hey, we're here to help you out. i've lost about 20 pounds also. and realize that even if there is a lot more to go, 20 is a lot!!

as for excercise, i'm lucky because my apartment has it's own gym. but really, you could just get some 5 pound weights and exercise in your room. just some small lifting and toning.

feel free to message me or email me ([email protected]) if you want.

Thanks for your reply. 20 pounds is a lot but when other people around me are losing so much, it doesn't seem like a lot anymore. I have some 5lb weights somewhere so I guess I will go find them . Thanks.

Hey guys! Well, I've been reading lots of posts on this forum and I finally decided that it is time to just jump in and try it. I have had issues with eating and food since high school. I tried the not eating thing, which is just no fun at all...then, I tried the diet pill thing...then finally settled on the bulima thing and overeating thing. I am tall and have always just felt BIG. Right now, I am probably around 173 ish, but I think that I would ideally like to be around 140-145. I just feel like I have been saying "ok, tomorrow, i'll start my diet and I'll exercise at least 5 times a week and I'll lift weights 2 times a week and be really really positive and motivated"...well, i have been saying that forever. I looked back at my journal from the past few years and just got more and more depressed seeing how many times I had said that to myself and written it in my journal. i was just disgusted to see how much of the past few years has been consumed with my body and food and being overweight. anyway, I think that I have reached somewhat of a changing point in my way of thinking about food. I have admitted to myself that food does not fix anything and that I have been relying on food to do just that. or at least to distract me from my problems. i know this does not seem like rocket science, but there is a big difference between knowing these things and accepting them to be true in my life. i always knew this stuff, but just didn't let myself apply it to my life. I just recently had my boyfriend of 2 years break up with me. He was (is) wonderful and stayed with me through many many hard times that I went through with eating and food issues. I have been thinking a lot about our relationship and realized how much of a strain my eating and food issues put on our relationship. I don't think it was the sole cause of us breaking up, but it had to have played a significant role in the whole thing....realizing that made me so sad. Basically, i am tired of the baggage. I am tired of letting food and weight and all of those things make me unhappy and keep me from reaching all of the things that I want to. So, (like i have said so many times before), I am going to change. Hopefully this will be the last time that I have to say this. i know it won't be easy or perfect, and I know that there are goin to be so many times I'll want to revert back to my old ways. But, I guess that is where I am hoping you all will help me. There is no one in my life that I can talk to openly and honestly about this with. I am embarrassed and ashamed first of all, but I also don't want to have any more of my relationships and friend ships dominated by this issue of mine. I hate having my family and friends watch what i am eating and if I'll go to the bathroom afterwards or make food related comments. I don't want to be that girl that I have always been. so, I would be so so appreciative to have who ever of you out there that has a moment to help me do this and stay on track and healthy. I went to the store today and bought lots of lean meats and veggies. I really want to do this right. I am vowing to exercise regularly. anyway, I am so sorry for this to be so long and for those of you who are still reading, thank you so much i would love to hear what you all are doing to reach your goals and I am more than happy to share anything that I can to help you too! Hope everyone has had a wondeful holiday!! love, C

to introduce myself Hi! My name is Robin, I am 23 years old and a senior in college graduating with my BSN degree in dec 2003. Nursing school and STRESS and really taken a toll on my body and self-esteem. I'd like to get back to my cute confident self of years ago!!
For christmas I received an elliptical machine, which is awesome!It is IFIT.com compatible...still trying to figure that out. apparently, you can hook it up to the computer and it will provide you with motivation, music, and "scenic" workouts. If anyone has tried IFIT, please feel free to comment on it.
I have not weighed myself recently...but my guess is around 240 or so. So my goal is to loose about 100 lbs and gain muscle as well in improve my eating habits and learn to deal with stress in another way!!

I look forward to talking with you guys and providing support, as well as receiving some.
-Robin

hi Robin what a great christmas present! Eliptical machines are pretty much my workout machine of choice when i actually get myself to the gym...speaking of which, I have to go today...sooner rather than later. i don't know much about the computer hook up thing, but it sounds pretty cool! so i pretty much just started my "diet" yesterday...but i really want it to be more of a lifestyle change, ya know? I wrote out some goals that i want to accomplish, how i plan on achieving them, and i also wrote down some positive affirmation statements that i am going to read everyday...i know that sounds wierd, but i read that they are a good way to keep a positive attitude and stay focused on goals. plus, i have a tendency to get overwhelmed...so hopefully, they'll keep me calm when those times happen. I also made myself a few steps to follow when I get into what I call "911 situations"...not really 911 for real, but just situations that make me want to just revert back to my old comfortable food obsessed ways. honestly, i just want to feel "normal", what ever that is...i just want eating to be easy for me and to view food as fuel for my body rather than an emotional outlet, which is what i 've been doing for the past 6 or 7 years. hopefully, by posting on this forum, i'll be able to meet some great people to get through this with and share my thoughts with. anyway, my day has been going ok so far. I was really hungry this morning...i had to get up early to work, and my roommates had ordered pizza last night late night and the pizza boxes were on the table with a fewslices left (did i mention that pizza is my favorite food?) anyway i tried so hard not to have any, but i was rushing out the door and wanted something to eat, so i took ONE slice andtook the cheese off of it. it was a little slice and without the cheese, it didn't make me feel like i was totally getting off track. then after i worked for a few hours i came home and had an egg white omlette with some leftover salmon mixed in. it was really good i am trying to eat protein with every meal so as to make me feel full...that is usually my problem, i just always feel hungry. i also had a little bit of frozen corn.i know i eat bizarre things, but what can i say? so, i am planning on going to the gym and doing an hour of cardio definitely and maybe some weights. didn't go to the gym yesterday, so i def have to go today! then i might have a date tonight, which would be fun...hopefully i can find something to weat that i don't feel disgusting in. anyway, hope you are having a good day! talk to you soon love, C

Hey its great to see new members!!!

i am still working hard...and i just wanted to add the losing 20lbs is damn hard..!! so you go girl. I am done 25lbs and it is no walk in the park, that's for sure. I have lost 25lbs since 0ct 21 2002....and have about 40 more to lose....so we are all in this together...


take care everyone...i will write more later when i have some more time...


one_sweetchick