Ello!!!! I'm not exactly sure how to start this...so I'll just spill and hope for the best. I'm 21 and 5'8". I've just recently hit my heaviest weight (260). I'm not sure how I let it happen, but it did. Now it's time for me to take control. My goal is to eventually be 150, but my mini goal is to hit 230 by July 30th. If you have any advice I would greatly appreciate it, and if you would like to join me in my quest that would be great too!

welcome!! i am a quasi-lurker but this summer i plan to switch gears and make losing weight a top priority welcome !!

Hi and ! These boards are a great place to get the encouragement you need.

As far as advice..... everyone has to find their own "thing". Some calorie count, some join groups such as weight watchers, there's south beach, others just work on cutting portions and adding exercise. What are you thinking of doing?

I guess the best advice I could give you would be to take things one step at a time. Every time I tried to lose weight before, I would jump in with both feet. I would cut out all my favorite foods, start exercising really hard and would burn out and give up.

This time I decided to go slowly and it worked! I started out by trying to cut some fat and calories from my cooking. Then added in more vegies and fruit and started watching portions. After some time, I started walking. I challenged myself to walk to the park, do 1 lap around and then walk home. It was only about 1 1/4 miles and I only started with 3 days a week. After I started seeing results it really spurred me on to keep adding in new challenges for myself.

It's taken me over a year to lose 85 pounds but I feel like I really have a handle on it now. The biggest surprise for me was that I found that I love to exercise now! I actually get grouchy when I can't get my workout in and I now workout for 1 1/2 hours 5-6 days a week! Believe me, it didn't happen overnight. It was a gradual build-up.

Try to figure out what little things you can start doing. Make them things that you can live with. You need to think of this as a lifestyle change rather than just a quick fix. If you bite too much off all at once it can be way too overwhelming!

Good luck with your quest! Read around the threads and join in where you feel comfortable.

You can do this!!!!!!

Well, in the past I've always calorie counted & exercised alot, but I"ve always done the unhealthy thing. I don't want to just lose weight I want to become healthy in the process. Overall, I want it to be a lifestyle change. I still plan on calorie counting but not in such a drastic change. I don't really care how long it takes for the weight to com off. I just want to be a healthier person. While I don't have any health problems, due to my weight, I know that if I keep going with my current status there's bound to be trouble. I, also, plan to start going back to the gym as part of my new lifestyle. I won't cut all the bad things out, but I'll try to get healthier versions of the thing I want. I guess that's a start,

Sounds like a good way to start! Little changes can add up in a big way. Besides, little changes tend to become habits easier than drastic changes. I started out hating to exercise and now love it! I just had to start slowly and not overwhelm myself and now I can't imagine NOT exercising!

Keep that attitude about being healthy and just take one step at a time. Good luck!