21 and needing to lose 20lbs =) How did you all do it??

First of all I wanted to say hey to everyone that has come a long way with your weight. CONGRATS* i hope that ya'll can help me out as well.

I just turned 21 and I am to the point of where I am just tired, I am tired of fighting with my weight and I am ready to just give up.

What are some things that you have done that has helped you lose your weight and some excersice dvds etc. you have used.

Eat really low fat. If you drink soda, stop, instead drink water or lemon with water or iced tea. If you eat sweets, try to cut back half. What ever food is on your plate, put some back, you might feel hungry after, but once a week goes by, your stomach will get smaller and you will feel fuller with less food. TRUST ME.

Also, I do pilates, I bought a pilates machine off QVC.com from Stamina:

http://www.qvc.com/qsearch/search.aspx

If you can't afford the pilates machine, you can jog outside or do sit ups, crunches, push ups, jumping jacks...I personally love pilates.

For motivation, you should cut out magazine pictures of celebrities you would like to look like and hang them up where you can see them for motivation.

Good luck!

My trick is to force myself to eat things that I know I need to be eating and it's hard but it really helps me to not eat the things I know I shouldn't be eating that I love to eat (sugary things.)  Sometimes I eat raisen bran at night when I'm craving something and it really takes care of it especially if I drink water with it.

I exercise.  I jog/run/walk.  I don't overdue it so that it doesn't make me so hungry that I overeat.  I used to overindulge when I worked out, but that was not a good strategy to lose weight. 

Everyday, you just keep being careful not to overeat your amount of calories and you keep plugging away and don't be discouraged.  As long as you continue, it will have to come off.  I have had many many plateaus and got over them (some lasted forever). 

It's all about moderation. It's ok to have sweets and soda from time to time, but as saramariaj said, you need to start eating less of those foods in order to see results.

I do a lot of cardio (HIIT, StairMaster, running) and strength training in order to stay healthy and fit. It's been a long journey, but I am finally at a weight that I feel comfortable with.