Hi you guys. I have posted a couple of times in the Medifast forum. I'm looking to lose over 100lbs and I seem to be caught in this loop of knowing I need to not eat the stuff I'm eating and exercise more...but still not doing either of those things.

I would really love some motivation and support and just a feeling that it is possible.

I'm not even 30 yet and I need to make a plan.

Well, make a plan and stick to it.

How do you guys find the willpower?

Trial and error. Don't be afriad to commit, but know that you have to find a plan that works for YOU. My will power ebbs and flows, but I have been focused for months now, and though the number on the scale hasn't dropped too much, my body is changing. You are a young woman, and I'm so glad you are doing this now. I'm a calorie counter, but there are all kinds of plans out there. Contact me at my blog, "girl toward svelte", on this site, and let me know if you want to stay in contact a few times a week to share tips and motivation. I am absolutely cheering you on. One mantra that helps me: My health will last for years - this snack will last for moments.

I take it a day at a time, and try to think of it more as a healthy lifestyle rather than a diet, soon as I say diet to myself it all goes downhill. Its taken me a year to shift 37 lbs, my willpower isnt rock solid, I have to let myself have some slack. I think the slower it comes off the more chance I have of keeping it off, as I havent gained more than 2lbs in this journey so far, which came off again!
I try not to beat myself up when i havent eaten perfectly, as that usually drives me to comfort eat. No one is perfect!

I think it is awesome that you are ready to make the most exciting and rewarding decision of your life. I know that sounds corny but, it seems that our situations are very similar and I wanted to write and let you know you can do this and try to give you a little motivation.

In July of this year I had reached a low point in life. I was two months away from turning 30, I had been diagnosed with PCOS, suffered two miscarriages and had a binge eating problem that was stressing my finances as well as my marriage. I was hiding food, spending around $20 per day on "snacks", sneaking out at night to buy food and one night I even ate 1/2 of an entire cake locked in our bathroom. I'm not sure what the turning point was but, I knew things had to change. I felt horrible about the way I looked and I was so ashamed of my addiction, I was just miserable all of the time.

At the end of July I went to a weight loss center in my area called Medical Weight Loss Center. They put me on fairly strict diet and required that I come in 5 times per week for the first two weeks and 3 times per week after that. The first two weeks weren't so good. I would sort of follow the plan then I would binge but, all of the sudden I realized what a waste of time and money this was so, I gave it a real chance. I have been on the plan without cheating since August 1st. As of last week I have lost 40.5 pounds and I feel awesome. Not only has my weight gone down but, I am exercising and working on a jogging program. On September 22nd I competed in my 1st 5K competitive walk. I placed 1st in my age group (30 - 34) and 39th out of 72. I'm telling you all of this because if I can do this, you can do this. I read a quote on this site the other day that said something like, "When the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of changing, then you will change"

If you ever need to talk to someone who is walking the same path you are please feel free to write. I hope to hear from you! I am going to try to attach my before/current photos (I'm new to the site and not sure how to use all of the features yet) The first photo is from early July, the second is from mid-August when I had lost 20 pounds and the last was taken Friday night when I had lost 40.5 pounds.

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Suerte

There are so many people here to support you, you won't know what hit you. A few have already made that statement very true.

Everyone here cares. We want each other to take this journey we are all on to a more healthy and thinner person in a safe, healthy way.

Please read posts and find out what way is best for you.

It can be hard, some of us stumble on the way. There is always someone there to lend a helping encouraging hand.

Motivation, it comes in so many forms. Peoples posts are motivation for me. Knowing what I am doing is so good for me is motivation. Thinking next summer I can go to the beach and while I won't be the weight I want to be, I will be thinner is motivation. My husband telling me he loves me what ever size I am is wonderful. Him telling me he wants me to be with him until God calls me home is motivation.

I know I won't put the weight back on. I am doing this in a healthy manner. It is taking time. Not dropping great amounts of weight at one time but I am doing it right. For me using a salad plate instead of a breakfast or lunch plate. Using a lunch plate instead of a dinner plate really helps on controlling portion sizes. I have changed how I look at, think about and eat food. When the family is having one of my favorites I eat what they are eating. I don't do without anything but I watch those portion sizes. When they have something that I don't want, I eat lean cuisines.

Oh my gosh, I thought the dog was growling, wondered what was going on. The darn thing was passing gas, one of the kids gave her cheese I bet. Got off the subject there didn't I lol. We don't just talk about weight loss here. We make friends, we chit chat, and we share our sorrows, our hard times as well as the good. We also make each other laugh.

Remember, when you think you are doing this alone. When there isn't a person in sight to encourage you. God is right there beside you. Usually yelling, put down that candy bar.

WOW @ your progress pics.

I am in Michigan as well... Flint/Burton border.

I went to MWLC and felt so pressured by them that I just gave them a $20 deposit just so I could get out of there. They were so sales oriented that it scared me. I have heard great things about them but the actual visit turned me off

audrymonroe, when I can dedicate set time to this board I will definately do that. Midterms are in 2 weeks...stress stress stress... so possibly after that I will be on here more often.

Thank you guys. I'm glad they have things kind of split up so everyone can focus on their specific needs. That is a really great thing about this board.

I am sorry to hear that you had a bad experience. I went to a MWLC center in Ann Arbor several years ago and had the same experience you described. I think the girls at the one I go to now are pretty great and that makes all the difference. It is so cool that you are in MI too. Good luck with your midterms and I really look forward to hearing from you when life settles down a little.