Another try ... afraid of failing

rainbobrite929

I turned 30 this year ... and if that's not bad enough ... I'm finally coming to terms with personal issues (read: eating disorders) which have ruled my life since I was 6! I have dealt with and am continuing to deal with my demons (anorexia, exercise induced bulimia, and binge eating (sans bulimia)).

When I was 12, I realized that at 215, I was way over weight in comparison to my friends and classmates and tried my first of many ... many ... many diets. By the time I was in the eight grade (my sixth grade mind said), I wanted to be "skinny." When I hit 16, I said that I would be "skinny" by high school graduation. At 21, it was by 25. Granted in those ensuing years I also put on another 100 pounds.

Now at a 350 lbs. and 30, I'm getting sick. I've got diabetes, heart problems (both the diabetes and heart problems would be easily remedied if I could lose weight), and joint problems.

I desperately want to lose weight but I'm afraid I'm going to fail.

Basically, what this schpeil was all about was to ask if anyone has any advice for a life long dieter who doesn't know how to start off on the right foot.

JulieBoBoo

sending friend request

HealthyChanges2010

Hi and welcome to MFP:flowerforyou:

A couple things to toss out there, dump the word 'diet' and think more along the lines of changing your eating patterns by changing your lifestyle. We've all learned 'diets' don't work and are only temporary fixes bringing back all the weight and more besides.

Failure is apart of life, no way to get around it, but along with failure comes success. I don't think we'd realize success if we hadn't had some failures in life.

Some tips that will help along the way on your journey...preplanning your meals out and inputting them in your food diary and sticking to that each day. Planning out your workout days and basically creating a routine for both so you get in a bit of a groove and get comfy eating healthier and getting your workouts in.

Look ahead to the future and not what your life used to be and you will succeed, there may be a few stumbles along the way but I never think of that as failure, simply a lesson learned

You'll do great... keep it positive and see if you can't also lose the word failure along with the word diet and you'll be golden!:flowerforyou:

CarterGrt

I wish you the best of luck and know you will get great support from this site. I wish I had more to offer from own experiences, but you have been dealing with a lot of things that I haven't personally experienced.

The one thing I might offer is that for me, the idea of losing weight, reaching my goal, was always so daunting. It was always so big of a number and so hard to reach that I often got discouraged before I would even begin. What I really like about MFP is that it encourages you to think about TODAY. You just have to watch your food TODAY, you just have to burn some calories TODAY, your goal becomes keeping TODAY on plan. For me, this is much easier than looking at the bigger-picture goal.

Again, good luck in the coming weeks and months!!! If it is any consolation, I am about to turn 40 and I am in the best shape and lowest weight that I have been in 20 years. And this is learning to work out on two shot knees and creaky back. So, to me, 30 seems like you are getting a head-start!!!

--Carter

LADYT74

I know you can do it this time, this is a great web site you will have a lot of support. I will be praying for you.

HealthyChanges2010

Another idea just came to mind, some members break down the weight they want to drop and create mini goals. They set up their tickers at say, 20 lbs, or 10 lbs, etc. Then you reward yourself with something that has meaning to you or a means of pampering yourself. A bottle of pretty nail polish, bubble bath, a mani, pedi, new workout equipment, you get the idea right?

By setting mini goals the larger amount to lose doesn't seem quite as daunting that way, it's just a thought:flowerforyou:

Wishing you well on your journey Hon