This is ridiculous!!

It's a journey. When you start to see the progress it helps keep motivation there. Just can't give up. Find what works for you, try different things. I have lost 50 and it is just a lifestyle that you get used to and becomes your norm. Some days aren't great and some are easy and rock. Track your calories and get moving! Best of luck to you!

do not focus on your weight, focus on your size or energy levels. Weight is such a poor indicator of progress you are making, especially early in the process. It is a huge issue because many people are making great progress, but they focus on the wrong metric to measure it, and then become discouraged. You are a gorgeous lady, just keep doing the things you know you need to do.

Well the less you need to lose, the harder it is to lose it.

You have to trial and error to figure it out. It's part of the process. That way when you figure it out, it will stand to be a more lasting change.

No matter how much you have to lose, it's hard. Set small goals for yourself and reward yourself with non-food things. I reward myself for every 30 days logged, and then for milestone weight losses. And no self loathing!! That is counter productive to what you are trying to do and it will only bring you down. Focus on the things you DO like about yourself and what you are doing well. Good luck

I'm just gonna throw this one out there for those who keep struggling (and I was one of those people for years!). Stop overthinking it and just do it. Motivation is overrated. It is definitely about creating habits. Just go do it, create the habits one at a time if needed, and just keep doing it. The more you think about it, the more you can psych yourself out of doing it.

P.S. I've lost 85 lbs in the last 15 months and I know this is a change that is sticking. You just know when you hit the real thing and the mindf**k becomes less. Good luck!!

I hear you on this, I love and hate the success stories at the same time. Sometimes they really motivate me and other times really depress me. I can't make anything move in the right direction and I am horribly scared about the next 6 weeks...ugh.

Another thing is, WE ALL go through ups and downs, weight wise and emotionally. Anyone who tells you it was a breeze is not only lying to you, they are lying to themselves too.
It makes a lot of sense from someone who also struggles with body image to get some help there. It is important to know that you may not lose the 35 pounds - you may only lose 20, but being comfortable in your own skin is way more important than what you weigh. And just getting healthy - mentally, physically and spiritually taking care of yourself. What good is being thinner when you still feel like crap about who you are.
- Friend me if you would like!

Runyan2002 wrote: »

Well the less you need to lose, the harder it is to lose it.

My last 20 might as well be 50

It doesn't have to be trial and error. And you don't have to starve and be miserable and unhappy. Here are some tips:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1235566/so-youre-new-here/p1

pdwhitlock wrote: »

I hear ya! I began almost four weeks ago and have so far only lost 10 pounds. It seems so small for the huge effort I've been putting into this that often times I wonder if it's worth it. Not to mention, I haven't seen any change in over a week.

It's all about attitude. Instead of ONLY LOST 10 POUNDS. You should rejoice in the accomplishment of losing ten pounds in a month. You do realize at that rate you would lose 120 pounds in a year? This is a slow process. Remember for most of us gaining the weight was also a slow process. So long as you are moving in the right direction you are winning. All the work getting to your goals is simply training yourself in this new lifestyle. Enjoy the process.

ShellyBell999 wrote: »

"Change your attitude, change your life"

Need to stop thinking its and end to being overweight but a ride to fit and healthy

Luck!

This speaks to me. I feel like I've already "succeeded," even though I still have a lot of weight to lose. For about three years now my attitude towards food and fitness is just different than it used to be, but it's taken a lot of determination, hard work, and patience to get here. I'm more aware of my physical self than I was before and I don't hate my body anymore. Believe me, it's far from beautiful, but I'm strong and somewhat fit. I can do hard things and I'm proud of what I've accomplished so far. I'm not waiting for some distant future when I'll be a size 4 and life will be rainbows and pretty music -- for *years* I had this idea that when I got skinny everything else would fall into place. I'm happy with now. Does that make sense?

It doesn't matter whether you have 5 pounds or 200 pounds to lose. It takes effort and commitment, and we can all do this. It is not easy for anyone. With the statistics being what they are, the biggest challenge is staying committed after reaching your goal and not allowing yourself to go back to old habits and regaining. I know that I will be logging for the rest of my life. Thank goodness I found MFP. If I did not save my life, I at least made what is left of it more healthy and at a "normal" weight. If I can do it (in my 60's) anyone can! Best of luck to everyone!

Runyan2002 wrote: »

Well the less you need to lose, the harder it is to lose it.

This isn't necessarily true. A calorie deficit is required no matter what your goals are. While it may be true that a heavier person burns more calories doing the same activity as a lighter person, that doesn't make it any easier. That heavier person is carrying more weight. That isn't easier. When a 130 pound person may struggle to run a mile, can you even imagine running that mile with a 50 or 100 lb backpack?

The heavier person has likely also had more years of complacency with a bad diet. They may be used to eating more calories and so cutting down to half that may be harder for them than somebody who has not been overeating by such a huge margin for so long (because if they were, they'd have further to go).

I don't think any one pound is inherently harder than another based on starting weight. Not physiologically anyway. Mentally, sure it may be harder to stay motivated when you've felt like you've been doing it so long, making those last few pounds a challenge. It may also be easier because you've developed new tastes and helpful habits.

Its all about finding those 3000 calories. No matter where you're starting from.

I've lost 50 lbs so far. I have gone off and come back. As soon as I stop tracking my calories, I either stay the same or my weight starts to go up. I don't do the whole "healthy" thing. I've tried that in the past and it doesn't work for me. I eat and drink whatever I want as long as I stay within my calories. I've become very conscious of portions and calories. Whereas I used to sit down with a bag of chips and eat half of it, I know take out a handful, put the bag back and then count the calories. I also try to fill in my diary for the day first thing in the morning. I can fill out most of it and whatever is leftover I add as I go along. Plus, definitely do some exercise. If for no other reason then to get more calories that you can eat for the day. I walk and burn about 200-250 calories every day. That's extra calories that I get to eat. I use a heart rate monitor so that I keep accurate count of my calories burned. Some say that you can't lose weight by just walking and have to run and/or lift weights. Well, 50 lbs later, I'd like to see them prove that theory!

Don't ever give up. Don't be sitting here next year at this time and think "if only I stuck to it I would be at goal today".