New to Weightloss

I have been trying maybe the past five years to lose weight, but never really took it seriously. Not until about month ago did I decide something had to change when I curiously stepped on the scale and it read 169.5. I never realized that in the past 2 years that I had gained over 20lbs since I graduated college back in December 2012. I've always been aware that I could afford to lose some weight but never gave it much thought because I was more worried about making that check, paying this bill, need to run here, need to run there, and on the way i'd just grab whatever was convienent to eat. Since I had yet another relationship go south back in March 2014, I picked myself up and moved back home and decided it was time to work on ME. Once I finally, straightened out my finances and found a new job, I decided it was time to get back out in the field and meet new people, but my confidence was shortly shot down when a potential date asked me to go to the pool with him and I went to try on my old bathing suit. After thinking omg where'd this come from I stepped on that dreaded scale curious to what it would say. That 169.5 popped up and I thought HELL NO. Something had to change. So 3 weeks ago, I started to change my diet. Less soda, less sugar, more water and trading in those snacks in work for Yogurt, Fruits, and Applesauce. I've lose 5lbs in a 1.5 weeks and I was estactic. Now I've been plateau, what with slipping for a bag of chips here, a bowl of ice cream every now and then and not doing my at home excercises as much. I'm determined to get back to my pre-college weight of 125lbs by my birthday, but need that extra motivation and inspiration. This is where this forum comes in.

I'm interested in hearing others success and struggle stories with weightloss. I'm 5'2" and have always felt that it was really difficult to get started in the weightloss. I feel that I have a good idea of how to do it, I want to know your stories, your strategy to lossing weight. With the research i've done, alot of it says tracking your intake helps motivate toward those goals and thats how i came across MFP. I'm oppitmistic and hopeful to meet others (local and nonlocal) who are going thru what I am going thru.

If you happen to be relatively local, I'd actually be open to meeting up for fitness training. I have never been the one for gyms, but mostly because I hate doing those things by myself. If you are interested, contact me.