Is it too late?

While 2 lbs a week is considered ideal for a larger person, in the beginning of almost any weight loss regimen, a larger person will lose faster. For example, I came back here 3 weeks ago. I lost 10 lbs my first week, 5 lbs my second week. This week I haven't lost anything, maybe a pound or so, but I'm okay with that. Two pounds won't be the same for everyone. And even if that's what you lose, 2 pounds a week, your body will thank you as the pounds slip away.

It's never too late! And you know what - those with the most weight to lose usually lose it more quickly (at least in the beginning). Have you watched the new season of Biggest Loser??

And please don't despair; there are folks here who were where you are now...and do check out Ed's story - you'll be inspired!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL2ZwXj1tXM

Hello,

Not everyone that used to weigh as much as you do now has done surgery... The main thing to do here is set small short term goals.. Thinking about the 2 pounds a week, and you'll still weight this much... that is setting yourself up for failure.. Instead think... hey let me lose 20 pounds this month... maybe write that out on a sheet of paper and carry that with you everywhere where you can see it.. and start really making little changes. dont eat your whole plate.. leave a little on the plate, each meal.. go for a 10 minute walk everyday NO MATTER WHAT... BUT... don't become overwhelmed with these LOOOOOOONG and diffult goals.. baby steps are the best! Feel free to add me if you like and GOOD LUCK

It's never too late. Everyone has their own beginning and you get to chose your ending point. If you're "only" just over 400 lbs in a year from now, that's a much better position than being exactly where you currently are in a year. Every single pound that you lose means your that much closer to where you want to be. Losing weight too quickly is unhealthy, it's hard to maintain, and it could leave your body looking tiny in way too much skin. Find your patience and persistence. You can do this! Evaluate your diet, and incorporate short walks daily, every day that you walk add a small amount of distance. Don't make this something that you hate doing because it's hard - you have to start easy so that it's enjoyable - and eventually you'll become addicted to what you see happening to your body.

Most importantly, have faith in yourself. You control your weight loss destiny, don't lose hope.

" If I do that for a whole year, I'll still be over four hundred pounds, and I feel like I will die before I can make any real difference in my life."

Ah, but see: if you do that for a whole year, you will be UNDER five hundred pounds!

But more importantly than what your body is shaped like is what it can do. Can you walk? Can you "go for a walk"? Can you bend down and pick things up easily? Can you jog for half an hour? Can you tie your shoes without bending your knee?

Sometimes, especially when you're stuck, it can help to think about something you want to be able to do with your body, rather than a number on the scale. It is astounding how fast we can go from being unable to do something to being closer to doing it. In 3 months of training, I went from getting winded on the stairs to running a 5K. In that time, I didn't lose any weight, and in 6 months of consistent training, I have lost only 6 lbs. It sucks, but only if my focus is on weight loss, rather than health. When I think instead about how it feels to run for 30 minutes without stopping, it ceases to matter that I'm still in my "fat jeans." Someday, the weight will come off, and if it never does, at least I can be the fat kid who outruns zombies.

Good luck on your journey. Stay focused, and work on retraining yourself to have positive eating habits.

We all have to start somewhere. You can do it! Start today and don't look back. As far as how much you can lose, when you are extremely overweight, you will lose a lot more than 2 pounds per week at first. In the first 1 or 2 months, you will probably drop significantly more than that.

Once you have got through the water weight loss and you start losing at a more normal pace, my doctor has told me that it is healthy to lose 1% of your body weight per week if you are extremely overweight. So at 500, 5 pounds per week would be healthy. At 400, 4 pounds per week would be healthy, etc.

Don't think about how long it will take to lose the weight. Just get started now and focus on what you need to do today. Take it 1 day at a time and stick to your calorie goals.

At first, you won't be able to do a lot for exercise, but just start out by walking, even if it is just to the end of the street and back. Do a little more each day and you will see progress.

There is never a better time to start than right now!

Of course it's not too late. Your body is changing every day. You get to decide which way it will change. A year from now, you can weigh 600 pounds and have trouble walking to the bathroom... or you can weigh 400 pounds and have a load off your knees, heart, lungs, and be able to walk around the block, and be another year or two away from taking your life BACK.

Start. Just start. Don't worry about how long it's going to take, or where you'll be a year from now. Get moving in the right direction. If it's just reducing your intake because you can't move yet, that's a move in the right direction. Do more when you can. But right now, just start.

There is always hope.
It is never too late.

I haven't talked about this, but I started at 361 in March of this year. I'm not at the weight you are, but I know how it feels to be trapped by my body. I know what it feels like to wonder if there is any use for me to be here. I'm 43. I'll be 44 in a month. In March, I wondered if it was all too late. Please know it is not. You are still young. You're body has hung on and kept you going this long. Losing any weight will make a big change.

You will lose rapidly for awhile if you choose to do it, and there will be many, many rewards along the way. I still have just under 100 pounds to lose, but I've got so much to be happy about now. Now I'm not content to stop, but my life is so much better with the weight loss that has happened.

I hope you get inspired by people here at MFP and find a plan and work it. Sometimes, we have to hit bottom before we can climb back up. You are welcome to friend me if you want to chat more.