I only tried to lose weight once before this time. Last time I wasn't very serious about it and didn't stick it out too long, maybe a month or so and lost about ten pounds.

This time it's for life.

I've lost count of how many times I've tried to lose weight before now. One time I got 15 pounds off in about a month...I pretty well starved myself and exercised hard. Gained all that back. I also lost about 30 pounds about 6 years ago, gained all that back as well. I would maybe lose 10 pounds here and there, and gain it all back until I reached my highest weight of 290. This time around I didn't starve myself, allowed myself chocolate and other treats once in awhile, and made sure I got a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise a day. I eat more vegetables and fruit, and changed some of my habits (e.g. when I'm watching t.v. in the evening, I can get absorbed in the show, but when a commercial comes on, is when I use to get up and get something to eat. Now, I watch my show, but have a magazine or book open that I read during commercials so I'm not sticking my nose in the fridge).

I have times when I stuff my face and eat too much, but I figure, I may have fallen off the horse, but I can always get back on. Don't get discouraged...you can definitely do this!

I'm really not sure how many times I tried as a teenager. Many times I would start off the day by eating a boiled egg and toast and drinking tomato juice. I would drink bouillon for lunch with canned green beans and then by dinner I would have quit my diet.

I tried WW once in college and once as a newlywed. After my children were born, I really only remember two attempts to lose weight. So if I estimate 10 times as a teenager, the total would be around 14.

The difference is that this time I didn't set off on a diet. This time I decided I am going to live my life in a healthier fashion, which then led to weight loss.

I also think age has a lot to do with it for me. When I was younger and needed to lose 50 lbs, I would think 2 lbs a week - that could take me 25 weeks (otherwise known as FOREVER) - no way could I do this for 25 weeks. Time flies by now and the three years since I started this seems like just yesterday.

I agree that time flies...when i was dieting, I did amazingly well from April to August 2007, and it didnt take long at all to get there, its looking toward that date when you begin haha

I'd say that I've failed at "diets" about 2 times in my life. I went on these diets simply to lose weight - the biggest weight loss of 20 pounds or so coming from being in a competition while at work.

The difference for me now is that I'm not on a "diet." I've made the conscious decision to make a lifestyle change. I know that my weight stems mostly from lack of self-control - especially binge sessions with my two secret lovers (chips and pasta) lol.

I know that if I work to change my bad habits of poor food choices and lack of exercise, the weight loss will follow. I know I'll encounter bumpy roads and will make a few detours, but my direction will not change.

Best of luck to you as you find you way!

Right now my problems are

1. I dont like walking alone, I had a neighbor walking with me, but she bailed and I just couldnt get myself motivated to go alone. I dont have an ipod or MP3 player or anything so that isnt appealing to me. Yesterday and today however, I did go walking by myself, and then came back home and did a workout from the tv "on demand"

2. I live with my parents, and I dont work..so I am a slave to what is in the house to eat, and its not always easy for me to find something to eat, when nobody else is doing the healthy eating that I am...

3. I feel at a disadvantage because I dont have a treadmill or weight, and I cant afford a gym membership..Im just hoping the poor peoples workout is as good as these "machines" haha

In answer to your latest post, makinthechange:

1. I walk alone (tried walking with the dog once - no, she has the focus of a fly, and 90+ lbs of drag is a drag!), and what does help me is having the music. If you can even get a walkman - having tunes helps set and keep the pace.

2. If nothing else, keeping a log or diary of your intake of the foods you have access to will assist immensely. I use Fitday, and it is a huge help. Can you talk to your Mom about adding more fresh fruits/veggies (even frozen) to her shopping list? Offering to help cook (terrific cookbooks at the library and great recipes online) might help, too - this way you have some control over the occasional meal.

3. I, too, have no $$ for gym membership or equipment - I walk with a walking staff (had some issues with a dog on my route, so carry it just in case), and use it to do arm lifts and stretches while walking. I've increased my distance and cut my times in the last 2 months, and although I won't be entering any races anytime soon, I am tickled with my progress. I also try to increase my movement just in day-to-day chores and situations - getting out in the garden more, parking a bit further away, even putting away clothes in the closet one at a time, walking across the room for each piece. Yeah, it'll take more time - but, hey, so would going to a gym daily.

As far as your original post, yeah, I did the tried and failed approach many times. Good Lord willing, this life-change will be the end to the failures.

Good luck! Keep in touch through 3FC - we're here!

I believe libraries have exercise DVD/VHS to rent for free! Try that!

Some of the sports channels here air exercise shows every morning, and that's probably the same where you live. Why not record those shows and follow them, or follow them as they air? I live in the North, where temps can get down to around -50 degrees celsius (with windchill) in the Winter and I am not one of those die-hard exercisers who's out walking every day when it's that cold. Exercise videos got me through the winter. Plus, I work out on an exercise bike I got at a yard sale for $5...it's not fancy and it's not new but it does the trick. I also have inexpensive workout gear I got from department stores like Wal-Mart, such as resistance bands, a step-stool for step exercises, and a Bally punching bag. I added to my collection one piece at a time so it wasn't all one big expense.

Good luck!

i started dieting in the end of june and since then i find myself "cheating" all the time. i would say at least twice a week. There are those days where I just go and grab anything I can find to eat. I justify myself by saying that I've lose some pounds already so I can. Don't get discouraged by it, what I do is just go back to healthy me the next day or the evening of and so far i know it's putting my body in a shock but I haven't gained any pounds that I have eaten up. Good luck and keep on going!

I progressively lost weight throughout middle and high school. During my junior year of college, I got down to a very small size and was pretty small, busting my butt at the gym 6 times a week. I didn't even realize that I wasn't eating much until someone pointed it out to me.

I gained some weight back, so I was at a more normal weight for my body, then years later, got pregnant. That really got me screwed up, and I gained quite a bit. Now I'm taking it off, and I'm aiming for a little higher than my college weight. I'm already fitting into the same size I wore pre pregnancy, high school, etc.

So, I guess I could say I failed once, when I got pregnant, although I hardly consider that a failure. I will try to keep my weight in check next time I get pregnant.

You lost 30 pounds already, that's GREAT! I don't personally think that could be considered a failure in any way.

For me, getting started was the hardest part of my weight loss. Once I got started and decided to fully commit myself with an intense amount of passion and dedication, I never went back.

HOWEVER:
In the summer of 2006, I made my first weight loss attempt. My girlfriend's brother said he lost 30 pounds by eating whatever he wanted and running every day. I ran every day for around two weeks and hated every minute of it. I felt every ounce of my fat jiggling and since I was running on the sidewalk, the cars passing by often yelled crude remarks like "HEY FATTY!" which discouraged me.

I started running every few days during the subsequent weeks, followed by once a month, followed by never.

After being discouraged with running, I decided dieting might be a better way to go. My neighbor lost 20 pounds on her self-proclaimed salad diet. The only rule is that every meal had to be a salad; she made ham salads, chicken salads, pepperoni and cheese salads, egg salads, you name it, she made it! I tried this salad diet for a little over a week, got tired of eating salads, and gave up.

Have you considered getting a job? Even if it's mowing lawns, that will give you exercise plus extra cash to buy your own groceries and tunes. I was mowing and babysitting by the time I was 14, (as well as on a diet) and I bought my own food. The lady I baby sat for was always thrilled when I babysat because unlike others, I was always on a diet and didn't raid the pantry. LOL

There are TONS of jobs that keep you active, in college I waited tables in a nice bar/grill. I made great tips, and kept thin.

I been failing since I was twelve and I am now twenty. So I thats like most of my life. This time however I am commited to a change, and I still eat what I usually eat just a lot less and also I am sign-up to a gym membership with my aunt I lost 14 pounds so far. I account my failing I guess to lack of motivation, a boat load of people living cramed up in one house, and now that the bulk of the people have moved out my sister who is the biggest downer around.
I also live with my family and have no job, but since my aunt is diabetic and my mother has cardio problems there is no bad food around. Like someone else suggested get a job, I lost a lot of weight that way. Walk with some music, I don't have an mp3 player so I use a CD player they can't be more the 20 dollars. You lost 30 pounds so thats a great accomplishment, you just have to keep going. I know is no fun walking by yourself cause you feel lonely if you don't like music I seen some people walk with their cellphones chatting with people. Good luck!

haha of course Ive tried getting a job, I didnt just resign myself to not having one.

well I didnt want to get into my personal life, but Im 25, so Im not in the lawn mowing, babysitting age..I realize I could do these things, but i AM looking for work, I am not a freeloader, I clean our house, cook dinner, keep up the laundry, watch my niece and nephew while everyone else is at work..so I am around here for something haha finding work is not easy right now, and Im doing the best I can..

There may be tons of jobs, but Ive applied everywhere and nobody wants me..Im hoping that I can find a job soon...but I say that everyday, and so far no luck...I am trying to find work, and Im NOT a freeloader, I pull my weight in other ways.

being out of work is pretty much the hardest thing that Ive been through, and I know the stress of it isnt helpful to my mindset to stick to dieting...so I just keep having to tell myself that it happens, and it doesnt mean anything about the my character or the kind of person that I am.

sorry haha touchy.