New & Ashamed.

I am the same. I become a member here a while ago but never used it. After hitting a point where I couldn't take being this big any longer I am now determined to change and lose the weight. Also, I would like to have 1 more baby, and it couldn't be healthy at my current weight. I am down 14 pounds in 3 weeks so far, now I just need to stay on track. My history is I get off track for a couple days and never go back. I'm trying to build friends and support on here so I don't do that again. Feel free to add me! We'll all encourage and motivate each other.

I know for myself I had to reach a "rock bottom" moment before I was able to really commit myself to even verbalize my goals out loud. I knew that once I said it out loud and I had people around me to be accountable to, I was going to have to practice a lot more self-discipline... It's been a rough/slow start and there've been so many ups and downs. But the point is - just keep trying to make better choices every day.
Here's what helps me:
Don't allow yourself to weigh-in except at the same time, same day every week - before eating's best (otherwise I get obsessed with the miniscule changes and fluctuations and it backfires).
Don't deny yourself the things you like most - just pay attention to the normal serving sizes.
Be honest with yourself (and your friends on MFP) - add your weigh-ins even when they are disappointing. I find it helps me if I force myself to be accountable to others, even if they are strangers!
Most importantly - just find what works for you!
Good luck to you with your goals and the road before you, as long as you keep moving forward you will be successful! =D

First off, I wouldn't be ashamed! The fact that you've told yourself to get back on here and make a change in your life is absolutely awesome! :drinker:

And it generally seems to be the case, but if you have a lot of weight to lose you'll probably lose a lot fast (like Lenartn and her 13 pounds in 3 weeks!) but you're probably going to hit plateaus like everyone else.

It's hard! But trust me, it's all worth it!

I agree with Francesca941 though.... limit yourself to a weigh-in once a week (best time to do it is first thing in the morning, after using the bathroom and before eating or drinking anything) and make sure you take measurments! Even if the pounds don't drop off as fast as you may hope, it'll be the inches that tell you how well you're doing (I lost 34 pounds and 32 inches within 3.5 months when I first started.. its not much weight but I dropped from a 1X shirt to a medium and 2 pant sizes) also, take before pictures of yourself. Yes it's hard to do, but if you take new pictures every month or two alone with measurements its amazing to see the changes! (for me, my starting pictures that I took, I look at them from time to time to remind myself what I never want to be again.... it gives me the kick to keep going despite the plateaus i've hit):noway:

Feel free to add me though! I would love to help out and keep you encouraged and MFP has been so awesome for me and for all my friends!

I've lost 130. Takes time but can be done and if you're willing to cook your own foods from scratch you don't need to deprive yourself.

I started losing weight January and I've totaled 35 pounds so far. I only started using MFP 12 pounds ago. You're going to have some pitfalls and sometimes its going to feel impossibly hard to stay on track but, if you want it bad enough (and it sounds like you do), you'll keep trucking in the right direction.

Feel free to add me as a friend on here. I enjoy talking to a lot of people that feel like I used to. Back when I first started, I was so down on myself that the weight wasn't coming off right away but now, looking back on it all, it was so worth it. Looking at myself in the mirror now is still a surprise to me sometimes.

Don't worry. You can DO this.

I honestly feel like it could have been writing that post. Struggling with depression, overweight and just the general idea of just being alive. Some days is just hard.

You've already got some good suggestions here. Definitely look at the short term goal right now. I've decided that by the end of the year I'll be ten kg lighter and I'm already two kg in. Feel free to add me as a friend and I'll do my best to encourage you along the way!

You can do it!

YOU CAN DO IT! Just remember the longer it takes to loose the longer its going to be off n vise versa..

Dear Controlkeys, You are not alone in this struggel to lose unwanted pounds please please give this site a chance I have lost 20 pounds so far and if I had not had those days were i ate all i could eat i would of lost more but i feel im doing this life change not a diet for my health . This really works if you stick to it. It is harder to lose when your over 30 and stress eat like most of us ladies do but just give it a try. I find that every food i see now is a calorie and i think befor it goes in my mouth this helps me make a good choice or even a bad one if I choose too. wish you much luck shelleyD1960

Welcome! You took the first big step, congrats. I agree with the small goals. I started on here with 115lbs to lose and if let myself dwell on that number for very long I would get depressed and overwhelmed. So, what I concentrated on was taking one day at a time, one meal at a time. Make good choices at the meal in front of you and at the next meal make good choices again. I try not to let myself get too hungry or else I will overeat. When I started out I was exercising about 2-3 days a week. Now I do about 5 days a week. Do what you can at a pace you can handle. The next time challenge yourself to go a little further, a little faster. Every time you go out beat your last record.

You can do this! I am on here everyday and I like to encourage my friends so feel free to add me if you want.

Hey you've taken the first, biggest step--identifying and accepting the issue. I suggest starting with little goals also, once you get the diet and exercise planned out. That's the main thing for me. I try for 10 lbs at a time. If you have a lot of extra weight, it will start coming off quite quickly at first, which is encouraging. But I also do measurements and body fat percentage, for those times when the scale seems to be stuck. NSV (non-scale victories, like dropping a clothing size) need to be celebrated too. Something I find very encouraging is to give myself a little non-food reward, like my first pair of skinny jeans or a new book, or something like that. Or you could save up (put some money in a piggy bank for every pound lost) for something special. Do what works for you! And congratulations on your first step, you can do it!

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with just a single step." You've made that step, now just keep putting one foot in front of the other:) This site is great and yes, has some great people on it. We are glad to have you here and taking the chance to change your life. It wont be easy but we are all here to help support you and each other. Add me if you would like....anyone can add me if you like. We all need support and a lil swift kick in the booty from time to time.

Hello and welcome! There is nothing to be ashamed about. EVERYONE has different issues and struggles in their lives, it sounds like you're struggling with this. But the great part is that you can change this particular aspect of yourself that you're not happy with! Many people unfortunately can't change the issues they're dealing with. If I were you, the first thing I'd do is visit a caring, supportive medical doctor to point you in the direction of the best weight loss method for you. He or she could probably help you with your depression also. Don't feel like a failure because you're suffering from depression...you'd be amazed how many people around you appear to be high functioning but are clinically depressed. Good luck, best wishes, and don't be too hard on yourself. You are not alone on this journey Hugs to you.

I also am ashamed and have 130 lbs to lose. Not so young anymore. Been at it all my life. I do believe that counting calories and exercising is the way to go. I should know. I've tried EVERY diet out there. Only when I exercised religiously and monitored my portions did I lose and keep it off.

You can do it...but it won't happen overnight. I'll friend you so can keep in check.

Welcome! :flowerforyou: Honestly, the best piece of advice I can think of to give you is to lose the shame. Feeling ashamed about the situation you're in is not going to help you. From your words, it sounds like it's fair to say that you're a person that uses food to make yourself feel better. Join the club! You'll find lots of use here! Thing is, feelings of guilt and shame are all part of it, and they will play no part in your success. You're a human being, and you have worth, no matter what you way, and no matter how much you eat. Eating so much that you become overweight does not make you a bad person. Everyone has ways of coping with the ups and downs of life and unfortunately, lots of us develop unhealthy ways of coping (if not food, then alcohol, drugs, nicotine, compulsive gambling etc etc). The good news is, you can learn other ways to cope, so that you're not relying on eating so much. You can definitely do this.

Losing weight will, hopefully, help you with feelings of self-esteem. Learning to do new things that you never thought you could do will also help. The bad news is, feeling "good enough" isn't something that just magically happens once you lose weight. Low self esteem and insecurities will stay with you, unless you work on them from the inside out.

Depression is a b*tch. It's not an "excuse" for getting overweight (which I'm, sure you know!) but it does make it a whole lot harder to make healthy choices. I don't know if you're getting treatment, but if you're really struggling - please don't be scared to get help. That is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, and if you get the right treatment (whether medication, or an alternative like counselling) then it might be the boost that would help you. I've found that lots of exercise, good nutrition, and improving my confidence have all helped me fight depression.

Like others have said, take baby steps. It doesn't matter if you can only walk ten minutes before you've had enough - walk for ten minutes! Then do it again tomorrow. Then try 11 or 12 minutes. You're not in competition with anyone else, only yourself. If you really want this, then you can achieve it. It's not going to be easy, but it will be so worth it.

Welcome

I just want you to know that you aren't alone. You have come to the right place for support.

Alot of us on this site have had or still have alot of weight to lose, we can relate to you on so many levels, but tell yourself this -- time is going to pass anyways. The days are going to go by and we may as well do something positive with that time.

Think this - this time next year I can be 50-100lbs lighter, or I can be 30 lbs heavier and miserable. Which do you prefer? Time is going to pass, make the most of that time, and you will get there. Take it day per day, otherwise it is too freaking overwhelming. I can say this with 100% certainty. I can.

You can do this, you need to believe in yourself. I believe in you