I NEED to lose this weight

Don't do it for the vanity benefits. Those are easy to change.
Do it because you want to live longer.
Do it so your feet don't hurt.
Do it so you don't have to worry about conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
Do it so you don't hide in family photos.
Do it for yourself.
Do it.

honestly - make smaller goals.

i had about 120ish pounds to lose - and i kept making that my goal. but i would get discouraged when it would say 10 out of 120. or 110 pounds to go.

this time around - i've done smaller - more achievable goals. and it feels good! for instance - i haven't really lost anything in a few days or so - always fluctuating - but i look at it and know - i only have 20 more pounds to go to reach this next goal weight. 20 pounds. i've already lost 37 - 20 pounds is nothing.

it really is more motivating.

I know where you are coming from. the begging is hard as your body has developed cravings, I get it, go slow , cut out any fast foods, cut out the excessive fats, cut out any sodas etc. drink lots of water, specially when you feel hungry. with in a few weeks your craving will change, and you will not longer hunger for those sweets, and those sodas. pace yourself, remember this is not a diet , or a sprint, this is a lifestyle change, it took many , many years to pack it on, and to establish these cravings, it is going to take some time to change your bodies attraction to such items, if you fall off the wagon and have something you shouldn't , don't tear yourself down for it, remember to go back to your new lifestyle and don't give it another thought. there is no easy way, or magic pill to do this, but there is satisfaction and pleasure to doing this day by day. don't look each day at the 150 pounds you want to lose, but look at this day by day, then week , by week . baby steps will get you there. best of luck , I know it can be done. good luck to you

My friend, I feel your pain, I am 50 yrs old and have been over weight since a child, I never took part in sport as a kid because I was always teased, as kids do. I have spent an absolute fortune on "diet" stuff which have never worked, the only way a person can lose weight and sustain the weight loss is a "change in life style" there is no other way. I started a few months ago and am down 8kg, I went and got a personnel trainer and probably more important, I went to see a nutritionist. The reason I have started this transformation is that yes, I also want to go in public and take my shirt off at the pool or beach (I am male so it's ok to do that in public) when you eat out at a restaurant, no one stares at a normal built person eating, but many stare at the overweight person eating, and I will guarantee in most cases the overweight person is eating the wrong stuff, its choices we make, like driving a car, we keep to the speed limit, why, because if we don’t, we may get a fine, have an accident, but when it comes to our body’s, we see it differently, oh what if a have one ice-cream today, the trouble with this is it doesn’t stop there. I hate battling to bend over and tie my shoe laces, can’t get nice cloths to fit me, and like the other person reply, hide from family photos. You need to find the reason that you want to lose weight, and there are dozens of reasons why been over weight is not good and sustainable. Make a small change every day in your life, at the end of each week you would have made 7 more changes, small steps, but continuous steps. When you shop, shop with a purpose and a shopping list, if you don’t have bad food in your house, you can’t eat it. Shop on the perimeter of your grocer, that’s we you will find all the fresh stuff, the middle isles have all the refined and processed food, if you need to read the label, you shouldn’t eat it. I wish you luck on your journey, and you can achieve your dream, you must want it.

Ya know what? I read most of the replies to you. There are all awesome!!!!! I want to add this to them.... and you have to SERIOUSLY know that you are NOT ALONE!

I've lost before and I always gained it all back and more besides before.

This is what worked for me..... THIS TIME..... and I know that I have the tools to keep it off this time.... :flowerforyou: because this time it was EZ.....

It all started with THE SERENITY PRAYER..... The whole entire prayer... not the small excerpt we often see.

It had nothing to do with religion - and everything to do with relationship......

Simply a loving Daddy & loving Daughter thing.

I PRAYED AN HONEST CHILD-LIKE HUMBLE PRAYER. I TRUSTED GOD..... AND BELIEVED HE COULD DO IT, AND WOULD DO IT FOR ME.

GOD HEARD.... AND ANSWERED ME.

GOD GAVE ME A PLAN.

I FOLLOWED THE PLAN.

I TURNED OFF MY CELL, AND MY CABLE TV..... AND I JOINED MY LOCAL GYM, AND EMPLOYED A TRAINER TO TRAIN ME. I THEN TRAINED AS IF MY LIFE DEPENDED ON IT. (LOL)

I STOPPED LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SABOTAGE MYSELF..... I VIEWED ANY SHOW I COULD FIND ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS.... I LOOKED AT YOU-TUBE SHOWS LIKE FAT DOCTORS. IT HELPED ME TO SEE HOW SURGERY WAS OK FOR SOME, BUT NOT FOR ME.

I INVESTED IN ME..... I DID MY RESEARCH.... I SHUT MYSELF OFF FROM THE PEOPLE WHO HAD WAY TOO MUCH ACCESS TO ME, AND WAS USING IT TO SABOTAGE ME, AND WASTE MY TIME.

I SET TIMERS... AND GOT UP... AND GOT BUSY LIVING.... AND NOT DYING.

I SHOPPED RIGHT, ATE RIGHT, DRUNK MY WATER RIGHT, LEFT THE SODAS ALONE, PRE-COOKED MY FOODS AS NEEDED, PRE-MEASURED WHAT I COULD AND PUT INTO SMALL PLASTIC BAGS AND LABELED & STORED IN MY FREEZER.

I REALIZED THAT THE PLAN WAS AWESOME AND THAT IF I DID MY JOB..... THE PLAN WOULD WORK (OVER TIME) I DID NOT LOOK TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT.... I KEEP MOVING STRAIGHT AHEAD WITH GODS PLAN FOR ME.

I DID NOT WHINE AND COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW LONG THINGS TOOK... OR HOW HARD IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BE. I MADE USE OF EVERY TOOL, EVERY RESOURCE, AND EVERY WAKING MOMENT THAT GOD BLESSED ME WITH.

WHEN PEOPLE MADE NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE COMMENTS ABOUT MY WEIGHT LOSS I SAID THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT & OPINION.... AND MADE MY EXIT. I STAYED THE COURSE..... I DID NOT CHANGE WHAT I WAS DOING BECAUSE PEOPLE MADE THEIR COMMENTS. I WAS ON A MISSION.

I GOT MY PROPER SLEEP AND MADE POSTERS AND POST IT NOTES AND DISPLAYED THEM IN STRATEGIC PLACES IN MY APARTMENT SO I ALWAYS HAD SUPPORT I COULD TRUST. GODS SUPPORT.

I STAYED PRAYED UP SO AS TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY WHEN A FEW NEGATIVE WORDS GOT THRU TO ME. I SURROUNDED MYSELF WITH HAPPY, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. I QUICKLY DISENGAGED ANY NEGATIVE PEOPLE AND MOVED ON WITH MY LIFE.

I ENCOURAGED MYSELF.... I REMINDED MYSELF OF ALL MY PAST PLEASURES, AND HOPES & DREAMS.

I SAW THE GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND JESUS, GYM, MY TRAINER, AND MFP.COM AS MY A-TEAM! I SAW THAT I WAS THE ONE THAT HAD TO BE EXCITED ABOUT MY LIFE AND NOT DROP THE BALL.

I REALIZED THAT I HAD TO TELL MYSELF THE TRUTH..... LYING WOULD NOT HELP ME ON THIS JOURNEY.

I LOOKED DEEP WITHIN FOR THE PEACE I USED TO HAVE... AND GOD GAVE IT BACK TO ME IN HIS WORD.

I READ MY BIBLE AND MEDITATED ON THE WORDS, AND SUNG HAPPY SONGS EVERYDAY... AND TOLD MYSELF I WAS HAPPY, HEALTHY, WHOLE, AND HEALED.

I FORGAVE EVERYBODY THAT EVER HURT ME..... NO MATTER WHAT THEY DID TO ME.

OMG.... :flowerforyou: THIS IS HUGE!!!! I ALSO FORGAVE MYSELF FOR BEING OBESE, AND FOR NOT HAVING ALL THE ANSWERS IN LIFE. I FORGAVE MYSELF FOR ALLOWING OTHERS ACCESS TO MY HEART, SO THEY COULD BREAK IT. I ASKED GOD TO HEAL MY HEART... AND TEACH ME HOW TO GUARD MY HEART IN THE FUTURE.

I SPENT EXTRA TIME WITH GOD..... JUST TALKING AND MEDITATING AND BUILDING MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM SO THAT I COULD FEEL STRONG DAILY.... MINUTE BY MINUTE.

I GOT UP EVERYDAY AND HIT THE REPEAT BUTTON.... NO MATTER HOW I FELT.... I CONFESSED THAT I WAS HAPPY, HEALTHY, WHOLE, AND HEALED. I ALSO ADMITTED TO MYSELF THAT I WAS WEAK WITHOUT GODS HELP.

I TOLD MYSELF I WANT MORE THAN OBESITY HAS TO OFFER, AND HELD MYSELF ACCOUNTABLE TO MYSELF. I STOPPED BLAMING OTHERS FOR MY OBESITY AND CONDITION IN LIFE.

I ATTACKED MY ISSUES HEAD ON..... TRUSTING THAT MY HEALTH WAS MY WEALTH... AND THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO BE IN A SCOOTER OR IN A WHEEL CHAIR. I SAW MYSELF BECOMING HEALTHIER EVERY SINGLE DAY!

I KEPT TRAINING.... I KEPT TAKING MY MEASUREMENTS (AND RECORDING THEM) AND SEING CHANGE.... GREAT CHANGE... AWESOME CHANGE!!!!!! EXCITING MEASURE-ABLE CHANGE!!!!

I HAD FUN WHEN I TRAINED...... I LAUGHED AND PUT GREAT SONGS ON MY MP3 PLAYER.... FRESH SONGS THAT MADE MY WORKOUT JUST "POP" AND FEEL LIKE I WAS ON AN ADVENTURE.

I DID NEW AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT INSPIRED ME.... AND HYPED ME SO MUCH THAT I LET MYSELF GO MORE AND MORE UNTIL I WAS NO ASHAMED TO STAND OUT IN A CROWD AT THE GYM.

I FIGURED SINCE THEY'RE LOOKING AND TALKING - I'LL GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO LOOK AND TALK ABOUT!!!! LOL!

I BEGAN TO SEE THAT MY ATTITUDE MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. I READ SELF HELP BOOKS! I WORKED ON ME.... AND FORGOT ABOUT BEING NOSY IN OTHER PEOPLES LIVES. I FORGOT ABOUT FACE BOOK!!! I WAS TOO BUSY LIVING!!! :laugh:

I KEPT LOGGING..... EVEN IF I STOPPED FOR A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS - I ALWAYS RETURNED.

I TRIED TO HELP OTHERS... AND OTHERS HELPED ME IN RETURN. I TOOK A REAL INTEREST IN OTHERS. I GAVE OF MYSELF...... I REALLY TOOK THE WHOLE MFP EXPERIENCE SERIOUS.

I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE PROCESS.... AND THE PROCESS TOOK TO ME, AS WELL!

I FINALLY SAW ENOUGH WEIGHT DROP OFF MY BODY AND PROGRESS THAT MY DOCTOR SAID I WAS NO LONGER DIABETIC. I WAS TAKEN OFF MY EXTRA HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MEDS.

I STARTED TO RUN AGAIN...... AFTER SO MANY YEARS OF ONLY WALKING AND THINKING I WOULD NEVER, EVER RUN AGAIN.

I BOUGHT A WHOLE NEW SMALL WARDROBE..... AND REALIZED I WAS SHOPPING FOR ME... AND NO ONE ELSE. I ENJOYED SHOPPING AGAIN... AND FEELING LIKE A WOMAN..... AND I FELT LIKE A GIRL AGAIN - A GOOD PERSON.... A GOOD GIRL.

IT WAS MY SECRET JOY TO CROSS MY LEGS..... AND I CROSS THEM OFTEN NOW.... BECAUSE I CAN!!!!:flowerforyou:

I CAN EAT WHATEVER I WANT.... BUT I STILL EAT WHAT HELPS ME, AND DOESN'T HURT ME.

I NOW REALIZE THAT I AM CHANGED FOREVER..... AND THAT MY LIFE IS A GIFT.

I REALIZED THAT MANY PEOPLE THAT I THOUGHT WERE MY FRIENDS ARE NOT MY FRIENDS AT ALL.

I NOW HAVE MORE GOALS, HOPES, AND DREAMS THAN ANYONE IN THE BUILDING WHERE I LIVE.... AND YES, I FEEL VERY OUT OF PLACE HERE.

I NOW REALIZE THAT I HAVE A FRIEND IN JESUS... AND I AM TRULY A FRIEND TO MYSELF NOW.

WHEN THE STUDENT IS READY - THE TEACHER COMES.

I HOPE MY HONESTY ON THIS POST HELPS YOU IN SOME SMALL WAY TO RECAPTURE YOUR HAPPINESS, AND JOY AS I DID. TRULY, THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH.

(Sorry for all the caps - I am sooooo excited to share this with you)

LASTLY..... THE JOURNEY CONTINUES..... once you start - it never stops. :-) (((GOD BLESS YOU HUGGZZ)))

I feel the same way. I used to be the slim one. Now everyone around me is losing weight, while I seem to have gained. I had little motivation until I glanced at my side profile in the mirror. I cried...How could this have happened? I am now determined!

honestly - i weigh myself everyday. your weight fluctuates so much - for me a good 5 pounds +/- ... so I weigh myself everyday - to have a good trend/idea of how i am actually doing for weight loss.

if you weigh yourself once a week - maybe the day you weigh yourself is right before your period - obviously you are retaining water - so you are going to look like you haven't lost/gained weight. or maybe you just worked out and you weigh yourself - obviously whatever water weight you lost is showing. i know i can weigh myself after a good, hard workout & have "lost" 4 pounds or so.

you have to understand that your weight fluctuates - but seeing a downward trend is what is key.

Absolutely! But a lot of people get VERY discouraged seeing the scale go up and down. Knowing the body does this is enough....you don't have to really see it continually. Maybe the first week or so to get an idea of your body's trend. After that, just see the weight come off.

But whatever works for each individual is what is most important. Trial and error. Weight loss is not a perfect science and we have to take what our bodies give us.