Hello! Just 4 days ago, I came across the couch to 5k plan. How did I come across it? That's a long story that I will keep short for the sake of your sanity:
About 2-3 years ago at the age of 18, I dropped from 290 to 225 mostly through fad diets like the mayo clinic diet and HCG. I knew these were quick weight loss plans and that's what drew me to them. I heard all the stories about "you need to count calories and exercise it's that easy". However, that kind of "negativity" fell on deaf ears. I needed to lose weight fast; I was about to go off to college. Well, I lost the weight(how about that haters!).
Reality soon hit! Once I reached 225, I thought I would take a break. The weight began to creep back up. Disappointments came, future hopes were violated, life happened, depression and anxiety that had plaqued me for the last 8 years of my life ramped up even worse. I never got back on track. The next two years I would gain all that weight back plus some to where I'm at now.... 300 lbs.(
a figure I never wanted to see). Over the last few months, my depression and anxiety(panic attacks) got to a place where I didn't even want to leave the house at all. I went on vacation and guess what I mainly stayed in the hotel while my family went out and "lived" life. I was alive but I wasn't living.
Over the past few months, I've been eating semi-healthy, but the anxiety continued. Then came a moment of reflection through all this. I looked around at my family one day and noticed there eating habits. There was no portion control. Whatever we wanted to eat we ate. If we got bored, guess what we would do? Eat. Then, like divine revelation, I heard those voices I heard years ago "all you need to do is count calories and exercies it's that easy". It all made sense. I could possibly lose 2-3 lbs a week and reach my goal eventually and in the process my anxiety/depression issues may leave. Why hadn't I don't this years earlier? Why hadn't I made a complete lifestyle change? Well, I can't do nothing about that now. All I can do is start! That's all it takes is to just start.
Well, I've started a "healthy" lifestyle. I got the C25K app and I'm eating a healthy calorie intake to sustain weight loss. I don't care how long it takes(8 months, 10 months, 12 months, or longer). It doesn't matter. I'm not interested in some huge goal at the moment. Of course its in the back of mind, but I'm more concerned about feeling good then looking good. I have a goal weight of 2-3 lbs a week(quite a far cry from my former goal weight of 7 lbs in 7 days.. one i fell short of many times).
Just a week ago, I was have anxiety issues. This week since I began running the past few days on this C25K plan. My head is clear. Anxiety is not there. I feel like I'm doing something that counts. Comfort eating never even felt this good. In fact, that would often leave me feeling empty and worthless. Running and eating healthy makes me feel alive! It's been a while since I've had this feeling. It's sort of addicting! I can't wait to see where this journey takes me. A lifetime journey! I'm in this for the long haul! 
Look forward to meeting the rest of you on this journey!