hi there,
so Im a newbie and need help, losing weight has always been a struggle, im constantly going up and down and Im tired of it! Iv lost two beautiful boys in the past year because of an incompetent cervix and my doctor has told me i need surgery and I also need to lose weight before getting pregnant again, you would think that's enough motivation but yet I still cant make myself do it! I'm fine for a few days but then I slack off and any progress I had made is wasted!!!

I need some motivation tips and some weight loss buddies (most people I know are skinny minnys!!!, I have about 60 pounds to lose and it seems like an AWFUL lot! ahhh.....anyway thanks in advance
lots of love xxx

I'm so sorry to hear of your infant loss. I can't imagine how painful that must be. Adding weight loss into the mix is an awful lot. I can see how losing weight might be opening up possibilities for more loss and a potential for self sabotage? If I've even come close to hitting the nail on the head, you might read a book called Starting Monday and see if it helps. If I'm completely wrong, I'm sorry. I'm just thinking about how I might feel in your shoes.

Mostly - WELCOME!!! I think this is a great site for support and encouragement through the weight loss journey. Read through the site and look up historical posts. Sometimes the best stuff is older - use the search feature. And of course, read the current stuff and get to know the folks here.

Permanent weight loss is possible and attainable. But it doesn't come in a box, so to speak. It isn't linear or predictable. It takes a lot of mental inventory and trial and error on meal plans and foods and exercises to find the right "fit" for you. Just be patient with yourself and your healing process all the way through the journey and you will get there. It's a marathon, not a sprint. But there are some awesome things along the way to keep you entertained while you "travel."

Thank you for welcoming me Annie, Im always afraid to post on forums in fear of no one replying and looking like a big saddo ha!
I suppose in a way there is potential for self-sabotage, I do sometimes think, sure whats the point and stay in bed all day but I think Im ready to make a change, I could continue to stay in bed all day and feel sorry for myself, its far too easy to do that though! Im just so crap at exercising!!! I need a bit of a push to do it so I think this site might be my answer, I need people to do it with
I think my problem is I want it done yesterday, if I dont see big results quick i give up! Im extremely impatient! haha!
I will have a browse through the site
thank you again

You're very welcome! And as for results immediately - I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that rapid weight loss won't happen "now." The good news is that you don't need that to start feeling better. One week of eating better foods and drinking water and moving your body will make you feel better. One month of it and you'll have looser clothes and feel less bloated. Two months and you might be down a clothing size or even if not, just be soaring with confidence.

Maybe "exercise" is too much right now. Think of something you like to do - take a walk around your neighborhood in the evening with your husband, recruit a friend to try a zumba class and just go and dance and be silly together, ride your bike, do a yoga class - the key is something you like and if you need others sometimes a class at the gym is a good idea because if you don't know the other people on day one, by the end of the month you will. Forget about how many calories it burns or what you get out of it. IMO laying down the habit of being active is the most important thing and if you want to rebel against it, you won't keep it up. Someday you might say that you truly love an hour of cardio and the way it makes you feel but not many beginners do. The focus of moving your body shouldn't be on weight loss but on just feeling better. You'll get that "quick" and I think being happy is "BIG."

Hi determined93. There are so many different diets for a reason, there's no ONE solution that works for everyone. What I can tell you is that dieting is a moment by moment by moment ad infinitum decision. Having said that, the longer you've been doing it, the easier it gets, especially when you start seeing results.
Additionally, the first 3 or 4 weeks are pretty damned difficult (at least they were for me). Once you get past that, you do get used to it and it becomes so much easier. I promise you.
Also, please don't let one slip up derail you, forgive yourself and keep on going. If I can do it so can you.