i can understand dearie, my daughter is also 2 and half and i am also in same boat,
from tomorrow onwards i am starting general motors diet plan (indian vegetarian version) with a little walk and stretching, i just hope that i be able to complete it, last time i was unable to finish this 7 day plan.

I personally don't believe in diets. I think for anything to be permanent with lasting results, it's got to be lifestyle changes instead. Something you feel like you could live with forever.....every day! It doesn't have to be big things, especially starting out. Small changes make a huge difference in the long run. For instance, eat a hamburger with no bun.....and use mustard instead of ketchup (mustard has no calories). Use smaller plates. I also have a big sweet tooth, so I try to keep things around that will be somewhat satisfying without ruining progress. Sugar free Jello with fat free whip cream is a good one to curb sweet cravings. Water is important, (and I don't really like to drink water BUT....) if you get a "special" glass or water bottle that you only put your water in..having it near you helps. Know how many glasses or bottles you have to drink a day in order to get your daily intake and then it becomes automatic after awhile. Personally, since I don't care for drinking water.....I have a gallon jug of room temperature water out where I can see it, with a glass next to it. For how big my glass is, I know I have to drink 5 of them a day to equal 64oz...so whenever I walk by it, I pour a glass and slam it...then it's done and over with. Also, it is a HUGE help to keep a food journal. It doesn't have to be anything fancy......It becomes a habit the more you do it, and it only takes seconds to jot things down. You can figure out the calories, but I usually don't. For me, it's just more for structure. I have a little notebook, just write the date at the top.....then I write down breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, water, and physical activity. Then when I eat something, I just jot it down....then next to it, write down WHY you're eating (hunger, mealtime, stress/emotion etc.) Then if it's "stress related" ..you can catch yourself and try something else before you actually decide if you're going to eat or not. I know until I started keeping a food journal, I never realized how much I was actually "mindlessly" putting in my mouth until I saw it in black and white. Plus it helps keep you motivated when you see that you've had a really good day or days in a row. As far as physical activity........ANY is better than none. Plus I've done a lot of research on this because I really hate exercising and sweating! lol...but I've learned that you can break up your activity and it all still counts. Say you want to walk for 30 minutes a day....but don't really want to do it all at once.......if you do 10 minute walks 3x a day, you get the same benefit. That really helps...almost anyone can fit in at least 5 or 10 minutes at a time.

Anyway, best wishes to you! It all starts with making positive choices....a little at a time. Being here and finding support in others that are struggling too is a great positive choice! You can do this! :)

Well I'm on one of those 'crazy diets' and I can't eat fruit. Fruit has so much sugar in it. I'm borderline diabetic, so no fruit for me. I do on special occasions eat a couple of strawberries.

You have to find what works for your body. I tried low cal, then low fat. Both didn't work, lost nothing and I was always grouchy and hungry.
Decided to try low carb. Lost 80 lbs in 13 months. I feel wonderful. Had blood tests done last year, perfect! My bad cholesterol is so low, good cholesterol is so high it's off the charts!

I don't consider how I eat a diet. It's my way of life. I was one number away from being considered diabetic, I refused to let that happen. So I chose to eat lower carb since carbs are processed into sugar. My body can't deal with it. It was easy to cut out the whites, white flour, sugar and rice. In my opinion no one needs to eat those things ever. When I do eat rice, I eat brown rice.
I used to be in a size 24, now I am a 10/12, some jeans I can wear an 8.

Try different things to see what your body needs. Mine works best on a lot of protein and only the good carbs found in vegies.