Hi - I'm new here. I am 38 and I live in BC, Canada. I am not sure what my starting weight is - I will find out tonight. Last time I weighed myself I was 348, but I am sure it has gone up from there!

I realized a couple of weeks ago that I never really look in the mirror! I was out shopping with my husband, and while he was trying on a pair of jeans, I caught a glimpse in the mirror of someone I didn't recognize. I almost started crying right there in the store when I realized that it was me! I do my make-up, brush my teeth and a cursory check to make sure my skirt isn't tucked up in my underwear and stuff - but I haven't "seen" myself in a long time. I was honestly depressed for days.

I thought that would be my wake-up call, but it wasn't! I am sure I have gained weight since then too!

I am married to a wonderful man, who supports me no matter where I am at. I have 2 wonderful children (4 1/2 and 21 months). I was sure after I had my baby that I would get on track and lose the weight. After all, I wanted to be around to enjoy my children for a long time. But, that was at least 50 pounds ago!

I know there is no sense getting frustrated with myself, but I can't help it. I keep waiting for something to click with me and to find the motivation to lose weight. But, it hasn't happened. Now I think maybe I just force it to click, but I'm not sure where to start.

My biggest downfall is when everyone has gone to bed and I am sitting up by myself. I am tired, stressed and I eat! But not just one or two cookies (for example) - the whole bag! I don't know where this compulsion comes from. I am bigger than anyone else in my family - actually, I am probably as big as my sister and brother combined!

Anyway, sorry, I hope this doesn't sound like a sob story. I don't mean it that way. I am just looking for some advice where to start - we are broke at the moment, so I can't join a gym, and I can't join WW (where I had some success before). I am also hoping maybe there is someone that wants to correspond, and we can support each other. I need some accountability!

If you got through all of that - thank you for reading! I look forward to learning more about you all!

Heather.

Hi Heather !!

Welcome !!

You have made a really important step by coming to 3FC !! You will find much support and friendship here. I can relate to how you're feeling now... I felt that way for many years before something 'clicked' and now I'm on the road to good health. You can do it too !!

Once again welcome to 3FC !!

Leslie

Hello, and
You've come to the right place for motivation and support, believe me
I look forward to seeing your progress!

Thanks for the support ladies. I do hope it clicks for me soon.

Instead of waiting for a Sunday or Monday to start, I am going to start fresh tomorrow.

Hi Heather! That is a great attitude to have. I remember someone said to me once "Remember, every breath we take is a moment to start new." That is something that has stuck with me, as I have a problem with giving in to temptation and then saying "oh, I'll have whatever I want tonight and tomorrow I'll do better" but then tomorrow never seems to come!

I also waited for a long time for something to "click" or for some huge experience that would force me to change. Nothing really did. Many things happened that I told myself would force a change (being diagnosed with diabetes, not being able to shop in normal department stores, etc) but really they just left me feeling depressed and overwhelmed. Sometimes the best thing you can do is just start working towards your goals and never stop. There will be set backs but there can never be failure if you do not give up.

Every time I notice myself falling back into old habits, I stop as soon as I can and start new all over again. We have infinite fresh starts, infinite chances to learn how to treat ourselves well.

Welcome to 3FC!!

Hi Heather and welcome to 3FC!

This is the best place for support, encouragement, advice, tips and much more.

Good luck with your goals

Hugs
Michelle

Welcome!

You're totally NOT alone on this journey. We all are with you and understand your issues.

Welcome and we can all do this!

Heather

!

Glad to see ya here!!! I had a similar experience with the mirror. I was at the mall and saw a very large lady looking at me. Then I realized it was a mirror and that was ME!!!! I got really depressed and vowed I would lose weight...and well, that just didn't happen!

This time around on my rocky journey to weight loss, I vowed this time I was doing it for ME!!! All the other times I was doing it because of other people. I had a really, really slow start with some ups and downs at the scale. Things are finally starting to pick up and I'm only 9 lbs away from my 10% target. It feels so good to finally be in control of my eating (since I hold the fork, I have no one to blame but myself).

A few helpful hints, at night when your lonely and bored...instead of heading for the cookies why not grabbing some blueberries or grapes? I find eating them one at a time helps for me. Then this way I get the sweet fix that I need and feel satisfied at the same time. I used to be a "private" eater. My thing was in the van. Pulling up into drive thru at a fast food joint and ordering way too much!! Sometimes I would even pretend I was talking to someone so when the clerk would ask if I wanted ketchup I would ask the pretend person on the phone just so it wouldn't look like it was for me. PLUS, when we would go to visit my fiances family, I would buy treats like chocolate bars etc and eat them when I was alone in the room. I'm happy to say those habits are out the window now!!!

It was really hard at the beginning of this journey, but at first I took baby steps. Undoing all the years of bad habits. I'm still learning (but thats what life is right?). Finding a program that works for you. There are tons of info on here and the net. It doesn't mean having to give up foods you love but just making them a "treat". Dim Sum used to be a favorite of mine on Sunday. Until I checked on the points. I was so shocked on the amount of calories and salt I was inhaling. Now when I do go, I fill up on steamed dumplings and allow myself 1 fried dish. It sure made a big difference.

A few tips on exercise...try starting out with walking! Its amazing how good you feel. Then maybe add some hiking (BC I'm sure have a lot of hiking trails), or maybe even go on youtube and check out the exercise videos on that. You don't need a gym to exercise just need to start moving...oh one more...try dancing with your kids. They will LOVE it!!!

We are in it together honey!!! You took the first step by joining this awesome community!!!! If you ever need some extra support I'm always around!!! PM me if you want.

Good luck Heather!!!!

Welcome, honey we have all been there. You are not alone. coming here is her is the first step,if you are wanting a cookie go have an apple, if you are wanting to binge go for a walk with the children. As Betty said dance with the kids, if you need help or to talk you can pm me as well.

Hi I am also new here and i am in the same boat as you I cant get on and stay on my diet i try everyday to fail it is so hard. Like right now Im starting to look for something to were my head will stop wanting something hard to fight that how do you do it makes me depressed After my 3rd child I weighed more than i have ever weighed I have never weighed this much and i want to lose it but I dont know how. Had my 3rd baby boy weighing 375 now i weigh 361 i have never weighed this much. Im lost am thinking of weight loss surgery if i cant get on track I cheat every day and I get in moring say ill eat right well i do until evening then i go and cook something and over eat. Well I hope i can find it in me to say no to myself.
Hugs we can do it I now that but Im struggling bad.

Hi lamishacat,
And welcome to 3FC! You've have come to the right place for support and motivation. This is the first step of you journey and if you ask me it was my hardest step, but I'm hooked on 3FC.
I would also like to invite you to another thread here on 3FC. It's called "Positive Uplifting Notification: One Positive Thing About Me Today Is.....Part Four" We are located here in the 300+ Club and I can't wait to get on this thread every morning with my cup of coffee. Great people, great advice, great positives and great support. Come on over and just tell em' Learn sent you!
I applaud you for taking the first step to a healthier lifestyle.

You can do weight watchers for free like I do!! Here is a link to a site that has the points calculator and the full list of foods for WW with the point value. It's awesome because you don't have to pay a cent for pricey books and all the stuff that WW requires. And also the best part is you can weigh yourself in the privacy of your own bathroom instead of in front of everyone!! Good luck girl!!

http://www.meganandjack.com/ww_points.htm

Welcome and you have been given some GREAT advice. You can also count calories for free. I love counting calories, but do plan to check out the site with the WW stuff. Thanks for posting it Curvz.
I was at my sons wedding almost 2 yrs ago and was miserable. Everyone kept telling me how beautiful I looked.I didnt feel it at all, my ankles were swollen my feet hurt and I was out of breath. I decided that night to change things.I knew I didnt want to be FAT anymore. Well I started a few days later. I started counting calories and writing down every bite of food that went into my mouth. It really worked and then I hit a plateau, I had regained about 15 lbs but got it back down to 9 now.
We can do this together. I am so glad your here!!

Welcome! Ditto on what everyone else said. I am new still but already hooked and even when im not posting...when im home and having a weak moment, reading the posts on 3FC really gets me through it and keeps me on track.
I track my daily food, weight, activity, measurements, and weight goals on fitday.com. its free plus it keeps a history of everything so if the scale stays the same or starts to go up, you can see it, and then go back to those days food intake and make adjustments. its great! but you have to log everyday even on the weekends! i found in the beginning i would just ignore the weekends but end up gaining the weight i lost during the week and starting every week from scratch. when i started logging on the weekends too, it amazed me when i would see the scale go down on monday morning. that NEVER happened to me before.

but we are all here to support eachother and keep eachother on track, share stories and ideas, and go on this journey together. so welcome!

Where abouts in BC are you? I'm in Kelowna!