I understand where you are coming from.
We need to celebrate our milestones. Like losing 10% of our body weight... that's huge! Drs always say that losing 10% of your body weight greatly reduces the odds of having weight related health issues. This year, Im making my goals smaller so I wont feel defeated each month that I don't make it. I will also be celebrating every 15lbs lost by getting myself a small gift.
We need to put things into a different perspective. Not over all weight loss but where we will be in 6 months or 1yr if we stick to it.
Hang in there. You can do this.

I try not to think about how much I need to lose (160 lbs). Instead, I look at the numbers on the scales and think things like 'Wow! I'm under 310!' Or 'I've only got 6 more pounds before I'm under 300'. I try to get excited about what I've lost and not pay attention to how much I have left.

Thank you so much for your comments painful and Raeyne.

Holy geez, been there!! I remember being at 338lb (my highest) and EVERYDAY thinking ok.... today is the day, Im gonna make a change.... Of course by lunch I was starving and gave up. What is one more burger gonna do? What is climbing the stairs vs the elevator really going to do when I have THIS MUCH to loose? It was a horrible cycle. When I was finally able to start loosing it made me look at things different. Celebrate and focus on the little victories. This pair of pants I couldnt wear last month, I can button them... Not comfortably... but its a start. Thats the motivation I needed. When it really started coming off I stopped using a scale, as for too long that damn thing dictated my self-worth. I would buy a pair of jeans a size smaller then what I wore. Boom, motivation.

I had to lose 110 lbs when I started out. It was very difficult to get into the mindset. I am an emotional eater so I would get depressed about it and binge and then feel terrible so I would eat more.

I actually came to crisis because I got diabetes and high blood pressure from my weight, at the ripe old age of 34. My doctor said losing even 20 lbs would help so I committed to that. I joined weight watchers and I started losing, about 1-1.5 lbs a week. Sure enough, 20 lbs down and my blood pressure and sugars were normal.

That motivated me to join the gym. I had lost 80 and felt super! But unfortunately I gained back 10 over the holidays and am feeling very depressed again.

I have 40 to go, which is almost nothing compared to what I started out needing to lose. But it's still discouraging. I beat myself up all the time.

I am not making a new year's resolution, I am looking at it more like rededicating myself to eating more sensibly and not giving up on the exercise.

Celebrate every 5 lbs. Hell, celebrate every ONE pound. Also remember it's baby steps, it's ok to hit a plateau or gain a little. BE KIND TO YOURSELF. You've got this.

This is EXACTLY what I do! I might as well have written this myself. As if, "ok, I got a compliment...I can slack off and reward myself a little since I've made this progress." Lord knows I know this cycle and it IS HARD to get out of. The other week, I lost 3lbs in a week. Then turned right around and gained 8 in 2 weeks! Tell me how much sense that makes to do to myself! So I'm right there with you. It's like we get beat down so much by all we have to do that we really DO think, "whats the point?" But the point actually is that these small victories ARE the big victories! When someone who is, lets say, addicted to food or the act of eating...simply saying no to that extra bit on the plate is as hard as as drunk putting down the bottle. You ARE capable of losing weight, 2 sizes in a summer is awesome! :) People like you and I OWE it to ourselves to keep on and stop self sabotaging. Think of it like this too, our poor bodies have carried us so far with this extra weight. They've been troopers and hung in there so we can live to see the beauty around us, hug our family and friends, and just enjoy life. We owe it to ourselves to make ourselves FEEL GOOD. I know it's hard. I'm sittin here feelin bloated and just fat. But knowing that someone out there feels exactly like I do gives me a boost to WANT to try harder. I hope it does you as well :)

All....The.....Time......! Msg me when you find a solution or at least some good tips!

I need to lose at least 150 pounds. AT LEAST. I am totally overwhelmed anytime I think of it.

I am having difficulty getting around and I am hoping that will motivate me to get back to the gym. I'm very lucky, our wellness center is family oriented and has all types of people there so I don't experience as much self consciousness as I might at another facility.

I'm dealing with a bout of pretty disabling depression right now and just can't do anything about my physical health. BUT, medication changes and therapy are beginning next week, so, I am hoping I will at the very least start exercising very soon as I know it is helpful for both problems,

I have lost over or near 100 lbs 3 times only to gain it back. I can't count the smaller losses. I think it's my self image and the fight that I don't deserve to be happy or healthy that keeps success at bay.

I don't intend to diet. I'm hoping to make gradual changes (I am an emotional eater, Appetite is not an issue for me and have high hopes that getting help with the depression will help with the weight).

Like your experience, once I make progress, and get encouragement, I turn on the sabotage. As I said, for me I think a big part will be learning that I deserve to be healthy.

I can't look at all the weight I need to lose. I don't know if I will even weigh other than when I start. I'm thinking in the form of realistic life changes. It will be a new learning experience as well as how much willingness I can muster, Might fluctuate. Don't know. Hoping I will gain more willingness to put more effort into exercise and keep improving my eating choices. No plans right now of watching the scale. It takes a large amount of pounds before I can tell a difference in clothes and, before it took a while before I felt any benefits from exercise.

MY PLAN AS OF NOW IS TO UTILIZE THIS SITE AND THE SUPPORT IT OFFERS TO COMBAT THE EMOTIONAL EATING AND TO MAKE IT TO THE GYM. We are the only ones that can stop sabotaging ourselves but, this site can help us figure out why we do it and at the very least, is a way to distract ourselves when the crazy eating habits appear..

In my head, I'm saying make the changes I am willing as long as I am making positive changes, Shoot, at this point just adding vegetables and fruit to my diet will be an improvement. I can take as many small steps as I am willing. Hoping in time there will be many and I will accomplish a new way of eating. Same thing with exercise. I will make some kind of goal and if I surpass it at times, great. Just want to chip away at the time I spend sitting in my recliner.

It's my attitude towards myself that I will need this group for as well as a place to busy myself when the emotional eating monster attacks.

Hope we will both find our way to a healthier, happier life w/o letting ourselves give into discouragement if we take a step backwards on occasion. It's a new road to find our way with many paths to the same destination. We now have a magic tool in this site to keep us on the path that will work for us,

I always write books on site. Just can't say anything quickly. Given up on it! This is the first time I have written on this group in quite a while. I've been on the depression site and looked at your entry because a friend had responded. This is the first interest/hope I have felt about fighting for my physical health in so long. I tried to start exercising when I first found this place, but just couldn't do it. I had just told the first person I met in this group that I haven't given up. Now I think I really meant it.

Thanks to my friend for leading me to your post and thank you for sharing a problem that I have experienced over and over. We will make progress through these issues by utilizing this site. I truly believe we can make the changes we need to with positive reinforcement, knowledge and understanding this group offers us.

You have a head start on me! Hope to run into you on our journey to a healthier life!!!!!!!!

@hopelesss1955 I like how you were saying you are not intending to diet, but rather make gradual changes in how and what you are eating, I have tried dieting many times and I always get upset and discouraged when everyone else is eating stuff which I "can't" eat because of being on a diet. That mindset always leads me to going off the deep end completely blowing the diet...and usually gaining a pant size with it. I am personally going to try making a food change in intervals instead of dieting. Something's got to give and your idea sounds like a really good one!

@SereneNature I know what you mean about blowing it. Like I get so happy when people compliment me, but it seems like I always celebrate with food. It's something I really need to change, but it's a really hard cycle to break. I'm going to buy different things which I can use as "rewards" for myself which are not food related. I encourage you to do the same thing or find something you really like or want and try to use it as motivation. I personally want a tattoo, but I don't ever show enough skin where anyone would ever see it. I want to get to where I'm comfortable with my body so I can be okay with showing a little skin and showing off the tattoo I want,
You can always message me if you need someone to talk to,..about anything!

I see so much of myself in each of your responses. Thank you all for taking the time to read my post and respond with your own stories and thoughts.

As I said, I stay away from the scales as numbers trigger me, so I go by my clothing size. I don't know how much I weigh or how much I need to loose. I'm presently a size 24. I think I would be happy if I could even get to a point where I'm comfortable in my own skin. If I would have to describe myself as I see myself it would be "Jabba the Hut" from the Star Wars movie. Well, a tall Jabba the Hut .. I'm 5' 10".

I will take all of your positive ideas and suggestions and try to remind myself of them when the feelings of being overwelmed swamp me.

For 2014 I wish us all success in our journeys.

One day at a time is what I try to remember. I can't think of the total I need to lose (102 lbs) but have to think 10 lbs at a time and after I reach that goal 10 more which might take me a month or so. Lately sometimes nothing sounds good to eat but I have to make myself eat because I am a diabetic and because it is unhealthy not to eat.
If I see sweets I remember this:One is too many, a thousand not enough. That can be true with me.
Another OA slogan is: I won't starve to death between meals.
Sweets may taste good while eating it but it is harmful to my body afterwards. Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.
I never let go of anything that didn't have my claw marks all over it. That is how I am about sweets, they have my claw marks on them.
If I have a problem and eat over it, then I have two problems.
Food thoughts are just thoughts. You don't have to act on them. I have to think this when I am around things I shouldn't have at the store.
HALT (Don't get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired).
Honesty, openness, willingness. When making myself go to the Y to do water aerobics I have to say "whatever it takes."
Progress not perfection. Any progress is better then no progress.
There is no situation so bad that a compulsive bite can't make it worse.
I have to remember this one:: If you do what you have always done you will get what you have always gotten.
Wishing all of us sucess in the New Year 2014. We can do it.

Great Advice Ann!

I just want to thank everyone for this post and all the replies... I cried as I read it because I'm just so excited to have found a group of people who understand. I've never been able to share openly like this about my struggles with weight because I've always been to ashamed. This page is a miracle for me.

I am 270 and 5'11'' (my highest weight ever) and I have at least 130 pounds to lose. I get so overwhelmed just thinking about that number that I lose all hope. But not this time. We can do this, I can do this. Thank you all for being here! I'm so excited to grow, shrink, and learn with all of you!

Oh, I feel the same way! I need to lose about 80 pounds before I am considered "Healthy." I am always praised for any amount I lose but then I gain it right back!! I feel you. I just look for a friend and talk to them about the problem and usually they have an answer. :)

Everyone has such great ideas/plans!

As to eating, my goal is to eat only when I get hungry, and then to half what I put on the plate...eating half now and half later.

My other big thing I failed to mention is my avatar. I was taken almost 20 years ago!. It's my inspiration! That's the weight I want to get back to...140-145 lbs,

Kudos to everyone gearing up for exercise! That's awesome. Keep it up.

I wish I could, but the arthritis in my knee is all but debilitating.