Hello everyone...

Let's see, I have always been 5-10lbs above what I would like to be as long as I can remember. I was always a chubby kid (hey, I loved to eat...what can I say). My parents, at least since I was born, were very fitness-focused and went to the gym every day; I started going on-and-off when I was maybe 12/13 or so. I would go through bouts of eating healthy and exercising, but not long enough to lose any weight, so I would get discouraged and return to not really caring. I have always known the right things to do, but could never force myself to implement them. Overall, my appearance has always been the core of my low self-esteem; I was never truly depressed but have always been slightly insecure, which prevents me from going after what I want sometimes. This is the main reason why I want to finally commit myself to a lifestyle change that will improve my health and boost my confidence!

Additionally, once I got to college, I gained more weight due to overeating in the dining hall and not hitting the gym outside of the required P.E. classes. I am finishing my second year of studies and planning to go abroad junior year, and I'll be darned if I leave the States in the sorry shape I'm in now!

So that's my story so far - I hope to find support here in achieving my goal, and I am eager to support others as well! I think we all know how tough it is to take care of ourselves, no matter what size we are.

Hi, My name's Rachel, and Im 16 years old. I dont know if anyone knows kilograms but I'm in Australia so I don't use pounds. I've always been a little tubby and I'm sick of it. People tell me I'm perfect weight but they're not the ones who see me under my school clothes. Our school graduation is coming up in 4 months and all I need is to lose about 7 kg. I've actually been trying to lose weight for 4 years now but lack of motivation is really the key.

I'm trying out the Fat Smash diet; at first I didn't know what foods were included as I don't have (but want) the book (I'm not allowed to buy off the net), and was only eating fruit and vegies and it was KILLING me. Now, however, it's fantastic that I now know we can have more than that!

I'm desperate to lose a little weight, but it's hard because I feel constantly, and I mean constantly tired. I'm seeing my doctor but he doesn't know why. Apparently I have a curve in my back perhaps its making me sleep uneasily. I constantly dream and wake up tired. I'm hoping a fitter body will lead to a better sleep.

Anyway enough rambling on,

It's nice to meet everyone.

Well, I was here before, and reached goal and then got pregnant and gained 55 lbs. Now I am struggling to get it off again. I am carrying all my weight in my belly, which is unhealthy and I hate it. I have two girls, 4 and 6 months, I live in Montreal and I am an early childhood educator. That's about it.
Dana

hey all, I am somewhat new here although I must say Im settling in

there is not much to my story ( I say that and then type a book ) ... I was always very thin all growing up I was "treated" for anorexia ( even though I wasn't it was my body not wanting to gain no matter what or how much I ate ) in 7th grade ... my 7th grade teacher passed me because of it despite me failing!.... I continued to be this way into high school in which time it started again with the anorexia harassment from everyone ..my bf's , my friends, my friends parents my teachers and guidance counselor .. I think the only one who knew and understood it was not soemthing I was doing was my mom ( because she fed me ! haha I ate like a horse and I LOVED mcdonalds as a teen ) what teen doesn't??? I met my husband at 16 turning 17 at which time I was around 89-95lbs ... he hated it he complained I looked sick and bony.. we ate fast food almost everyday and still nothing lol! ( although he regretted it getting a pooch himself ) . FINALLY at 18 turning 19 I got pregnant with our first son and at the age of 19 I finally hit 100lbs it was horrible I was so used to being thin ALL my life I cryed allt hrough my pregnancy untilla bout 5 months in when I just gave up and accepted that I was pregnant and gonig to be fat ! then 105 came then 135 then 150 then 175 you get the idea the lbs just FLEW On my entire pregnancy all I did was eat and sleep ( or lay in bed reading a book or mag) the WHOLE 9 months by the time I was in my last month of pregnancy I was 190 lbs !!!! 2 of me!!! I could barley walk or move or roll in bed or anything ... some kind of nerve got pinched off which it made it extremely painful to move my leg at all ... I couldn't lift my leg to put pants on or anything I was basically bed ridden ... depsite being very pregnant and the large belly ( my son wanted elbow room ) and the doctors telling me the nerve was being pinched off by the babies head .. I knew a lot of my torture was due to the weight I had gained.... my OB started sending me to a nutritionist and giving me a meal plan ( they feared my risk for gestational diabetes ) I had to switch to skim or 2 % milk switch from butter to margarine etc etc... eventually my son was born .. and I sat at around 175-180lbs at 19 years old.. I felt miserable physically and mentally and self worth or confidence I had dropped to 0 ( I always pictured me and my baby like the pictures in the baby magazines .. I would be skinny and vibrant and my baby would be the cutest baby in the world ! yeah right!!!) and to make matters worse I suffered extreme PPD which didn't help and my "pregnancy appetite" was not subsiding .. I continued to eat and do whatever I pleased and not think about anything I told myself " I need to sleep when baby sleeps" ( which was ALL the time lmao ) I wanted to be thin again and lose weight but told my self it would be IMPOSSIBLE.... well it wasn't apparently because 4 years later I was that mom I wanted to be .. my son was 4 cute as can be and I was 94lbs again!! wearing my size 4 I was loving it .... I would go though all my clothes in different sizes and amaze myself at the transformation ... but the thing is I do not know whathappened between 180-94 lbs because I never did anything I never dieted I never tryed to lose weight ... I ate all the same stuff ( fast food and junk and frozen meals ) the only thing that changed really is we started eating dinner in our apt more .. I was a mom now and a wife so I started learning how to cook dinner ( we knew we couldn't be teens anymore eating fast food everynight bummer! ) and my appetite finally subsided .. I was eating less times a day and less amounts .. and that was about it.... well about 3 months into my excitement of being skinny again I find out I am pregnant with #2 I told myself " NO WAY am I letting the first time repeat itself" I was gonna stay healthy and thin " well I really good , my doctor always said "perfect !! not to much not to little".... (I was 5 months in and 120 lbs not to shabby! ) but it wasn't because I was doing anything right.... my husband and I seperated with intent of divorce in my 6 month I was so incredibly bed strucken depressed I could not eat anything I couldn't do anything physically my family took turns staying with me and helping care for my 4 yr old while I layed in bed crying feeling sorry for myself and not eating .... I knew it was bad and I had to suck it up so I did .. when he was born I was a healthy 140 lbs (my husband and I called off the divorce and got back together in my last month of pregnancy.... ) I do NOT know what happened but those 4 days I was in the hospital following his birth I gained 35lbs!!!!!!!! and I don't know how because my husband I were extremely sick vomiting and such the entire 4 days I didn't keep any food down .... you figure water weight? I know some of it was my foot swelled like a ballon a few days after returning home but the rest of it stuck with me all this time minus about 15lbs of it ...
So I went into the hospital weighing 140 lbs and came out weighing 175 ..went in a size 10 came out 4 days later a size 18 ( not kidding I couldnt put my pants back on lol ) I got down to 160 eventually .. then we moved out of our apartment into our awesome house a year later and I got down to 150 .... I was 150 untill about 6 days ago ( for a year ) when I decided to FINALLY do soemthing about it for the 3rd time since he was born now I'm down to 143!! someday I hope to be 105 but even if I got back to 120 I would be very greatful! and that is my super long life story

Rachel, you will be annoyed at me for saying this but make sure you are careful as you are young to be on a diet. Please eat cheese or other calcium so you don't damage your bones! And maybe have a word with the family doctor to make sure you are dieting safely. I don't know what fat smash is but it sounds rather drastic.

Apart from that I wish you lots of luck. I wish I'd started eating sensibly and exercising at your age, then I wouldn't have to be on a diet now (I'm 25).

I'm new to 3fc, well sort of. I was here before a while ago, and just returned. Anyway, here's my story.

I was one of those lucky girls who never had to worry about my weight. I would eat and eat and never gain a pound. I was always around 110-115. Then I remember when I hit my 30's all of a sudden it was more like 120-125. When I was at 128 I remember thinking I would go crazy if the scale ever topped 130. Then I was diagnosed with candida (a yeast infection in my gut) and was put on a strict regimine of no sugar or yeast for 6 months. I lost 18 pounds and got back down to 110 (and a size 4) again. It was amazing how much different that 18 pounds made. I had my "young" body back again. But it was short lived. I was diagnosed with depression and was put on anti-depressant medications. That's when the weight started to pile on. Within a year I was up to 148! I took myself off the drugs and still couldn't lose the weight, which depressed me even more, so I went back on 'em. Last year I was determined to get my life (and my body) back, so I slowly weaned myself from the meds last summer/fall. But it wasn't until this spring that I finally got the motivation to do something about my weight. I was in a very stressful job and no motivation to change my eating habits or start an exercise routine. Then in March I started a new job and my weight loss efforts were kick-started. It's been 13 weeks and I've lost 13 pounds so far! I started at 144 and am currently at 131. My goal is 120, so I am over halfway there.

I use a recumbent bike that hubby bought me for Christmas 3-4x/week for 48 minutes, then do about 15 minutes of strength training with some 5-8 lb. dumbbells and an ab slide. I also try to keep my calorie intake between 1200-1400/day. My weakness is red wine, so I have limited myself to only having some on weekends.

hey everyone! I'm new here and I guess I count as a featherweight so I'll share my story here

In high school I was 130 at the absolute highest, and that weight was only brought on by the pounds associated with the bc pill and antidepressants. I played a bunch of sports and was always active, but that changed when I got to college and no longer had a coach telling me I needed to go run. I've slowly but steadily put on 20-30 lbs, and when I saw the scale hit 149 I immediately began a diet/exercise regimen because I refuse to let myself see 150 on the scale!!

I'm hoping to be in the mid 130s by the time classes start back up in August (I'm about to be a senior in college) and my final goal for now is around 127 or 128 . . .but when I get there we'll see if I want to go lower.

I've always had a very muscular build (it runs in the family. . my mom was a gymnast and her nickname in highschool was hercules. . .my dad's nickname was watermelon calves and was in the 2nd highest weight class for triathalons) so I understand that the scale will always show me a number a bit higher than some of my other vertically-challenged counterparts....but because of it I'm scared to bulk up (yes, my muscles WILL bulk up more than what I want them to do no matter what people say about women not having the make up for bulkiness. You should've seen my thighs from all the lunges I did in track for triple jumping!!). I'm going to focus on cardio with a little bit of circuit training with light weights and lots of reps.

As a college student, my biggest downfall is alcohol. It's going to be really hard for me to convince myself to go to the gym every day instead of primping with my roommates/sorority sisters for whatever bar/club they're going to that night

Anyway, I'm 4 lbs down and hopefully will be able to keep it up!

Hi Everyone!

I'm pretty new around here so I figured I'd hop on the wagon and tell my story. I'm just going to copy and paste my story from the my main introduction thread.

I was very thin up until the age of 19 (age 19 I was around 115 and toned and wouldhave described myself as very athletic), I lived in the U.S for the summer and gained about 20 lbs, when I went home I lost most of the weight, in Scotland we walk much more and I think we eat a little healthier. Anyway, I came back out to the U.S about five and a half years ago and somehow I gained about 70 lbs. I was unhappy with my weight but, never did anything about it until I saw myself in a picture with my boyfriend when he came home after an eight month deployment, I had bought a pretty dress and I didn't feel like I looked that great in it but, to my horror, when I seen the pictures of me in the dress from my boyfriends homecoming I was mortified and disgusted with myself, I felt like I looked like a beached whale! Enough was enough so that very next day I started to work out and completely changed my eating habits. I've lost 60 lbs and I have increased my self esteem, which I love. I'm just bummed I didn't take the leap sooner, I spent way too many years hiding in a tankini at the beach, avoiding social situations such a pool parties or trips to the lake house, covering up with my towel, feeling frustrated in fitting rooms, feeling ignored. I was so self conscious. I'm so thrilled to be almost at my goal though! It's taken me almost a year to lose the 60 lbs but, to my defense I did move across the country, change jobs and have numerous guests in town :P

I plan on training for a half marathon when I reach my weight loss goal.

I really enjoy this site!

Hello,
I posted this in another forum but today I discovered what 'Featherweights' meant LOL, and so here I am. I will repost my initial message. It is great to have such a wonderful support. See you all when I return from France in two weeks. That's when I plan to focus on my goals.
**intial message**

Hello everyone,
I have been surfing this site for a few months now on a somewhat regular basis. I am on holiday (teacher) and so I thought that this might be a good time to 'sign up'. I am 29 years old, and recently married last summer. In my past years I have bounced from being very fit and active to inactive and eating anything and everything. I have on the past year gained about 10-15 pounds. I have seen this happen to many of my friends and I am trying to do something about this before it gets too out of control.
I am not obese but do not feel great about myself. I know that some might feel like I really have no place here but i honestly would like to get healthy again and eat a whole lot better.
I eat a lot, I have no real boundaries with food. i can eat a full dinner and then another 2 dinners before bed.
I hope that i find the strength to get fit and healthy as weight health issues run in my family.
I am on Vacay for most of August (out of country) so it may be hard to start this now but at least if i make a choice I know that when my routine gets back in order *September) I have a plan.
Sorry for the rambling, maybe I should just make a blog lol

These stories are so great, very inspirational.

Of course, like any teen I thought I was fat. Looking back I wasn't at all and I'd give my right arm to have my 24" waist back!!

I went to Uni 10 years ago and put on weight due to poor food choices. I distinctly remember working in Pizza Hut for a couple of semesters. I had to provide my own uniform and bought a pair of UK size 10 black cords (see I told you I wasn't fat!). They fitted for oooooh about a fortnight when I had to go and buy the next size up. We were given free pizzas on shift and free pizzas to take home (my dorm loved me).

When I graduated I was porky. Then I discovered full time work and loads of spare cash. I spent my free time socialising - eating and drinking out.

So following Uni I put on another stone (14lbs). A holiday snap shocked me into losing weight and I went from 160lbs to 126 in just under a year. I was approached by a slimming magazine after visiting a stand at the Olympia Vitality Show (eyes left), but by that time I was 130lbs, however the photo shoot was amazing and I was very pleased with the results.

I am studying for another degree and working full time and more weight went on when I had a very stressful exam & coursework time in my life!

I am so determined to get back to 126lbs and on to target. I joined WW last week for the final (and last) push.

I suppose I can describe myself as a Yo-Yo dieter, but so far WW seems to have instilled some very good eating habits in me. I also have my picture to remind me that I can do it, because I HAVE!

Lou

I feel like I am talking to myself reading some of these posts.

I was always (according to my mom) a "solid" girl. I remember wanting to lose weight in the fourth grade - foreshadowing an eating disorder as a teenager.

Since my high school years my weight has fluctuated anywhere from 125 to 155 - stabilizing in the last three years to 140. I have two children, so of course there was the whole pregnancy weight, which actually came off quite easily.

Long story short, I am very muscular and, well, "solid". I hold my weight well as it is evenly distributed over my whole body. I simply don't like how I feel at this weight. I LOVE how trim, agile, and fit I feel at 125-130.

My dear supportive husband LOVES my body. He associates me weighing less with looking sickly b/c I when I was in the hospital about 5 years ago (in a coma - a story perhaps for another day), I came out a sickly 125. I want to be 125-130 pounds of MUSCLE, ladies!

I joined this forum b/c I need accountability. And I know nobody here will tell me "you don't NEED to lose weight" or, "have you thought that maybe this is where your body naturally wants to be?" (bless dear hubby's heart).

This is obviously where my body wants to be naturally - which means that I need to change my eating habits and activity levels to reset my "thermostat" to see change!

One more thing - I'd be interested in talking w/ anyone who has dealt w/ chronic yeast issues. Lil Misfit - how were you diagnosed? I suspect I have issues in this arena, too.

Thanks for listening!

Hello

I suffer form Candida Albicans (yeast overgrowth in the gut) every so often.

I have found that cutting out sugar, white pasta & rice and those things that seem to convert straight to sugar like cereals & bread.

I take a herbal Anti-Candi supplement, garlic capsules from my local health food shop.

I have discovered a useful site:
(removed as I haven't done enough posts! but it was a UK Candida website)

and I also have a book of 100 superfoods by Dr Van Straaten. Avocado is anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-biotic. A real healing food, but quite heavy in cals & (mostly good) fats.

Good luck with your weight-loss mission. It's lovely having a man who thinks you are perfect the way you are, but it doesn't help the weightloss missions!

Lou

i'm new to the site. these stories are great and I think what I have been needing...some support and people that can relate to the self-loathing that results from being 20 lbs over weight. kind of ridiculous when I think about it...but i sure waste a lot of time thinking about being thinner, only to turn around and eat something that's bad for me.

I think this site will help me stick to a plan. I have gained 15 lbs in the past year...I should weigh around 130 and I'm now at 150! nothing fits. elastic is my friend.

louise: thanks for the good info. Did you bother actually getting a diagnosis for the candida, or is it something that you found out by experimentation? I know I have some sugar "issues", I am just not sure specifically what they are. I have certainly found that when I am on a healthy-eating spree (lots of veges, lean proteins, no refined foods) I lose any cravings for carbs or sweets. I just haven't been able to maintain it long enough that my chronic yeast infections cease to exist.

oh, and trishpix: welcome. I am new as well. Best wishes to you! I am convinced this sight will help me stay on track - 130, here we come!