Hi,
I'm 23 5'8" and weigh 278lbs. I've been overweight since I was five.

I've tried just about every diet there is since I was ten. I've found that the really restrictive diets work well right up until I break and binge. And the not so restrictive diets don't seem to work at all.

I like to exercise but have a tendency to over do it on Monday and then use that as an excuse to stay on the couch Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, then of course it's the weekend and "Who exercises on the weekends? I'll make it up first thing on Monday." So I start the wonderful cycle over again.

I need to lose quite literally half of myself, I've recently taken a job at a preschool and I find it hard to keep up with the kids, plus there is no honesty in the world like the honesty of four-year olds. My self-esteem can't take much more.

I have a history of diabetes in the family, and a terrible phobia of needles. I also just found out that it will be extremely difficult if not impossible for me to have children in part because of my weight, something that was extremely devastating to find out at the ripe age of 23.

I'm here to both get and give support, motivation, and hope.

We're in the same boat--I too am in my early 20s (22), 5'8", from a family full of health problems, and a newly minted preschool teacher. I also start each week with ambition & good intentions, only to take a break ... and stay on it. Let's do better for ourselves.