I am afraid to even post this...

Ok, breathe deep and relax. You can do this. Don't focus right now on 200 pounds to lose. Focus on a smaller victory. You probably have some other health issues... That may well exacerbate the situation. That is ok. Focus on a 2 lb per week weight loss. Keep your calories in check. Don't worry too much about a lot of exercise to start out. That will come. Just 2 lbs per week. In 10 weeks, you will be down 20 lbs... That is 449... Less than 450.... That will be good (Actually, you will likely make it to less than that in 10 weeks. At that weight, you can consume a lot of calories and still lose weight --- but you do have to change your lifestyle. Depression is nothing to be ashamed of... Many go through that. You can make it through that as well. Often a side effect of mood disorders is either over or under eating. We eat to comfort us... But the key is to watch what it is we do eat.

Consume nutritious food. My bet is that you may actually be UNDER nourished. Many obese people are (Yes, I was obese... Notice my ticker.. I was 344 when I started about a year and a half ago. I am now 220 +/-... I don't focus on 2 lb per week (or really any loss at all right now... Losing still comes.. it is just slower and I am ok with that)... I was on BP meds... I am no more and often my BP is less than what it was when I was on meds. You can still have some ice cream and a little cake but just consume less than you have before. Change things gradually. As you lose weight, you will have to tighten the wrench a little tighter and start doing some exercise. Yup, the "E" word. But it is not as bad as it sounds. Find something you like to do and do it... For me it included going to a gym... I can't stand a spin bike so guess what... I don't spin.. But I don't mind a tread mill and I'll do that. I like weights and most are amazed at the transformation my body has made.. I actually wear a size 32 pants (I wore a size 34 pant when I was 170 pounds several years ago... the differnece? Weights... I have more lean body mass than I ever have. My body fat percentage is well below what it has been in a long time... But, a year and a half ago, I was taking the same single trepeditious step you are making today. you can do it. I have confidence in you. Just do it one step at a time... One day at a time. If you mess up today? Start new tomorrow. JUST DON"T GIVE UP. You've got this ...

Hi Tom,

It's been a few days since your original post and this was on the first page, but I thought it bore repeating since you may be getting overwhelmed with all those private messages (PM's) and friend requests (FR's).

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Robin_Bin

Just read it again. I'm gonna post it on my profile to refer back to repeatedly. If you send me a friend request you can always find it on my wall. Thank you for your brave and soul baring post. Without it I would have never seen this link and be able to place it someplace I can refer to over and over again. :flowerforyou:

I understand where you are starting. I started at 426 and felt really bad. I started eating less process foods and walking 15 minutes with Leslie Samson tape it killed me. My 80 year old dad could out walk me. But I joined TOPS Take off Pounds sensibly a weight loss support group a non profit group only $50 a year and Myfitnesspal to log my food. Its taken me 2 years and I still have 70lbs to lose. But I am doing it one step at a time. I feel so much better now, I can move , don't have to worry if I can fit in seats, etc....Make a vow to get up each day and move a little more, eat a little less and take the steps to save your life. When you crave to eat something you know you shouldn't ask yourself is this worth the way it makes me feel. I like the way making smart choices make me feel. I am now off diabetes meds, Blood Pressure meds. I won't go back for no one. You may have to not put yourself in the places you binged . Change your habits. Change your life. I walk with my family on holidays instead of participating in a holiday binge. Make social gatherings about being active not eating, sitting watching tv, movies, cards. I won't say it's not hard because it is. But make up your mind to change and you will.

Have a jubilant June everybody