I read your post Jodie and I realized, sadly, I have never committed to anything. School, dieting, my future. When I was younger I used to write a lot. I mean A LOT! I was on my computer day in and day out night after night just typing away; writing was my life, my passion, but then one day I just stopped writing. I realize that I'm actually getting no one where unless I commit myself to something. I realize I need to lose my weight to be healthy and feel good about myself. I need to make excersise a part of my life as I made writing. Breathe, sleep, dream excerise!!! I'm actually going to the local YMCA today even though they'll probably be quite a few people in there and honestly will be shaking in my running shoes. I don't know why -lol- but people honestly make me nervous and I really do feel extremely embarassed around them, but even more importantly I've come to realize I want to feel good about myself. Can any reason for wanting to lose weight be okay? I mean if you're reasons on wanting to lose weight and look skinny and sexy is because of a certain guy or because you're extremely jealous about someone close to you and want to show them that you can be just as good looking, are these reasons selfish and maybe a bit over dramatic? Because honestly if I had motivation I would suppose those would be it right now... And to reply to sayeater's post, she wanted me to post 3 things I liked about myself (sorry if I messed up the post or anything - I'm new to forum use) but I would guess the top number one thing that I love about myself would be my hair! Next I would say I like my eyes, and last would be my tiny hands, ears, feet, and nose. I'm one of the biggest females in my family (both sides) and yet I have the smallest hands feet ears and nose, so that's something I am proud of. ^___^

I love your analogy to marriage. . the don't cheat on your spouse or yourself and the respect and everything. That is something we can all relate to. We are all worthy of the committment to a better life in all ways.

Suzanne, you used a word that has become my one and only reason for being able to stick to this plan long-term..... COMMIT.  I recently read a self-help book that talked about this.  Basically, no diet will work if you don't commit to it.  I remember reading that and really thinking about it for days. I asked myself, what does it mean to commit to a diet?  I realized the only other thing in my life that I am truly committed to is my marriage. So, I tried to relate it to that.  Committment means..... you dont cheat, and you dont put yourself in a situation where cheating can 'just happen.' It means you show respect, give attention, communicate positive messages.  Now I get it!  I have to change my relationship with myself and food.... and commit to it.  So take a 'vow' to be a healthier person.  I have to work on my marriage every day, so why not me? I'm worthy too.

Coni and Sayeater are right. You can't just want to loose weight, you have to DECIDE to loose weight. It is a choice. We have made a lot of bad choices in the past, but we have a great future in front of us. I am three times your age and now I can have a happy and active twenty years. You are so young and just thing of the wonderfully, successful, healthy and happy life you can have, if you committ to loosing your weight now. You have so much to gain and when you factor that in you have so little to loose. Start living your life and join us and make a commitment to yourself to take back your life. Do it now!

Coni is right.  We all have spent years worrying what other people think of us.  You know the secret to successful people? They don't care what other people think of them.  They make their own path in life and do things for themselves, not to make other people happy. I'll bet if you took a survey of all obese people it would show that 90% are dependent on other people's validation for their happiness.  it's time to start thinking like a thin person.  Get selfish, focus on yourself and heck with the rest of 'em.  You are in control of you life, no one else!!  I can tell you this right now, you cannot succeed unless you change your mindset.   You have got to get positive and start being a cheerleader for yourself.  It is hard for other people to love you when you don't love yourself and it's hard to commit to taking care of yourself if you don't love yourself.  So for your homework you need to post here 3 things that you like about yourself.  You can do it!! Start changing your life today!! 

I don't want to sound harsh when I say this, but it took a while for me to "get over myself."  I weigh FAR more than you.. I've been here for just over 5 weeks and am currently 10 pounds from weighing your starting weight of 260.  One of my goals, I want to run a 5k.  I was so embarrassed in the start to get out in PUBLIC and jog.  My first trip out for a jog/walk I thought I was going to die.. I prayed for an ambulance to stop and pick me up.  Today.. I'm just shy of running a mile without stopping.  I can jog/walk a 5k without feeling the grim reaper is behind me about to touch my back at any moment.  I'm twice your age on top of that!  40!  I never even could jog a block before I started.  If you want a good laugh, read some of my old posts on jogging.  I live near the beach and I even now jog in a bathing suite and sweat pants.. I'm doing this for me and no one else.  I found this EMPOWERMENT has helped me face any depression or self hating.  I can't be uncomfortable in my own skin, because it is the skin I live in every day.  It would be a miserable life if I did.  This mindset doesn't come overnight.. nor will your weight loss.  You are not ready at this time for an overnight fix.. part of this journey is you need to learn a lot along the way so this will be the last time you will need to lose weight.  Part of the journey is to find out why you are at this weight.. all of our stories are different, and so many are the same.  You've come to the right place, and you can do it!  

Give it a try and know that you can get the weight off. The thing is, the 200lb mark is a biggie and you are not the only one who has gotten stuck at that point. Perseverance pays off though and if you wait and follow the SF plan you can reach your goal. I'm twice your age and I can relate to living in a new place, being embarassed about my weight and worried about Thanksgiving with family. This is my first week on the SF plan and I'm really having to "work" it.  What motivates me is my health. I don't want to get diabetes or have a heart attack or stroke. For these reasons I know I need to change my eating habits which this site's meal planning will help me with.  There is no "overnight" fix. Just hope for the 1-2 lbs a week and set yourself up for a long journey. For me it will be about 2.5 years to reach my goal but then another 40 years to keep it off! Welcome to the community.

Okay so let's see... I'm 20 years old, living on my own in a town I really can't stand because I don't know anyone, and basically hating my life right now. I'm 260 pounds and gaining most likely from depression and eating without paying attention. I go into town a few times but at the same time I usually hide myself in my house because I'm embarrassed with the way that I look. I want to at least weigh 170, which is a good weight to aim for for me. For as long as I can remember though I've never been below 200, which is sad. I have tried many different excerice programs and diets, but each ones fails. Yea I lose some weight but then I just feel really stuck at the 200 mark and I get all depressed and gain it all back. I want to feel motivated but there just doesn't seem to be anything that really motivates me to keep going and keep working at losing the weight and keeping it off. I feel embarassed to be seen in public so running and walking are kind of difficult for me to do and goign to gyms are hard for me too. Even though everyone's there to lose weight I worry about waht people are thinking or saying. I really want to feel good about myself but like I said I can't remember the last time I was under 200 which means I was in school overweight and made fun of a lot... I even worry about what my family thinks of me even though I know they worry about me in a health care kind of way... And like I said I don't know anyone in this new town so having a friend face to face to go walking/jogging with me isn't any help either... I really want to have the motivation but I just can't seem to find it. I really want to lose the weight but without the motivation... I want the overnight fix and definatly not the long term result... *sigh* ... It's just all... so very depressing...