Hey everyone! I CRIED when I first found this website because it was a dream come true. I am 29 years old and when I was 19 years old I was a nice little 145 pounds. Still on the higher end of the scale but it felt right on me and I am sure interested in being back there. I tipped the scales this year at 270 pounds which means I am 125 pounds off.

Since it's taken me ten years to get here, I am dividing my weight loss goals into years. Saying "I need to lose 125 pounds" sounds absolutely awful. Saying "I need to lose 12.5 pounds" sounds much more manageable!

1999- 257.5
2000- 245
2001- 232.5
2002- 220
2003- 207.5
2004- 195
2005- 182.5
2006- 170
2007- 157.5
2008- 145

There! That looks easy! (groan)

Anyway, I am Amy, I am here to give and take some of this great support and hope we all get where we are going.

It took me a minute to figure out what you meant, but I think that's a great way to break it down.

I'm in the same boat. Ten years ago, I weighed 155. This time, I'm ultimately shooting for 150, but it's just too much to look at all at once. My doctor told me he only expects "a pound of flesh a week." So my first mini-goal is 52 lbs. in 52 weeks. I'm not even *thinking* about the other 68 pounds after that!

You can do this.

Hey there! I am back again too to do this once and for all.... I've got 79 lbs more to go to hit 150. I'm literally working my butt off. I am serious this time. Good luck to you!

Amy, welcome! Our stats are similar. I was 140-145 when I was 19, too. I am older than you are (39) but I spent TEN YEARS being morbidly obese, with a high in 2007 of 278 pounds. I'm doing pretty good, the pounds are coming off and I blog about my feelings and experience. I LOVE this site too! You can do it Amy. Glad to have you here!

I am so glad to have you here! I think your logic and motivation are inspiring

Amy!! I am glad you found the site, too. You can do this!! One step/pound at a time.

Amy,
I do think that is a great way to look at things! None of got to being where we are/were overnight, yet we all want to *poof* loose all the weight immediately. When I was just starting my journey I had to really change my mentality. In prior "diets", I had gotten frustrated and quit if I "only" lost 5 pounds in a month. HELLO!?!?! If you lose 5 pounds a month AND KEEP GOING you can lose 60 pounds in a year! Once I could wrap my head around that fact, it helped me to look forward. And here I am today.........happy and thin for the first time in decades.....

Welcome to the group!!! I love how you have broke down your goals...VERY clever!!!

LOL! It took me a minute to figure it out too, but that was a smart way to put it! Great success to you! Hope to hear from you more!

Hello Amy!
Our stats are remarkably similar too. I am 33, weigh 270 and need to get to 145.
This place has kept me motivated. I have found all sorts of information, empathy, sincerity and laughter here to keep me going. I know you will too.

Welcome to the group

to the group!
I'm 29 too...soon to be 30
10 years ago , i was 121 lbs...i'm in the same boat too!
I'm so glad you found us too !
Amy YOU CAN DO IT!

tolose 85 glad to see you again !

I dont think I was ever 145! Good luck with your journey.