[thedivahrrrself]

I very highly recommend watching HBO's Documentary series The Weight of the Nation. It features doctors who are researchers on the issue of obesity, and only features solutions that are statistically and clinically proven to work. (Hint: None of the current "diets" are proven to do anything but make you fatter.) It gives you simple steps to follow for real, long-lasting results.

I learned a lot from the first one. First, once you are smaller, you can never eat like a "normal" person again. Your metabolism will always be at your "set point", and you'll always have to take in less calories than your same-weight counterparts who never got big. Second, people who actually keep off weight do it by setting small goals and accomplishing those, not going on a big diet to lose a bunch of weight at once. Third, exercise will not really help you lose weight, but it is absolutely essential to keeping weight off. Fourth, stress and cortisol have a lot to do with why it's so hard to control cravings. Manage your stress, and you will manage your cravings.

I could go on and on, but I've been working toward some of the tiny goals suggested, and I'm doing well so far. I've eliminated all soda, juice, and all other drinks with sugar from my daily routine. Of course, this is only the beginning. I have a long way to go.