Hi there, I want to acknowledge your pain and thank you for sharing. I know that it is difficult but take things one day at a time. What actions have you been taking?

Hi XX:
Please don't be so hard on yourself. There are a lot of us with this yo yo dieting. Please think highly of yourself, you are the same person on the inside with +20 or -20. I believe wt loss should be slow and be a lifestyle change, so something we can live with. It is not easy, but small changes done daily will produce great healthy results. Remember, one day at a time, and each day is a fresh start. Keep moving forward.......

I agree with Rose in that its a lifestyle change. You can lose weight if you don't change your lifestyle but will only gain again. Im a yo-yo dieter and a compulsive overeater (I eat to comfort myself) and found making a lifestyle change has really helped me. New year coming up soon and I wish you the best in losing weight and feeling better about yourself - its hard weight but so satisfying when one doesn't have anything to wear because everything is too large in our cupboards. Take care.

I think that reaching out for some support is a great step in achieving your goals. It's significant to make up your mind that something hasen't been working and to actually move forward to take action.

These ladies make a point with which I agree whole heartedly. It's not about the "diet" but the "lifestyle change." We all know that the word "diet" implies that something is being restricted or wrong. What we are striving to do is to create new habits that will benefit us for the long run.

I've read about a number of different ways to lose the weight and I've learned a little something from each method along the tweaks to a healthier existence. That seems to be the best we can do - we each learn at our own pace, according to our individual needs. One size definitely never fits all. We are all unique individuals and should appreciate our individual qualities each day.

So glad you've joined us. Tools and accountability are some major helps. You can check out the "weekly weight loss" thread when you're ready. The new one is poisted each Sunday. I enjoy utilizing "myfitnesspal" to help me see wheremy calorie intake is at during the day too. I have a weekly tracking sheet to list my weight and watch the progress too.

Good luck with your efforts toward making this wonderful change in your life.

In no way am I judging you and this has been my journey...but I can honestly say that if you keep "comparing" yourself to the thinner version of yourself...you are doing a form of self rejection. I know this, because I did it too and being obsessed with my looks and body image lead me to become obese. First, I abused myself with starvation and harsh body judgement and doing this basically devalued my self worth as a human being. I began avoiding family gatherings and lots of other activities and the more I did this, the more I would eat and depression would set in.

I came from a family of critical people and in turn I was always the first to criticize myself on everything. If I couldn't be the size 8 I was when I first got married, then I wasn't worth anything. Even when I'd lose weight and looked good, it still wasn't good enough because I could't get down to that damn size 8 and in my head... it meant I wasn't attractive and was a failure. I spent my entire young years dieting, losing and gaining...and I still struggle with it til this day.

We all have to find whatever works for us...I know it's hard to hear this, but please, learn to ACCEPT your body, where ever it's at. Learn to care for yourself, your mind and emotions and understand that sometimes we eat for many different reasons and sometimes our bodies are just trying to find a weight to settle at for awhile.

Accepting that we may have to add more exercise, especially if our eating is out of control is something to aim for and gives a sense of being pro active in the situation. It will also help keep the stress factor down too. For me, exercise means walking, doing rubber bands, muscle contraction and just plain movement as much as possible so I get some tone going on.

It may not mean a lot of weight loss but it will help.. Also, if you can deal with putting on a swim suit, finding a pool to burn some calories in especially if you aren't a gym going type, is also a good thing.

Hope some of what I've said helps.

Hi...you gotten great advice so far and I wanted to say learn on loving yourself first...must be kind of the shape and investing a mirror to bring positive sides of yourself. It's a working progress. Once you accept your shape, than you can tackle of which body part needs work..have faith in yourself. This takes time,but overall well worth it!!

Best of luck to you!! :) hugs..

Liliann