First of all examining my friends. My best friend is not at all fat, she wears a size 8. I wear a 18-20. Then I thought of other friends and while some are larger like me, many aren't. My obesity came directly from hypothyrodism and not being diagonosed with it right away in fact it took doctors seven years to figure it out. My blood tests didn't show it but other things did. Then medical doctors didn't give me the full treatment so though I maintained and didn't die from heart failure I didn't lose weight and I didn't feel well either. Finally about a year ago I fired my medical doctor and went to a naturopath. He put me on a high protein, low carb diet. Lots of fruits and veggies allowed. I lost 26 pounds in six months. Then I hit a plauteu for four months. Now I am losing inches but putting on muscle and so gained some weight. Exercise is important as well. In addition to the high protein diet my ND put me on adreniline capsules four a day, pituitory and thyroid. I also take L-Caritine, L-Glutimine and L-Arginine daily as well. I am slowly losing weight. I have a long long way to go yet. but I was a size 24-26. I am down to 18-20. I have to pace myself and not overdo. Recently we bought an above ground pool. My hubby is outside finishing the area to put it up and we will have it up by tomorrow. My doctor wants me to exercise with water arobics twice a day for 30 minutes. I also walk three times a week. In the winter when we cannot use the pool I will be using my exercise ball. I hope to get to a size 12 in 18 months and a size 10 in 24 months. I have a good support group with my daughter and grandkids and hubby. I have to pace myself though cause I do have arthritis of the knees and hips which is why the swimming is going to help and I have fibromyalgia. I know I can do it and I do sometimes have cake or ice cream or cookies. Doc said it is allowed for special occassions. Just go back on my diet the next day and I do. Being able to make protien shakes helps a lot. A lot of the food I like I get to eat. I love chicken and eat all I want and I love trout and salmon. I love eating watermelon and cantalope and tomatoes and peppers and salads. He said most medical doctors don't treat thyroid problems fully they only give you thyriod knowing you need pituitory and adrenaline as well and most only keep you on the lowest dosage possible so you don't have heart failure but you don't lose weight and you feel tired still. They get kick back. I was spending $30 a month on thyroid meds and the kept raising the price every other month. Now raw thyroid for 90 days costs me $17.00 and pituitory and adrenaline $15.00 for sixty days. I am much healthier than I was a year ago and lighter and smaller.