I need support. I can't do this alone.

We all screw up ! We are human and it happens !! So next time you mess up, just pick up where you left off. Don't give up. Change happens slowly . this is a lifestyle change so won't happen in a few days and certainly won't happen flawlessly . so don't be hard on yourself ! I lost all my weight and kept it off 2+ yrs so far just by counting calories , using a food scale, learning portion control and moderation. I gave up nothing. I still eat ice cream every night and still enjoy eating out all the time. It can be done ! Best of luck to you !!

I liked reading this one because we need to set reasonable goals and not try to be perfect. A perfect person doesn't exist.

Do's and Don't of Setting Goals

Goal achievement, especially when it comes to health and fitness, can be a mystery. Most of us have no trouble with Step 1 (Setting the Goal). Setting a goal is the easy part, it's those other steps that can be a puzzle. But you CAN turn achieving your goals into a science with the right strategies. Here are a few of our favorites:

DO create a plan.
DON’T wait for "someday" to roll around.
Setting the goal is just the first step. Know where you’re going, what resources you’ll need, who can help and – most importantly – what Plan B is when life throws a monkey wrench into Plan A.

DO start small.
DON’T focus on too many things at once.
Try focusing on one goal at a time. Use a small goal that you know you can do each day for the next two weeks, like getting up without the snooze or drinking eight cups of water. Build that first habit to boost your confidence and pick up speed.

DO write it down.
DON’T forget to give yourself a deadline.
Deadlines turn wishes into goals. The act of writing down your goal is powerful enough to keep you committed and focused. Better yet, find a visual that represents your goal or how your life will be different. Seeing it makes it seem more possible.

DO be specific.
DON’T deal in absolutes.
Avoid the words ‘some’ and ‘more’, as in "I will get SOME exercise" or "I will eat MORE veggies." It leaves too much wiggle-out room. Deal in measurable things that you have control over. And never say ‘never’ or ‘always.’ All or nothing is a common attitude that leads people back to bad habits.

DO leave room for failure.
DON’T expect perfection.
Persistence is key. Accept the fact that you might not make it on the first try. In a recent study, only 40% of people who successfully followed New Year's resolutions did it on the first try; 17% of resolution achievers took six or more tries before they got it right – but they did get it right.

DO track your progress.
DON’T fool yourself into failure.
Memory can be pretty selective. It conveniently forgets that extra brownie while remembering activity that never happened. The only way to know for sure is to track goals regularly with a checklist or journal.

DO reward your success.
DON’T beat yourself up over failure.
This is the step that trips up most people. Negative thoughts are usually in our heads, telling us every day what we’re doing wrong. This is not the approach to take to succeed with your goals. Why not focus on what you’re doing right instead? If you take a step back, learn from it and take two steps forward.

DO find a support system.
DON’T try to do it alone.
A goal buddy can make all the difference this time. People that can help are all around you – on message boards, at work, even in your own family. Just add one person to your support group, and you double your motivation, double your energy, double your commitment – and double your FUN.

DO make a commitment.
DON’T ever forget that you can do!

Hi ! I'm starting today too. Again! (doesn't matter how many times you start, what counts is you are doing it now.)

Welcome back.
I too have been using MFP for years, but trying to do it on my own, with no luck. This year I have decided to give the community a try. I now know I can't do this by myself.
WE CAN DO THIS!

I think many of us have gone through this. This time I am not doing it alone. My mother started her journey December 14 and time for me to start mine. This is not going to be easy, but the rewards far outweigh anything else I can imagine. Feel free to add me so we can all support one another!

New to this, but not new to the attempts. I definitely understand how trying it alone fails for some, as it hasn't worked for me for over 10 years. Hoping we can both be consistent and accountable this time around---we all CAN do this.

I am back after a successful run on weight watchers. Didn't like the new program, though, so I stopped wasting my money.

Add me as a friend, we can help each other stay accountable.