I'm not sure where to start...

Hey guys, I've been on CC for about a month - kind of flirting with the idea of losing weight.  I currently weigh about 136-139 and am only 5 foot.  I am only 21 years old - so that's a HUGE problem for me.  I am going on vacation to Aruba at the end of June (with a bunch of skinny people) and I REALLY want to lose a few pounds before stuffing my fat butt into a bikini! I am in the process of changing my eating habits, trying to stock my house full of fruits and veggies and healthy alternatives to junk food (which I love).  My biggest problem is lack of motivation to work out and I'm pretty much on my own on this.  I don't have anybody to work out with and no support system to help motivate me.  I know ultimately it's my own problem but I guess this is what this site is for right? To support each other.  I finally just came on the sight and decided to look around a little bit more, I found this forum.  I guess I just don't even know where to start... does anybody have any suggestions on where to go from here?

Well, I am new to this site as well but I am not new to dieting. I am 43 years old and just recently a grandma!!! That is very weird for me. But I have a 21 year old daughter who introduced me to this site and I was touched by your comments. My advice to you first of all would be to refocus your goal. Don't loose weight just for the trip or just for your skinny friends. Do it because its what you want for you because you are worth it!!. That has been my problem all my life. I tried loosing weight for an event or from pressure from skinny friends and it never worked and I was never happy. But when I decided I wanted it for me and no one else it began to matter enough to me to do it. Just remember you didn't gain it all over night and you won't loose it all over night, be patient and always remind yourself you are worth it. Good Luck

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond.  I always hear people talking about losing weight for a specific event, like a wedding or a vacation, and I just thought that was normal.  I do believe I'm worth it and I know once I get the ball rolling, I'll be even more motivated and I'll love myself more for it.  Hearing that from someone who's been doing it for a while is helpful to me... I will try to refocus my goal a little and try to look BEYOND the upcoming vacation!

I too liked your post.  It motivated me to post my first reply.  And I too am 5 feet and recently peaked out at 139.  I joined this site about 6 weeks ago and have droped down to 128.  I feel so much better - its been worth the effort.  I kicked it off with 2 weeks of south beach for discipline and to get rid of old habits.  I have been eating healthy ever since.  I think having a near term goal is a good motivator but agree with the 43 year old grandma (wow) (I'm 47 with an 8 year old) that a long term lifestyle change is a better goal.  For exercise I started with a 1hr walk to work any day it was nice and have ramped it up to a 1 hr walk and at least 40 minutes of a more intense workout.  At 5 feet you only burn 1700 without exercise by adding 500 burn from exercise you can still eat reasonably and lose 2 lbs a week.  Good luck and enjoy Aruba

I agree with both previous posters. It is paramount that you do this for yourself, you are your own greatest motivator (and for some people saboteur as well..).

Start slow with easy realistic goals that don't feel like sacrifices (for instance smaller portions, no butter on the bread, etc) and move more.

Don't worry about your trip to Aruba, it's your every day behaviour and patterns that matter the most.

I'm facing a trip to Greece (all-inclusive), and I'm not freaked out about it: I can (and so can you) make the healthy choices and not go overboard in the free supply of food and drinks and still have fun. Eat what you want, but don't over do the portions. Make the healthy choices, for instance regular potatoes instead of French fries, etc. If you want a drink, have water on the side, choose for the "light" options, and so on.  At least that's what I intend to do - even now I allow myself 1 alcoholic beverage in the evening for enjoyment, without massively overdoing my calorie intake and still I am loosing weight

Like you, I am also not one of the tallest of the bunch: 160 cm (5'2") and my starting weight was 71.8 KG (April 20th/09) and this morning I was down to 69.2 KG -  So I definitely know where you're coming from. Except that I don't have grandchildren nor do I have children (I'm 38 in two months)

Good luck with your weight loss and have fun on your trip! Don't forget the sun screen!