475 lbs and terrified

It's not your fault but you have the power to change.
http://youtu.be/Ah6jZsEZGs4

Big Food and Big Government has altered the environment and our bodies. By being told to eat carbs as the foundation of society's diet has led to our bodies telling us that we are starving even while we are stuffing ourselves. Eat whole foods and limit carbs except veggies until you start to see progress.

Also check out Dr. Lustig's Sugar the Bitter Truth.
http://youtu.be/dBnniua6-oM

You can do this. Yes, it's going to be a bit of a roller-coaster - but those are fun right?

My two cents: Make this a lifestyle change. Eat the foods you like in moderation and gradually move to a more balanced and healthy diet. I like lots of food...so I eat huge salads, tons of veggies, very lean meat (generally turkey and chicken), I have fruit once in awhile and greek yogurt for dessert...and I drink tons of water. I've lost over 100 lbs and have that much more to go.

Next, learn to love yourself...you may not like your body right now but you can change that...love you. Louise Hay says she stands in front of the mirror each morning and tells herself how much she loves her. You have to love yourself first.

Learn to dismiss the haters...if it was simple to be of an ideal weight and super healthy - we'd all be there. We aren't. So only bring those people into your life that support you.

You can do this!

Also check out Dr. Lustig's Sugar the Bitter Truth.
http://youtu.be/dBnniua6-oM

Blaming other people for our own problems is an excellent way to NOT address them.

It does do rather well in putting money in a certain Mr Lustig's pockets, however.

And no, if you actuall READ lustig's stuff, you'll see that he still does admit it's the calorie surplus that's the issue.
It REALLY doesn't matter if that calorie surplus comes from evil-corporation-gubbermint-carbs, or from hippy-friendly-vegan-organic-bs-not-carbs.

You soooo got this! It seems difficult at first, but as soon it becomes a way of life, it is the most simple thing in the world! Such great advice here. I am sure someone said this already but I just want to say again to not worry about carbs, fat, sugar...especially at first. Do not deprive yourself of the foods you enjoy. Just stay within your daily calories, it is that simple. If you do this, the weight will come off...it will go up a little at times but DO NOT give up. Best of luck to you and feel free to add me if you would like!

Just like the alcohol anonymous model -- "One day at a time." If we look at it otherwise, none of us will ever get there. There are days that 70 lbs seems like an unattainable goal, but I have to keep telling myself just look at what you're doing today. Am I eating healthy? Am I moving around? Don't look at the end result, look toward your small successes. Small successes build into larger ones. You can do it by taking it day by day!

There can be a place for tough love and stern talking to but anonymously on the internet isn't it.

If I were you I wouldn't be thinking about the big number, break it down into less scary chunks, where do you want to be in a months time ( being realistic) ?

I'd like to add you as a diet buddy if that's ok? You sound very strong.

You can do this. Yes, it's going to be a bit of a roller-coaster - but those are fun right?

My two cents: Make this a lifestyle change. Eat the foods you like in moderation and gradually move to a more balanced and healthy diet. I like lots of food...so I eat huge salads, tons of veggies, very lean meat (generally turkey and chicken), I have fruit once in awhile and greek yogurt for dessert...and I drink tons of water. I've lost over 100 lbs and have that much more to go.

Next, learn to love yourself...you may not like your body right now but you can change that...love you. Louise Hay says she stands in front of the mirror each morning and tells herself how much she loves her. You have to love yourself first.

Learn to dismiss the haters...if it was simple to be of an ideal weight and super healthy - we'd all be there. We aren't. So only bring those people into your life that support you.

You can do this!

This man has nailed on the head. I know the feeling i was at 485lb last july, and i didnt care about really anything, i ate garbage foods i would drink my calories for a week in 1 day, slept like crap, didnt really do any physical activites except move from computer chair to my room or my car or to the fridge. Finally at my low point i lost my job, lost my gf and a friend. It was then that i decided i needed to do something. to make a long story short i started eating healthy, i did more exercise start slow at first then worked up to more and more, This may i was weighted at the doctors office i was 384, so losing alot of weight can be done its slow at first but doable. Theirs alot and i do ALOT of people who are giving you great advice.

But remember this, You are not alone, if you think you are the only one who has weight issues and depression and all that your are not. surround yourself with people who are wiling to push you up the stairs to your goals and have a few that will push you down the stairs but will pick you back up and push your *kitten* back up them

So feel free to add me

You know what really helped me this time around and is the reason I think I've kept the weight off for so long (besides this awesome MFP community)? Allowing myself to fail. If you allow yourself to fail you won't beat yourself up so much. It's okay to be imperfect. We're all imperfect. What sets us above everyone else is the ability to get back up and do it again.

This post really hurts to read. I'm so so sorry you feel so bad. To an extent a lot of us can relate to some of what you said. I used to think the only way to be thin was good genes, and I just didn't have that. I thought the only way to be a reasonable weight was diet scams, pills ,etc, anything other than simply figuring out what your calorie needs are and eating at a deficit. I thought I would have to starve myself to be thin but never realized there is only like a 300 calorie difference between what I used to eat and what I would eat if I were super thin. 300 calories is nothing!

You have to come to realize that you CAN do this alone. The body is amazing and you will be amazed at your results if you just LET yourself succeed. It is probably a simpler process than you think. It was for me.

In a few months you could be under 400 pounds. At 399 you will reach an encouraging milestone that will help push you til you hit your next milestone.

The depression is pretty normal. That is a contributing factor. Many feel worthless so they don't feel that they deserve the care it takes to be healthy. But, you have to love yourself and that will let you realize that you are worthy of being taken care of, especially by yourself!

You can do it if you just LET yourself be healthy. Food doesn't have to control you. You can have all the control to live an active and healthy life.

You can do this and you are so worth it!!

I started at 404lbs, and after multiple failed attempts at losing weight, I figured I would end up failing this time round.

I went to my doctor one day and he told me that if I came back next month and my blood pressure was still as high as it was, then he would have to put me on to blood pressure tablets - which I did not want.

^^^^^ That was enough to get e in the right frame of mind to start doing something about it.

I started just cutting calories - no exercise at first. I logged my calories and stayed under, and it worked. That then spurred me on to do even better. Eventually, I started going to the gym and going swimming.

That was 360 days ago. I'm 5 days off my anniversary and I'm down 135lbs (give or take 2lbs, as at the minute I am maintaining, due to work commitments) and I'm healthier than I have been since I was 20 years old (29 years old now)

Start with small steps, slowly introduce exercise as the LBS start to come off, seeing results will only then encourage you to do even better - it kind of becomes addictive.

Feel free to add me!

"The reason that you are a fat ugly slob is that you keep stuffing your fat ugly face with carbohydrates! Cut ALL Sugars and Starches out of your diet, and you will start to lose body fat, on a daily basis. Just drink water. No cheat days, not ever.

You made yourself what you are. So, clearly you don't give a **** about yourself. That's a perfect reason for no one else to give a **** about you either. If you don't want to make yourself better, then no one else can do it for you. " - Anonymous Craigslist poster in a health forum

I've been down this road more than once. I seem to always get started and then watch as things fall apart and as I fail to live up to my own expectations. I am thankful that my health isn't worse. Bloodwork wise, I am completely fine. Musculoskeletally however is a different story. I'm falling apart. My feet don't work the way they should. I have severely collapsed feet to the point where doctors have told me I have to lose the weight so they can go in and reconstruct my feet surgically.

I battle with depression as well. These are not excuses for why I am where I am, but a harsh reality of what I am up against: myself. It's time to win the war and lose the weight I need to lose.

So I guess I am here, 32 years old, 475 lbs, gay, and pretty much unhappy but optimistic, to ask for help, just like I was on that Craigslist forum. This is monumental. I cannot do this by myself. Losing 280 lbs is going to be a helacious roller coaster. I am terrified of failing and of doing poorly but I'm even more scared of becoming bed ridden.

So you can add me as a friend if you like.

And most of all, thanks. I appreciate it.

Hugs Hon.
Whether you have 280lbs to lose or 2.8lbs the struggle is exactly the same.
I know the feeling of getting on the scale, and despairing at the journey I know I have to embark on. I can tell you with a reasonable degree of certainty that, once you start, the day to day minutia of doing it, soon takes over and you will wonder what you were so worried about in the first place.
You will be fine.
If I were you I would try not to see it as having to lose 280lbs..how about say just 10% of what you need to lose, the benefits both psychological and physiological will be so apparent, it will motivate you to surge forward with your weight loss dreams.

This is a great place to be.

Some great advice in this thread - I think most of the main points I was going to suggest have been brought up.

I started out at 503lbs myself, and here are a couple of my suggestions that may differ from the norm...

1. First off - listen to Ed

2. Focus on being happier right now. Obviously, depression is not to be easily dismissed, but that isn't what I am talking about. I refuse to weigh in on that subject because that is something for a Doctor to discuss and it is entirely out of my element. That said, I think everyone can take some steps towards general happiness BEFORE they lose the weight.

I can't tell you that losing weight will help you be happier, but I feel very confident, that being happier will help you lose weight.

It might be impossible but try to find something outside of fitness/weight loss that you can embrace. Be it a new hobby, a new job, or following your passion. I don't care if that sounds hokey at all either. I know that my weight loss coincided with finding my business path/success.

You can also cut out people in your life that don't make you happy. It's cold in someways, selfish in others - but again massive help for me.

3. Do not fight your diet. This quote sums up my thoughts on this...

"Honoring personal preference is one of the most powerful yet underrated tactics for achieving optimal health and body composition" --Alan Aragon

Don't worry about all the nonsense you will hear about bad carbs, evil sugar, processed foods, "junk" foods, refined wheat, saturated fat etc... Don't worry about the gentleman earlier telling you to only eat fruits and vegetables until you are stuffed - unless that is your preference. Find a diet that most easily allows you to sustain a caloric deficit.

This is a long *kitten* journey, the more you have to fight your diet, the harder it is.

You are doing great by asking for help and staying positive! As long as you stay active - trying to move around as much as possible every single day, you will move in the right direction. Have you replaced sugary beverages with water? That is always a great step!

Stay strong - you can get healthier no matter what - you are amazing! Health and fitness are always a journey no matter where you are on the journey now you can move in the direction you want go with persistence and focus! You can do anything you put your mind to!

How's your first week been, OP?

One note: I'd definitely try to get some medical assistance, as in check in with your doctor and maybe see a nutritionist. If you're given the clear to work out, maybe see if there's a trainer who can help you get started on basic, appropriate exercises for you.

Also, remember: perseverance. You might have heard the phrase something along the lines of "you didn't put the weight on in a week, so it won't come off in a week." Keep this concept in mind when it seems like everything is slow-going.

If anyone criticizes you or makes fun of your weight, etc, know that it reflects more on them than on you. His or her insecurities are on display, not you. A friend of mine was about 260 pounds when she started doing crossfit and lost about 25 pounds last year and has gained a ton of physical strength. When she was working out at a park with her crossfit gym recently, so idiot yelled at her, something like "look at the fat girl run." Her response? "At least I'm out here doing it." Know that you, too, are making the changes you need to make for a healthy you.