Fat "acceptance" - from the PoV of a fat person

[mnhtnbb]

58. I was struck by this thought in your post

" instead I stay home, self-isolate and feel crappy. I know that I am not the only overweight person who just feels defeated at the idea of leaving the house, so they stay away from friends, family and the more a person isolates themselves, the more prone to depression they are. "

You also mentioned depression here:

"I know I would feel better if I exercised, but it hurts to exercise because I'm fat, I get depressed, I eat."

There is definitely a connection between obesity and depression.

You might find the information in these links interesting: http://www.obesityaction.org/educational-resources/resource-articles-2/obesity-related-diseases/obesity-and-depression-an-intertwined-challenge

particularly this conclusion:

In a 2008 review of study outcomes in the Journal of Clinical Psychology (Markowitz et al.), the authors urged clinicians to integrate the treatment of these two diseases and cautioned that dieting, which can worsen mood, and anti-depressants, which can cause weight gain, should be minimized. The authors also recommended that exercise and stress reduction, which have been shown to be effective treatments for both diseases, should be considered a first-line defense.

While we still have much to learn about the association between obesity and depression, this much is clear: the link between the two conditions is clear.

And this link on dealing with depression: http://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/dealing-with-depression.htm


I like some of the suggestions in the above link about how to get more exercise, especially getting involved with pets. Don't know if you have a cat or dog or have allergies and that might not be an option, but pets are wonderful at boosting your spirits. My rescue dog, Snowy, loves our walks and she is the reason I usually walk for well over an hour/day. If you do like dogs, but can't have one where you live (and aren't allergic) I'll bet someone you know has a dog that would love an extra walk now and then. Although playing with a kitty isn't as much exercise as walking a dog, the benefit of
feeling better from the playful interaction and sharing love with a sweet kitty might make you feel more like getting out of the house to take a walk around the block more often.


I hope you find a way to break the cycle you mention and begin to feel better about yourself. Change is hard. Really, really hard. It's really helpful to have a group that cheers you on whenever
anyone is working to change behavior or break old habits.

Take care and thanks for sharing your perspective with us.