Hey everyone,
First off, I'm really sorry if this comes across heavy, I'm DReste(user), and I wanted to introduce myself and my story here because I believe this community is exactly the kind of supportive place where I can lay the foundation to get back to feeling healthy and strong.
A while back, I lost my younger brother, and the grief hit me incredibly hard. In the time since, I've gained almost 65 pounds. A lot of it came from emotional eating, stress, and just trying to cope day by day. I've also been on sertraline (Zoloft) to help manage panic attacks, which has been a lifesaver for my mental health but unfortunately contributed to some of the weight gain through increased appetite and other side effects.
I'm at a point now where I'm ready to turn things around. I want to lose the weight sustainably, rebuild my strength, and feel like myself again physically and mentally. No crash diets or extremes; just consistent, healthy changes that respect where I'm at emotionally. The forum can be the perfect starting point for my journey. I'm planning to focus on:
First off, I'm really sorry if this comes across heavy, I'm DReste(user), and I wanted to introduce myself and my story here because I believe this community is exactly the kind of supportive place where I can lay the foundation to get back to feeling healthy and strong.
A while back, I lost my younger brother, and the grief hit me incredibly hard. In the time since, I've gained almost 65 pounds. A lot of it came from emotional eating, stress, and just trying to cope day by day. I've also been on sertraline (Zoloft) to help manage panic attacks, which has been a lifesaver for my mental health but unfortunately contributed to some of the weight gain through increased appetite and other side effects.
I'm at a point now where I'm ready to turn things around. I want to lose the weight sustainably, rebuild my strength, and feel like myself again physically and mentally. No crash diets or extremes; just consistent, healthy changes that respect where I'm at emotionally. The forum can be the perfect starting point for my journey. I'm planning to focus on:
- Building balanced meals with more protein, veggies, and fiber to help manage cravings
- Starting small with movement (walks, maybe some light strength training)
- Tracking in a gentle way to create a moderate calorie deficit
