I stopped posting on 3FC months ago because I was getting discouraged and I didn't feel like thinking about weight loss. I told myself that it didn't matter, that everything was fine. Well, I've finally admitted to myself that it's not fine, and that in order to hold myself accountable, I'll need to acknowledge this somewhere-- so here I am again.

I was always a scrawny kid, and then a fit teenager (I ran cross country and track), but then an injury in college forced me to slow down. I had suffered from an eating disorder for a few years, and then after I started eating normally the weight piled on. I was up to almost 150 pounds at one point, and at 5'4", it was pretty noticeable. Slowly, just from my metabolism getting back on track, I made it to about 136. I focused on losing weight about 4 years ago, but since I had never dieted the "proper" way before, I didn't know how much to eat. I settled in at about 132 and just decided to let things be.

Then a couple of years ago I got down to 124, and then ate my way back up to 129. I currently sit at 127 because I've made a couple of changes and the weight is starting to come off again. Exercise has never been my problem. I run about 30-40 miles per week and spend some time cross training and weight training in the gym. My problem is food, plain and simple. Cake, candy, ice cream, pretty much everything that is high in empty calories and fat is my weakness.

Thanks to anyone that read all of that! When I was 5'3" and healthy (i.e. eating properly) I weighed about 114 pounds and was in excellent shape. I am 5'4" now and plan to get down to 118, however, that goal might be set higher or lower depending on how I look and feel. I am trying to get to a great running weight and if I go too low and my running suffers, I'll adjust accordingly.

I found 3FC in June but didn't sign up until July. My life up until my first year of college I was never overweight. I was just curvier than most girls. I was made fun of in high school because I had big boobs and a big butt (now they complain about not having any). I always had an hourglass shape. I was between 110-115 lb. until after my first pregnancy at age 20.

I gained 78 lbs during the pregnancy and lost most but not all. I was young and had no knowledge about pregnancy at the time. No one was there to tell me I don't really have to eat for two. I was stuffing my face with food thinking I'll just lose it all like all the girls I know. I was wrong, very wrong. I was 140 lb after I had my son and never found the motivation to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight until I was 26 (6 years later).

I got a membership to the gym and started changing my diet slowly to healthier foods in August 2009. I hired a personal trainer because I needed someone to tell me to keep going. I lost 4 lb. in 4 weeks. It wasn't bad but I was hoping for more. (Today I realized that I did not drink enough water, maybe 4 cups a day max). Thanksgiving came and I didn't go to the gym since getting a membership. That one day led to another and then to another. When December came by I found out that I was pregnant with my second child and sadly I was put on bed rest for my entire pregnancy. I gained 35 lb during my second pregnancy. After I had my daughter my weight was at 147 lb. I realized then that I had to do something quick before my weight balloons out of control.

I started getting serious on June 12, 2011 at 147-149 lb. My clothes did not fit right. I only wanted to be in T-shirts and avoided taking pictures or hide myself behind someone else. I started calorie counting and doing cardio 6 days/week and weight training 3 days/week and I am now almost halfway to goal. I don't know why I didn't start getting serious sooner. But now I'm in it for the long haul.

hi everyone =]
i hope that those of you reading this will be able to support me in my weight loss and lifestyle changes, and i hope that i'm able to help others.

is it ok for me to give a mini life story here? i'm going to...
i've named myself there and back again because in my 21 years of existence i have been:
>perfectly normal (~110lbs 5 yrs ago)
>athletic & normal
>overly athletic & sickly thin
>overweight
>perfectly normal (but bingey eating wise)
>way too overweight (~145 today)


most (if not all) of my stages of weight have been food dominated. from eating nearly nothing to eating everything in site. i don't know why this ever started - i guess i wanted to be the lightest, fastest fh player there was, and working out and eating little helped. then i stopped playing fh and started eating everything that i had been missing out on.

i was then successfully able to lose weight in college (the opposite of the freshman 15, i lost about 15-20lbs!) by exercising often and eating mainly vegetarian and hardly having sweets but bingeing every few weeks. that only lasted until sophomore year, and i gained all the weight back. i went off the meal plan and ate horribly.

so, to say the least, i've been on a roller coaster ride. i want to get back to my normal self but i'm afraid i can't do it alone. even if no one ends up reading any of my posts, i'm hoping that me just writing my thoughts and feelings will help me achieve my goals.

i am so heavy right now that i'm scared for my future, i gets bouts of depression, and i resort to food so often. please, someone out there just listen to what i'm going through and help me. i just need to know that there are people to whom i can vent my feelings and rely on their successes and support. i can't do this alone and i really hope that someone can help me.

well, that is all for now...i have a lot of studying to do for my exams tomorrow and i've already procrastinated enough. tomorrow, my weight-re-loss journey begins and i hope you all will be there with me

~TABA

So I know that I already introduced myself, but the reason I signed up for 3FC was so that I would be held accountable to more than just myself. So every few days I'm hoping to post my success (or downfalls if there are any) and I just really don't know how 3FC really works (i.e. how do I ever know if people respond to my posts - aren't there any kind of alerts or stuff?). Anyways, this has been a great week and my eating has been healthy and proportioned well! I even met with my personal trainer yesterday for a KILLER lifting session. Here's to the next great week!

~TABA

I've never been overweight, but I've always struggled with my weight. I come from a family where I was always told NOT to finish my plate. I've been extreme dieting since about the age of 11. No matter what I've weighed, my father has always encouraged me to lose more weight. In my family, weight is very important for a woman.

I'm between 5'2.5-5'3 and over the years my weight has ranged from 98 to 135.

I recently asked the guy I've been dating why after five months our relationship hasn't progressed much. His response was that among other issues like timing (blah blah blah) my weight has been an issue for him. I am apparently the heaviest girl he has ever dated. I have met only one of his friends and for only one second, but I guess his friend immediately remarked to him on my hefty 125 lb DD figure when he ordinarily only dates women under 110 lbs who like to run marathons. I injured my knee last year and while I have dated marathon runners... I'm more of a power walker. Apparently he would like to keep my DDs, my brain, my connections, but would prefer I also be a fitness model.

While I know that I am not overweight, I am now determined to get back into the shape I was in pre-injury. Spite is a powerful motivator. I've lost as much as 20 lbs out of spite before so I can certainly drop 15. I'm also going to at least power walk a half-marathon in January just because I want to prove I'm in good enough shape to complete it within the time limit. Then my supper fit behind is going to leave his in the dust...

You are only 5 months into a relationship that doesn't sound supportive or healthy - especially for someone who comes from an unhealthy fixation on weight family from the sounds of it.

While you are working on your own physical fitness do reconsider if this man is healthy for you. Consider leave him now. Leave him before he can do more damage while you are trying to heal yourself.

I get what you are saying about spite being a motivator, but I doubt it is where you want your heart to live in.

Take care.

I don't know that I'd even call what we have a relationship. I'm not particularly attached. I like him, but I wasn't even aware until recently that he had stopped seeing other people (I certainly hadn't). I actually had wanted to get to know him better and had wanted something maybe more serious, but I'm conflicted about my feelings at this point.

I've been wanting to get back to my pre-injury weight for a while, but just haven't been motivated enough to do it. So this is for me, not for him. I have learned to ignore remarks from my family. I am at a healthy weight now, but this just isn't where I am my most comfortable. Spite is just that little extra that will taste better than chocolate. Truthfully, I'm glad he was honest that my weight is an issue for him. He has a right to only date thinner women. I just wish he had expressed that five months ago.

Hi, I'm new here! My story isn't very exciting. I've slowly gained a pound or two a year until I finally went over 130 which was my wake up call. My husband's family is athletic and HOT, and they have a beach vacation planned next year. I don't want to be the only one in a one piece bathing suit like the last beach vacation we went on.

I used to eat terribly (ZERO nutrition content) but have improved that a little bit through the years and eat more veggies now, but my metabolism must be slowing because I keep gaining weight. I've never exercised in my life outside of phys ed classes, so I have a high body fat percentage for my weight.

I officially put myself on a diet four weeks ago and have eased into calorie counting and exercising. My goal is to get under 120 by the end of the year and to run a mile in under 10 minutes or two miles in a row at any pace without walking, whichever comes first. Some days I feel I can take on the world, and other days it is SO HARD all I can think about is food. If anything, I've got a lot more respect for folks who have successfully lost weight. I had no idea how much time and work this would take. I'm hoping 3FC will help keep me in check.

Hi, I'm fairly new here. Mostly a lurker with a few posts here and there. The goal album has been very inspiring! I was very thin in high school, probably borderline anorexic. I slowly gained weight in college but wasn't really overweight, just on the upper side of healthy. Got pg and gained 50 pounds. Lost almost all of it, got pg again, lather rinse repeat. With my 3rd child, I gained 75 pounds and the day after I delivered I weighed 236. I kind of went up and down for a few years, but never hit my pre pregnancy weight. A little over a year ago I was 195. I finally got serious and this past year I have lost 56 pounds. I currently weigh 139 and my goal weight is 135 so I just have a few pounds to lose. I excersize a lot and have never been this fit at this weight. I'm a size 4 and the last time I weighed this much I think I was a size 8 with much bigger measurements.

This is almost my story exactly..but with 2 kiddos.

I was always very thin, with an athletic build. Never watched what I ate and was super confident. Got married and tried to get preggo. Struggled with infertility, gained weight, got preggo, was on bedrest at 24 weeks and then gained a LOT of weight. Delivered and really didn't lose much. Got preggo again and didn't gain as much. After my 2nd, I was down to 155 and feeling pretty great.

We moved and my life just felt like it stopped. Got depressed and my weight just skyrocketed, eventually creeping up to 187. In May of this year I vowed to change that part of my life, b/c I had finally overcome the emotional stuff that come along with moving, etc.

My goal is 127, b/c I am not in 2/4s and I don't feel the need to be any smaller.

Hello Everyone. I'm new here. It's my first day.

Ok, backstory. I was an average weight in high school. I have a 34DD chest and a rather large butt so I'm not sure what numbers are realistic for me, but anyway...

Here are my weight loss stages:

1) First big weight problem was when I stepped on the scale in 2006 and realized I was at 142. Yikes! I started walking and eating heathier, lost some weight, then got back down to 130s.

2) After some bad eating in college, I stepped on the scale mid 2007 and realized I was at 175. I had to buy a pair of jeans that were size 14 and I was bawling in the dressing room. I dieted down to 163 and then I started weight watchers. By May 2008 I hit 125 which was my goal at the time. Then I got engaged.

3) From my engagement to my wedding 14 month later I stayed between 125-130. When I got back from my honeymoon in 2009 I was 137.

4) From 2009-mid 2010 I had put back on more weight, I was about 147.

5) I started taking Prozac for anxiety and had a severe lack of appetite. I went from 147 down to 130 in about 2 months. I was able to mantain in the early/mid 130's until June 2011. I recognize now that I lost that weight too fast, but at the time I was thrilled to be back in my size 4's and I did not care that I lost the unhealthy way. People started commenting on my smaller size and I felt great to be skinny thoughout the holidays.

6) In the summer I stopped weighing daily. I started enjoying more food and cocktails. I noticed in September my clothes were tighter. It took me until mid-November to realize that I had suddenly put on about 15 plus pounds from where I was. (Is it me or does it seem like overnight the weight just comes on???)

7) I finally weighed my self mid- november and realized I was in the high 140's! Ouch. No wonder my 6's are super tight and my 8's are snug!!

8) Today I am deciding to start the challenge. My eventual goal is 115. My mini goals are 5lbs per month. I have rewards for each mini-goal. If I make it, I can reach my 115 by June 2012 hopefully!

Thank you for listening. I hope I can do it this time.

Well, I'm almost 50 , 5'1 and at the end of Oct I joined Ideal Protein... I was 143 and now I'm 123! I am small boned so for much of my life and even after 3 kids I was small ...weight would fluctuate between 115-125 but after the 4th son, I just kept gaining and gaining! I would love to be 115, but not sure that is really realistic. We have a history of diabetics in the family so it is very important that I stay healthy and not let this weight get away from me! I feel so much more comfortable in my clothes now! Went from a tight size 10 to a comfortable size 4 petite!!!! I weigh myself daily and now I'm exercising more regularly! Glad to find this group!

A few years ago, I was 155, my highest weight ever. I loved makeup, though, and felt weird using makeup when I didn't feel my body was up to snuff, so I started a diet and exercize regime. I got down to 120 in 5 months and I felt FANTASTIC, but when I went back to school I had some depression issues and turned to chocolate *sigh.*

I didn't gain all the weight back, but I gained most of it back. 2 1/2 weeks ago I weighed myself and I was 145, higher than I'd like. I decided to go back on my diet and exercise more, but I'd take it a bit easier than I did before.

Going way down on cabs and eliminating sugar from my diet has helped my energy TREMENDOUSLY. I was lethargic every day for ages, and now it's like...I can barely sit still! I even am happy to do housework because it gets me moving o____0;

Hi JoJo... and everyone! I joined 3FC forum about 6 weeks ago. I was skinny all my life up until I went through a difficult divorce followed with depression. After my daughter was born, I went back to my pre-preggers weight of around 105lbs. I had a hysterectomy at age 32yrs. and still maintained my slim size until I reached age 45. After the depression, I had gained roughly 45 lbs. I began exercising and loosely following SBD and lost about 25 lbs. This put me around 125lbs. In 2009, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, had a mastectomy and chemo for roughly 2 yrs. I am now up to 150 lbs. and sooo ready to get this extra weight off! I am still taking my anti-depressant so it is a bit more of a challenge. When I joined the forum, I had begun the Paleo diet. I went full 100% ... adding lots of meats and extra fats too ( coconut oil and coconut milk with everything!). My husband and I walk 2 miles daily and I work out at the gym 3days a week. I have not lost 1 pound. As hard as I work out, I should have lost at least a few lbs. I never really could wrap my head around the idea of eating lots of meat and fats to lose weight. One good thing that did come of the diet is that I have cut out all refined grains and sugar. So.. Here I am ready to get serious about getting these 30 lbs. off!
My trainer, who is 53 and looks incredible, says she only eats lean meats, no sugar and very little dairy. I have investigated every diet around. I am thinking that just eating sensible whole foods in reasonable portions and keeping up my excercise regime should do the trick. I welcome any and all advise and support. I hope that I will one day be able to do the same. Thanks for reading!

I've always been up & down with my weight, seems I always manage to pack on the pounds when i'm in a relationship, or slim down when i'm single. I've never been a dedicated gym go'er either - I have cycles where i'll go 3 x a week, then i'll slack for weeks at a time. My eating habbits are BAD. I basically live on fast food and portugese food. I occasionally eat "healthy" but I always feel starved so I end up binge eating. I'm lucky im on the taller side to carry out the weight better, but with my scrub uniforms off it isn't pretty! I've always been a "tommorrow dieter" , tom i'll start my diet, tom i'll
eat better... SURE but tom was like 5 years ago!

I think what put me over the edge was my vacation with my boyfriend and friends to the jersey shore. All the girls got into their little bikinis and here I was with my one piece ( it's a sexy one, but still ). Then when we were at the concert, the guys put all the girls on there shoulders to get a better view, my boyfriend didn't even offer! LOL, I knew that I was too heavy but man was that a big REALITY CHECK! Then when I joke-ing-ly ask if I could be put on his shoulders ... his response "babe, you know I would if I could but your not petite like these girls, their like 100 pounds" oh man did that feel awful....!

At times I get so fusterated with myself, like really lindsey? if you are so unhappy with yourself, why not do something rather that EAT. My boyfriend is really supportive, but he has even worse eating habbits (but of course he's thin) it's not easy to eat a salad on the side of someone clearing out a plate of french fries ....

Regardless i'm ready, i'm ready for a new plan & a new me ! I'm 23 years old and I want to show off my hott bod, not hide it. I'm not going to lie the last couple of days i've been having a "food going away party" i've been eating my fav foods and enjoying them while I can, BUT the time has come... It's ON. I can't wait to check back with everyone, I hope I have some success to share ... can't wait to have my flower @ my goal weight !