Failure

Comment by Angie Y on April 7, 2012 at 12:07am

 I am glad you are making an effort! Good for you for walking. It's a great starting point.

Comment by Keem on April 7, 2012 at 8:29am

Maybe in the past you'd tried to make too big of changes too soon?  Glad you're easing into it this time!

Comment by Paula on April 7, 2012 at 9:52am

We all have to start somewhere. Walking everyday will help. It is a start in the right direction. You can do this. Just keep trying.

Comment by Lanno Weatherford on April 7, 2012 at 7:46pm

I'm in a similar situation except that I'm 50. I've come to realize that when I started counting calories or do something else that, I don't stay with it for very long. So instead of worrying about the food I decided to deal with my stomach instead. When I start thinking about food, such as what to snack on  or what's in the fridge, I ask myself if my stomach's hungry or do I just want food? If I just want food, I try to find something else to do. It doesn't always work, but I'm working on it. If I'm hungry, I eat.  Hardest part of eating for me is to eat slow enough for my stomach to feel a small amount of pressure that tells me to stop eating. Actually stopping is sometimes difficult especially when the food is really good. It took me awhile to be able to tell the difference between the hunger and the want. You'll find the way that works best for you, just don't work yourself into a stressed situation if you can help it. Good luck with it.

Comment by Megan on April 7, 2012 at 10:20pm

Focus on babysteps you can take that will help you gain confidence.  Then choose 1 that you're going to work on for now.  My first babystep was drinking more water.  That's all I worked on for a while.  Babysteps will get you everywhere you need to be.  I've lost 100 lbs and I did it all with making small goals and meeting them and then making another goal.

Comment by Cindy on April 9, 2012 at 2:57pm

I understand the defeatist kind of feeling. Really, I do. But you have to start somewhere and that is often the most difficult part of this journey - just getting started. I have always thought that Megan has the best advice. Just start with something small - a small goal like drinking more water or cutting out soft drinks or whatever. Start small and you'll finish small! :) 

It's also incredibly difficult to not give up along the way. Be OK with taking things slow. Don't be in a rush. If you are in a rush there is this mentality that one day you will get to 'finish' losing the weight and you get to go back to 'normal' eating. That's a mindset that gets us in a lot of trouble - including myself - as I've stalled out for the past 5 months.

Make a pact with yourself that no matter what you won't give up. If you give up, you lose but in a different way. Accept that there will be days, weeks or sometimes months where nothing happens. The scale doesn't move. You are unmotivated, etc. But giving up is just not an option. Just keep at it and you'll get there.

You CAN do this. It's not always easy or fun - especially in the beginning. But eventually you will be a new and healthy person that you've always wanted to be.

BTL is an AMAZING place for support, encouragement and motivation. If you write something, someone will listen and respond.

Hugs to you......

Comment by Vanessa Carte on July 17, 2012 at 8:55pm

Thank you everyone for your advice and support! It means so much to me! My husband could care less about my weight loss efforts and doesn't understand that I need encouragement sometimes. You guys are great!

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