new...feeling fat and overwhelmed

Hi Group,

I just found this site this morning and decided to join because I am hovering around 200 lbs...the most I have ever weighed!  I was a 110 teemager, then a 130 young woman, and over the last 5-10 years I have gained and gained.  I am desperate to lose the weight, have tried WW, but it just seems to make me obsess about food more converting everything into points...plus I can't afford ($) it.  I know what works for me...cutting calories, eating healthy well-balanced meals and getting active.  I just feel like I have SO MUCH weight to lose that it will take forever! 

How to get motivated for this major life change????

Thanks,

Tonya

Tonya, You have to start small. Give yourself  short- term and long- term goals. Find that one thing that gives YOU motivation. For me it was to never hear my hubby say "you make a very pretty fat girl". Think of how long ago it was when you were at your long-term goal wt. If it was 6 m. or 6 years ago. Keep that in mind when your trying to take the wt. off.  Just doing little things help.  I have stoped drinking soda for one thing. I have lost 13 pounds in 6 wks.  Remember we love to talk in here. If you get down let us know and someone is always here to talk.

:)

Hi Tonya. I started at 204 and I'm now down to 184. It's taken about a month and a half, almost two months to get rid of those 20 pounds. But once you start, you'll feel better. Remember you are doing this for yourself. Keep at it even when you feel frustrated. You'll find great support on this site. :)

Yes...one thing that really got to me was a recent birthday card from a friend.  It has a drawing of a very large woman in a moo-moo (is that right or freaudian slip?) leaning back in a chair with a half eaten box of chocolates on the floor and it says "Happily Dying of Chocolate" and I thought "Is this what I am percieved as now???"  I know she didn't mean to hurt my feelings, but it did...but it also got me thinking that I need to do something!

I do need support from others who are on the same road...thank you.

Tonya

Wow.  Tonya Im sure your friend didnt mean it in a bad way.  But I will say sometimes the smallest thing will knock us back to reality.  I was 160 when I started this site in Jan., my dad made a comment to me at Christmas that if Iwasnt careful I would end up like my mom...she is close to 250 now.  It hit me hard and I told my husband I will not do that to myself or him and the kids.  I have lost 3 inches in my waist and 17lbs.  I will give you a suggestion that worked for me.  First if you still have that card- put it on the fridge or by the tv.  Use that as motivation.  so if you sit down to watch tv, you see it and it should remind you to get up and exercise while you watch instead. Get rid of all the bad stuff in your house that you know you will eat if its there.  Another thing that really helped me and I know some other people on the site have done this.  Write down your goal, short term and long term goals.  If you want to lose 5lbs before the end of march-write it down and pick a small reward for yourself (like a bubble bath) keep those simple.  When you reach a goal weight (say losing 20 lbs) give yourself a bigger reward-NEVER FOOD!  you have to find other ways to make you happy.  One last thing to do to see if you are really ready to lose weight,this is the hardest.  Write down the things you LOVE about yourself, HATE about yourself and why you really want to change.  This is hard because you actually are writing it down for yourself to see.  Write down what you want to change and go back and look at this list when you start questioning exercising and eating healthy.  after a month or so, make changes to your list....you will probably take some things off of the Hate list and add them to the love list!  I hated my arms before and they are on my love list after 2months!  we are all here for you!!!  Just remember we are all in the same boat, whether you are on those last 5lbs to lose or need to lose 100lbs...we all go thru the hard facts day to day and all want the same results- healthier you!  Its a life change so make it work for you to have a better life with your family and friends. 

God Bless girl!

Hi Tonya, I too, am around 200 pounds, and have never weighed so much before. It is quite depressing. I have been sticking around here logging in my food for a little over a week now, and I have lost a few pounds already. I have been trying so many times to use different diets that restrict all these foods, but I finally feel like - I want to eat whatever I want. I like this counting my calories bc I can eat a cupcake, as long as I cut back on something else. (Like only one cup of Latte.) I started off with 66 pounds to lose. OMG that seems like such a horrible amount of weight to lose. But I am so tired of feeling the way I do.

You know, everytime I feel like quitting dieting, I always come in here and talk about how well I am doing so far - and I feel better! I have had a few bad days, going over my calories, but overall this is great - who knows how many calories I was eating before! I can keep tabs on myself now.

Hi Tonya. First, I just wanted to say welcome to our site, and awesome choice on how to lose the weight. This site has been a godsend to so many people, me included.

I was 200 pounds at my heaviest, and I couldn't believe I'd let myself get there. At only 5'2", carrying all that weight ... ouch. I never realized how much I was eating til I started writing it all down. Using my diet log (diary/journal) helps a lot too.

It may seem like you have a ton of weight to lose, but it WILL come off as long as you don't give up. Once you've reached your first short-term goal (5 pounds, or even 10), you'll realize that you CAN do this, that it IS worthwhile, and it's something you'll want to continue doing even after you've gotten down to your goal weight.

Good luck on this weight-loss road, it's going to be a long, hard one ... but we'll be here for you. Whenever it seems hopeless ... get on here, look at the posts, write in your diet log, or read your friends logs ... believe me, it's a motivator in itself.

~Christina

Yes, I do feel better already...knowing I  can come to chat with people who understand.  I didn't do so well yesterday...it's harder on the weekends when the family is home and we are eating 3 meals together each day...but I am ready to get down to business today!

I will definitely check in here often...the support so far has been so helpful!

Thanks,

Tonya

Hi Tonya, and welcome!

Congratulations on taking the first steps.

I'm sorry if your feelings were hurt about the card.  However, keep in mind that a true friend doesn't see you as you are on the outside, they're only going to see the great and wonderful things that are inside and that make you into the friend you are.  She (He?) probably just thought it was a funny idea.

You're going to find all kinds of tips and really great supportive people here.  (Just watch out - I'm hooked!)

If you get a chance, complete a profile - I love to read where people are and what their goals are.  I'm so nosy!

L.

Tonya,

like everyone I started here because I'd decided enough was enough. All I did was soak up the good advice and do the basics. Eat 3 sensible meals a day. Cut out the snacks and useless fizzy drinks (water is cheap and VERY low carb) and get some exercise (I parked my car 15mins from work and walked - hardly aerobics but a start). For me as well I needed to cut back the alcohol. It took a month or so to get these new patterns right - and THEN I weighed myself. From there I was able to keep a log because I'd already established 'sensible eating'. Since Christmas I've lost 18lbs and not been hungry once!!!!

My stimulus was a conversation between my brothers about how heavy I was - about the same as you. At this rate I will be around my target weight in 6 months but, more importantly, have established a sustainable lifestyle to keep the weight off.

Oh and before you beat yourself up on being a bad girl, I stuffed my face with chocolates & wine last week - and got straight back on programme the day after, happy knowing that it was the first time since Christmas, rather than the first time that week (which is how it used to be).

Enjoy the journey.

Andy