How to start, really start?

Shannon's advice is spot on. In a year you'll be a year older. You can be a year older and still where you are, or you can be a year older and have accomplished something. Either way, you'll be a year older.

Take it one day at a time. Don't think about your long time goal, just try to focus on 1 thing this month. Something like taking a walk, or improving your breakfast. After that month, add something else.

This ^^

Seriously, you don't have to let weight loss take over your life. Just move more and eat responsibly. You don't have to starve or eat "diet food" or be miserable, you just have eat less. You don't have to do DVDs or go to the gym, unless you want to. Just move more. You don't have to do it every day. It's almost a guarantee that there will be high calorie days. There will be days you don't exercise. Don't see that as failure. It's life.

Just get up and move and eat sensibly. Live your life without overeating. Be patient and be happy.

The first thing you need to do is understand what you need to change. To that, log your food daily, even it's a horrible million calorie day!

Get into the habit of logging everyday, every meal, every bite.

In a month, go back and look at that log, it'll tell you what you are eating and you will be able to look at those foods and pick what you can keep and what needs to be changed. Then make small, slow changes. It's a life long goal so don't rush to results.

You have to crawl before you walk and walk before you run. Do not think about how do I get to the end, because let's face it, it will never end if it is done the healthy way. Knowing you need to do something is a big first "crawl" so now go to a bigger "crawl" and figure out what you are going to do this week to help you help yourself.

Set mini goals as they are more attainable and come way faster than the long term. Also, set a reward for yourself for when you reach each mini goal. Reward yourself with a mani/pedi, a new outfit, a day at the spa. Something fun and something just for you!

Commit yourself to journaling your food and your exercises. Be accountable for what you do. I have found since I log my food and I am way more cognizant of what I put into my mouth. Doing little things makes you want to see progress & to see progress (mini goals) you must do something.

I am still struggling with all of this myself. I just re-re-re-restarted recently. I have had great results since January. Add me as a friend & maybe we can encourage each other.

GOOD LUCK!

Whoa, whoa, whoa... just take it slow. This is a life change, not a diet. This website is geared to help you keep track of what you are eating and for me, it helps me stay accountable for my decisions. Just try logging in everything you eat, good or bad, first. This will give you some idea of where you need to make some changes. I wouldn't jump right in and change everything all at once. Try keeping your calories in check first. Then, focus on fat or carbs. Once you think you have this logging in daily thing down... start walking.

Try to remember, you did not gain all this weight over night so you can't expect to lose it over night either. It's a process... but it WORKS!

Good luck to you!

I totally agree with this quoted statement! Take it one day at a time and remember that nothing happens over night. Set mini goals for yourself so that youa re able to work towards a larger goal. I know I started with just logging my food intake and then started working out slowly. Its been a process and i have had to pretty much teach myself how to eat again and how to do what works for me. Good luck!!! You can do it!

Baby steps, read what was suggested (it's all very informative). Focus on the small goals, and you'll find the larger ones attained.

As everyone has said, one day at a time and the realization that this is a lifetime journey. You'll have the journey change as you progress but it's never over. It's going to have it's ups and downs (and not only on the scale). But you're searched and asked for help so you're trying to build a support group to encourage you during the "downs" of the journey and cheer you when you're on the "ups" of the journey.

You can do this! It all starts with that first step.

I set smaller goals. For instance when I first started I just wanted to lose 5 pounds so my jeans didn't fit so tightly. When I reached that goal I decided I could afford to lose another 5 pounds. When I reached that I decided I could do 10 pounds and so on. It worked well for me to look at it in small increments.

I didn't make all the changes at once. At first I concentrated on eating smaller portions and learning to log my calories. Then I started making better food choices--that change just evolved on its own. After I lost almost all of my weight I decided it was time to exercise. If you do a little at a time it won't seem so overwhelming.

Read the guide to sexy pants that someone else posted.

And this blog post is really inspirational. Basically it tells you not to give up if you have one bad day. As long as the good days outweigh the bad days you are good. http://jamesclear.com/plan-failure

Also, remember this is about you, not your husband or anyone else. If he can't work out on a certain day that's his problem, not yours. You keep going because this is a journey you have to take on your own. I work out 4x/week. My husband maybe works out one day a week. He complains about not being able to make it to the gym. I make it a priority to make it to the gym and don't let myself get side tracked.

it sounds to me like you might just be ready to start. breath and commit to one day just one. stop looking at the BIG PICTURE and just look at one day. what can you do today that will aide in your desire to become healthy. going to the grocery store today - park in the very last spot and walk to the doors. swap out one unhealthy food item for something that's a bit healthier. if you normally take 2 big scoops of pasta have 1 and make a small salad to go along with it. no one's home - do a few jumping jacks. you mentioned dvds - try one even if you just do it for 15 minutes. you don't have to do the whole thing if you can't.

you know it's time. you're on here right.

Well the first thing you should remember is it doesnt matter how long it will take you. If your changing your life style this will be a life long thing. There is no finish line bc you will continue to live this way for life.