Hello all!

I'm 21 and it's obvious I've got to make some changes. I'm up about 40 pounds from high school. I'd like to get back there (and to think, I thought I was fat back then! ...stupid media). I'm 5'9" and currently 186ish (last dr. appt weight, two weeks ago). I'm going to a WW meeting on Thursday, so I'll find out my actual start weight then.

History: Always told myself I'll lose the weight. In 2008, I followed South Beach for about four months. I went from 165ish down to about 149. Long story short, I studied abroad for a year and you can bet all the new food and culture (including a real winter) helped me to gain it all back...and then some. I've been uncontrollable food-wise since I returned in May of 2009. And don't work out. And sit at a desk 40 hours a week. That's why I'm fat. Oh, and I'm in a new relationship, so of course there is that whole nesting phase full of date nights and movie nights, which of course is never healthy food.

So currently I'm broke, waiting for my monthly paycheck. Here is what I plan to do:
1) Check out weight watchers...see if I feel it's right for me. Meeting Thursday after work.
2) I'm very interested in GoWear Fit. Any tips or personal experiences?
3) I'm going to start eating lunch at my desk and spending my lunch hour walking (good hills around my office).
4) I've followed the couch potato (which I am) to 5K running plan before, and I loved it. Gonna start that up.
5) I need to stop telling myself: "Well, I missed a workout, so I'm screwed for the week" or "I ate the whole pizza, what's a slice of cake (or two)?". I need to learn to accept my slip-ups, and talk myself out of accepting that I've ruined the whole week.

That's where I'm at right now. I feel like I'm at a standstill until I can get some healthy food on Wednesday. Oh excuses.

Nice to meet you all! I look forward to getting to know you!

-Ash

Good luck on your journey!

Welcome and good luck on your journey!

Welcome and you have come to the right place!

Welcome! I love that list of concrete things you can do right now to start moving in the right direction. I don't have a ton of money either and I have never set foot in a gym and still have lost weight. I mean, I look pretty ridiculous with some of the work outs I do in the living room, but still. It's totally possible! And the support from this community is so helpful! I won't say "good luck" because I'm a firm believe that luck has nothing to do with it. You have to make it happen for yourself and I have confidence that you'll be able to do it!

I agree with tuende, I look like a spaz in my living room doing my P90X and my 30 Day Shred, but its free to do that there! (And I got both of them on eBay for cheap!) I might run around my neighborhood doing my C25K, and I don't look as nice as some other people, but I'm out there doing it!

Welcome! This place is great, and its a GREAT motovation to come here when you totally don't feel like working out and look at some of the goal pics and think, hey, they did it and so can I!

Thank you for your support everyone!

Good luck, Ash! As someone in a similar position (oh hey, study abroad weight gain), I can definintely relate to what you're going through. Hope to see you around the boards!!

Good for you! I used to be so bad about, oops, oh well, ill restart next week. One of the things that has really helped me is to remember that one bad decision is not the end of the world. And you can always start fresh in the morning

Thanks everyone! I officially signed up for Weight Watchers this afternoon. If any of you use their website, my username is 9urple87.

I'm nervous/excited. My mom has done weight watchers for a while and she's a lifetime member. It'll be good to have her support (along with all of yours!)!!

Oh, and I weighed-in at 184.4. First goal: 175 (5%).

welcome and congrats on having a plan!

Welcome, you sound like you are off to a great start!

Welcome and good luck! You seem pretty determined! I'm sure you'll do wonderfully.

I'm totally with you on #5! Something I definitely to work on.