Hello! I'm new here and need some friends. Here is a little info about me.

Hello All,

This is my first posting and I'm glad I've got the will to do it. My weight gain and food addiction has been haunting me for years. I had a tough life and I used food as a way to help me deal with all of my issues. I have conditioned myself to eat whenever I watch tv. or go to the movies. I eat when I'm anxious, happy, sad, and the list goes on. I just got married a little over a year ago and I feel like my wife and  I won't have a chance to be together because I'm slowly killing myself. I'm 24 years old and I feel like I'm a old man. I mean what can a 525 pound guy do during his spare time that doesn't involve eating or watching tv. Even as I type this I second guess myself on how strong I am mentally. Because truely this struggle that so many of us go through is 80% mental and 20% physical. Really easy to chat about this but really hard to put my words into practice. In a nutshell I have to do this for myself and for my wife.

Wanted to wish you good luck and also to reassure you that controlling your weight can be a relaxing, rewarding and enjoyable experience if you play your cards right.   I think if you set yourself up with that at the back of your mind you won't find it is anything like an 80% mental struggle.

I would suggest that you aim to develop a good healthy lifestyle routine.  Something that dovetails with the way you like to live rather than you feeling you're shoe-horning yourself into someone else's idea of a healthy lifestyle.  Once you get your healthier lifestyle to the point where it's as unthinking as brushing your teeth... you're eating better and moving more almost automatically.... then it's just a matter of time before you're down to a healthy weight.  And if I could pass on one phrase that's helped me keep a sense of direction

"Don't do anything to lose weight that you can't see yourself happily doing for the rest of your life"   It's a good test for any changes and helps you avoid 'flash in the pan' measures that fizzle out.

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"Don't do anything to lose weight that you can't see yourself happily doing for the rest of your life".

gi-jane-I love that statement - I've never seen it. I'll tell you why I like it. If I had to "diet" and count every calorie I would be absolutely miserable. Cutting out completely all the food that I enjoy-no way-I refuse to live like that! If I had to munch on carrots and celery all day I would be miserable! So the statement goes. That is perfect!

I was 260 in my mid twenties. I am 5'6, 42 years old now and weigh about 120. I ate the things I enjoyed when I was "dieting", but a lot less. I usually ate only a third of the portion that I normally ate. Drinking lots of water (Crystal Light is fantastic) during the day, especially before a scheduled meal should ease the feeling that you are hungry. I agree with gi-jane in that you need some sort of structure/routine in your life to get away from your old habits, i.e. having your meals at the same time everyday or going for a walk at a set time of day. I would still have the carrots and veggie dip, but I'd get a healthier dip for the veggies.

I have and had many emotional problems which led me to an alcohol, much the same way that you feel about food. It's familiar and comforts you in a way that you feel content. With my drink, I always wondered, where/where am I going to get it? How much should I buy? There was so much involved in getting that drink. I've got to tell you, though, that your comfort eating is just a symptom of something going on with your emotional state. I would absolutely recommend a therapist. That helped me in such a way that I can't explain. She brought out some terrible old childhood memories I had experienced that a young girl shouldn't have experienced. And I never talked about those things. Getting to the root of the problem will help you tremendously. What are you thinking about when you eat? What do you think triggers that emotion?

Now I think about consequences. Where will drinking get me now? I know I would be miserable drinking again, and when I did, I always got the same results. And the misery led me to another drink...I had to change everything in my life.

And your wife must be extremely supportive. Is she? Maybe you could sit down with her and suggest a plan/routine together. Yes, it is a challenge, but you CAN do it if that is what you desire more than anything in your life. You deserve to be happy!

I hope this helped and I wish you the best, kellz!