[determined2beslim]

Hello out there in cyber space!
I'm 48 years old, FAT, in not-so-great-shape-but-starting-to-work-out-again-and-hope-I-stick-with-it mode, and I've been fat since the age of 30 after the birth of my first child.
I say I'm determined, but maybe I'm desperate and I confuse the two.
Seriously, I have started and failed and started and failed dozens of times over the last 18 years.
Will this be any different?
I hope!
As long as I'm alive, I hope!
And yet I have this nagging voice in my head "you have to lose over 100 lbs, are you crazy? Do you honestly think you can do this?"
I want to shut that voice down.
But I don't know how.
Is there a daily ritual/exercise that people use to squash the beggar down? I would love to have a positive/negative/neutral/feisty/saucy/or just plain angry message to kill that voice. At least make it shut up for the next 24 hours.
Oh well, enough.
I'm about to be in a weird situation too. I separated from my husband a year ago. Now I'm moving back into the house (I miss my kids too much and I'm broke, can't afford to live apart) into my son's bedroom. He's moved into the basement. My husband and I are OK as friends, lousy as spouses. I just hope he will not get on my case as he has done in the past about anything and everything. Maybe there's a way of shutting him down too like the nasty voice in my head.
Hope I don't sound ridiculous. I'm really trying to just let it all hang out and not hold back. I'm tired of holding back, of being miss sweetness and niceness. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the type to be nasty to people and I'm careful to frame things in a positive way for others. But I'm now finally trying to tell it like it is when it comes to my thoughts about myself.
And there you go.
I also have a strong sense of humour. Love to laugh, always have, hope I always will.
All the best!
Looking forward to this, but still so afraid of failing.

[djs06]

I'm so glad you've found us. You don't sound ridiculous! We have all been where you are, afraid to fail... it's scary stuff! But it's so worth it.

Some wise ladies on these forums have said "You can fail 1000 times but all it takes to succeed is once." I really like to think of it that way! This time, I'm doing it and I'm completely determined, and it sounds like you are too.

Hop right into the discussions! And, congrats on your loss so far! Are you following a particular plan?

[JerseyGyrl]

Judith!!

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

You CAN do this!!!

All the best to you!!

Kim

[Satine]

Good luck, join us on the "Cant Weight to be Thin" thread ( under support groups ) if you ever need to talk to need some encouragement - you can do this !!!!!

[Cheryl14]

Hi Judith!

Welcome!

You can do this! You have already begun losing and will CONTINUE to lose! Think of the process in smaller increments like five pounds. Meet THAT goal then move ahead to the NEXT five pounds. Before you know it, you will be AT GOAL!

Stress plays a big role in gaining weight. Emotional eating does, too. I know now that there will always be things that cause stress and that cause my emotions to flare up, but I DO NOT have to solve every problem WITH FOOD! Like you, for thirty years I ate and ate. I ate to solve my stress and to deal with anything and everything that came my way. I was NOT being good to my body when I did that!

I started a journal seven years ago when I began my weight loss journey. I have been up and down and over and out and everywhere in between during those years! Emotions and stress have gotten to me at times, and at other times I had a clear head and a determined spirit. It truly has been a rollercoaster for me as well!

I have had 100 pounds to lose, too! With every pound lost and NOT regained, I have ventured closer to my goal. There have been slip-ups a number of times, but as the goal gets closer I feel my vision of the new me getting sharper in my mind's eye.

Take it a pound at a time. It WILL happen, and you WILL NOT fail!

Cheryl