Hey all,
I don't know if my first post got put on SO I'm writing a new one. I'm Candace,23 years old and Female from NH. I have been struggling with weight my whole life. Currantly,I look after a ill Family member,so I can't really leave for hours at a time to go excersize,it's a 24 hour job. I'm ill right now to,stomach virus. I am now {minus the PMS Bloating},at 224. This is the biggest Ive ever been and Im SO mad at myself. How do you Ladies like who you are {self esteem and self love are a big struggle for me aswell},for now,during the weight loss,etc. I need some support on here. I am going on a diet starting today,how do you ladies push yourselves to get motivated to work out?
Get back to me,I can't wait to meet all of you!
-Candace x

Hi candace and Welcome!!! I understand waht you are going through because i am currently doing the same and it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. As far as motivation i always look to myself and no one else. I dont like what i see in the mirror when i really stare. I have a pair or jeans that i want to fit in again that are laying out on my dresser every day as a reminder. Also in the future i want to be healthy for my husband and kids and not fat and unhealthy. I want to be able to play with them. Try going over to the goal photo album here sometimes that helps as well to see how far people have come and to see that it is possible

Hi Candace &

I have to say that I started liking myself more as I started losing weight. Not because I was losing weight, but rather... I started losing weight because I started liking myself more. Does that make sense? I realized that I deserve to take care of myself. That includes eating healthier & exercising. My body is a glorious machine, and I should take full advantage of it.

Diets, working out, & motivation:

I'm not on a diet. I've changed how I'm going to eat forever. This is my new normal. When I get down to my goal weight I will not go back to my old habits.

Working out is a habit that must be built up. I started with 10 minutes walks. But I took them consistently. It is more important to continue to follow a good habit than to have it be a huge amount of time. It is better to take one 5 minute walk every day than to take one 30 minute walk & quit. Only when we have the habit built-in do we build up to 10 minutes.

Motivation: Forget it. Motivation is an emotion, and we cannot always help how we feel. For example, I will NEVER be motivated to pay my bills. I do it, because I have to. I have to say I feel better when I pay my bills, relieved. As I feel better about eating healthier & moving more.

What's your plan of action? Let us know. We'd love to support you!

You may want to stop in at the 20-somethings to meet up with chicks your own age.

You can do this!