
I don’t know – everyone has a right to share their own experiences and I’m glad many posters find this encouraging. As someone recovering from disordered eating, I would have appreciated a trigger warning/more careful phrasing of the headline.
I know some people will say “then don’t click” and generally I agree – but the headline is on the homepage and promoted elsewhere so there’s less choice about engaging with it. Doubt we’d see a post about self harm handled the same way – it’s easy to forget eating disorders are just as common and have the highest death rate of any mental illness.
I’m gonna admit here that I’ve been coping with Oreo cookies and chocolate ice cream. A lot.
2020 has been a dumpster fire of a year.
If I feel that I want cookies and ice cream while I grocery shop for my house, my Auntie’s house because she is also afraid to be at the store during pandemic, I will buy and eat said items.
Comfort food is my way of coping right now.
I don’t need a pic of my scale, I can see how much weight I have gained.
It is a small concern in this day, and to hell with how my hair looks, pedicure, etc.
The world is going to crap at a record pace. Never mind the shallow bs.
Help somebody, say a kind word, listen to someone who is lonely.
I finally weighed myself and am up 14 lbs. I haven’t weighed this much since I was pregnant 8 years ago. It’s just stress eating of total junk. I also exercise 6 days a week, both cardio and weights, but you can’t out run it when you are overeating, especially at my age (47). I am now working with a nutritionist to create a better pattern throughout the day so I don’t overeat in the afternoon. We are also working on identifying triggers for emotional eating, which will be key. Let’s all give ourselves a little break but also try to work on moving to a healthier day to day. We want to be as healthy as possible in a time when this virus is so easy to get. Fingers crossed that we get good news next Tuesday and we don’t have a total disaster on our hands for the next 3 months during a transition of power.
Agree….I am 49, and I sometimes go to my exercise class and run in the same day, but I love seasonal candy (I dunno, it’s the same as other candy…but it’s so fun!), so until Easter, I’m screwed! I just cannot stop eating and working from home makes it worse, it’s too convenient. I may be working out, but my mouth is working too…haha. Plus, it’s getting colder here and easier to stay inside where it’s cozy and warm.
My weakness is any type of chocolate but the seasonal chocolates are the best! The issue is that once I start I can’t stop eating them. Some kind of chemical thing happens in my brain and I just go insane. I’m trying to learn why that is and to control it so that I don’t have to completely give up treats forever, because that is not maintainable, but so that I can have a smaller amount, feel satisfied and then move on. Why is it so hard???
Same. Up 14# over about a year. Cheese (give me all the goat cheeses), olives, nuts- all the good savory and fatty things, along with wine.
TL/DR- back on a weight loss/food tracking plan. Gotta shuck it, covid likes people with extra weight
I’m up 15 from March, and am trying not to be too hard with myself, with not much success. I’m starting to track calories again as I’ve found that that is the only way for me to lose weight and right now I cannot fit into any of my good clothes. Nights are the worst and when I have the most likelihood of losing all will power. Carbs are my Achilles heel, as I’ve never met a bread or pasta I don’t love. Ugh.
I cannot recommend Noom enough. I had gotten up to 165 and started Noom Sept 2019. I reached my goal of 135 by January 2020. I held steady until probably August because COVID made me lazy and complacent. I hopped back into the Noom app to refresh the habits that had lasted me a good year, and I am back to my healthy goal weight.
I was in the exact same place! Topped out at 175 in late August which is the highest I’ve been in a long time. I did Noom too. I like it. I’m back down to normal weight of around 155. It’s been a hard year.
I cannot sing the praises of Noom enough, I’ve lost 161 pounds in 1.25 years in the program and am getting to the point where I’m almost ready to maintain. I’m at a normal BMI for the first time in my adult life and can actually jog.
After having four coaches in three months with noom I gave up.
I’m the heaviest I’ve been in my entire life and its depressing, because I don’t feel like I’m in a position to change it right now. Generally through quarantine I’ve been working out more than I ever have before in my life, and I don’t think I am eating all that horrible, but we are eating out too much (lots of takeout couched as “supporting local businesses!” which is important but I probably don’t need eggplant parm 3 times a week from the local Italian place.) and I think outside of the working out, I am a lot more sedentary than I am – I’m not walking from the car to my office, I’m not running as many errands as I normally would, we’re not doing things like going to the zoo or the farmer’s market on weekends to walk around. Also, wine.
So anyway, its the kind of thing where I know I need to make changes, but I try to do better and count my calories for a few days, and then I don’t lose weight so I’m like WHATS THE POINT. Of course its not going to be an instant fix and in my brain I know that, but my motivation doesn’t, lol.
I think we’re all much too hard on ourselves given that we’re all living through an unprecedented crisis – a pandemic, economic instability, climate change, the crumbling of democratic norms – this sh*t is wild and you’re absolutely right that in the grand scheme of things WHAT IS THE POINT of counting calories??
Eating nutritious food and moving around and developing healthy ways to soothe ourselves in this hellscape are important but ultimately may not impact our weight. And that’s ok.
Here’s what I’ve learned from reporting on obesity research for a decade:
1) Most people who lose weight gain it back and then some, even if they “do everything right”
2) Exposure to shame/criticism around weight makes people sicker and heavier – even if they had a “normal” BMI to begin with, even if the comments aren’t directed at them! This sh*t is toxic and it’s not just psychological/behavioral – it also triggers physiological changes and can mess with your life expectancy!!
3) Stress, sleep, illness, medications, bacteria in your gut, environmental pollutants – there are so many things that factor into weight that any notion of control may be an illusion, or at very least a privilege not shared by everyone. Heck, at one medical research conference I attended a few years back, there was a fascinating presentation on how the spread of obesity maps against the spread of infectious diseases possibly indicating some viral factor.
All this to say, our bodies are probably not playing on the same field, let alone the same game or by the same rules, so compassion for ourselves and others is key, especially in a crisis.
Life is hard enough without counting/weighing/worrying and I want to focus on the things that expand my heart and horizons. Food/weight – whether in excess or restriction – don’t make my top 5.
(Thank you for attending my TEDTalk lol)
The dreaded “covid 20” as we call it in the UK – arghhh
Yes, I have have heard it called Quarantine 15
That’s about right! 😂 😒
I like to call mine “the COVID cushion!” 😂
Omg that is so funny and unfortunately for me – very true!
Ugh! I can SO relate. Haven’t had a mani-pedi since late Feb. So glad I didn’t have anywhere to go over the summer in sandals! Lol. Also, I’ve gained 8 lbs since March (!!!!) and it’s killing me to get on the scale daily. I KNOW it’s from the nibbles and the *big* glass of wine (or two) that I have every day now . I’ve had more to drink in the last 8 months than I’ve had since my college years! I *know* I should take a break, but with everything….it’s the one thing I look forward to every day, around 5 pm lol
I’m SO 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 for a #BidenHarrisLandslide so right after celebrating, I can relax and let it go! Lol.
Gayle, I feel your “pain”
I’d love to be 172 working towards 163.
Same
I’ve been practicing intuitive eating since recovering from an eating disorder and all I can say to everyone on this thread (and Gale! <3) is to please give yourselves grace during this period of instability! It’s ok to gain weight and to comfort eat, though I know we could all do with some good news! You’re all beautiful just as you are and I have faith that once this period of turmoil is over, our bodies will feel safe again and less anxious. Or at least I’m hoping!! Sending you all good vibes in this anxiety-inducing time <3
Thank you for saying this. I’ve struggled with disordered eating for a very long time and had just gotten to a place where I was feeling healthy when COVID threw a major wrench in my progress. It’s made an already difficult time even more anxiety-ridden. :/
THIS x1000 !!!!! Sending hugs – it’s such a tough road recovering in a pandemic!
I’m up 10lbs since March. It’s beer, bread, and sweets. I have an amazing bakery a few blocks away and I’ve been eating an insane amount of bread in lockdown. Plus baking to pass the time. And a beer before bed to stave off the feeling of impending doom. I exercise almost every day but not enough to work off the sourdough, garlic, multigrain, and pumpernickel.
I must say, I have been good lately. Managing to lose, and the last chunk is always the hardest, I think. Is that a brag?? Nope! Because I think I’m only doing well now because, come November 3rd, 4th…whenever we know for sure about the election, those foodie floodgates are going to open for me, lol. Either from sheer joy or abject desolation, it’s coming. Carbs. Pizza. Cupcakes. It won’t be pretty, but it’s coming!
This is me. I’ve done much better than I thought given the circumstances, but come after election and whatever happens is going to impact my eating habits. If it’s the worse, I’ll likely eat myself into a coma, if it’s good news, yeah joy eating is a thing.
People need to be kinder to themselves, it’s terrifying global pandemic, stress eating is real and we shouldn’t add weight shame to our growing list of anxieties.
Give yourself a big hug, make sure you’re getting your fruits and veggies in, and don’t beat yourself up too much for weight gain right now
Thank you, Gayle! I’m in the same predicament. Liberating to see she owns it and knows she’ll deal with it when she can. I am ashamed about my weight gain, but I also know that the election, Coronavirus, civil discord as the orange one would break this country in two to cheat his way into a second term and remote learning (I can’t even: screaming all day long). I can’t tackle my weight right now. It will have to wait until I and this country are in a better place, quasi-normal. Please, God, let it be soon!
Just wanted to say, from one remote-learning parent to another, that in and of itself is enough to send anyone screaming into the refuge of comfort-eating. It is HARD AF, like the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Harder than working full-time and going back to school full-time. Then when you fold in all of the other noise and stress and anxiety…enjoy your snacks, girl. You earned them.
I am also carrying around 20-ish extra pounds, but I’m trying to be nice to myself about it because my weight is only one fact out of milliions about me, and it’s not even a very interesting one. I do need to eat better so I will feel better (and same goes for exercising) but I am trying to be kind to myself as the world feels VERY unkind right now. All the CB-ers should give themselves some grace.
I have an internal argument with myself. I look at my body and see weight in different areas and losing my muscle tone. I’m walking an insane amount and trying to get in some workouts during the week. But I definitely cope with cookies. So I spend a day beating myself up. Than I bake and feel some calm. And remind myself it’s a pandemic. It’s ok to feel all the feelings. I’m trying to stay active and hope when we get to the other side I can get back to some normal.
I made a bunch of diet changes a few weeks ago and that is helping reverse my quaranton. I’m not exercising. I’m too stressed.
I was really good until July and have gained 8 -10 pounds since then. I was actually ok with it until I pulled out my jeans. I’ve managed to lose 4 pounds and hope the jeans fit soon. I refuse to buy new clothes. I still run 4 times a week, but I’ve started to eat while watching TV. That’s something I havent done in over 20 years. Be kind to rough on yourselves, ladies. We are in this for the long haul.
Weirdly enough, I’ve lost weight. It’s because I work from home now and am totally paranoid about going out and will only do it when I absolutely HAVE to. So I no longer pop down to the convenience store to get some candy or chips daily. I don’t get take out for lunch or dinner like I used to. I won’t even get take out delivery because I’m paranoid. I order groceries delivered and I wash with soap or wipe down with Lysol wipes the packaging of everything that comes into my home.
I stay home and I cook what little I know how to do and it’s much healthier. And since I’m no longer in a stressful office environment like I used to be, I snack less.
Snuffles, same with me! My hubs and I have both lost weight (he’s down FIFTY FREAKIN POUNDS and I’m down a measly 10…lol). But it’s b/c we don’t go out to eat, don’t order in and have been cooking simple meals at home since March. I still wipe everything down that we get delivered and stress everyday that the Orange Ogre nightmare won’t end, but as far as the weight goes, this has been our ONE silver lining. For all who are struggling with stress eating now more than ever, know that there’s a biological component hard wired in us to seek out the richest food in the environment for times of scarcity (which is no longer relevant). Your brain seeks the dopamine hit from these hyperpalatable foods and your body wants you to store excess in case there’s a famine. Google Dr. Doug Lisle’s online lectures if interested in learning more. He has a great one called “Losing Weight Without Losing Your Mind”.
Just an FYI, there was recent guidance that wiping down/disinfecting groceries and other packaged goods is not necessary; if you wash your hands before and after you unload and sanitize the counter/surface you unload onto, wiping down each package is not advised since the virus is transmitted via respiratory aerosol and not contaminated surfaces. Of course, if it makes you feel less anxious, it probably can’t hurt, but just putting it out there in case!
Oh, Gayle, I so feel you! I’m not as brave you as to actually step on the scale (my clothes are SCREAMING for release at the seams). Me, the pandemic and my new best friend: Entemanns Donuts. Sigh…
I was significantly overweight prior to the pandemic. I’ve been quarantined since the first week of March (due to health issues, I’ve only broken quarantine for trips to the hospital), and I’ve eaten my way through what feels like an emotional breakdown (these last couple of months have been especially bad). I started lockdown close to my highest weight ever. I stepped on the scale yesterday and, now with 20 more pounds added to the flesh pile, I’m well above my prior peak.
I ordered a fitness tracker, so I hope to fight against the sedentary ways I’ve taken to and pay more attention to my physical health. I know if I can work on that, the mental health part will come along, too.
But right now I just feel like an extra blobby blob of worthlessness, if I’m honest. I know my weight and my worth aren’t connected, and yet that’s what my head is telling me right now. I know I’m not alone in that, so I have heaps of empathy and sympathy for others feeling the same.
You.Are.NOT.Worthless!
Corinne Crabtree (she lost 100 lbs about 15 years ago) has some great free podcasts-they might really help you too!
Check out Beatrice Caruso on youtube! She is going through it right now and she is so real and uplifting. You are NOT worthless! You are amazing and you can do anything you want!
Thank you to all three of you for the kind responses.
@Laalaa, it just so happens that I stumbled on Beatrice Caruso’s YT channel last night! I’ve only seen a couple of her videos (the most recent ones), but I definitely intend to watch more. She’s got a great attitude.
@MaryContrary, I’ll be sure to check out Crabtree, too!
I have been on high prednisone doses since February and although I walk about 5 miles a day the weight really crept up fast for me.
I’ve managed to lose some of the 25,yes 25 pounds that I put on from March to August,when I’m brave I try on my jeans…I’m not that brave that often,lol.
Besides the dumpster fire of the Cheeto in chief,covid,et al we are helping our daughter prepare to graduate in 2021 and get her off to college.Stressful as heck because she can’t do regular college visits.
People have a much harder time than me so I’ll stop whining and just say I’m grateful for many things too,but I will be especially happy when next Tuesday is over.The constant screaming of Trump every time I turn on the tv is actually stressful to the point where I don’t watch the news anymore…
Gayle is 5’10…. 172 pounds is actually not bad at all.
Women, please STOP weighing yourself! You can gauge your weight/health by how you feel, your clothes etc. This is so damaging to mental health and a game you cannot win.
Do the things you should do (eat well, exercise, drink lots of water etc), then do some of the things you shouldn’t (eat a piece of cake, have some homemade treats etc)…both with grace and acceptance, guilt free. But for the love of god STOP weighing yourself all the time. The fitness and weight loss industries are trying to kill our pocket books and our mental health. Be healthy and practice body and self acceptance. Not all thin bodies are healthy and not all “fat” bodies are unhealthy!
Love, your resident nutritionist and fellow female.
CBD oil, lifesaver!! I am in a medical marijuana state and I used to take it but I actually prefer CBD. This year has been a nightmare, following the previous three years’ also nightmare of Trump’s time in office, and I’m thankful for small comforts… I was definitely eating way too much bread and pasta at one point though.
Me too Gayle
Yeah, I’ve been eating my feelings too. I need to make up the treat bags for the trick or treaters TODAY before I eat all their candy! 👻🎃
This is very relatable. I have a 20 month old. Before I got pregnant with him I had kept off nearly 100lbs thanks to WW and running half marathons. Even with intuitive/mindful eating and staying active through pregnancy, I gained 60lbs or so. I think some bodies just load it on when pregnant. Anyway, when the pandemic struck I had a 12 month old and had maybe 15-20lbs to go to get back to what is my comfortable weight range. I have had my ups and downs, feeling depressed and stuck and bored and just blah…and not overly motivated. I have been running, I run with the stroller on the weekends (bc I have to, due to our work schedules, run with the stroller and baby if I want to run outside in the morning), I use the dreadmill during the week. My motivation has been lacking with running. I miss being able to train for long runs. I have really missed run club. But this week I am feeling more with it. I have about 5lb to go to get to where I was when I got pregnant (and 13lbs to go to get to my “goal”). I like feeling “in the zone.” It’s not really all about the scale, that is just one measurement. But (for me) it is about feeling good in my skin, liking how my clothes look, confidence, feeling strong etc. And the pandemic has made it hard to get that pep in your step. But today…today I feel with it, so I hope to keep this momentum going.
I feel her pain, I just got my first pedicure since March as LA county opened up nail salon services. Had it done in a single room with both parties masked. It’s amazing how much it lifted my mood, I did do home pedicures but man, I kind of suck at it. I hope Gail gets comfortable soon also but totally get not doing it. Everyone needs to be kind to themselves and to others
The only thing working for me is IF. At my age (53) it’s hard to shift weight, and I’m the dreaded apple body type. Even on days when I don’t do the 16:8 it helps to cut off eating time-usually nothing after 7 pm.
During the shutdown I wore jeans every day to measure my weight-I don’t have a scale, and I don’t want one. Now I’m back at work, and even my fairly active job doesn’t do much to keep the weight creep in check.
We need to be kind to ourselves, eat as healthfully as we can, and when we indulge, do it happily. Spend your calories deliciously!
I’m thrilled to know I’m not the only one who mainlines a bag of Brach’s Autumn Mix from CVS!!!!! Phew
I’ve lost about 5 lbs due to severe IBS lol.
Wow! I so relate to this. I’ve been mainlining sugar. I blame it on election stress.
I really like the scales she used to have haha
You can give yourself a pedicure.
Brach’s is the only candy corn that has earned the designation of candy corn. Every other iteration is chunks of dyed corn syrup masquerading as candy corn.
It’s so good to someone relatable talking about her struggle with weight loss. I’m 5 ft 65 inches. According to BMI, I should be max 150 pounds. I weighed and I’m 172.5, that is a low weight for me. She is so much more relatable than my friend who is constantly on a diet so she can get under 100 pounds. If it’s any consolation, men are starting to be just as bad as us. I recently re entered the dating scene and every guy I’ve met is on some type of specialized food plan.
About two years ago I transitioned to a plant-based diet and I feel like that’s really helped me with dealing with pandemic life and also helped with losing my pregnancy weight. In the first year I went plant-based, I ended up losing about 15lbs, mostly from changing my diet (though I did start exercising a little more). When I stopped eating meat, I didn’t have that heavy feeling I used to get after meals. And when I finally gave up dairy, I stopped having digestive issues and my skin looked clearer. It was easier to cook meals at home, so I ended up eating healthier and eating fewer processed foods. Physically, I felt better and had more energy, which improved my moods. And my cholesterol went down (it wasn’t high enough that I needed medication, but it had been creeping up over the years).
I really do believe that those changes to my eating habits have helped me to bounce back physically and mentally from pregnancy. Working at home and having cravings as an excuse meant I was eating a lot of junk food during the last half of my pregnancy (my baby wanted all the potatoes, especially french fries and potato chips). I gained about 40lbs during pregnancy and have lost all but the last 2-3lbs since having my baby in July.
I get that some people think that this diet is too extreme, but it wasn’t as difficult as I initially thought it was going to be. I started out by going vegetarian and noticed positive changes even before giving up dairy. What caused me to change was watching the documentary Forks Over Knives. Hearing the stories of the people who nearly died from heart failure really hit home for me because my mother died of a heart attack and stroke even though she seemed healthy (the only problem she had was high blood pressure, but it was under control with medication). This diet might not work for everyone, but I think it’s worth at least trying out to see if you get any benefit out of it.