Struggling to see beyond 200lbs...

Dont you dare give up!

Ok mom tone coming out of my voice now.....

I started at 258 (so only 3 lbs lighter then you) but you are taller then me. If you look at my signature you can see my goal weight and goal size, the goal size is very similar to yours. I put 10/12 because sizes vary by manufacturer/designer.

It IS an obtainable goal. It does take time. I was "chubby" and the "fat girl" my entire life, and had glasses and played in the marching band just added to my "geekyness" and darn good grades ofcourse.

I also have my goal jeans. Given they are folded in my closet right now because I dont want them on the wall, but I get them out regularly to remind me it will be ALL worth it in the end.

Also, not only will you ba as slim as your friends, you will be 1000times healthier! Which truly is the ultimate best part of weight loss.

my dear struggling: today when I looked on the scale it read 169. I still can't believe it. Keep the jeans; I looked across the world of 200 lbs once too from a starting point of 240, and let me tell u as impossible as it may seem, the world of onederland is both awesome and acheivable

Hey gorgeous.
I started at 218 and I literally never thought I would be below 200. Once I hit 200, my next mini goal was 181 which I thought was damn near impossible.
The closer you get to your goals, you realize how possible what you think is impossible really is.
My ultimate goal weight was originally 171, but now I am at 164 and lovin' it. My new goal is 143.
As your mindset, and your body, both change drasticallly, so will your goals.
It might be scary but I like to think of it like a roller coaster. Its new and fun and exciting and liberating!

With God NOTHING is impossible! I need to lose 100lbs. My first goal is 50 by 10/31/11. In the past I have tried to do this on my own and failed. I would start and stop, start and stop....This time I prayed and asked God to SPEAK TO ME about this and to help me acheive my goal. I asked for strength when I feel weak and for encouragement when I don't want to keep exercising or tracking or eating better. He has given me the answers I need and THIS TIME I will not fail because that is not the way He works. If we are faithful and trust Him, there is nothing we can't accomplish. All that said, God works on His timeline, not ours. Maybe I'll hit my 50lb. goal by December not October, but my main goal is to commit to this and to seek His guidance. I hope this helps.
Please know I feel your pain and it's hard, each day is a challenge...but we deserve to be fit and healthy. We have to build each other up. You can do it!

You can be slimmer than 220 lbs. In fact, it's far healthier for you to be under 220 lbs (although I don't know your height, that's almost certainly overweight/obese BMI).

I don't know who these 'others' are who suggest only 40 lbs - if it's a doctor than ignore this - but if it's your friends saying that, be very careful because - as is often experienced by those on MFP - they may be trying to sabotage your efforts (albeit unconsciously) because (a) they don't want to face up to the fact they're not fit and/or healthy, and (b) they can't get themselves to imagine you thin, even though it is PERFECTLY possible.

You can lose the weight because the laws of thermodynamics applies to you too! Calories in < calories out (but not too extreme) will bring anyone down to a healthy BMI and you are no exception

You can be a US size 10. If you stick to healthy eating, you can definitely be a size 10. You probably wouldn't get there this summer, but 2012 summer you could healthily lose 60 - 70 lbs, which would put you under 200 lbs easily.

I think there's no reason for you to think you can't do this, and you shouldn't perceive yourself as someone who 'can't' or doubt yourself... because you CAN, anyone can, and you're no exception - trust me

If you like send me a friend request because it would be great to see you on my news feed...

MFP really makes it easy to understand how you can lose weight. Just keep entering everything you eat during the day and stay right around your daily calorie goal. I think about it this way, the time is going to pass anyways, why not lose weight during that time. After a few weeks at it you will be able to easily stay at your goal calories and entering what you eat will become second nature. Good luck!

You know....I just realized that I believe the impossible. I actually believe I'm going to do it. I have almost no doubt. Why? Because my attitude toward dieting has changed. A few months ago, I accepted that this is for life. That I am going to have to diet more days than not for the rest of my life. Oddly, it was a revelation, not a death sentence or a punishment or a deprivation. It was freeing to know that this is what I need to do for the rest of my life and that I CAN do it. I really can. I think Acceptance is the answer. Today, I accept that I will diet today, tomorrow and every day for the rest of my life. I also accept that I will not diet some days. I will not punish myself for those days, nor diminish the value of those days I did diet because of a few days of not dieting. If this is a lifetime activity, then I cannot possibly fail.

Hollycat
:flowerforyou:

I started at 352 lbs. I am now more fit than I have ever been in my life at 254.9 lbs. Even at 145 lbs when I was a teenager, I couldn't perform athletically the way I can now. You can do it! We have the science now to explain why I couldn't do it/failed for decades.

Friend me, please. I want to dance in your honor when you rock those jeans! Whether it takes you one year or a bit more doesn't matter. Making steady progress does. I want to reach 199 lbs by Christmas. I may not make it until a little later but I know beyond any shadow of a doubt, I will make it. How do I know? I keep doing what works, quitting what doesn't work and I am more stubborn than poverty, disease, disability, hypithyroidism, the media and medical mythologies that would keep me obese.

I am a warrior and so, I expect, are you.

WOW

Your replies brought tears to my eyes!!!!!!

I think it is impossible to not see it as a 'sign' that the jeans I thought would fit me by Oct (40 inch) are actually the jeans to would fit me at goal... I am being shown, in numerous ways, the path towards what has elluded me my entire life.
I have faith in myself
I am surrounded by incredibly supportive and lovely friends
I have excused those that weren't supportive to outside of my inner circle
I have turned to my fatih, through prayer...
I have been blessed with a very special event to light a fire under the first leg of this journey..
And now?
Now I've found thsi site and all of you...

This time will be different because this time IS different. I would be a blind fool not to see it.
And my daddy didn't raise no fool.

Thank-you so much!!!
I will be posting pics of my in my jeans (as soon as I get them) every month... (wearing short of course, for as long as they creep around my ankles/knees *hee hee* )

Funny... everything happens for a reason... and anything is possible... you just need to find the strength to believe.

THanks again!

I'm in! It's completely real to me that you belong in skinny jeans and I'm eager to see you posting the pics of your progress and success.