I desperately need help

im 18, i weight 195 im 5'7"

i want to get down to about 120-230

i have been struggling since january. everytime i try after about a week i cave and just give up.

Don't worry, you're certainly not alone in this. I have done the same thing. I recommend setting more attainable goals, maybe 20 pounds, and then when you lose that (WHEN, not if), you can set another 20 pound goal, ect. Just take it slow. My worst thing is that I get frustrated when I'm not losing weight fast enough, and binge.

Total backfire

Remember, you may only lose 1 pound a week, but there are 52 weeks in a year, and so to get to your long term goal, it's only about a year and a few months.

Don't try and lose weight fast. I did this, and lost a lot of weight quickly and in an unhealthy way, and then I ended up gaining it back because I had messed up my metabolism. 

Good luck! You can definitely do this, remember that.

You might be giving up because the amount of weight that you want to lose seems huge - maybe think about it in smaller chunks.  (120 might be slightly underweight for your height depending on your build.)  Start by making small changes that are easier to deal with and just make them a habit.   When you try to change everything all at once, you feel overwhelmed and resentful, and when you can't keep to your plan for a day, you feel frustrated and give up.

Take a 30 minute walk each day.  This is a small change and can take off about .5 lbs a week even if you don't change anything else.   Then you can maybe decide not to have one snack, or change a bag of chips to a bag of celery or carrot, or have a glass of water rather than a glass of juice or soda. 

If you add these changes that are good for you in small steps, you'll feel better because you are looking after yourself, and it will make it easier for you to make healthy choices.   You might find that you don't even need to count calories & diet if you make incremental changes to your lifestyle.

I totally agree with the mini goals!!  Huge ones can be totally daunting, but if you take it 5 lbs at a time, it's totally manageable!  Also, while celebrating your weight loss, also remember that this will be a lifestyle change for you as well and try not to get bogged down by the scale!  So exactly what was said; reward yourself for your choices as well...i.e. having 8 glasses of water a day, saying no to the chips and instead grabbing some fruit or veg or yogurt, etc. etc. etc.  Also, I find exercising helps me feel healthier which leads me to make better decisions!

And EVERYONE slips up when they focus on a diet.  Just try to live healthy and don't punish yourself.  In the grand scheme of things, it's not so bad if you beast on some Chinese food one day if the majority of your days are healthy.  Focus on what you do right girl and it will become SO much easier!!  Good luck!

Its okay. But once you cave and eat that nice chocolate cake that has been sitting in the fridge for a few days just waiting for you to eat it, just ask yourself, how am I going to make this up to myself? Spend an extra 10 minutes working out. Or promise yourself that you wont cave in tommorow. Or better yet, give yourself a 'free day' where you can eat what you want so long as it is one serving at a time with water.

Try drinking water between and during meals. It really does help. And snack. Eat smaller meals through the day. I know you hear it all the time but believe me, it really really does eat.

i would say to take it one step at a time, maybe set more modest goals as well. 120 is quite low for someone of your height, and mayeb 140 would be more attainable and easier to maintain for you. if you get there and feel unhappy you can reevaluate your goals but 120 is the low end of healthy and maybe it would be easier mentally to shoot for a more modest goal initially! you can do it if you take it in baby steps, week by week...don't get so caught up on the big picture or the task seems daunting. congrats on trying again and i know that you can do it, if you need support CC is great for that!!