Hoping to make it this time, but I need a helping hand

Hi everyone :)
I'm Shan.

I'm a 30 year old mother of two, currently living in Nashville, TN.  I work in a call center environment all day, so not a ton of activity going on there.  I started CC at the suggestion of a mom I know, and I've stumbled a few times.  I've started over again, and this time I want to make it.  The husband and kids are not altering their eating habits to assist (that was made clear) so I feel like I'm on my own. 

I started out at 201.4 lbs, with a goal of 145 lbs.  I've currently lost 6.9 lbs, but I feel sooooo far away. 

I know what you feel when you say you feel like you're on your own. Believe me, you are not. There's an entire community out here online that can be your support system. I know it's not like the support you should be getting from loved ones but sometimes it can be better. When I say better I mean that we can talk and feel comfortable with people who are struggling and going through the same things without fear of judgement because they themselves are feeling much the same as we are. It's hard to relate with people who aren't experiencing what we are.

Also, I've found with my family, they are the biggest enablers because they want to reassure you that nothing is wrong with you and that being you, even a bigger version of you, is OK with them. They will love you no matter what. That's why they resist the change, they want you to feel better and when you change things about yourself they somehow believe you are suffering and think that you don't feel loved. They often take it as a reflection on themselves and think they've done something wrong. Which is why they turn away from it or refuse the change because they don't want you to feel you HAVE to change for them to love or like you.

It's a hard struggle.

I'm in the same place but know you have people here to talk to if you need it.

Sometimes I let the family do their own thing and I make two dinners, sometimes I make what I'm making and if they don't like it then they are free to fend for themselves, hehe.  Seriously, it can be hard when the family isn't supportive and in some cases I'm not giving them the option, in others I'm just more sneaky.  I do not bake anymore unless there's a special occasion (big holiday/birthday) and they have to just get used to that.  I make healthier substitutions like only buying 100% whole wheat bread instead of the wheat bread that is so cheap it might as well be white.  I buy the veggie mac n cheese and just don't tell the kids it's different and they don't notice.  Little by little the change will happen.

Hi there! I'm your Southern neighbor down in Georgia. :)

I know it must be even more difficult to do this without family support. My husband was fortunately very receptive to my food ideas. I think I won him over by finding good old fashioned recipes and just modifying them to be acceptable to my calorie count. I make good substitutions now without even thinking about it, and I've come to enjoy cooking in a way I never did before.

But if your family is completely stonewalling you, I'd suggest leading by example. Let them see the effect the lifestyle change is having on you, and maybe they'll join in the healthier eating.

As far as the long road ahead, when I lost my first 30 pounds last year, I kept in my mind the advice I saw from someone on the forums-- Even if it takes a long time, it's worth it; in one year, you can either be in the exact same place you are now, or a little closer to your goal. I got halfway to my goal last year. I hope to make it the other half this year. I'm happy I stuck with it. The changes were incremental, but they stuck.