New here, have been yo-yo dieting for years now with no results. Exercising inconsistently with no results...I'm tired of being 'the fat one'. My BMI says I'm obese and I don't even go clothes shopping anymore as I can't bear to look in the mirrors. My clothing style is non-existent and pretty much just trying to cover up as much as possible. I eat unhealthy because I think what's the point? Every time I've tried to lose weight I haven't succeeded.

I've decided to try one more time and I really don't feel like I can do this, but I can't keep living like this.

atm I am 206lbs and I have set myself a goal of 150lbs, which is in the healthy range for my height. I could lose more to be healthy, but I will see how I feel if I get to that goal weight.

I've attached a picture of me at around 140lbs, taken 7 years ago. I remember going on this trip feeling like I'd gained a little weight and wanted to lose it. Little did I know I would keep gaining! I'm not ready to share my 'now' picture right away, plus I haven't had my picture taken in awhile due to my feelings on my weight.

I'm not sure if I'm planning on following a diet. Right now I'm thinking healthy eating and exercise.

Hi, I am in a pretty similiar boat with a starting weight of 210. I've been trying really hard and have lost 8.5lbs in the last two weeks but I'm so mad at myself as I've just binged on m & m's so stupid of me but I guess it's my familiar pattern.

Anyway, just wanted to say hi!

Pyrrhic, I know your frustration. My starting weight a couple of weeks ago was 211 and I want to get down to 145-155. I've been a yo-yo dieter for years and in the last three years every time I'd think about trying over, I'd too think, "Why bother?" But deep down I know the answer: because I don't feel good about myself. Like you I avoid taking pictures, I avoid going back to my hometown to see old friends, I avoid looking at the photos of my son's wedding two years ago that have me in them. Now my daughter is getting married next April, and still until a couple of weeks ago, I had trouble losing weight because each day I'd try, I'd blow it. Then I read an article on Huffington Post about a woman who lost weight using The Slow Carb Diet and it made sense to me. It's always carbs that cause me to blow my diet: cookies, chips, etc. And carbs are related to the insulin issues that are a part of my family medical history. So I decided to give this diet a try. It's not hard, I don't have to count anything, I don't have to exercise unless I choose to, and it has a recommended cheat day each week, when I can eat anything I want. This diet has actually stopped my cravings! I started it on July 19th, and even though I haven't weighed myself today, two days ago I weighed 202. Yes, it has to be mostly water weight, no doubt, but the scale is finally moving in the right direction. I don't know if 3FC will allow me to post a link to the original article I read or the blog link that I also read which was linked to it on Huffington Post, so maybe you can google the article title "How One Woman Went from Obesity to a Bikini Body" if you are interested in finding out more about this diet. Good luck!

And by the way, I wanted to add: I am not one to stick to a stringent diet, so even on this one, I add a tiny bit of shredded cheese (dairy) to my salads, I add a tiny bit of ketchup (which has sugar) to my lean burgers, and I haven't given up my beloved Diet Dr. Pepper (although the diet allows 12 oz of diet soda a day anyway) although I have increased my water intake. What I'm trying to say is that any diet I follow has to work with me or I'll blow it, and these little tweaks I've made (and they are little, I'm not blowing it in a big way or in many ways) have not hurt me at all.

Hi Pyrrhic,
I'm new to the forums as well and similar to you - 210lbs wanting to get to 165 to see how I feel. You sound pretty hard on yourself - give yourself a break! Forget the past - your other attempts to lose weight were not failures - they were attempts. It's unrealistic to believe that you can go on a diet and never slip. What's important is to get back on track immediately - not the next day or after the weekend. You can do this!!!!!
As for me, I've set a goal of losing 5 lbs and rewarding myself with a new charm for a bracelet I bought - I hope to fill the bracelet up eventually. It helps remind me of my success so far rather than how far I have to go. I'm just eating healthy portions but am also following the Beck Diet Solution. It's not a diet - it's a "quit overeating" program that teaches you how to quit giving in to cravings, how to deal with family meals, restaurant meals, stressful days and so on. You can use it along with any diet program. I exercise too - it pays to be patient, start slowly, and recognize that most machines over-calculate calorie burn by a great deal. Try 5 extra calories per minute of light exercise (like a fast walk) and 7 extra calories per minute of moderate exercise (like an aerobics class). Anyway, set a small goal for yourself like "no junk food today" and when you acheive it set another one. Pretty soon your confidence will start to build. Welcome to the 3FC forums!

Healthy eating and exercise is a good place to start. I wish you the best of luck, and welcome to the boards!

Welcome, I am new too and in a similiar situation to you .. This website looks great and we have to remember baby steps

Welcome, Pyrrhic! Try not to beat yourself up too much. Many of us have been just where you are, and what's important is never giving up. You can do it! Coming here to connect with other people who know what you're dealing with is a great step.

I hope we can support you during your weight loss journey!

I know that you'll lose the weight and be at a healthy point in your life. This is just the transition period, and you are working towards that point.

Hi Phyrric,
Just thought I'd drop back in and see how you're doing this week. Things are going fairly well for me. I find when I restrict my calories I don't sleep as well and then I'm tired during the day. I'm going to an aquafitness class at 5:15 today though and that usually wipes me out and guarantees a good night's sleep. Anyway, how are things? Have you had a chance to explore the different forums?
Cheers, Tracey (Tracey on a journey)