I started at 39 years old, 200 lbs overweight. Now I'm 40 years old and only 39-ish lbs overweight. There's no such thing as too far gone. Choose a plan you can live with FOREVER, follow it RELIGIOUSLY, and the weight WILL COME OFF. Commit, do it. Start right now, not "tomorrow." Put one foot in front of the other. Commit to making the best choices you can EVERY DAY, then make them. Follow through. Then, a year from now...look out world.

I'm sorry you're feeling so overwhelmed. I've had a hard time tackling this thing head on myself this time around, so please know that you're not alone.

So much great advice in this thread. I'll echo that breaking the weight you have to lose into smaller, achievable chunks is the way to go. My best friend lost about 80 lbs. several years ago (and kept it off...go her!). I remember her telling me there was no way she could lose 80 lbs, but she could lose 1 lb. 80 times. That always stayed with me, and I'm adopting that philosophy myself this time.

Hang in there. Read and post and know you have a great support system here.

You need to put on your mental blinders to the 150 number and just start doing it. I promise you will feel so much better within a month or two and it just gets better from there, even though your goal is still far away (and mine is far away, but I know I'll get there some day and until then I'm just enjoying the ride). Try to just live your life in the moment and make good choices about what to eat and the scale will take care of itself eventually. In the meantime, you don't have to wait until you reach your goal to reap the benefits of having lost even as little as 5-10% of your starting weight.

I felt the same way (though I was slightly younger at 31/32). Since then I've lost 112 pounds. Still got nearly 50lb to go to goal and even then may decide to lose a little more, haven't decided yet.

Yes 150lb is a lot to lose and a very overwhelming amount to lose but you can do it. I though tI was destined to be 300ish lb forever as while I could lose 30ish lb my weight loss always topped there and I didn't know why, then I would become frustrated and put the weight back on. But no one's destined to stay over weight forever. Break it into smaller goals, that helps a lot. 150lb may be too much to lose but 10lb isn't and you can do that 15 times. THink abotu wwhy you "can't lose" weight then you can deal with those issues. I was a binge eater and I didn't know I was doing it - just wandered into the kitchen whenever I didn't feel OK and ate. Obviously that had to stop.

Weight loss does take a lot of determination and it is a long journey especially with a lot to lose but you can do it. I really didn't believe I could but I am. Look at the success stories and photos here too. I found them motivating and inspirational and a very big help.

You can do this.

Stop the negative thought train. Believe in yourself You can do this! You are so worth it

Everyone has said it wonderfully! You CAN do this and you WILL do this!! ((hugs))

Losing weight is not some crazy, hare-brained, out of this world whacky idea/scheme. It's a doable thing for everyone and anyone - yourself included. I am CERTAIN of it. We ALL have the ability to lose weight.

That being said, I DID feel that way, that it wasn't possible FOR ME, for the longest time. Until I woke up out of the fog and realized, "hey, why NOT me?". I've lost 165 lbs and have kept it off for almost 2 1/2 years now.

I also didn't focus at the big numbers. I focused on changing my eating behaviors. I knew that by doing that, that the weight would HAVE to fall off. I knew that if I stuck with a healthy eating/exercise plan that there was no way that the weight couldn't come off.

But here's the thing - it just won't "happen TO YOU". You have to make it happen. It's up to you. It's your choice. Your decision. Losing weight happens for a reason, just as gaining weight does. You have to be willing to make the changes necessary in order for it TO happen. You need to decide to do this once and for all and permanently. You COMMIT to this, totally and fully. Decide to do this. Commit to do this. And then gather up the tools and the knowledge to get it done. Make a plan, execute the heck out of it, tweaking as need be and put forth the effort and work that is needed. Focus on those good healthy habits and chip away and chip away at those numbers. And before you know it, you will be more then well on your way to that fit, trim, healthy person that you've always longed to be. It is a wonderful journey of self growth, self discovery and self transformation. Get excited about it. Find the joy in this. ASTOUND yourself.

I know for certain, for certain, once you get into this, get past that initial discomfort of "change", you will wonder why in the world you ever doubted yourself and why you didn't do it years earlier. I am SURE of it. You will begin to reap those rewards and benefits waaaaay before you hit your goal.

Oh, and one more thing, take a peek at my signature. I think it's apropos.

me too.

I started when I was in my 40s (losing weight I'd lost before, btw). the weight I've lost so far is not the total amount I need to lose. the difference between 320 and 241 is HUGE, physically and mentally and emotionally. I don't always feel positive I'll get it all off, but I've gotten this far, which is far, and I have no desire to give up.

do keep track in a journal, blog, whatever, of what you look like (pics), the measurements, amounts lost, non-scale victories, habits you change, good choices you make. and if you backslide, come get support and don't beat yourself up.

when I first started, I lost the first week, and gained the second. I felt embarrassed and weak. I'm glad I didn't let that take all the air out of my tires.

I felt that way right before I started this last time....for me the only way I got out of it is just mentally picking myself up by the bootstraps then jumping in.

You can do it girlie!!!

Thank you SO MUCH everyone! You have no idea how much this encouragement means to me.

I know that it's something that I have to do. Something I have to MAKE happen! I've thought a lot about this, and about how overwhelming 150 lbs really is. I've read through a ton of inspirational success stories... and I know now that I have to focus on smaller goals to get there. So that's my next step.

I love it here. You are all such great encouragement and inspiration! Thank you!

I definitely felt this way. I was 43 when I started my weight loss and felt so overwhelmed. I worked on it one pound at a time and rewarded myself with something small for every ten pounds lost.

If I can do this anyone can! Hugs to you.

I just wanted to add that I was so "into" this new life style of mine at one point, that I remember thinking to myself that if I needed to lose 200, 250 lbs or more it wouldn't have mattered.

And another thing - it's not like you're going to get to goal and then turn around and go right back to your old eating habits. This lifestyle is FOREVER. As long as you adhere to those new healthy eating habits, the weight just HAS to come off. All of it. Each and every excess pound (for the most part).

I look forward to hearing of your success!