What to do and where to start?

[ScottMorrison]

I'm a 17 year old male and I'm 186 pounds and around 5'8. I know I'm overweight and I need to start losing it. If not to look good then for my health. I want both.

My family is barely on the line between homeless and poor. We live in a very bad trailer and eat the cheapest food we can buy. Which I know will cause problems to me in the future. It's been like this my whole life but I want to start taking the better road for my health. I don't want to end up like my parents who are both very sick and unhealthy.

I'm ready and willing to try anything if it's affordable. If not I'll try my best as much as I can.

Where can I start? What do I need to eat? If anyone can help me out I would be so happy because it tears me up inside thinking about unhealthy I am.

[Paxiled]

First of all, from your height you're not that far overweight -- it's not like you're a hundred pounds overweight.  To properly drop the 30 pounds you probably need to lose you need to do it slowly.  Cheap food isn't necessarily bad food or fattening food; there are also programs for people through charities, the gov't and religious groups to help get you to sources of healthier food.  I don't know if your parents are willing to do this, but if you are, the first thing you might do is see if there's a food coop anywhere you can get to where you can volunteer.  Or you can try getting a job at a grocery or health food store.  Two reasons for this:  you get a discount for doing this, and these places throw out or donate a lot of good healthy food and employees usually get first dibs.  You might have to work to find your solution, but it's out there and you're young and strong so you can do these things.  

[Paxiled]

And I hope you're exercising or playing so you're burning off some of what you're eating.

[smilemore23]

First of all, don't stress about the situation your in now. That's how most people gain weight, by stressing out. You shouldn't worry about what brand of food you eat when you try to loose weight. When I lost 30lbs I just ate healthier, balanced meals. Lay off chips and soft drinks, and candy. Those are things that don't benefit you. Also, excerxise more often. Many people think that's loosing weight can happen if you just eat right, but that is not the case. You also need to eat to lose weight, you can't just eat a little food then only excersise. The most important thing is to stay positive, and if you work for it, it will happen.