If you’ve ever been chubby or overweight, or “obese” according to your doctor, you know that the struggle is so real. For myself, it is extremely hard to find motivation to change my lifestyle. I feel uncomfortable trying on clothes, meeting new people, and eating in public. If you’re anything like myself and have felt the same way, you are not alone.

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression “don’t talk about, it be about it”. That couldn’t be more true. It’s easy to tell yourself that you’re going to go to the gym after work or school, or that you’re not going to get that mocha frappucino from Starbucks, but actually doing it is completely different. It is extremely difficult to change your ways, especially when this is how you’ve been for the majority of your life. But if you’re serious and determined, anything is possible.

When I was a kid growing up, I remember always being bigger. My parents tried to give me tough love but I always took it the wrong way and in the end, I’d make them feel bad for hurting my feelings. My freshman year of high school, I weighed 245 pounds. I knew then that I had to make a change. I gave up pop, candy, and ice cream for lent one year and was exercising regularly. Within six months the weight seemed to just slide off. My sophomore year of high school my weight dropped to 145-155 and I stayed that size through my senior year. I was so proud of myself and felt so good. Here I am five years later, weighing in at 230 pounds and feeling like shit every day.

I’m writing this not only for myself but for other people who feel the same way I do. Men and women--we both go through it. It is so hard to make a change. Even the little changes will make a big difference after a couple weeks. This article is not to shame anyone so please, don’t get the wrong idea. This article is, however, to give anyone who is struggling, some tough love. Make a change. Get off your ass and do something about it! I can guarantee if you don’t change whatever it is that’s bothering you, it isn’t going to just go away.

I don’t have the most room to talk, believe me. I let my body go after high school, when my father died, and when I went through a break up with my boyfriend of seven years. I recently tore my ACL, medial and lateral meniscus, and fractured my tibia in September. If anything, I could have let this event push me back, but that would have just been another excuse to limit myself. I need to just suck it up and deal with it and lose the weight. I realize now, that the only way I'm going to stop feeling this way, is to take care of matters now before it gets worse.

If there is something about yourself that you don’t like, most of the time YOU can change it! It will be extremely difficult at first. I start a “diet” every week but my problem is that I never stick with it and I have no motivation. Today is the day I actually stick to my diet for myself. For anyone struggling with similar situations, I am here for you and I believe in you. Believe in yourself even when it gets hard. Do it for yourself, not for other people.