I've failed so many times help me make this time successful

I wpuldnt bother starting until you have thought about why you couldnt stick with it before and make changes to deal with it. Too many people just rush into it with enthusiasm and cant stay consistent. Get the basics right which are ccontrolling your food deficit accurately so you are at deficit, which can be easily done through weighing and logging. Take small steps and prelog your food. Take it oen day at a time.

Just eat at a deficit and you'll lose weight, the biggest thing I can recommend us investing in a food scale if you haven't already.
As for 'feeling fab at 30' I gained a LOT of confidence by working out. Feeling good isn't all about weightloss, sure dropping a few pounds can make you feel good but exercise does wonders for your body, mood and outlook. And it can help you bank some extra calories for more sweet treats here and there.
I use fitnessblender and workout at home. It's free and you can search their website for workouts of different intensities etc and they can all be done at home.
Other than that you seem to have a pretty good outlook on things! 'feeling fab by ___ date' is a good goal because it means you're not putting time constraints on your weightloss, as that can often set people up for failure
Breakfast wise I eat a lot of eggs as they help me stay full, scrambled or Poached on toast (low cal bread- 60cals a slice). Sometimes I make egg muffins which are just eggs baked with veggies, they're good for on the go. Or if you're in a rush just Peanut butter on toast is a good one

i'm hoping to meet (or at least be very much closer to my goal) before i turn 30 in 7 months also! lol i do the slim fast chocolate shakes for breakfast one mainly cause i have never been a huge breakfast person to begin with. i have to be in a rare mood to want cereal or eggs or any of it so i much just prefer a meal shake in the mornings plus the fact that its chocolate helps scratch that itch i have always get for something chocolate cause i find it really difficult to have self restraint with sweets so for me they are best left alone. if you try to do that though for the love of god buy the powder mix. those pre-made in a bottle shakes just taste horrible

For me, I set up goals to meet that did not have to do with weight lose. I used to drink regular mtn dew and sweet tea. My first goal was to stop that and switched to unsweetened tea or diet. My new goals is I am training for a 5k in October and to drink more water and less diet soda. Mfp is great because it gives you a visual of what you are doing everyday.

Steve4239 wrote: »

I used to eat at night but since i brought my water intake up to near 1 gallon a day now i don't really feel hungry in the evening even at under 1k calories a day. just log your calories religiously and once you near your goal stop and only drink water.

I know this isn't your posted topic, but under 1k calories a day seems very low.... I wouldn't suggest that OP go there. That seems rather dangerous.

I'm also starting over after a lot of missed attempts. I quit smoking about a year ago, gained 15-ish pounds and am struggling to lose any of it, mostly due to emotional eating. I can't eliminate my stress but I am trying to work out at least 3x's a week and track my food intake. I'm also approaching a new decade and want to be on the right track once I get there!

You will be a super fab 30! You can do it! Add me if you want