For Women with ADHD ADD Who Want to Connect

How do women with Inattentive ADD stay organized enough, focused enough, and not get bored enough to lose say 20 to 30 lbs?

Hello out there: Are there other women out there that are having problems losing weight because you can't get and stay organized enough to follow and stick to a plan? Do you get bored with it all and need a break, and then get off the wagon? Do you crave sugar, or chocolate and it wrecks your diet? Are you an all or nothing perfectionist that if you go off for one of the many ADD reasons you have a harder than heck time starting again? If any of this is you and you can relate ....please answer! I need all the help I can get here in my quest to lose even 20lbs. Thanks! Mary

Tags: add, adhd, and, for, loss, weight, with, women

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Permalink Reply by Shelly on March 25, 2010 at 6:47am: Hi Mary,
Work on a reward system and try to build habits instead of looking at it as a chore. I started going to the gym a couple years ago and for going at least three times a week for three months, I bought myself an mp3 player. It was something that I wanted, but it was also something that would enhance my workouts and keep me motivated. I will do other things like by a new work out outfit when I get a little bored and that seems to help quite a bit. I went from not being able to run half a block to running 5k's easy, just ran my first 10k and training for a half marathon in may. My trick was to build habits, set goals and reward myself for my accomplishments. I found that when I get thrown off my fitnes plan it is easier to get back on it if I focus on the positive part of it instead of punishing myself for not doing it. Dont beat yourself up about falling off the wagon and focus on building habits for life. Once it is a habit you don't have to think about it as much.
I also went from eating a pre-packaged food and fast food diet to a mainly whole foods diet. I found that I love to cook. I cant pay attention to the TV for too long and being on the computer gets old after about 10 minutes, so my evening is generally spent cooking in the kitchen while glimpsing at the TV. I like the challenge of trying to get a normally fattening dish to taste good while substituting the fatty ingredients with healthier options. I also cut out bread with pasta dishes or bread as a side during meals. I substitute a side of starch with steamed vegetables, and I usually have a salad with dinner too. Lots of fruits and veggies is key. Fat free condensed milk is a good substitute for half and half in recipies and isnt half bad either.
I dont tend to organize a diet and excercize plan, I just make those things priorities in my life. It now comes second nature to me, and I enjoy what I am doing. Good luck. I hope I have been a little help.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Addy on March 25, 2010 at 1:21pm: Something I just started doing that really helps is to drink a protein shake right after working out. It helps immensely with muscle recovery and energy. My trainer says that you metabolize the calories pretty immediately too, and it keeps your metabolism revving.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Betsea Fernandes on March 25, 2010 at 9:58pm: Hi Mary, your post sounds like an ADHD commercial lol! Like boner meds haa, all you need is adderal, you will be fine and loose weight, but just meds are not the answer, I can not stress enough educate yourself about this search engine they call add, my head is like angoogle search I hear ya girl! Use that rolladex in your coconut and focus if possible on gettin to the dr and shrink your to so list, you can do it!! If I can any one can;) you will feel so great!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mary on May 17, 2010 at 8:58pm: I was able to lose 35 pounds and keep it off. I think we all know the "keys" to losing weight, exercise and cutting the calories. The difference for us ADD/ADHDers is how bored we get. Here is what I did that helped me. I joined a sport. I joined a team that was full of beginner women. Most of us were out of shape and new to the sport. This helped me in two ways. It was more fun to work out because it is a social sport. It also made me accountable to show up. If I didn't I was letting my team down, even if I wasn't the "first string" I felt needed.
Soon I had a support group built up, of people who would truly be on my back if I didn't show up. It also introduced me to people who like other exercise. I fought my inner hermit and accepted invitations to hike, go for walks and eventually go running as a group. I didn't lose the weight fast because I really do like carbs and I know that I need to eat a higher protein, lower carb diet. But I lost it. And it was fun! I shudder at the word diet now. I eat a lot healthier now because I take a kickboxing class that is super challenging and I feel stronger when I eat healthier. I have over time gained back fifteen pounds, then lost ten again. But it's not like yo-yo dieting where it happens in a month. Love who you are. Try not to make losing weight torturous. Whatever you do to lose weight, you have to keep doing it forever. You can't lose the weight and then go back to eating garbage. So take it slow and love the process. Find some good friends in the same boat as you are. It is terrifying at first and can be a little expensive to join a sports team, but I totally suggest it if you really want to lose weight with ADD.; ▶ Reply to This