@weight2lose...love that! Love! Love!

another one I seen recently was...

'You can't start the next chapter in life if you keep re-reading the last one.'

Words I live by daily! Don't hate yourself for yesterday. Love yourself today!

I know it sounds like eating healthy has to equal deprivation, but it really doesn't. There are ways to make just about everything fit into a healthy eating plan. What is it that you really like to eat? You can either make the same things tweaked a bit or get the same flavor profile that you like. It helps tremendously when you don't feel like you're eating weird foods, because you're actually enjoying what you're eating.

Many of us are eating burgers, pizza, pasta, rice, etc. My way of eating these things and not going over my calorie budget is by incorporating a ton of non-starchy vegetables right into my dishes. Other foods like chilis and stews are naturally high in protein and easily low in fat/calories. They're also really filling and, for me, more appealing than raw veggies or a salad, especially in these cold winter months.

What is your goal for calories per day and what did your typical day look like before?

If you quit, you know what is going to happen- your weight will either stay the same or go up, leaving you worse off than before.

It's more difficult to continue, but at least it's something you haven't tried before. You have nothing to lose but weight.

I'm going to be brutally honest and say that if it even hurts to walk for more than a few miles a day, you have a problem and NEED to exercise your muscles to get them stronger! Once it hurts to walk, it's definitely taking away from your quality of life and possibly leading you to an early grave.

I haven't read all the replies, but here's my take on this...

It looks relatively low carb except for that yogurt and milk and possibly something at dinner. Plus, you're having your carbiest stuff in the morning when it's harder for our bodies to handle. Especially since it's such a small change for you at this point (just having to swap out the yogurt/milk at b'fast), I think you should try serious low carb. If you do that, you can add in some good fats and feel much more satisfied. (I wouldn't feel satisfied eating what you are, anyway.)

At least in the beginning, and for many people all the way through, a low carb weight loss journey, you don't have to worry about fat or portions (it's self limiting for most people, you just can't put away a ton of meat and cheese and egg) or calories. Just eat until you're full.

I would also put off the exercising. It's completely unnecessary for weight loss. It is great for health, though, so I'd bring it back in when you get down to a weight where it doesn't hurt. Also, if you're doing low carb, you'll have way more energy and you'll actually want to exercise when you get to the point that it's good for you. I am a serious couch potato and I actually hit a point, at about 170 pounds, where I wanted to move. Crazy!

So many of us have been there. But quitting gets us nowhere. Only behind.

I really think you need to up your cals at breakfast and lunch. In ALL my previous efforts to lose weight, I felt soooo deprived. Back in my early 20's, I lost 90 pounds. I regained a bunch, mostly because I was "dieting" and not changing my lifestyle. I ate SO wrong, and I couldn't keep up with it. I ate until 1200 calories and my types of foods totally didn't matter. Processed, 100 calorie packs, canned soups. I was sooooo hungry.

I've been trying to reform my foods. I eat lots of lean proteins, green smoothies, berry smoothies, etc. I'm REALLY satisfied and not at ALL deprived. And I'm staying more in the 1400-1600 range and losing. I feel lots better.

Maybe you just need to juggle your foods around, and types of foods? See what makes you feel satisfied, then you won't feel deprived.

But don't give up, you got this.

THIS! IS. EXACTLY. WHAT. HAPPENED. TO ME! - I mean, down to the very last syllable! Except my weight was 153 in May, and now I'm back up to 166. Thirteen pounds may not seem like a lot to some folks, but it's the death spiral for me. I remember a few months ago when I came on here lamenting that I had gained "5 pounds" and everyone was so supportive and sweet with their "it's ONLY 5 pounds! be glad it's not 25 or 50..." well, it's those first few pounds that lead to the 25, 50, 100 lb gains, isn't it? And yeah, I knew it while it was happening... got "lazy" with my eating, just like you said Melissa!! Giving in to the carb monster IN ADDITION to slacking on my exercise, and now here I am... belly all bloaty, bat wings a'swing'n, butt drooping, cellulite .... celluliting... ugh. I'm angry at myself. Fed up! (what a horrible pun!) But ready to charge like a bull thru it YET AGAIN. Because my motto? NEVER. GIVE. UP. Yo-yo dieting is not good, but it's better than not dieting, not losing weight at all. So I won't quit trying. No matter how many "breaks" I feel like I need to take. No matter how many different ways I approach the fat loss battle, no matter how many desserts I choose to pass up... WHY? Cause as my mama always used to say "Can't never could" - if you say you CAN'T do it, well then, you never could do it. And I'm a fighter. So I will fight. Again.

Yup, this too!!

Sorry you can commiserate Beach Patrol -but 13 pounds is doable - you just have to DO IT. And you know you CAN! Because you have in the past! Now DO IT! :)

Your replies have been so helpful! The quotes have stuck in my mind, and your stories have helped me feel more motivated!

I have not quit, and actually "want" to get out and walk, even though I have the pain. I may need to clarify that. I have fibromyalgia that I am NOT being treated for, by choice. I want to be medication free, so I have been suffering through it. It is incredibly hard on me, but my body has felt much better since getting off all my fibro, depression, and anxiety meds.

The other cause of pain is my right hip/leg, which is a constant reminder of a very old horse back riding (or bucking off!) injury I sustained.

I also added My Fitness Pal to my phone and I can't thank y'all enough for that recommendation! How convenient, easy to use and helpful! I am happily plugging in everything that enters my mouth and my physical activity. (Just out of curiousity, the MFP calorie burn for my activity is waaaay lower that my Endomondo calorie burn for the same activity. Which is more accurate??)

I have some hand weights that I would like to start incorporating. I am considering adding a session in today to see how it goes. They are 10 pounders so I am not sure how far I will get, any may have to invest in some lighter weights.