Great question amyllf2. And, thanks everyone for the honest share.

I'm here after SO MANY failed attempts at losing weight and keeping it off. I have about 45lbs to lose and in the past, the road was so long and windy with so many dead ends. I never reached my goal and just got deeper and deeper into depression and I turned to food for comfort.. as if to fill a void that needed to be filled and, the more frustrated I would get by my failed efforts, the more I would eat. People say, "you don't look like you have much to lose" BUT, they are not walking in my shoes and waking up in this body. Before IP, I felt groggy and lethargic all of the time, depressed and unmotivated and I would sabotage my own efforts every time I lost a little, it's as if I didn't want to allow myself to lose the weight for fear of not fulfilling my weight loss goal(s). SO, I had a lot of self talk and wasn't until recently that I vowed to keep myself in check. I want this SO BAD and I am so committed. Nothing feels better than accomplishing such goals once you set your mind to it. We owe it to ourselves to BE HEALTHY and live a happy life. Thank you!

Joined 8/22
 

Hi, I also joined in August -- 8/22. I work in a hospital (I'm in the admin dept, not clinical) and several doctors, nurses, and others went on IP last November and I watched them melt before my eyes. One of the men has lost 100 lbs, and he told me his wife has gone from a size 24 to an 8.

I thought it was too expensive/restrictive for me. But then I went to a couple all-day music festivals and realized how much more fun I'd have if I wasn't carrying around all this weight. My hips, knees, and feet were killing me, I was sweating buckets, and I just felt FAT.

I didn't become truly obese until I was about 35. I lost my husband to cancer when I was 34 and I ate my way through the pain of loss and have come to use the fat as a protective shield. I've done WW, Atkins, and even had lap band surgery in 2006. The band worked great for about 40 lbs, then I started having difficulties with food getting "stuck" and I still deal with that today. I've had all the fluid removed from the band and look at it as a very expensive lesson that there is no "magic bullet" to loose the weight.

So now I'm 51 and I am determined this is going to work! I am looking it is as something like chemo -- I have no choice in the matter. I HAVE to do it by the book! I set my goal kind of high -- 175 (I'm 5'7") but I wanted to be realistic. I haven't been below 200 in at least 15 years, and I'd rather get to that mark and then re-evaluate than set it lower.

So anyway -- that's my story!

Great question for the forum and really diverse and interesting and heartfelt answers!

Amyllf2: I'm sorry for your health problems and so proud of you for taking action to do something about it! I have a few obesity-related health problems myself - though not as severe as yours. I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, and exertional asthma. I don't have diabetes (but for the grace of God), but have it in my immediate family. I take 4 medications a day. I figure I have 6 more years before I retire, and I need to do what I can, now, to get healthy and off as many meds as I can.

I love this! :) What a great visual - I like that you've broken it up into meaningful short-term goals like that for yourself!

A hard conversation and a heroic decision you made, clbott. "I can't not try". I love that statement and can feel your commitment in it.

I feel exactly the same way. Leave me to my own devices and ....... well, it's evident what happens! I, too, need a structured program. And like I said before - time to play by someone else's rules. PS - I'm also an RN!

One more reason. With my 60th birthday approaching in April - I realized I want more out of life and yes, I want to find love again! (I divorced 10 yrs ago after a 30 yr marriage). I've been told to go on dating sites, etc, but I knew that I would never be ready to take that step the way I am now - 70 lbs overweight. That is not to say if someone loves you, they will not love you whether you weigh 120 or 220 - but for me, I know I won't be comfortable putting myself out there the way I feel about myself now. So, here I am! Determined to drop the weight and be the best me I can be by the time I reach 60! The icing on top would be to find a special someone along the way! :)

Just had my week two weigh in and lost another 4 pounds for a total of 10 pounds in two weeks! I also lost 4" off my waist measurement!!!! SO glad I have finally found a diet that works for me!:carrot:

As far as what led me here.....years of yo-yo diets where the weight came off and on and kept increasing. I have three sisters and a brother and all are very slender. There is no excuse except my bad eating habits and lack of exercise! Ready to make a life change and SO glad to have found this forum. I am inspired by all of you daily!!!

It is so nice hearing everyone's stories and the reasons that brought us all together. I really look forward to us supporting each other and being there for each other and cheering on everyone's losses :)

I can sure identify with that KareVT! I am hopeful now - something I haven't felt in a long while.

I'm sorry for your loss Rockabillygirl. You've made it through dark times and have come out the other side and I'm so happy that you are doing this for yourself!

I'm not a spring-chicken like you :) and haven't had a date with anyone other than my (ex) husband since freshman year in high school (sad, but true!), but I'm ready to go for it now! Well......almost ready! And that's why I'm here! :)

I loce the stories, thank you for sharing! So much progress for us Augutst to starters! I am in awe and inspired by you! Today I wnet shopping "just to play dress up." I have been a size 16/18 for a long time, and today I fit in a size 12 party dress and was so excited! Nw I just need a party to go to! I am feeling great, and people are starting to notice, so that's oretty awesome. Looking forward to so many great things, and sharing our victories!

slownsteady I am so happy for you! Glad to hear that you too are kinder and gentler to yourself - we are our own worst enemy (as they say) and we need to vow to ditch the negative talk and start the positive self talk. Deal? That goes for everyone reading this - we deserve it :))))

Deal! :)

Now your talkin' @slownsteady! Hope everyone else agrees: Be kinder and gentler to ourselves on this journey and we shall reap the rewards - Woohoo!

I got pregnant in June after 3 years of trying however the baby never developed and we lost it at 6 weeks. This was the push to lose weight and get my body healthily again. I have arthritis at 33 years old in my hips, knees and back. It's absolutely un acceptable! A older coworker (she's 60) has lost 45 lbs on IP and I figured if she can do it so can I!

I'm glad we're all here and I'm glad we can support each other!:D

you sound just like me, all the way down to the lap band! I wish you all the success in the world. Let's do this together, girl! I am looking forward to reading about your success! :carrot:

You can ABSOLUTELY do it! We are all pulling for you! I am sorry to hear about your baby, but I am glad you have turned that bad experience into something positive like getting healthy!

Thank you, I am happy to know that I can get pregnant. I had my daughter at 16 and was on birth control for almost 14 years straight. My ob gyn told me that could really screw up the works.

I got married last February and slowly gained weight being a comfy newlywed, lol. My turning point came a few weeks ago when I knew I needed to clean my house but had absolutely NO ENERGY to do so. My husband and I were seeing a nutritionist and he lost 25lbs and I lost 6!!! I felt that what I was eating was maintaining my weight, not helping me loose it. Long story short, I needed something easy and structured and that worked!!

We're going to meet the rest of hubby's family in October and I want to look good and feel better. Plus I booked our second anniversary trip to Jamaica and, darn it, I am going to wear a bikini!!!!!!