I'm 42, and have struggles with my weight since about 22. 10 years ago I weighed 280 lbs and undertook a regimine I made up myself with daily meal plans and exercise and tracking calories, protein, fat, carbs. I did it for all of the wrong reasons. I thought "if only I was in perfect shape I'd be happy. My marriage issues would be solved, people would think different of me, etc. Over the course of 9 months I lost 100 lbs. Guess what...it didn't change any of those things. Actually, all areas of my life kind of collapsed (home, work, relationships, etc.).
Here I am 9 years later starting out at 306 and I'm doing my plan again. This time, for all of the right reasons. I made a list of my motives (live to see my young kids grow up, take care of my family, protect my family, feel good, have energy, play with my kids, play golf again, do yard work again, and be able to run again). I used to run 3 miles a day...haven't done that in the last decade. I really want to be able to run again so much that I dream about it.
I'm not doing it out of any unrealistic expectations. Life's challenges will still be there and be difficult no matter what size pants I'm wearing.
Within my first week here, controlling my diet and walking on the treadmill everyday, I've lost 9 lbs (297) and my blood pressure has gone from 145/88 pulse 99 to 130/73 pulse 65. That's seeing some progress for me.
I'm also doing 1500 cals a day. 35-40% from protein, 10-15% from fat, 50% from carbs with >50% carbs complex. This necessitated me doing a spreadsheet of a food database from info on the internet and a daily meal planner I copy items from one sheet to the other and it measures my numbers so I get a plan in my ranges. I track it in a sheet daily and track my exercise (time, miles, cals burned). I weigh once a week and take BP once a week and put on the tracking tool and graph my progress. It helps me identify times my body is adjusting and I don't get discouraged.
I also find music and art motivating for me.
Keep in touch. We all need some encouragement and motivation.