Does anyone else have hundreds of pounds to lose?

While I don't have hundreds to lose, I have 100 to lose (as least), in order to be a "healthy BMI". While that's not my goal, having me some babies is! So I completely understand your motivation, to get it off and KEEP it off... last thing I want is a healthy body before pregnancy and to have all he weight back on after... so I getcha!

I've steadily gained since high school. I was a size 16 in 2002 when I graduated. Now I fit a 22-24, and I am not one iota happy about it. I don't know what it's like to go to a store and buy a smaller size than the last time I was there. There was only one point where I LOST about 30 lbs, and that was over one summer when I both walked everywhere, and had a thing for high heels - good combo if you want weight loss AND beautiful legs! (And who wouldn't?? LOL)

I will suggest one thing... kick the diets. Honestly. You need a permanent change, and diet's aren't geared for that. My husband and I are eating clean, which is more of a lifestyle change. We're not eating processed foods, fast food, or any "man made" foods (think of Oreos v.s. home-made cookies! Home-made still have the sugar, flour, etc, but they're not "manufactured" and taste a hell of alot better! :-)

Look into it. I highly recommend it! There is an "Eat-Clean Diet" book out there by Tosca Reno, and even one for Men (which my husband adores, as it contains what he refers to as "real food" LOL)

It's called a "diet" for the sake of the book, but really it's nothing like any diet you've ever seen and if you stick to it, you will lose it and keep it off!

You came to the right spot for motivation and inspiration!! I have seen many other members with your same goal. Hang in there and stay positive!!

Nearly two years ago, I topped the scaled at 376 pounds. I went to a school event with my daughter, and had a hard time getting to the door, and once inside, I had to sit down because I was so out of shape and it was so hard for me to move around. I had the nerve to complain that they made us park too far away. SItting on the floor, with everyone having to make their way around me was when I decided something had to change.

I didn't think I could lose the weight on my own, so I went to see a bariatric surgeon to see about getting the lap-band done. He told me I'd have to lose 90 pounds before they'd do the surgery. I was scared to death I wouldn't be able to do that since my track record to that point hadn't been very good.

Here I am, it'll be 2 years on April 21, and I've lost 118.5 pounds all on my own, without bariatric surgery. I've since borrowed a line from someone I know who's lost over 100 pounds relating to how I did it: I hired the right people. I've been seeing nutritionists, behavior coaches, therapists, trainers, etc. Yes, it's gotten up there in cost, but I'd say whatever it is is working and well worth it.

I still have about 115 to lose. One of my nutritionists said that if you focus on lean, healthy protein, then the fats/carbs will take care of themselves, and I've found that to be pretty accurate.

If I can do this with insulin resistance and PCOS (huge hormone imbalances that make me want to eat), then anybody can do this....seriously! There's no magic bullet, and no fad diet will fix it. It all boils down to what you put in your body, and it's a lifestyle - there's no "once you get to goal weight you can eat whatever you want" - this has to be for the rest of your life, or the weight will come right back on.

If I've learned anything from this journey, I do miss that person I was....I miss how much fun it was to eat things. I took such joy in it....the textures, the flavors, the crunchie things, the gooey things....now things don't taste the same as I remember them tasting. Gail Simmons once was asked how she was able to maintain her figure given that she's a judge on such shows as Top Chef. She said her job is to taste things. Anything beyond a few bites is eating. I try to remember that. Food has a different role in my life than it used to....it used to be such a source of comfort, and now it isn't, or at least not to the same degree.

My therapist laughed at me and asked if things tick me off more than they used to - I said of course they do. He said that's because I'm not relying on food to take the pain away anymore - I'm learning to deal with things differently.

Sorry for posting a novel - didn't expect it to play out like this. Point is: you can do this. You've done it before, you can do it again - and this time for keeps!!. Hire the right people. If you have to narrow it down due to cost: two people I'd see would be a nutritionist and a therapist - yes, both of them if possible.

For what it's worth, and good luck!!

Where there is a will there is a way... Surgery alone is not a good option.. but it may be a tool that will help you lose all the weight you want. For me I have done a lot of work during the past few years getting my head straight. I lost 70 pounds before I had VSG weight loss surgery. It was the right decision for ME as I really need this surgery to help me with portion control. YOU may discover that you don't need the surgery after all though.. Once you get your head right and get on your journey you may not need it.. but if you do, then there is nothing wrong with getting it done... as long as your head is in the right place and you are dedicated to maintaining the diet and exercise necessary to be successful. Weight loss surgery is not a quick fix.. but it can be enough to "take the edge off" for some people.

You only have to lose 1 pound at a time. My goal is always to weigh less next week than I do now. Don't focus on the total It is too overwhelming. Just 1 pound is enough.

This advice from Laura, seriously gets me through some days.