So why aren't you going to the gym until you lose 20 pounds? That's kind of a stupid thought if you ask me.

Do you ever think the possibility of you freaking out and eating all that while you think about it is because you are self sabotaging yourself? Trust me I know where you're at when I over think about my "life style" change (and I put life style change in quotations because in reality is we as people continue to think this is JUST a diet when it's not. Hence why we're all yo-yoing because we have clued in yet that we CAN'T go back to our old eating habits one we get to the goal we want.) I freak out because I SELF SABOTAGE myself to get to my goal, so I go eat a chocolate bar or 500 over my calorie limit because in the end I FEAR the unknown change of what if I lose the weight I've been wanting to lose to and keep it off and learn to accept and love myself.

Just remember you're the only one sabotaging yourself, it's not just about changing your eating habits it's about changing your mentality to go along with it. So next time you decide to drink three diet cokes (which by the way are just as bad as regular pop) two snicker bars or whatever stop yourself and ask yourself why you feel the need to sabotage yourself?

Good luck you can do this AGAIN, you've done it before!

Exercise is good but diet and exercise, together , will be more successful.

ihavethemusicinme, yes you can lose 30 pounds by cutting calories. There are many who have never exercised even one minute and have lost significant amounts of weight.

You don't have to go to a gym. Go walking. Give your house a good cleaning, pass out food at a food pantry, rake leaves. There are so many ways to get in GOOD activity.

First thing you need to do is get a hold of yourself. You will never succeed if you don't commit. You can say no to the "diet" soda's, you can say no to the junk food. If you're hungry, you're not eating right. If you're eating because you are frustrated, go walk instead. It's healthier, costs nothing, and just as effective. More so because you don't feel guilty when you're done. You have to redirect yourself to do the right thing for you.

When I go to the gym, I'm there to get my workout in. I've never looked at anyone with anything critical on my mind. The people that are there I respect for getting off the damn couch and getting it done. Besides there are always a TON of new people there at the beginning of the year. And they are just as out of shape and overweight as you are.

Do you think eating like you are is getting you closer to your goal? Do you have a goal? Do you understand what it will take to reach that goal. 100 pounds does not slough off of you while you sleep. It will take work, dedication, and patience. Time to learn some of that if you want to be successful.

see, i'm the opposite - I can't get motivated to work out at home w/ DVDs because to me its boring & besides, I don't know if I'm doing it right. I tried the Zumba DVDs and they were good for a while, but then my DD lost them lol. When I go to a gym, even though no one is really paying attention to me, I feel the need to push myself harder - like I have to prove that I can work out just as hard as they are...especially on a treadmill or elliptical - it's like I'm racing the skinny chicks lol.

I really hope you figure out what works best for you!

Been there/am there! I was 200 in early high school. Left high school 125. Now, a few years later and I'm 205.

In addition to exercising at home (as many have already brilliantly suggested), trying hitting up a a local park. It's free, and I use it as an excuse to take my dogs out too. I hate hitting the gym because of the xyz reasons you stated so it's my alternative.

Hi callycal

Just the same here. 5 years, my weight has been going up and down. With height 5'2" and weight 250 lbs, my BMI was just too high. One of the years, when I got the courage to join the gym, the trainer laughed and said that my BMI number was no even on his colorful BMI chart.

I have made a list of few -new- things I tried last year to lose weight when I was in the same situation as you. Please note these will not "always" work. If they work 80% of the times, you may be able to balance your EQ, stabilize your moods and weight will come off.

1. Instead of paying at the gym, I invested in a Schwinn recumbent bike. I try to do it while watching TV twice-thrice a week.
2. I started C25K as a challenge, I just do it around my house. No gym needed.
3. For me, portion control is harder than completely excluding so-called-bad-foods. So if I indulge over the weekend, which I did btw, I try to exclude carbs/sugar from my diet for 3 days. Not a healthy thing to do long term, just to jumpstart your willpower.
4. I have joined a few websites for their e-newsletters. Every morning when I read about health, I am less inclined to overindulge.
5. I stock my fridge with advance-prepared and pre-packaged food. I overeat them rather than overeating so-called-bad-foods.
6. I kept a journal. Not about food or exercise, but about how I felt. I kept writing until my fingers hurt sometimes. And then my mind was a little clearer.

Hope that helps