Today I learned that I weigh nearly 400lb

"small, sustainable lifestyle changes one step at a time"

You've got the right idea!!!!

Keep it up

Every day will have some hard moments, but each day moving forward you'll face those hard moments a little better

Way to go! Very inspirational!

Way to go! You are truly inspriring. Set mini goals for yourself, and when you reach that goal, set another. Also, don't forget that everyone has a bad day, and will slip up. don't beat yourself up for those times. Just wake up the next day and continue on toward your goal. You can do this...you are already on your way to a new you!

it's a step in the right direction! just keep your head up~

You're going the right way! Keep it up!

Great Job! Keep up the good work

As others were saying keep strong and make sure you take pictures, I was just like you in June 2013, I had just gone to the doctors because my back was killing me and stepped on the old fashion sliding scale, the kind that goes to 350lbs. When I stepped on the scale it slammed up and the lady was like woooo we're going to have to move the large weight all the way over. She put it to the 300lbs settings and began sliding the little weight to the right...sliding...sliding...stop 50lbs and the scale didn't tip. It was at that moment that I knew I was over 350lbs. She then pulled me over to what looked like a shipping scale and I had me step on that, the digital display lit up and there it was 364lbs at 28 years old.

The doctor looked at the chart and was like you are morbidly obese and won't make it to 50 if you keep this pace up. I had been fat almost all my life and when I was told how much I weighed I would just brush it off but this time, this time it really bothered me. I went home thinking I need to do something about this. I was 28, married with two young children and I was the only source of income I had to make sure I lived long enough to ensure their survival into adulthood.

That evening I sat down and created a plan and began researching how to lose weight, everyone was preaching about gastric bypass surgery but I knew that wouldn't solve my problem as I need to eat better and do more. I found this site and began using it that day, I had always thought I was eating like 2,000 calories a day or less and boy was a wrong, after a full day of entering in food I was at 4,600 calories....damn I thought.

I cut out all bread and high calorie foods like fast food and began making everything myself, all organic, with very little meat (no red meat at all). Today my normal calorie intake is around 1,200 a day, if I try to eat more than that I feel crappy because my stomach can't expand like it once did. The other day I had a meatball my mom mad (they are the best) and it tore my body up for hours and hours, I have lost my ability to process red meat, it just causes so much gas and discomfort now.

Keep focused on your end goal and you will succeed also as you lose weight be prepared for an emotional roller coaster lots of people will compliment you on how much better you look and others will try to tear you down as you become a similar size to them. Be most careful of former fat people who are now fitness buffs they will make fun of you the most for your size. Its like an ex smoker they are the worst towards current smokers.

I'm only 4 pounds short of seeing a number on the scale I haven't seen in years...a 2 lol.

Good luck and make sure you log in every single day

Trying to do too much in one go is a recipe for failure. I'm making small, sustainable lifestyle changes one step at a time. I'm making progress and I'm absolutely thrilled about that.

This mantra will get you success. Love it. Keep up the good work.

Good work mate. Takes a big pair of bollocks to admit you have a problem and decide to sort yourself out. Happy to give to a kick up the *kitten* when you need it to keep you on track.

Such an honest post!! Admitting you need to make changes is the first step then starting with small everyday changes will put you on the right path. No one gains weight overnight so it does take time to get rid of it. Personally I think smaller goals are the best. I decided I wanted to walk 100 miles this month and I am pretty close to that. But I had to work up to that. I have a wedding I am standing up in this September and I have a certain dress I want to wear for that. It is about little goals and little victories. Sometimes it is working out one more minute than yesterday. I couldn't make it through the 80 minute video and now I can. And don't get down if you go over... I used to and I realized I don't want to become obsessive the other way... allow yourself a little treat every once in awhile.

Something this site opened my eyes too is what is in the things we eat. Especially when we go out. I love a wine/happy hour with my girls but then you look things up and while before what was in something might night have mattered because you didn't care to look but now you do and I have to tell you it disgusts me. 1900 calories in a meal? Why is that necessary? Just gross!! If you still need to go out occasionally then this site is great... http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/home.

Feel free to add me!!

GOOD LUCK!!

Great job Matt. Very insiprational first post. You can do it! You CAN accomplish your goals, one step at a time. Sometimes those steps seem very small, sometimes it feels like going backwards, but as long as you maintain a positive attitude and keep striving to move forward you will succeed. I wish you success with all my heart. Feel free to send a friend request, it would be a pleasure to follow your journey.

And for everyone who posted on this topic... i want to hug you all. This community is awesome! The support and positive vibes are eveverything our world should be about. Hug yourselves for me.

Cheers!

I second this!!! You have come to the right spot. It does not matter what time of the day, or day of the week there is always somebody here that will support you. If you are having a bad day or even bad minute just write a post and there will be somebody there to help you through it. I have taken a peak at your diary and it definitely looks like you understand what you need to do. Keep up the great work. :flowerforyou:

I've been using MFP for around two months now, mostly ignoring the community section, but today I feel like sharing. Despite the fact that I have been improving my lifestyle and trying to lose weight, I didn't actually know how heavy I was. I had always estimated that I was around 360-370lb. I knew I was very, very heavy and needed to do something about it. I purchased a set of scales in order to track my progress, but they refused to weigh me. I had suspected it may have been because I was over the 400lb weight limit of the scales, but didn't know for sure.

Today I stepped on them in a hope that it would give me a number, instead of the usual "Err" error message. I looked down and it said 180.9 KG. That's just shy of 399lb. And you know what, I'm pretty happy about that. Firstly, it means I have definitely succeeded in losing weight. I was over 400, I'm now under 400. That's progress. And now I can directly measure my progress going forward. I'm really happy that I can finally weigh myself regularly and properly measure my progress.

I know I've still got a long hill to climb, but I'm ready for it. My current strategy is simply calorie restriction. I'm still eating far too many processed foods, and eating too many unhealthy snacks, but I'm keeping my overall calorie consumption down. I do plan on cutting down on the overly processed, high sodium foods in my diet, but I'm taking everything one step at a time. Trying to do too much in one go is a recipe for failure. I'm making small, sustainable lifestyle changes one step at a time. I'm making progress and I'm absolutely thrilled about that.

If you're in a similar situation, have been in the past, or even if you just want to be generally supportive, feel free to add me as a friend on MFP!!!

Your doing great by taking little steps to throw out the processed food. Back in high school I did this this was my strategy
From Soda to juice to iced tea and watere plus seltzer flavored water.
From mcdonalds to in in and or subway.
Always drink water at resturants cause its free.
If you love sweets make them the old fashioned way! try molto mario dolce you can find it online.
Make your own homemade bread.
Learnng how to cook is wonderful my big hobby!

Very nice. You should be proud. Just keep in you head that you can do it. Get friends and family to help motivate you. Set goals and when you reach them treat yourself with something nice. Nice going. Good luck in the future.

You can friend me if you like

Awesome job!! Keep up the great work!

WTG! Please take plenty of pics along the way because I know one day you will have one of those jaw-dropping "before/after" posts with lots of pics! I can't wait to see it!