Size 4 jeans? Not even when I was a skinny teen. My bones alone would not fit in those. My ideal size that makes me happy is 12. I look just fine in a size 12, and I'm not unhappy with 14. I'm after health, not appearance.

I'm a bit miffed that you'd think the problem could be overlooked soft drinks or anything like that. As if anybody desperate to reach a healthy weight ever drinks sugary soft drinks — I literally never drink them. I don't even like them. I am a moderate drinker. I have a drink or two every couple of weeks in social settings. Usually whisky or red wine. Sugar and alcohol are not an issue.

I've had my thyroid tested about a million times. It always comes out fine. I cannot afford to spend any money on specialists.

No stimulants for me. I can tolerate a daily cup of coffee, but anything more and I'm jittery and miserable.

I've tried Intermittent Fasting, which meant an early dinner and nothing else until a late brunch. It did nothing for me at all.

Being kind does nothing for my knees, which I know will eventually give out if I do not manage to take off some weight. There are several good health reasons why I truly need to take off some weight. I am extremely motivated and have tried all the different ideas out there. The only thing that works is starving myself — eating a few hundred calories a day and taking really long bike rides. That will work, but I can't sustain it for long periods.

I'm straight up ENRAGED by all the people who like to smugly claim that fat people could be thin if they only ate better and exercised more. That's such bullshit.