[fatass]

> It takes decades for the bad nutrition, lack of exercise, too much sugar, smoking, etc. to do their damage.

Well what if those decades were your childhood? I've been fat since the day I was born, because I was a child of a lazy welfare queen who thought food equals bag of potato chips a day. I dropped out of high school and went on to sick leave because of severe sleep apnea. (Slept 0-4 hours a night, I had so much fat on my body that it blocked my breathing in certain positions and the weight on my lungs caused them not to work properly.)

My future was already ruined because of malnutrition and the only thing I have left is sitting at home on my computer. I've already disowned my mother, but it won't bring my health back. Just the thought that I have to work on my body the rest of my life and it still won't be presentable just makes me want to kill myself.

[dspillett]

> Well what if those decades were your childhood?

Then you are starting with a massive disadvantage, there is no way to sugar coat it.

But unless you are properly knocking on death's door it is never too late to start improving things. It can be surprising how quickly you can make small change with a little determination, and how quickly small changes add up, and how much each small change can motivate the effort for the next, especially if you can avoid being completely derailed by the occasional set-backs (that will happen).

If your condition is as bad as it sounds then consult a trained medical person if you can rather than relying on tips from the Internet - they may be able to provide you with a plan specific to your needs that will jump start your progress safely (on the Internet you'll find many ways to jump start progress that may be unsafe either generally or specifically for someone in your current condition).

[pestaa]

There's zero harm in taking care of your body now. Any progress is good progress.

It's only part of the equation though. For a healthy body you also need a healthy mind. If childhood mistreatments still haunt you, ask for professional advice. Nobody wants to live in the shadow of their parents.

[MichaelGG]

If you're really so far overweight that you have to "work the rest of your life" to be presentable, then seek a doctor's advice. They can (legally!) give you powerful medications (in the US, methamphetamine) which can drop weight very quickly.

Not that weight is the only health metric, but it seems to be one you are complaining of. Nor is medicating perhaps the best way to lose weight, but it's powerful and might give you motivation to keep at it once you get some easy losses.

[forgotten]

Have you ever thought about writing a blog about your childhood experiences? One experience per post. It would make for a riveting and informative read. Then make it into a book. I even have a good name for it.

If you're interested or want to discuss the idea further, email me. My contact info is in my profile.

P.S. I'm not a publishing magnate or VC, just a guy who writes and has lots of ideas. I see a promising idea here.

[aytekin]

Watch Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead movie. Not for the diet recommended in the movie, but for inspiration.

[mkesper]

You need professional help!

[mindcrime]

Well what if those decades were your childhood?

That's unfortunate, but luckily a lot of the damage that we do to our bodies can be reversed. No matter where you are, you're almost certainly better off if you start eating right, exercising, etc., today.

As others have said, seek medical advice if you think it's necessary. If your health is so bad that you think you aren't capable of working out and what-not, get a medical professional involved if possible.

And consider that "working out" doesn't necessarily mean going to a gym, wearing weird clothes, doing crazy contortions, lifting weights, etc. I can be as simple as walking 30 minutes around your neighborhood.