hi everyone! i'm 24, 5'1'' and ~210-215 lbs. In the past I've tried everything from hydroxycut weight loss pills to the atkins diet to just eating nothing at all... needless to say, although the diets worked a little in the short run, i've regained all the weight i'd lost and then some...

i was hoping that i could get the support and motivation i need to get going, as my current weight loss goal is to get down to 150 lbs. how would you guys suggest i start off, in terms of what to cut out of my diet and how to work out? what keeps you guys going? i'd really appreciate any feedback, and thank you for your time

Welcome! You came to the right place for advice and motivation! Personally I know what it is like to yoyo diet and now for me the best way to look at this is not as a diet but a lifestyle change. So rather than going on a "diet" for a few months just to have it stop and go back to old habits I now realize that I should make this a permanent thing to be healthy. A good place to start is getting into an exercising routine whether you walk, run, swim, go to the gym, whatever just get moving! You will also want to eat healthier which means less high calorie fattening food and more quality food choices. You can learn a bunch of useful information in these forums so just read around and you will get a good idea of what is best for you! Feel free to contact me if you need anything, good luck!

Well, you've come to the right place for support. Almost everyone has been where you've been and felt what you've felt. Although, I would recommend that you try to find a more balanced plan that you can stick with long term; look around, esp at the diet/plan blogs/groups; there are also exercise threads.

My personal motivation is good health; and my plan is portion based; 3 meals + 2 healthy snacks; walking and weights for exercise; works for me! I'm sure you'll find lots of ideas and help from other members. Glad you joined us ~ a fellow encourager ~ Rosebud.

Hi!

Welcome! Rosebud and Melissa have given you great advice! I'd like to add that since you are very close to ONEderland (weighing less than 200 lbs.) that you set your first goal there. There's a whole thread "Chicks Racing to 199 in 2007" in the Support Forum filled with all of us who are claiming that as a goal. It's fun to visit and see how everyone is doing!

www.fitday.com is a great site and is also FREE! You can record your food and exercise there. It helped me to lose a stubborn nine pounds last month by keeping me honest about what I really was putting into my body.

Cheryl

Hi there!

I'm 24 too, and I've tried all the things you mentioned too. Personally, I'm most interested in learning to eat healthier things and healthier portions, but I'm open to suggestions, ya know? I figure it'll probably be a long, slow process, but worth it in the end.

It sounds like we have a lot in common (Thank you again for the sweet welcome post you made in the thread I started too!). It's so nice to meet you!

You've come to a great place for advice, support & encouragement!!

You CAN do this!!!

All the best to you!!

Kim

Thanks for the warm welcome Melissa, it's good to know that if I do have any questions, I can come to you. As of right now, I'm taking your advice and looking around. Looks like there's a lot to say around here :P

Thanks to you also Rosebud, Kim, Jo and Cheryl I am very much determined to make a lifestyle change, as I know a better life is waiting for me and I really just need to love myself enough to reach for it! It's hard breaking free of old habits and I know it's not going to be something that's going to happen in a day, but I'm going to finally do this. This will be my own special gift for myself. And what I'm really looking forward to is to finally shop at stores like bebe and try on the cute clothes they have there, and have them ACTUALLY look better on me than the rack :S

Hi and welcome. You can probably lose weight without changing what you are eating now. Fitday.com is a free site where you can enter all your intake. Learn to measure as you scoop out your helping of whatever you're eating. You'll soon learn more about the nutrient content of your food and then we'll help you make slimmer choices!