Need a Plan!
 

Kim,

What works for me is not limiting myself to any one food group--for example low carb diets, etc. Nothing is off limits, I just have a serving size and move on. As far as fast food, that was never really a problem for me, because I'm not a huge fan of it, so I would say maybe instead of cutting it out all together at first, take it down to maybe once a week, then once a month, that way it is not having a huge effect on your diet if its something you feel like you need to have to feel satisfied. For me, I think its more of a mental thing, if I think I can't have something, I will want it even more. But If you tell yourself, " if I go for one week without binging, I will allow myself to have a small serving of fast food", maybe that will work for you? I wouldn't normally recommend using food as a reward, but once a week to eventually once a month could be just enough motivation to get you eating healthy the rest of the time. Over time, maybe you would be more satisfied with a new outfit at the end of the month, rather than the fast food.

For me the South Beach Diet worked wonders after both my children were born. Even though I am a vegetarian I managed to do the diet a couple of months and lost all the weight.
I do it every time I gain weight and it works.
However, the last couple of months I have been fighting with the same 10lbs and nothing has worked. I just got the Fat Smashers diet last week and started the diet and love it.Its super simple and has worked for people I know. Maybe this will shock my system!
As far as exercise goes well, with three children it will be hard. I have two and never have anyone to babysit for me so everything I do has to include them. I have a treadmill at home or take the kids for a walk in their stroller.

You just have to take a deep breath in and look at different options. Don't look back and try to stay positive.

What works for me is calorie counting, plus walking on the treadmill. Fast food really doesn't do it for me either, but throw a candy bar at me and that's a different story! Seriously, though if I am DYING to have a candy bar, and it's that or giving up completely, I will have the candy bar. I've just found that after I've eaten it, it wasn't as good as I was imagining it would be and didn't last nearly as long as I would've wanted. If I can think reasonably (not listening to the loud voices telling me to eat it), I can usually think it through to the end and decide I really don't want it, it wasn't worth it last time, and it won't be this time. Also if you try to think about it from the point of view that you are CHOOSING not to eat it, then it won't feel like you're being punished. It's always going to be there when you want to eat it, it's not going away, just take a breath, think it through, decide if it's worth it. You are in control, not the food. =) Lots of luck to you with this. I know it's so hard.

Thanks guys for the advice! I really appreciate all the good tips. It is really important to me that I get a handle on this. I am tired of living this way and I dont want to have any more complications because of my weight. Thanks again!