Today is July 16, 2009. I have been doing a lot of thinking recently about the various ways that I am not taking care of myself. My weight is up to 330 pounds. I drink, on average, no water and about one 2-liter bottle of Big Red a day. I eat junk food, snack between meals and eat mostly highly processed, high fat, high carb sugary foods. I smoke 10-20 cigarettes per day.

My health issues are as follows:

- urinary incontinence
- sleep apnea
- asthma
- chronic cough
- arthritis in the back and hips
- sore joints, especially the knees

I have been taking prescription codeine for about 3 years now for the arthritis, and I now find myself on the verge of abusing it instead of just using it. I am so out of shape that to just get up, get undressed and take a shower makes me tired. I am depressed, have no sex drive, have no sense of humor anymore and am not being a good wife to my husband or a good mom to my kids.

I don’t know where to start at this point. I am lost. I want to help myself but I don’t even know where to begin. Everything seems completely overwhelming to me at this point. Just the thought of cutting down or stopping any of my vices is terrifying to me and I know that means I have a big problem, but when it comes to finding a solution I’m at a loss!

just know that we are here for you. you can do this, and acknowledgement is a very important step. i cant wait to read about your success-welcome

LIke you haven't heard it before....lose weight and quit smoking, but only tackle one thing at a time. Go for weight first. The healthier you get the more you will want to quit smoking. HUGS

The simplest answer is that if you don't cut down or stop any of your vices, nothing will change. Obviously you want a change. So commit this week to making one change. Probably the easiest is to not drink the soda. Assuming the calorie count I found online is correct, you're taking in about 900 calories a day in soda. If you change nothing else, and drink water instead, you could lose more than a pound a week just doing that. And depending on how much it costs... save money at the same time.

It doesn't have to be the soda, but it does have to be something. The good news is that it can be done, and it doesn't have to be major changes all at once. Little changes here and there can add up quickly. I can't speak to some of your aches and pains, however, at my top weight I had lots of knee problems. They lessened and recently I realized (after twisting it) that I haven't had knee problems in a long time.

So welcome, and best of luck making those small changes.

Thanks, I needed a boost! I will probably be on here whining and moaning frequently about how hard it will be but I promise to try and not be a big downer...aren't fat people supposed to be jolly? LOL

My goal for the rest of today is to give myself an emotional break and stop beating myself up. I'm going to start cutting back on soda and substitute it with water starting tomorrow. Baby steps...

I was at 330 pounds when I started my journey (for the final time). To date, I have lost 133 pounds and still chugging along. I was also a 2 pack a day dedicated smoker for 2 years. I have been smoke free for 9 months. It is about making changes over time. Just breathe, love yourself, believe in yourself and make the commitment to change your life for the better. You can do this and we are here for you

Hi Angie.

I could have signed my name to your post 17 months ago. The only difference is I also drank alcohol like a fish, and because of my excessive drinking I was puffed up like a toad 24/7. I quit smoking, drinking and eating crap all within a few weeks of each other. I want you to know that there is hope and that you are not alone.

Where to begin...hummm, well without getting all religious on you, I would suggest getting on your knees and praying like you have never prayed before. If you are not spiritual, then meditate, or reflect, or whatever it is that non-spiritual people do to clear their thoughts and minds. The next step would be to clear your house of all the crap, this would include junk food and any other clutter that makes you depressed. Not only will this be a good project to keep your thoughts from food, it is good exercise and when done it is a great accomplishment. Next...well, keep praying and keep moving, and get your butt to the store and only buy nutritious food. Most of all make a plan. Do you have a plan? Losing weight can be totally free and actually fun. I will help you in any way that I can. Don't give up. We are all here to support you.

"drink, on average, no water and about one 2-liter bottle of Big Red a day"

You know I hate to say this is a good thing, but by just cutting this one habit alone you're bound to lose weight. That is A LOT of calories in soda and while not "easy" to quit it's going to make a big difference. Not only will the lack of those calories help, but having constant sugar intake like that is likely spurring on any other over eating you're doing. Sugar can do that to us.

If you start with small changes... one habit at a time... It won't be so overwhelming.

Welcome!

If Big Red is going to be what you tackle at first, going to water might not do it for you. I suggest flavoring your water. I got my kids off soda by making them fruity flavored iced tea with stevia for added sweetness. My boys like Celestial Seasonings Raspberry iced tea, which is fruity and just a little tangy. They also like Good Earth Original Sweet and Spicy Tea, which has a good cinnamon spice flavor.

Another thing I did to wean the boys off sodas is switch them to juice greatly diluted with sodium-free seltzer water. I mean really diluted, because juice still has sugar and calories. I let them drink that a couple times a day for awhile, with the fruity iced tea, and water. Now they drink mostly water, although my 17-year-old son still prefers a squeeze of lemon and half a packet of stevia in his water.

The boys still don't drink enough water, but I make them eat soups, plenty of veggies and watermelon during the summer. There are other foods that incorporate water into the diet, like dried beans, brown rice and whole wheat pasta. I am such a sneaky mother!

Make just one change at a time, set a small, manageable goal for yourself (like just to lose 5 lbs.), and with each success you'll find momentum building. And you really are going to feel so much better! I started my journey to wellness at 353 lbs. It's taken me longer than some, but I'm really confident that I'm going to break past 300 lbs. soon. And all the weight I've lost is just from making changes which created a calorie deficit.

We're all here to help, and we want to know how you're doing, so don't be afraid to check in as often as you need, ask questions, share your frustrations and moments of success (which I believe you'll have).

We're all in the same boat here, and surprisingly for all the people that need help on this boat, the S.S. Support is extremely buoyant!

Georgia

Quite frankly, I would recommend seeking professional help based on the information you have disclosed. I think some counseling would help scaffold the changes you are looking to make.

I want to welcome you! Whatever path you choose you can find the support you need her. I was thrown into a need to lose weight for health reasons. I am taking it one day at a time. Choose something to tackle and as you get some sucess under your belt, it will get easier to tackle the next thing. I tackled soda first- just like you I drank nothing but soda all day- I needed the caffiene to stay away- not aware it was something causing me to be so tired. Anyhow I switched to diet soda, doesn't taste as good so it was easy to cut it back from there. I got to my high weight(296) by making a lot of bad choices everyday, better choices everyday will improve you health overall and give you the strength to keep pressing forward.

You can make the changes that are good for you. Just begin with one thing. Everyone here will cheer you on!!

First go talk to your doctor. If you feel you can't then find another doctor who you feel comfortable enough to talk to. It's really important to have a supportive team of people around you... personal and professional.

You've taken a huge step already by coming here !! Give yourself credit for that !!

Keep us up to date and vent all you like... it's what we're here for. Well, that and because all of us beautiful people belong in the same place.

I agree with everyone about the soda. When I started I was horribly out of shape..I started with walking outside at a local park. At first I could only do one lap which is the same size as a track so 1/4 mile. and I felt like I was going to die by the time I was done. Even though I didn't walk far or walk long I was losing weight. Every week I would try to add another lap. You dont have to start big, You can start small and still see changes
I would definitely try to kick soda and then just walk in the evenings when its cooler outside, and remember you don't have to go far...it will get easier I promise!

Hi there & Welcome!

I'm fairly new to the forum as well but wanted to offer my support. I could write those very words myself, except scratch Big Red insert Mountain Dew. I've been making teeny tiny changes and sticking to them for the past 14 days and have lost 8 lbs already! It's a miracle what happens when you just start paying attention and being conscious about your choices.

You can do this!! Always here to offer some support!

Your not alone and thank you for posting what you did as it always helps me to see I am not alone either. Others here are very similar to me in their weight struggles and physical issues.

I am hoping that this is the board for you and me to be on as support is greatly needed to accomplish all that we have to do.

Did you join the summer +300 challenge? I just started Sunday so I too am a newbie and hope you will join in the challenge.