[monster]

I wholly recommend swimming (and food intake control). I took up swimming this year and it has been excellent. I've lost a little weight without changing my diet (about 2lb per month, starting at 175), and I'm so much fitter and toned, so some of the weight seems to have moved from the flabby areas to the limbs. So I look like I've lost twice as much weight as I have.

You say you worry about what people think when you swim?

1) stuff them. could you feel a whole lot worse? Why let them make you feel that way?
2) join an adult swim program. You're old enough and you will find that no-one will care about your size. Kids are cruel, adults are in the same boat.

As for the rest of it, tell us about your current diet. What do you eat and when? and why? Do you snack while watching TV? stop watching. Get addicted to the internet instead. if you're using your hands to type, it's hard to use them to eat. etc.

But above all, you've got to really want to do it, and to really want to do it you need to think about what your life will be like when you're thinner. What will you do? What excuses will you no longer be able to use? What are your excuses for not losing weight now? (I'm not dissing you here -everyone has excuses) For example, some people use being overweight as a mask for shyness. If you are shy, how are you going to deal with this when you no longer have your weight to hide behind? If you don't have an answer to this, it gives you an excuse for not losing weight. etc.

Good luck, you're doing well so far.