Hello.........I am starting on yet another week of "starting over" starting tomorrow morning. I don't know how many times I have "started over", I think I'm the laughing stock at work. But I don't want to give up. I just need help with motivation to stick with it...I feel like if I don't exercise, I might as not eat healthy, and since I feel sick a lot because of other health problems/back problems, I don't feel like working out. It's a vicious cycle. I am just hoping that one of these days it will finally stick in. I am the heaviest I have ever been and I hate, hate, hate myself. I am anti-social because I am so self-consious of my body, even though my husband still says I'm beautiful. Any advice? I just need some health, and get out of the old routines. It doesn't help that my kitchen is super small.

Ahhh, so many excuses...so many days........any advice or help would be appreciated!

You realize and admit excuses. I say map out your plan now. Commit to your plan 150% now. Never give up on yourself. You CAN do this

Start out by writing out your schedule. Make a grid. Check off the days/times that you are going to work out and how many (target) calories you are going to eat each day. Put up that grid on the fridge or some other place that you will see it often. That will serve as a reminder of what you need to do. Once it's written out, then there's no escaping it. Make it colorful so that it catches your attention. Write you present weight in one corner and write your target weight in another corner. That will also serve as a reminder.

I'd be listening to Onederchick...she knows her stuff! (And she's A LOT nicer than I am! )

I'd say something like, "get off your excuse wagon and hop on the loser train!"

I know...even if I can't do the exercise much, I can still control what I put in my mouth....I just haven't been lately....

Lori, you're always awesome and have the best tips and advice and you make me laugh

YOU DON"T NEED TO DO IT ALL AT ONCE....there, I said it!

Many people can...and it's great that they can and I say more power to them, but many of us can't commit to reduced calories, loads of exercise, jugs of water and all the stuff you read you MUST do the first day. It is very overwhelming and it seems that once one of the cardinal rules of weight loss is broken, then everything seems to go to ****. One thing at a time. Baby steps darling.

Dont frustrate yourself with starting over every week.Have you ever looked into a possible overeating or binge eating disorder?It could be a little more complicated than just lack of willpower.Check out the posibilities that maybe there is something else is going on.Food is a powerful thing.Our brains are in control of more than we think.Great books are reccomended all over this site.

Thanks....I'm feeling a little more motivated now. I am a perfectionist so if I don't do it all I feel like I've failed. I do ok at work as far as eating but then when I get home, it's like, lets see what I can shove in my face before I go to bed.
Ok, this week I'll just focus on the calories...1500 per day is my goal.

Overeating disorder, never thought about that.

I used to be anorexic, (weighed 113 at my lowest) and so I've tried very hard not to go back to that and now my problem is the complete opposite.

Another suggestion: The self-hate will not help you achieve your goal. I know that society sends us the message that being overweight means that we should be disgusted at ourselves and feel hate, but that's not true and it's not helpful. If your best friend came to you and tearfully admitted that she was overweight, would you say, "Oh, I HATE you for that"? Of course not! So please don't do it to yourself. Your weight is not in any way connected to your worth as a person, so please be kind to yourself and treat yourself with the love and understanding you would give to your best friend.

Also, remember this: Each day is a new beginning for all of us. The times that we have tried to lose before have been learning experiences and now you have lots more knowledge to carry with you into this new endeavor. Finally, listen to the other wise chicks here: You don't have to do it all at once. Do what you can. Practice one small thing until you get good at it. Not perfect; good. Then pick up another thing. The first thing I did was to cut out fast food. I did this by bringing my lunch to work. Once I got into the habit of that, I started cutting back on my daily candy and/or cookies. I replaced it with fruit and almonds. Step by step, I got a little better and my baby toddler legs got strong enough to carry me along.

You can do this. You really, really can. Look around; you are surrounded by people who have been through the same struggles and the same tearful thoughts. We are here for you.

Tear, ok I'm ready to start again!! Thanks everyone.

That's the spirit!!

Try thinking of something you really want. Like a new outfit. Something you really want. Thats been helping me lately. I want to wear a strapless dress for my bday.