Hi everyone,

So I joined a few weeks ago with all the best intentions. Finally, this was going to be the year I changed my life. I had finally gotten sick of constantly being overweight, of not being able to fit into nice clothes, of being self conscious and generally just not feeling happy in my own skin.

Things were going great for about two weeks. I managed to get outside more, really think about what I was putting into my mouth and was just feeling so much better in myself. Then gradually, it started to take its toll. College started stressing me out, and I started comfort eating again. What started out as some way to feel a bit better, turned into a week long binge this past week. I feel absolutely horrid, both inside and out (the irony is that even as I'm typing this I'm eating chocolate, dear god ).

I finally talked myself into stepping on the scales this morning to see what damage I had done and I found that not only have I put back on the 3lbs I had lost, I've also managed to put back on 5lbs more. That's a total of 8lbs. I checked out my BMI on the wiifit and it is at 29.80. Almost obese.

I guess what I'm really looking for are some words of motivation or just anything that can give me the swift kick up the rear end that I need to get back on track. I want to do this for myself. I deserve this. I deserve to be able to be in control over what I put in my mouth. I deserve to have the body I've always wanted. I deserve to be happier in my own skin. Anything you guys have to throw my way would be greatly appreciated.

Much love,
Frey x.

Don't give up Freyja! Step away from the chocolate!! This is your year, remember, and there's so much left of it. The rest of the year is gonna pass whether you do something or not, and when December 31 arrives, do you want to look back and say "I threw in the towel in March" or "I got a little off track in early March but then I came back with a vengeance!" ??

Freyja,

With all due respect, you are seeking motivation OUTSIDE yourself, and unfortunately, that will only prove to be temporary.

I'm not big on the psycho-babble of obesity, overeating, weight issues. But I can and will tell you that there is something that keeps you from doing what you know you must do, and only you have the power to free yourself from it.

When motivation fails you, use discipline to keep you on track.

When I raising my children, I learned that they were never motivated to brush their teeth. However, I taught them to be disciplined and so they brushed their teeth daily.

Thirty years later, I have four children who have never had a cavity.

You may say that brushing your teeth is easier than pushing food away.

It really isn't.

If you let discipline drive you when motivation can't.

Be well, my friend, and take charge of your life.

I was 185 on April 7, 2008, when I decided to do something about it. I was down to 145 by August 2008. You can do this. It is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Baby steps. You didn't weigh yourself on the Wii, did you? I don't think those are that accurate, from what I have heard. My advice is to take a picture today, start food journaling, find a food plan, exercising (I walked every day for an hour at first, which slowly morphed into running five miles in an hour as I lost weight and built endurance), buy yourself a pair of jeans at every five or ten pounds lost. Don't wait until tomorrow. I did WW at my home because I couldn't leave the house until 8:00 every night and didn't want to pay for it, which I used that time to exercise anyways. Please don't quit. Private message me if you want to talk more, but you won't be sorry. It takes two weeks to start a habit, so go for it! I felt like you; I stopped going out with friends, hated pics being taken of me. I had a brand new baby and was just tired all the time. I hated clothes shopping because of the sizes I was wearing. I am so much happier. It is just nice to not feel like people are staring at me because of how my belly hangs over my jeans.

I just have to say......my maiden name was Frey.Maybe we are related.LOL>Hang in there.

So true! I haven't lost huge amounts of weight (yet!) but I feel so much healthier and I have a bit more stamina than I did before I started the journey this time. Pick something and make it your goal for a month. Print out a calendar on MS Word or something so you can draw in a smiley face for every day you do your goal. In January I had the goal of going to the gym and exercising 5 times a week, and I did. Februray, I wanted to go every day, and I did. Not because I wanted to. But because I am stubborn and I was going to prove to myself and the people I talk to that yes, I can make myself do 30 min every day. I was like, come on, no matter how bad it sucks, I can do anything for 30 minutes. In March, I started a food journal. It's interesting because aside from the days I eat at restaurants (I hit average calories those days), I actually have been eating healthier things without trying. Haven't been to McDonalds once. Haven't had any soda this month. Those weren't even my goals, they just happened on the way.

This is a very long winded way of saying, pick something to be stubborn about. For me, that was exercise, because it's easier to DO something (exercise 30+ min) than to NOT do something (see junk food all the time and remind myself NOT to eat it). I think that with time, you will find that you have more emotional strength to match your physical strength and the rest will fall into place.

I know college is stressful and difficult. I had roommates who cooked junk all the time, and I've been through deadlines and papers and projects too. But even through 6 years of college and a Master's degree I still found time for exercise. Face it, you're not in the classroom 24/7 and I'm sure we all procrastinate homework at least 30 min which we could be exercising during.

Thank you for the reality check you guys. I'm approaching tomorrow as the start of a new beginning and will hopefully get myself in gear. I've been surfing around here, reading all the success stories from you lovely ladies and feel so much more inspired. I'm aiming to get the first pound of what will hopefully be many more off by the end of this week.

I know I can do this! I will do this!

I'm sorry to hear that you're having a hard time. I would suggest not getting on the scale afterward a downward spiral because one of two things could happen: 1) you lose/maintain and you think you didn't do that much damage so you remain off plan or 2) you gain weight and you become discouraged and you fall off the wagon and go tumbling downhill (that happens to me alot!).

You CAN do this! Just focus on one day at a time. Set daily goals and you'll start to feel stronger when you realize that you're accomplishing things everyday. You also mentioned that you're stressed out. I'd suggest finding another way to de-stress like go for a walk or read a good book or dance to loud music instead of reaching for chocolate. Lots of luck. We're rooting for you!

LadyPhoenix is right. Replace your eating habit. Replace it with something wonderful. I have found lots of replacements along the way...a hot bubble bath with the door locked, running, shopping, watching a double feature on TV, talking to someone on the phone when I should be doing something else. In the cold and rain we have had this week my coffeepot was my replacement. I bought awesome coffee from Venezuela and drink it strong with skim milk and flavored sweetners--ANYTHING BUT EATING.

Frey--

For starters... even if you binged on junk, I doubt you gained a half stone of fat in a week! Junkfood is notoriously high in sodium, and when I lived in Ireland, no one was EVER shy on Taytos, so I'm willing to bet you've indulged in salty sodium-filled garbage food as well as chocolate, and your body's stocked up on a LOT of water. And water weight drops off fast, so you're not as far gone as you think you are, I'd bet!

Secondly... everyone falls off the wagon, sometimes for days, weeks, sometimes months... but the point is that we come back here... we do what you've done right here... pleaded for some helpful words and suggestions... and we start again, or just continue on. That's the difference between people who EVENTUALLY fulfill their journey, and ones who give up right away and never do!

My don't-snack-needlessly tip: I have an insane obsession with calorie-free sucralose-sweetened (better than aspartame) juice crystals. I keep an empty water bottle around me AT ALL TIMES to fill up with water and chuck some juice crystals into. Sometimes it might take some experimenting to find out which ones you love, but... believe me, if you find a flavour you adore, it can substitute junk food PERFECTLY, and you feel full all the time, AND you're getting a ton of water into your system to combat bloating.

You can do it honey, we've all got faith in ya!

Thank you guys so much! You've all given me such a boost x.

Frey, I think my situation may be similar to yours, and I just wanted to emphasise the importance of not letting a minor slip make you feel discouraged. You want to be eating healthily for life. Given that this is the 20-Somethings' Forum, we're looking at maintaining a healthy lifestyle for the next 60 years or so. During that time your weight will fluctuate, and you can't let it discourage you or make you feel like a failure - it's just part of life.

I joined these forums late last year, and was successful at losing weight during that time. Christmas came, I stopped weighing myself, visiting these forums or paying any attention to my health, and I only got back on the scales last Thursday. I hadn't gone completely wild, but let's just say I wasn't paying attention at all to my diet, and I ate plenty of snacky junk food! I found I'd put on 6lbs. It's Tuesday now, and 4lbs of that has already gone - and it's just from eating sensibly and taking some exercise, nothing extreme. Like Jelbb said, it's often water retention, so don't be discouraged by some weight gain. I thought I'd forgotten to care for 3 months about my diet, and that I'd be in a mess when I faced up to things, but it's taken me 5 days to get within 2lbs of my lowest former weight.

I'm sure you'll be back on track in no time and really seeing and feeling the benefits.