To think that I'll never actually lose weight

[Foolytoo]

Around three years ago I started gaining weight it was after a bad illness and I think that may have been what started it off. I have gained 4 stone and am now have gained 6 stone in total ( maybe more )

I am so sick of thinking and talking about losing weight. Very depressed about the fact that I walked to work today in a black wooly jumper despite the heat. Why have I done this to myself, why can't I just lose weight ?!
Another summer wearing scarves and jumpers to cover myself.
I wear leggings all the time as jeans are too uncomfortable I am so unhappy and I have tried so many times to lose weight and I am just a joke. I feel so stupid keep talking about losing weight, trying and then giving up.
If it was drugs or alcohol I would think that id have a very serious addiction.
Just wish I'd sort my self out feeling very shit and disgusting today.

Any tips that will actually give me the motivation to do something?!? What was other people's turning point ?

I agree that exercise doesn't help much in weight loss per se. It's more that it keeps you healthy and makes you feel better in general so maybe it indirectly helps keeps cravings at bay (also means you are doing something else rather than eating!) I find that anyhow, it kind makes me feel better in myself IYKWIM which helps in general.

Main thing for me was alcohol and portion size and just too many weekend treats in general!

Go to slimming world, and keep at it. Its a great support.
I have lost 2.5 st in 6 months after being overweight for years. Yes it's slow progress but I'm still losing 1lb a week or so.
You need to change your mindset about food and what to eat. SlimmingWorld has helped me to do this.

I understand. You know what to do and how to do it, have even done it in the past, but can't make yourself do it now!

I agree with all the advice above. Just lending support, plus these tips have worked for me in the past to get in the zone. Once the weight starts falling off it's quite easy to keep going and change your habits about accordingly. So, to get started (first month?):

Drink more water - get 3/4 small bottles of water, stand them where you see them often, decide to make yourself get through them each day.

Pick a selection of food which makes you feel satisfied when you eat it, comes in a 'portion' which you can eat all of, but which adds up to not too much calories. Eat it every day for a meal if you want to if it pleases you and stops you feeling deprived. (At the mo with me it's a whole small tub of low fat cottage cheese or a banana and peanut butter smoothie or a choc slim fast for lunch). Then small light meal for evening.

I know it's a painful old method - but a pic of you on the fridge or just inside your diary or somewhere you'll catch sight of it often enough to stop you nibbling.

Long walks in the evening.

Start looking after your appearance in other ways - more skin care/hair care/nail care ect. It can 'snowball' into motivation.

Good luck

OP- I have been in your position, it is horrible and you feel judged and worthless...uncomfortable in your own skin even. It is perfectly understandable, weight is such an individual emotional subject.

'The Beck Diet Solution' book was recommended to me on MN & it has helped me enormously with the emotional side of weight loss and getting your head in the right place.

You do little exercises such as target setting, and planning how to deal with emotional situations or times you are likely to self-sabotage. For example I have written a list of why I want to lose weight and keep it in my purse and look at it if I feel like falling of the wagon.

As PP have said, you cannot out exercise a poor diet.

I hear you and I was where you were 5 years ago. What worked for me as one PP said is looking at the number on the scales and deciding I never wanted to see it again.

Like you, my weight gain started off with a long illness and as side effect of meds but after that I just made excuses till I decided that I loved myself too much to do this. What worked for me as a numbers geek is to have a fitness tracker. I recorded every lick of food I ate in MFP and obsessively tracked calories burnt. You wont lose weight untiil calories burnt > calories consumed.

Also tracking food meant I saw the times of the day when i was prone to binge eating or what foods were the calorie drainers.

Most important be realistic - it took you years to get to this size it wont go overnight. It took me 14 months to go from size 16 to a 8 and I have been managing it for close to 4 years now :)

You can do it - just need to be patient and make life long changes not quick fixes.