Always been fat

I was in the same boat. But remember, no one is "meant to be fat". Could you have a genetic predisposition to being fat? Absolutely. And yes, that makes it harder, but by no means impossible. There are things you can do to speed up your metabolism to make losing weight easier. It took my 13 years of failed dieting to finally start losing, so please don't give up.

I'm right here with you! I've always been a big girl. In high school I was in the mid and high 200's (somewhere I wish I was now.) But I'm here now. and I can honestly say that it's one of the programs I've stayed with longer and have lost a brag-able amount of weight with (not that I'm bragging about my weight.) I'm still working on losing weight and I know I'm going to be here for a long time just trying to be "less fat" but I don't have to do it alone anymore and that's what really helped me here.

Feel free to add, I'd love to help you along your journey.

Hi laurahamm96. I was the opposite when I was a kid but after having two kids of my own I have been considered obese ever since and that's been 14 years now. I have major trouble with the food. I have always been active so exercising is not a problem. Food is 80% of losing weight and exercise is 20% so you can see why I've been failing. I am lactose intolerant so I don't have problem with ice cream or dairy products, I'm not interested in eating them, however, I love nachos aka corn. I've come to find out that bad carb foods that I love to eat are what's keeping me at 80lbs over my dream weight. I have come to believe I'm allergic to carbs, but it's not just any carbs it's the carbs that are the worse for the body. I have to stay away from bread, rice, pasta, corn, white potatoes, processed wheat products and there's probably others that I can't think of right now. As I'm starting my life change tomorrow, I have no food to report today but the plan is the following just for now: Breakfast = oatmeal, little cinnamon and sugar or honey, perhaps crumble some walnuts or pecans in it, lunch = salad with meat, like a chef, tuna, or ceasar (full fat olive oil based dressing but only 1 to 2 tablespoons), then a regular perhaps not so good for me carb meal but in moderation, like pizza or pasta or brown rice. I'm giving that a whirl and will let you know how it goes. Whatever you do don't give up! This can be done, but it so much harder alone and without folks to support.

Feel free to add me first off. I'm in the same boat. Well, sort of. I have been in the 200's since high school. It IS depressing and I can't tell you how many times since January 10, 2013 I have pulled at my fat calling myself names and getting so upset and angry with myself that I just pray to God I just wake up one day and all the fat is gone. Because it's so hard. I have lost 31lbs since I started and it's been an uphill battle. I quit trying in April and then my best friend's little boy passed away suddenly. MAJOR depression kicked in and I quit trying to lose weight. I said ya know I've lost this much, I'll take a break. BAD MOVE. I'm just NOW starting to get back into things. I told myself yesterday that I WAS going to get back on track and keep doing it until I'm happy. Doesn't matter how fat or how skinny I am, just until I'm happy with my weight and my body. When I can walk further and run around more, then I know I've accomplished my goal. It's so hard. I just cry sometimes because it's so hard, BUT, it's so worth it. Just stick with it and count calories. Do your TDEE and go from there. I swear that thing is amazing. I lost 20lbs doing that. We're all in the same boat in one way or another here.

I'm only a youngin' but I've never known what being skinny, fit or even slightly overweight was. I've always stuck out in my group of friends and thought I should give this a go after noticing that I'd gained 7 kilos in less than a year. If anyone has any special little tips for getting started feel free to throw them at me.

I know exactly what you mean, I felt exactly the same.

In reality though I think its denial or not realizing or fully understanding where you are making mistakes with your eating and activity levels. Well at least it was for me. Not only that but also I would get so upset and frustrated with my weight, at the highest 240lb, that I would eat for comfort but then feel completely guilty for it afterwards.

I would try diets and healthy eating and exercise, I didn't see the results I wanted and so binned it as a wasted effort! It didn't work why bother, right? Try something else.

In reality though I just wasn't committed enough. I wasn't putting in enough effort. I like food, love it to be precise. And when your big moving around and being active is just freaking hard work!!

Fitness pal really helped me, I stuck to my calorie goals. It was hard at first I was always so hungry but it gets easier, as your tummy shrinks. The more you fill up on veg as well the better. Then when I had lost some weight I started with getting active. At first it was playing with the kids more, taking them swimming, playing with them at the park. Then a bit of aqua fit, eventually working my way up towards full on exercise classes including aerobics, circuit, combat fitness etc . . . . .

I would weigh myself everyday and get so upset if the scale moved upwards . . . obviously this isn't working the scales going in the wrong direction?? But that's normal . . . . . daily fluctuations. Just weigh yourself once a week at the same time of day and be prepared for slow progress. I always remember - it takes a 3,500 calories deficit to loose 1lb of fat!! that's a massive amount of calories. Remembering that helped me put into perspective why its a slow process.

I stuck to my healthy eating every day, but then allowed myself to enjoy special occasions fully. Such as birthdays and weekends away but always returning to my healthy eating afterwards.

The weight came off.

It will honestly, the worst part is though you really do have to put in the work to see results. It wont just happen.

Currently this is how I feel I was born fat. I thinned out as a kid but at 17 I was 180. I would kill for that number right now. Keep your head up stay strong and know you're not a lone

Laura: I really can relate. This is why you and I need to hang out more often. I've always been overweight / obese. My thyroid dysfunction was only diagnosed when I was an adult. I have no idea how long I've actually had it, but it's still no excuse for making the poor food choices I'm sure I've made and probably still make today.

Remember what we talked about last night - one bite at a time. In this case, literally.

Love you, girly.

I think thats my biggest mental hurdle to get over. I am not working to be skinny, im working to be less fat. Its just such a.......depressing thought.

I think you have a really negative perspective on this process and it may be derailing your ability to continue.

Instead of thinking about "working to be less fat", try:

"I'm making a CHOICE for a healthier lifestyle."
"I'm working to add years to my life."
"I'm doing a good thing for myself when I exercise."
"I'm choosing a good path."
"I'm doing this to be strong."
"I'm taking control of my happiness and making a change."
"I'm not going to get the past keep me down."
"I'm not MEANT to be anything. I can and WILL make my life and body what I want it to be."
"I am the only person responsible for myself."

Making a change is hard. And it's a CHOICE - a choice that you have to make over and over again, a hundred times a day. And you have to REALLY REALLY want it. Make a list of the reasons why you want to change and sit down with it and HONESTLY assess whether it's enough for you. It may not be.

Wow what can I say. So many of these stories in here are my own. I have been overweight my whole life. My mother was overweight and had gastric bypass. I saw how that affected her body and I swore to myself I would never do it. I am 5'3 and have had 4 children. I weigh in today at 230.4 lbs. My goal weight is around 150. I dont want to be super thin just comfortable in my won skin. I have tried and tried and failed fad diets. Jumped on plenty of bandwagons and fell off. I have never been able to stick to any diet plan. A week ago I watched this story of over 100lb natural weight loss on youtube. This gir lsinspired me and she mentioned this site. This is when I found this new determination inside of me to get this thing right. First I started off the wrong way by just trying those Green Coffee Bean/Raspberry Ketone supplement. I cant say that it has helped me any. I saw it off Dr Oz and for some reason I find it hard to believe that his test showed people losing like 17lbs. I cant even tell 1lb difference. Anywho so thats when I started to get serious. I cut out diet pepsi whicih I miss dearly so please someone comment and tell me if I can have it. I drink at least 100 fl oz of water a day. I am counting my caloried on this thing. I also am doing my own Zumba Fitness by myself in my house for around 45-60 minutes on high intensity for 5 days a week. I guess this is the beginning of my journey and my life changing. If anyone has any suggestion please feel free to comment. Oh by the way I tried to get in all my calories without going over the other stuff and I practicalyl stuffed myself sick trying to get them all in so that my body doesnt go into starvation and storage mode. Any ideas on how not to do that? Also is a protein shake a good idea once a day?