I browse this site from time to time, but I am finally ready to start my own weight loss journey today.

My name is Jess, and I am 24 years old. I was diagnoses with lupus as a teenager, and put on prednisone for almost 2 years. The moment they took me off of the steroids, my weight ballooned from 140lbs to 298lbs in what seemed like the blink of an eye. I spent my entire life at a healthy weight, but the past 5 1/2 years I have been morbidly obese -- I am tired of it, and want to get back down to my pre-lupus weight. Not only will it make me healthier and happier, but it will give me back that energy that I miss from when I was thinner.

I'm not doing any sort of program, just healthy eating habits, portion control, exercise, and determination. I am getting my groceries tonight (all bad food has been thrown out of my apartment), and plan on starting tomorrow with my husband (who also suffers with weight problems). It's nice to have my husband along with me on this journey, but I also would love to have the support of the users on these forums, because one thing I know is this is going to be the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life - and I could use all the support I can get.

I keep a picture of myself when I was 140lbs (which is my goal weight) on me at all times. I know I may never have that exact same body, but it's a great motivator for when I feel like a diet might be too much to handle. I am not new to dieting, I have succeeded, and failed numerous times in the past. The difference now is that I REALLY want it.. more than I have ever wanted anything in my entire life. I know this time will be different.


Any tips, helpful comments, past experiences, or encouraging words will be greatly appreciated.

Hello and welcome
We're about the same age (I'm 25) by the way. I've changed my habbits during the last year and try to reach my healthy goal. It sounds like you are on the right track, perhaps you can also add exsersizes to your program. They are not mandatory for weight loss but make it easier and make you more fit.
Ask a professional imo.
Have a good weight loss!

Thank you so much for the tips

exercise is definitely part of the plan, but sadly I have to put it on the backburner for a while. I just recently came out of a very long, very serious lupus flare, so I have to take it easy on my body to not start up another flare :/

hopefully within the next few months I will be up and around, and ready to exercise

I don't know much about lupus in general, but perhaps there are special excersizes that won't cause you flares?
Don't forget it doesn't have to be weights and running. It can simply be doing more housework, or going more often on walks.
I wish you a good recovery.
If you feel like quitting or are very hungry and at the end of your calories, instead of getting a snack come here and vent with a rant post.

The hardest part for me was to find things to do INSTEAD of eating or planning what to eat all the time. But thankfully it has been the funnest (funniest?) part also.

Things that I came up with: posting on forums like this one, watching documentaries on stuff that interests me, going on walks alone and think about my future and past, spending more intimate time with my boyfriend, starting my own amateur comic... and I'm still finding new stuff

If you're at a loss what to do instead of eating you can share some of your interests and perhaps people can give ideas.

It is important to find other ways to be happy/content I think

My husband and I are also starting our diet and we have about the same weight to lose. I read this recently and it was very helpful to us. I hope it helps you.

Because...

1. IT'S BORING!
Because being careful all the time takes all the fun out of life, right?

2. IT'S A PAIN!
Because going without our favorite foods is a pain in the butt, right?

3. IT MEANS STARVATION!
Because eating tiny portions is starvation, right?

4. IT'S SO INCONVENIENT!
We can't eat out, we can't drink, and we feel like a leper, right?

I bet you agree with one of these statements. Maybe all....

OK NOW BE HONEST.....

You won't lose weight if you're not honest with yourself. Trust me.
So let's start being honest. Let's start opening our eyes to the truth.
It may be painful, so feel free to grit your teeth and growl.

THE TRUTH

1. DIETING IS LOT LESS BORING THAN BEING FAT

Yes, starting a diet means changing your eating habits.
And this can be uncomfortable - even 'boring'.

But...

It's a lot more fun than carrying extra weight around all day.
It's a lot more fun than having fat thighs.
It's a lot more fun than wearing extra large elasticated pants.

2. DIETING IS LESS PAINFUL THAN HAVING A FAT FIGURE

You don't need me to remind you how painful it can be, to be fat.
People laugh. People snigger. People ignore you.

Is dieting worse than this?
Hardly.

And remember, your favorite fatty foods are the CAUSE of the problem.
Not the solution.

3. DIETING IS NOT STARVATION!

Dieting does NOT mean eating less.
It means eating differently.

One 5 ounce bagel or Danish can be more fattening than two massive
sandwiches packed with lean meat and salad.

Dieting has nothing to do with tiny portions, or hunger. Trust me.
It simply means moving away from high-calorie, high-fat junk food
and eating lots of less fattening food, instead.

4. COMPARED TO BEING FAT, DIETING IS ULTRA-CONVENIENT

Is it convenient to search 100 shops for something that fits?
Is it convenient to go to the clinic with a weight related problem?
Is it convenient to feel totally exhausted at the end of the day?
Is it convenient to have indigestion after a high-fat meal?
Is it convenient to feel self-conscious about your figure?
Is it convenient to be unable to show off your body?*
Is it convenient to feel bad about yourself?

You tell me.

Can you eat out, when dieting?
Of course you can. As long as you're careful.

Can you enjoy a few drinks when dieting?
Of course you can. Just don't overdo it.

An occasional meal out or a few drinks at the weekend never made anyone fat! It's our regular daily habits that make us fat.

REALITY CHECK

Being fat is not a sin or a curse or a criminal offence.
It is usually simply a consequence of careless eating and lifestyle.

Trouble is, after we've been fat for a while it's easy to delude ourselves that dieting doesn't work.

But this is nonsense.

Unless you have a medical condition that prevents you from losing weight, a sensible diet will ALWAYS help you to get slim.

A DIET IS A PASSPORT TO A NEW LIFE

Being slim is no guarantee of a happy life.
But it sure beats the **** out of being fat.

This is what one of my dieters told me after she slimmed down from
322 pounds to 168 pounds.

She still had a useless husband.
She still had money worries, mother-in-law worries and job-worries.

But SHE FELT WONDERFUL. Why?

Because she had a thousand per cent more confidence.
Because she had a thousand per cent more energy.
Result? All of her problems seemed smaller and more manageable.

THE MORAL?

Don't be negative about dieting.
It's not the problem you think it is.
It's actually the solution.

@ Healthy: Welcome! (I am new as well!) it would seem you are going about losing weight the same way I am! It seems neither of us are "dieting" but rather making a "lifestyle change". From what I understand that is the best way to go!

I am 23 and I have around 100lbs to lose so we can try to keep each other on track!