I am afraid to even post this...

The_New_Christina

You can do it! It's taken me 11 long years to wake up and finally react to what I was doing to myself putting on all this weight! Finally in a moment of panic, I realized I can't continue on like this! I'm down from 254lbs to 194 currently! It just takes, dedication, motivation, perserverence and the real WANT to do it!

Good Luck!

SStruthers13

I think you found the right place to lose weight and keep it off. Losing weight is not about dieting, it's about doing what you need to stay a good weight. Notice I did not say skinny or perfect. Skinny and perfect is not the answer. A good, livable, healthy weight is what we all need. Send me a friend request if you like. I'll be happy to hang with you while you make this lifestyle change.

ash8184

Tom - one foot in front of the other and you'll reach your goal in no time. I have been where you are (383lbs), and what you're trying to do is not impossible.

Try starting today with one modification in your lifestyle. Walk around the block, do 5 sit-ups, drink one fewer soda, whatever. Tomorrow, make another small change. The key is to make it something you can stick with and live with (ie 800 calories and an hour of cardio just will not work). If you make small changes that you enjoy and look forward to every day, the weight will drop off in no time.

YOU CAN DO IT!!! Let us know if you have questions and we're ready to help! HUGS.

lorig_2000

You have taken the first step!! Never be afraid to ask for help. That is what these boards are all about. For me it's not only one day at a time it's one meal and one snack at a time. If you blow it on one meal, don't blow the rest of the day. Brush yourself off and get back on track for the next one!

Since your food budget is limited, try frozen veggies. Usually cheaper than fresh and sometimes better nutritionally because they are flash frozen upon picking, unlike fresh which sometimes lose nutrition through days in transit. Make up a meal plan and grocery list ahead of time and stick to it! Don't go buy groceries on an empty stomach - too many temptations!!

Drink lots of water!

Pick an exercise YOU enjoy. Walking is always a great way to start out and you don't have to spend money on a gym membership that way! Just remember to stretch after to avoid injury!

Just remember DIET is just DIE with a T. It's all about lifestyle.

Good luck to you and I'm excited for you that you are taking this step to getting healthy!!!

BL_Mark

You can do this Tom... no sweat... lol... wait... yeah, you're probably gonna sweat...A LOT!!! But you know what I mean. I've never been the very active type either, been a desk-jocky for 12 years have managed to accumulate this pare shaped body which weighed 350lbs in February of this year. Since then, with watching what I'm eating, using this website and app, and moderate exercise, I've dropped nearly 50lbs in just 4 months. Hell... if I can do it, so can you! Look around... there are 100's of us rooting for you!! Good luck and please feel free to add me! Remember, you only fail if you quit.

-Mark

LJCannon

:flowerforyou: Hello, and welcome to MFP!! You are embarking on a Lifestyle Change, NOT a Diet. This is for the rest of your Life. I hope that doesn't sound too Overwhelming, just remember to take it in Small Steps. Make small changes that you can adjust to and live with FOREVER. Your new Friends here on MFP will add Joy to your Journey as well as Boost you up on Bad Days, and keep you accountable to your Goals.
:drinker: Good Luck!! You CAN Do This!!

tinytasha7

Hi everyone;

As the title says, I'm truly afraid to even be posting this. I am 459lbs, as per 2 weeks ago, and I want, no, I need help. I have never been in shape. I have never felt comfortable with my body and the closest I had ever been to success with a diet was my sophmore year of high school in which I lost 80lbs dropping from 360lbs to 280lbs in a little under 6 months. Then my uncle died who I was very close with and I ballooned back up to what I am now and it doesn't seem to ever stop. I am losing all hope for life and even went as far as attempting to end it last year, (for which I seeked professional help for and am now stable and never needed medication).

This is my final recourse, I am willing to try changing my life style 1 final time, I've tried everything from atkins to juicing and from Insanity to Yoga nothing lasts for more than a month with me. I have no drive since I have never been fit so I don't know the gratification and vindication that lies at the finish line of a life style change. I have no moral support, and no emotional support. Finally my food budget, it's roughly $250 per month, I have a costco membership and live in North New Jersey. I'm not here looking for attention, and I'm not here to sit and talk about cats, I'm here to change and I need help. So please, HELP ME!

If you choose to help, and need more specific information feel free to ask anything I'm an open book.

Warm Regards,
Tom

P.S. I'm looking to acheive a goal of being 299lbs by Christmas 2013 as the biggest Christmas gift ever to my family.

I totally understand how you feel. I am currently 340 lbs, and while my food consumption is generally reasonable and healthy, I have not been able to drop weight even with a fitness component.
I have few supports, and of those few, none are family except for my daughter.
I would be more than happy to work with you on this journey because I DO understand what it feels like....

I'll add you as a friend if you like and maybe we can figure it out together....I already have some ideas...

SchroederNJ

Welcome and good luck.

Sent you a friend request.

Race2the9

Tom,
congrats!!! you have overcome the 1st step. realizing that you cant do it on your own! I thought I could beat this myself too but on many occasions I have "given up" and at one point in my life I resigned to the fact that I'd ALWAYS be a big dude. I'm 5'7" and was at 360lbs at smy heaviest.... I am 288 now and loving the new me that is to come. I have a long way to go yet, I am please with my journey thus far.

MFP has been an absolute blessing in my life! it'll be one for you as well! Keep moving forward! dont give up; If you fall, get back up and keep going! don't beat yourself up anymore about what could've been!

and invest in some comfy shoes! :glasses:

you'll do great and feel great in the process!!!

silvergurl518

i think you've come to the right place, tom. when you strip away a lot of the jokey stuff on MFP, you're left with a very supportive community of people who all want to make positive, lasting changes in their lives. some of us have 20 lbs to lose, some of us 50, some 100, and some 200. some are here in recovery from eating disorders and want to gain weight. but we all have something in common and that's to strive for a healthy lifestyle.

perhaps you'll want to meet with a nutritionist and personal trainer in addition to logging your food/exercise on MFP. just a thought.

either way, i wish you so much luck. congratulations on starting--and well done for your bravery!

sclmn12

Welcome Tom - you can do this! There's a motivating, supportive community here that is honored to help you in your journey. Whenever you feel discouraged or depressed tap into the support you have here.

GurleyGirl524

I have been here for a while. I have succeeded, and I have failed, and am now back trying again and this time I will reach my goal and I will not climb this hill again. Forget about dieting, it truly is a lifestyle change. You obviously want that change or you would not be here. Life consumes us sometimes and none of us are perfect. The journey is not always an easy but you have taken the first step. We all started somewhere. Feel free to send me a friend request. I am here every day and would love to help you.

Read the success stories in the forums and you should find encouragement there.

Good luck and would love to hear from you.

Dawnymaries

Welcome, Tom. I am soooo happy you joined. This place is full of friendly, supportive and knowledgable people who will love to help you out.

If you just follow the plan they make you, you WILL succeed. I have seen so many people do so well here. It won't always be easy - we all understand that here - sometimes it will be harder than others. But never give up, you can always keep trying.

All the best of luck to you!

janinealfke

Dearest Tom,

I so feel your pain. In July 2011 my daughter was on a respirator in our local hospital with double pneumonia and we did not think she was going to make it. I was 563 lbs. Seeing her struggle for every breath horrified me, and in August I began losing weight. I didn't want to die.
I saw a surgeon in San Francisco in April 2012 to discuss weight loss surgery. I had lost 70 lbs by then. He asked me to lose another 20 and once I did that he agreed to do life saving RNY Gastric Bypass surgery on me. I lost 40 more lbs by my surgery date of 7/30/2012. Since that day I have lost another 146 lbs and am down to 307 today. My goal is 180 as I am almost 6 feet tall. Gastric bypass is an option for you if you want to really get this weight off. It saved my life for certain. I am off most of my medications now and am on my way to having knee replacement so I can walk to get the rest of this weight off. THERE IS HOPE...whether you can get surgery or not.

If you have no insurance, Medicaid should be able to help you get some kind of help. I'm here for you and will help to support you with a diet plan, or weight loss surgery. IT CAN BE DONE...you can start losing. I will try to help you in any way that I can. I so know how you feel. It's very difficult to be where you are, and there is always hope. Don't lose heart. Please let me know how I can help you and I'm there. Have you ever considered a weight loss surgery? It's not the easy way out that many think it is, but I have a facebook page called "Gastric Bypass Groupies" and you are welcome to join it, and read all our posts to see what the over 170 members say about their surgeries....99.9% of them would do it again in a heart beat. There are ways to start losing without surgery. That is by far, not the only answer...but may be a good option for you. I've been where you are. Please let me know how I can help you. You ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS.....

Always,

Janine Whitaker Alfke

verenadiaz9

Good luck in your journey, i would recommend community support through this. Never give up on yourself. Iam almost pushing 300 myself, but the my fitness pal has really helped me count calories and motivate me to exercise, even thought the exercise is very tough at times. Feel free to add me if youd like, and ill do my best to support you. We are all in the same boat in some way or another on this site, dont be ashamed.

Hearts_2015

Hello Tom!:flowerforyou:

I am so excited for you as you just walked through a huge fear you had and came out the other side with great support awaiting you! Congratulations for taking that first step... asking for support like you did!

:drinker: :happy: You took a risk and posted ...ppl are sharing wonderful stories of their own hard work and your post paid off in kind!

Whatever you do...take before photos, lots of them and ongoing photos... you won't regret it and sometimes it's old photos side by side with progress ones that really make you see just how far you've come.

As some have shared.... it's all about YOU now Tom.... you're doing for YOU ONLY...make it about you and you WILL succeed!!

Warm hugs,
Hearts

PattyfromToledo

Hi Tom ... loosing weight is a change of life. Drop the word diet from your vocabulary all together. This is not a diet, it is a life change. Seek out various tools to help ... Dr support, a dietician and even a shrink. Don't be afraid to seek out the 3rd ... we all have our reasons for uncontrollable eating. Once your conquer that devil you will be more focused to do the work that it is going to take. You can do this as we all can. Be strong and seek out the aide.

megginanderson

Find me on FB - https://www.facebook.com/meggin.anderson
Id love to help.

LauraBalyk

the first step is admitting your weight and that you need to get help , so yay ! I know how terrifying it is to start, trust me, ive tried starting many times. ive always been "big" and cant remember the last time I enjoyed clothing shopping or been happy with regular clothing stores. I have started my healthy eating journey many times, but I vowed to myself that this time was rock bottom and things needed to change !! If you are looking for more friends and moral support feel free to add me as a friend and I will try to be there for you to lean on as much as you need !!
laura

bathony

Hi Tom, you taken the brave, first step, well done. May I be one amongst others to wish you every success on your journey. You can do it!

kritik

Good Luck To You!!! You CAN do this. So many here cheerin' ya on!!

RunForChai

So much good advice---I'm adding my wish for your success.

One tip about exercise---I think that when people are very heavy one of the best, first exercises besides walking is to get into the pool--you can get a flotation vest and "run" or walk with zero impact on your joints. It is also cool in the pool. But--do bring a snack for afterward as being in water makes most people hungry--I slice apples or pears into very thin slices, or carry a baggy of almonds or even a yogurt.

keem88

i have never been in the same boat as far as being overweight, i joined this site to lose some weight i had gained from recovering from an ed (i was at my heighest of 127, right in the middle of the weight i should be in but for me that was high).
$250 can go a long way in a food budget, i live in southern ny so i understand how food up here can be more expensive (i lived in the midwest for a few years and the groceries were cheaper, le sigh).
what helps me is to try and do shop from home, so i can search by all the unit prices and find the best deals. i imagine you have a shoprite since they are based in nj, and they offer that service. even if you go to the store to shop, it helps to look at the shop from home online first to see the prices for your store. i started saving loads of money when i did that, and can still eat healthy.
i don't eat meat, but my staple food shopping is: dried beans, veg broth, wheat gluten (to make seitan, a meatless subsitute), pasta, veg that is in season and frozen veggies, fruit, dairy, seeds/nuts
it sucks that you don't have a support really, but there are some awesome people on here.
you need to find something you enjoy though. make it a lifestyle change instead of doing different diets. technically everyone is on a diet, bc a diet is what you eat.
find a form of exercise you enjoy. i used to love to run but it messed my knee up so badly that i can't really do it anymore. i love taking the dog on hikes, it's free and you feel great being outside. start small, even if you are taking a 20 minute walk a few times a week.
and make sure you are eating foods you enjoy. don't feel like you have to eat diet foods all the time. skinnytaste.com does have awesome recipes made to be lower calorie/lower fat with the flavor and taste of classic recipes you enjoy.
good luck on your journey and as long as you have support here, you will be fine

pagoubupa

My goal is to lose 210 pounds. I have lost 114 so far. You can add me as a friend if you want. You CAN do this. It is possible. Just consistently log your calories and stay within your calorie goal.

karen_965

Tom, You have made the first of many steps toward a healthier life. You acknowledge you need help. We all do and that is why we are all here. Good luck and hope to see your progress.

lindseygibeault

Sent u a friend request. Im sure we can all relate to you! This is emotionally draining for me some days. But I just keep moving on. Theres gotta be a good ending to working so hard!

AprilNew1

You can do it, you are among many friends on here that will support and encourage you through it all. GO FOR IT!!!! Sent a Friend Request :0)

sherrihuntsmith

I'm so happy that you are here. Everyone else has great information to give. I'm just going to support you. here, we all learn from each other. I love the food and exercise diary. It's what has kept me motivated. I love seeing the numbers. It takes the emotions out of my eating, which I needed. We are here for you. And we are going to love you , and cheer for you and love you when you succeed and love you when you stumble. We are going to help you stay on your path. And you are going to love it right back. I'm sending a friend request.

ajwild001

Baby steps is absolutely the way to go. Never deprive yourself, but work on making more healthy choices than unhealthy ones. This is a day by day effort, and sometimes even hour by hour.

Also - goals are absolutely great. Start with a small goal like making sure to get in 8 glasses of water. Then in a week or so add in a 30 min walk daily (even if you need to break it into 3 10-min walks), then add in a healthy breakfast within an hour of waking up (this jumpstarts your metabolism for the day), etc. It takes about 3 weeks for a new change to become second-nature.

Sometimes when you set numeric goals, if you don't achieve them it can derail your efforts because you punish yourself (I do this to myself all the time!!). Just remember that if you don't meet the numeric goal, you are still in a better place than today. Document your measurements and clothes sizes and track those as well. Downward movements in those can be more telling in how you are improving yourself than any movement on the scale.

Good luck!!! We are here for you!

MGreensides

"Try not to be scared of the time it will take to accomplish your dreams, the time is going to pass by regardless". This quote motivates me so much, hope it helps. Best of luck to you Tom.