Hi! So I'm kind of new to the boards (well, not really. I signed up a long time ago, but have only been a lurker since––and I have to say that even though I've stayed silent, you guys have helped me tremendously).

Anyway, I've been working on weight loss for the past 8 months or so (since I moved back in with my parents after graduating), and it's been going fairly well. A couple bumps, but mostly good.

But I'm moving cross-country (Ohio to California) in about a week, and besides the normal stress accompanying such an endeavor, I'm absolutely terrified about what will happen to my weight loss during the transition. With my parents, I was able to control everything, and it was easy--we have an elliptical in the house, I do the family grocery shopping (so I was able to pick healthy food for the house and they paid for it)...it was made in the shade.

Now I have to find a gym. Scratch that, first I have to find an APARTMENT (and a roommate--terrifying!), and then find a gym close to it. Not to mention getting motivation to GO to a gym rather than just the next room (it's hard enough just doing that). Also, I KNOW this will throw my eating off for weeks, and I'm scared I'll revert back to how I was. Heck, the past couple of weeks have been so stressful just thinking and planning for this that I've eaten too much. I can't help but feel doomed.

On a more personal, irrational, note, I'm scared of joining a gym. I'm moving to LA, and I'm still pretty big. I'm scared that no matter what gym I join, it will be filled with fit, beautiful people and that I'll stick out like a sore thumb.

So my question is, has anyone else moved while they were trying to lose weight? How did you fair with the change and the stress?

Sorry about the rambling. I just couldn't stop!

I'm willing to bet that even LA has overweight people living there.

I can't help with any of your questions, but I wanted to remind you that being conscientious of a possible slip up is a good first step in avoiding it. You can eat good on the go too! A banana is cheaper than a bag of chips.

LA has overweight people. Not everyone is beautiful, believe me. California stereotypes are abound, but we're just people too.

However, if you're scared of joining a gym for a while, why not pick up a couple decent exercise videos and do them at home? Or you can always get some free weights, look-up some exercises to do at home and build in some long walks. Otherwise, look on craiglist for another eliptical; i know someone who got one for like $30.

As for the eating, just budget correctly and you'll be fine. I live on my own too and with some preplanning, I can cook healthy, cheap meals pretty easily. You'll do fine.
Welcome to California

When you are moving while trying to lose weight, you just have to do the best you can.

Whenever I have moved and tried to stay on plan, I dealt with the stress by just being as consistent as I could. Sometimes maintaining the good habits during stressful times helps you get through it with less stress, you know?
It may help you ease into a schedule in your "new life", too.

Have you tried researching gyms in CA pre-move? It would give you an idea of what's in your neighborhood. Also, don't be afraid to ask to try the gym out once you get there. I've switched gyms a few times and decided not to join one in particular because I just didn't care for the company I was in.

By the way, congrats on your huge loss so far! You can do this

I am sure there are plenty of gyms in LA, Just as there are overweight people.

im with duckyyellowfeet , pick up a few home work out tapes and try doing those until you feel more comfortable in the city to find a gym to work out at

i go down to my apartment complexes fitness center and when others come in much more skinny and fit i always think they judge me but you know what. atleast us big girls are DOING something about it! right?!?
so i just pretend they arent judging me but saying you go girl!

When i lived with my parents about yr be4 i moved out i was 240lbs sz 16 on top and 20 on bottom and then i moved out and had no one, so i ate. and got to a size 32. 400lbs now i moved back in with my parents i started the journey again and now im back down to a 22/24. i wouldn't say moving out is a bad thing but make sure u have the support around u.

A lot of apartment complexes have gyms - maybe that could be part of your criteria when looking for somewhere to live?

Don't be afraid of LA. Sure there are a lot of plastic thin people here, but there are heavy people here too. Don't be scared!

I feel you on this issue. When I lived with my Dad I lost most of the weight I've lost (actually all of it but like 5lbs). Then I went back to school and moved out. Since then I've been yo-yo dieting up and down. When I was at home i had a support system and my Dad was doing it with me. Plus I went for walks everyday around the neighborhood, etc. Here, I don't have that support system so when I get sad, feel lonely, etc I reach for the food to comfort me instead of people. Plus with school I can't find time to go to the gym (it's far away from my apartment) and I don't feel comfortable walking around these neighborhoods. So it's been a huge struggle.

I can't really offer you a ton of advice because as I said, it's something that I've struggled with. I actually did really well at first because I was all excited and gung ho about the new adventure and got down to 145. But then I got lonely and stressed....soo yeah. haha. Basically I'm just saying I've been there and I wish you the best. I really love my Pilates tape. It takes 20 minutes and it's SUPER effective. If you go to TJ Maxx or Marshalls they have exercise tapes (like Billy Blanks Tae Bo) for like $3. Good luck!