I have always fluctuated in weight and binge eaten a lot.

However last year I finally started exercising a lot and eating well, and lost so much weight I was almost underweight. I met my boyfriend and went through a lot of emotional stress and have gained 20 kilos (40 pounds) in a short space of time. I want to lose it and have given myself a goal date of 17th October (ten days after my one year anniversary with my boyfriend all being well) to loser the weight so I am in great shape for the Southern Summer.

I am registered with an acting and modeling agency and I have had to reject some offers as my weight is so much higher than that advertised on my profile - I feel silly saying it but I want to be able to say Yes! to some job offer which I never did when I was at goal as I thought I was not good enough. So here I am. And this time, it's staying off!

:)

Fitaitch, I have a friend with MS who has had good luck doing yoga frequently. She's lost a lot of weight through diet and has toned up with yoga.

Well, it's a short story. I was 110 in my twenties, 120 in my thirties, and up to a hefty 152 in my forties. Life, food, inattention. Now I'll be in my fifties in 6 weeks and I'm gonna turn that trend around. I'm shooting for fit and 120.

that's all....cuppa

Thanks Kilketay! I love yoga! It's great for stretching an light resistance work. Granted, I only just got back into it so I'm still waiting for it to work some magic on my tummy.

nip it now
 

I never had a weight problem untill i hit my early 30's. I ate what i wanted i did'nt gain weight. I hit 30 and all that changed. What a slap in the face. the weight came on slowley, by age 38 i weighed 140. my husband of 20 years left me for a skinny younger woman and i lost weight, due to stress. i got down to 110 which is a good weight for me i am only 5'2. the stress is gone life is good again and i am gaining weight again. i now weigh 128.5 . I want to nip this weight gain in the bud and get back down to 110 to 115. I know i'm not fat now but i could get there.

:wave: a buncha newbies PBL cuppajoe nipitinthebud :welcome: all :carrot:

Hi :wave: and :wel3fc: to Marlu who was overlooked earlier :hug:

Helloooo Featherweights!

My story: I've always been of a pretty "sturdy" build. My mom is tiny, but the rest of her side of the family is of thick hearty midwestern Swedish/Czech stock.

During college, the weight went from a high of 160 to a low of 139 and settled at about 150, but lately has crept back up to 155. I'm prone to emotional eating and turn to food when I'm happy, sad, bored, indifferent, etc. I'd like to get into the habit of mindful eating and stop using food as a coping mechanism.

The most significant lasting weight loss I ever acheived (7 lbs) was last year around this time (summer) when I stopped eating after 8pm (to avoid useless nighttime boredom binging) and did yoga every day. I'd like to get myself back into that habit. Would eventually like to drop around 36 lbs, but I know that sloooooow and steady wins the race.

I really wanted to get in on the "weekly chatter" thread, so that motivated me to pull myself together and register this week! I start a new gig teaching at a 3 week long music festival and would also like to use this time to teach myself new eating habits. Not sure if I'm trying to cram too much into this time (making lesson plans, adjusting to new schedule, AND changing eating patterns) but I figure the only way to fail for sure is not to try! (oh yeah, baby!)


Looking forward to getting to know you all!

~Ax

:welcome: Alexistrophic :wave:

My Story
 

So, growing up i was always tiny. In highschool i stayed at about 119 and a size 2. After my first child i hit 165, and after the second i was 250. Not because i was pregnant, but because i was eating out of the fridge with a spoon at all hours.

5 years ago i dieted and went from 250 down to 130. Maintained it for 4 years, and slowly creeped up to 165 in the last year. In the last few months i have made it down to 157 where i am now, but have a long way to go still.

None of my clothes fit, and i'm unhappy in general with how i look and feel. Besides that, my dh and i are trying to conceive and the doc says it will be easier if i am at a normal weight. So, i'm trying and i'm grasping for good motivation that i can hold onto.

:welcome: thinnythighs :wave:

Hello! My name is Jill. This is my first post. My story is this: I am a mama to 2 little ones. My youngest is now 11 months old and I'm still hanging on to the last of the baby weight. I weigh 132 and want to get down to 120. Then all of my prepreg clothes will fit me again and I will feel like myself. Right now I am feeling frumpy and I want to feel like a hot mama again! I checked out the 3FC book from the library yesterday and that's what got me interested in the forum. I am planning to follow the weight watchers point system. I am also breastfeeding, so that is a factor. I am going to do it this time! My goal is to treat my self to a size 6 Diane VonFurstenburg dress when I reach my goal of 120! Thanks everyone!

:welcome: Jill :wave: ..........Glad you found us through the book too, how cool is that!?

Ok, my story... My name is Patty, and I'm 33 yrs old, mom of two great little ones and I have struggled with my weight forever, since I can remember anyway.. I remember being on a diet in the 7th grade.

About 5 years ago after just feeling completely unhealthy I lost over 90 lbs and got down to 121, which was wonderful! The last part of the weight loss I was going thru a divorce ( I swear my ex-husband wanted me to stay bigger) so I'm sure that helped those last extra pounds come off.

Anyway, I am now 33 and recently re-married to a wonderful man, but.. I am starting to gain back the weight and have started ever since I started dating the wonderful man.. :) Over the past two years I have gained back 11 pounds. Sometimes I feel almost silly, because "everyone" just gives me a hard time for even saying I want to lose weight. I know I am not fat, but remaining the same size is important to me, I feel my best at it.

Oh and my new husband I was telling you about, he is blessed! He can eat whatever he wants and not gain anything!! It is so hard to be around that, and not gain weight. Especially when he is always like "Oh Patty, you have to try this!" LOL, well 11 pounds of "you gotta try this" later, I found this forum. :)

It is wonderful that you have this Featherweights forum, so I won't feel like I'm crazy, or get "oh my gosh, whatever" for saying I want to lose weight. It is also very hard to talk about it to my husband, because the poor man has No idea, he doesn't have to deal with a weight problem at all. I almost feel bad venting to him because all he can do is sit and nod and say he is sorry. It will just be nice to read about and get advice from people that understand.

Thanks for listening.
Patty :)

It's great that you found us Patty :welcome:

I have a skinny husband too :yes: ... But you know it catches up to them in different ways as they get older... DH is 50 very lean BUT his catch is that he has high cholesterol now, so he too has to watch what he eats and exercise :devil:... So it all evens out in the end :lol: ....

My story... long, but maybe someone can relate...
 

Here goes...

I'm 37, married with 2 kids ages 8 and 5.

I was a skinny kid, all throughout high school. College came, and I gained some weight, but I never got over 140.

Once I started working and living with my then bf/now dh, I "turned" vegetarian. Dh has always been one, and at the time I thought why bother cooking 2 different meals, so it sort of evolved into that. Who would have thought a person would GAIN weight after becoming a vegetarian? Well, I gained about 35# because I wasn't a vegetarian who really liked to eat lots of fruits and veggies - go figure... I found myself eating lots of pizza, pasta, and any other high carb or cheesy food I could find.

After topping out at 176#, I was feeling very unhappy with what I had become, and I tried Jenny Craig, but I only ended up losing a few lbs. I really didn't commit to losing the weight until I had the flu for a week and ate nothing but soup and popsicles. That somehow jump started me into eating less - I guess my stomach was jolted by not eating so much each day and no longer craved as much as it was used to consuming. Over the next few months, I ate less and started a new position at work that I felt I needed to prove myself in, so I basically lived on coffee and cigarettes for most of my days for a while there while I busted my butt at work. NOT healthy, I know, and I can't say I was doing it to try losing weight, but it DID work.

I then started working out on a regular basis and found myself down to 135# - happy as a clam. For a while, at least... Sometime around then, I developed a little eating disorder called bulimia. I don't know what exactly triggered it, but I remember feeling a sense of relief knowing that I could still eat as much as I wanted and maintain my weight. I didn't do it often at that point, and as time went by, things stayed pretty much the same.

Then, I got pregnant. I suppose I used that as license to eat whatever and whenever I wanted. I gained a whopping 75# with baby#1 - and when that dreaded 50# marker on the scale was moved up to the 200 point mark weeks before my due date, I was a bit ashamed of what I let happen to myself. But, once baby came, I actually found myself losing weight at a decent pace, without even trying hard. I got down to 140#, and life was good again.

A couple of years go by and the bulimia kicks in again. Dh and I were having problems, which only added to that. Went through therapy for it for a year. Things started to get better in marriage and through therapy. Realized that the eating disorder had more to do with control issues than weight issues, and I worked on that. Maintained weight of 140# at this time, and got pregnant again.

Was happy to have only gained 40# with baby#2. Had a harder time losing weight after baby#2. I've basically fluctuated between 145 and 160. Spent the last year closer to the 160 mark and not too happy about it. Not happy because of the lack of willpower I had all year and the bad habits I formed. I haven't reverted back to my bulimic ways, but I found myself binge eating like no one's business. I let myself become a couch potato and didn't exercise at all, and I would spend entire afternoons just lurking around the pantry eating whatever I could get my hands on. Frankly, I'm surprised I didn't gain more weight than I actually have.

I now have the biggest belly I've had outside of pregnancy, and I'm ready to get rid of it. That is what is proving to be difficult for me. After 2 c-sections and a recent outpatient surgery to have an incisional endometrioma removed (as a result of one of those c-sections), my tummy feels like mush. Doing crunches is really hard because I can barely feel the muscles working. But, for the last couple of weeks I've been sticking to it, and even though the bulge is still there, I can now feel the burn when I work on my abs.

Over the summer, I just made a conscious effort to become more physically active. I've been outside every day walking, playing with the kids, or swimming. I read someone's post about doing Dance Dance Revolution on PS2, and I giggled to myself because I do that too. It's really a great way to play with the kids and work up a sweat at the same time. I've just tried to incorporate physical activity into every day.

I'm also trying the tried and true method of low-cal, low-fat eating and the basic principle of consuming less than I burn. We'll see how it goes. All I know is that I am tired of looking preggers when I'm not, and I'm sick of the double chin I have. Perhaps my goal of 135 will be changed as time goes on - right now I'd be happy to get down to 145. I figure this is probably the best way for me because although I did lose 13# on South Beach, I lost it back and then some. It didn't prove to be something I could live with, so I think for now just cutting back and eating healthy is a good place to start.

I'm looking forward to reading all your posts. Most of them are very inspirational, and I am looking towards them to help keep me motivated. Thanks for all your support!!!

:welcome: to 3FC. You'll get a lot of support here. I can relate to some parts of your story but not others - I'm sure many will be the same. Join the daily chat thread.

New member delurks
 

Greetings!

I've been lurking here for a while, but thought I would delurk to say "howdy."

I'm 39, female, a shade under 5'9, currently around 137-140 pounds. (The furnished house I'm renting this month has a lame Ikea scale whose reading fluctuates, as far as I can tell, with the prevailing winds in Mongolia.)

My story in a nutshell: Nerdy kid, never particularly athletic. Struggled with weight and body issues post-puberty. Did the semi-starvation + obsessive exercise thing in freshman year college. Got down to <120 (at 5'9"). Roommate, who I adored, told me in tears that she couldn't live with someone who was dieting herself to death. (I lost track of the roommate over the years, but I still appreciate what she did for me: I was well on my way to anorexia before she gave me an emotional whack upside the head.)

Anywho, I stopped dieting and exercising obsessively, made more friends, but also "discovered" late-night parties and study sessions with beer, pizza, and wine coolers (what can I say, it was the 80s?). Enter weight gain. Graduated at about 185, but lost 25 of that in the year after graduation simply by eating adult food.

Fast forward to 1995 or so. I discovered weight lifting -- heavy weight lifting, not "toning" -- and loved it. Loved feeling strong, loved seeing progress in how much I could lift and how my body adapted, and loved finding a sport that didn't require speed, agility, or really much in the way of hand-eye coordination. "Lift heavy things, put them back down" I can do.

Started eating "clean" to go along with the training. Eliminated junk food and most refined carbs, ate a lot of lean protein and veggies, kept fat intake at reasonable levels. Did cardio work on non-lifting days, sometimes in two-a-days. Felt my best at 135, but with a lot of lean muscle mass. (My lowest measured BF% was 13% at <130, but I don't think I could sustain this for long.)

Then what? Dissertation happened. Stoopid injury happened. Job happened. New job happened. Kid happened. Excuses happened. Weight lifting dwindled to about 2x per week, cardio all but disappeared. "Clean" food gave way to clean+cheat foods, and too much of it. Weight's been vacillating between 145 and 154 for the five years post-partum. I'm still pretty active, thanks to a love for the outdoors, a 5-year old, and occasional bouts of weight lifting, but my body fat is higher than I'd like it to be.

I've been eating "clean" and exercising for 11 days, now. My first goal is to get to 130 with minimal loss of muscle. To this end I've been eating around 1200 calories per day, with 100g protein (around .8 per pound of LBM), no empty carbs (and only between 30-50% CFC), and adequate "good" fats such as from fish, avocados, nuts, etc. I'm hitting the weights 4x per week again, too, with an emphasis on rebuilding functional strength with compound movements (e.g., squats, deadlifts, bench press, pullups, dips). Cardio on 2 off days, "active rest" -- usually involves hiking, biking, or playing baseball with my baseball-obsessed kid -- on the seventh.

Second goal is to then pack on some muscle mass. This will probably involve gaining some weight back, but if I can get to 16%-17% BF again, I'll be ecstatic no matter what the scale says.

I know *what* to do to get there, at least for my body. And I know it takes time, patience, and dedication. I know that every once in a while, it also takes a kick in the pants. And that's where y'all come in!

Thanks for making it through this lengthy intro, and thanks in advance for being here. I'll probably post to the lifting group, too, so I may "see" some of you there.

Ciao,
kaw

Welcome Kaw :wave:

I am 43 and married 11 years to a great guy. We have a 9 year old son we adore!

I grew up believing I had a fat belly and was self-conscious about it from the age of 12 (Grade 7). I look back at pictures from when I was 12 to 15 and I wonder what made me think I was fat. I was definitely not fat, nor did I have a fat belly.

Now, by the time I was 16, I did have some extra weight on me. I weighed 150 lbs., probably about 10 pounds from a healthy weight for me. (I have some very bodacious ta-tas!)

I come from a family of 5 girls and 1 boy. My Mom only seemed to notice us when she was commenting on our bodies. What she programmed into me was that she couldn't figure out why I was fat because I always ate like such a bird. I don't know when she started talking about me as fat, but if I had a daughter who was 150 lbs (with newly developed bodacious ta-tas) at the age of 16, I wouldn't have been commenting about her weight problem. I would have kept my comments to myself and if she brought it up I would reassure her that it's very normal to have some extra weight as a teenager. I would point out to her that she was beautiful and that if she really wanted to shed a few pounds that all she had to do was eat healthier and exercise more. No great mystery, but not the easiest choice when you're a teenager. Unfortunately, my Mom's way of viewing and commenting on my 150 lbs. locked me into the sense that I had been overweight all my life and that I had no control over this great mystery.

When I was in College I dated a body builder and I asked him to help me lose this weight that I so hated. He was reluctant. He liked me just the way I was. But he could see how important it was to me, so he put me on a very healthy eating plan and weight training and cardio program. I lost 10 pounds in one month!! I couldn't remember ever feeling this skinny before! I was 140 lbs. I felt great! I kept it off for a good year and even lost 5 more pounds. Unfortunately, I knew nothing about maintaining and my old eating habits caught up with me. I was back to 150 lbs by the age of 22.

I am now 43 years old and in the past 3 - 5 years, I have crept up to 160 lbs. That is a new higher number for me and I don't like the gaining trend. So, I decided it is time to turn things around in the other direction and to maintain this turn around for life. Clearly, I can't get away with being complacent. I have decided that 140 lbs felt great at 22, so that is the weight I am shooting for.

I guess for a number of years, I just decided that 150 lbs was my natural resting weight. I can't say that anymore, because the scale has crept up.

And that, as they say, is my story.

:welcome: Clykk :wave: ...

Join us on the weekly thread, if you haven't already...

Hello! I am new to this board. My name is Ashley and I am 28. I have an 18 month old daughter. I lost my pregnancy weight only to gain 10 lbs back after my mom died. I was about 5 lbs over what I should have been when I got pregnant.

I am starting weight watchers again because I am sick of my clothes being tight and I don't want to buy bigger clothes. I am tired of not being happy with myself. I am tired of thinking about how fat I am all of the time. I don't want to translate this negative self image to my daughter and I want to set a good example for her!

Hello there!!!
 

Here's my story...
My name is Jamie.
I'm almost 32. Mother of three. Jake is 10, Abby is 8 and Cooper is 4. My little guy is about to start preschool, so this will be the first time in 11 years I'll have NO kids at home. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. My hubby works for a restaurtant chain and he's always working.
Okay...back to me, My weight has fluctuated between 120 and 160 in the past 10 years. 3 babies has not been easy on my body at all. :(
Last year I spent quite a while in the hospital. A normal outpatient surgery to remove some cysts from my right ovary turned into 3 surgeries and a Hysterectomy last September.
After my hysterectomy, I went through a very tough time. I went through depression, ny hormones went crazy and I gained about 30 pounds.
I decided in January that I was miserable with how I looked and needed to change.
I joined the gym and started exercising. I tried to change my eating habits, but that is still a daily battle.
I have lost 25-30 pounds, but it seems like I'm getting nowhere lately.
I work out at least 5 days a week.
About a month ago, I tried the Fat Smash Diet, and I actually lost 6 pounds in the detox phase, but it was so hard to keep up with it.
So now I've got those 6 pounds back.
I want to be a healthy weight. I'm not sure if 125 is right for me, but it is the number that is stuck in my head.
I'm sure that I''ll get motivated by all of you guys! I hope to get to know all of you well!
Good luck to us all and we try to get where we want to be!:)

HI Sunpike!
I'm new to this forum as well but have found lots of help and encouragement and inspiration from the citizens of 3fc!

:welcome: sunpike and ashleybeth

My story is pretty simple. I'm a 44 yr. young SAHM and entertainer. Married late in life and have two beautiful children, ages 5 and 3. All of my life, I've been in the "normal" range up and down, (gained during college but then back down). It seems like I've been dieting all my life at one point or another. I have always been conscientious about my weight and never let it get too out of control. The largest size I ever wore was a 12. The lowest was a 6. But after having children and entering my 40s, my body decided not to be so kind and I've struggled with my weight ever since.

My highest weight was with my first child. I gained 60 lbs. and hit my all time high at 209. I worked out hard and got back to my pre-preg. weight, but just when I did, I got pregnant again and gained 40 with my second. After each child, I was determined to lose and I did with strong determination. I worked out 5-6 days a week and watched my diet. I was back down to a sz 6 last summer. I hadn't seen that number since I was in my 20s! I got too comfortable last fall, stopped exercising and drank my beloved vino more and more often in the evenings. Then the holidays came around.... and you know the story. I gained 15+ back. It could have been much worse but that 15 lbs. makes a huge difference in how I look and feel.

So here I am again, on that rollercoaster that I know all too well, hoping to get back to that size 6 or 8. That is where I feel most comfortable. Not to mention that I have a full wardrobe of vintage outfits that I wear in my band. Talk about a motivator! The more weight I lose, the more costumes I can wear again! I will reach that goal... I always do because when I want something badly enough, I work hard to get it! I'm sure there are many here who can identify about wanting something so badly and nothing will stop you.

Something I tell myself often was said by Turbo Jam's Chalene Johnson during one of her workouts, while doing crunches. I turned it into my motto. "How bad do you want it? That's how hard you've gotta work! It's worth it!!"

:welcome: feelingroovy :wave:

hi everyone!
i'm brand new, just joined this afternoon and am really excited about starting a new weight loss journey on 3FC! :carrot: (i love the dancing carrot!) I've been lurking for a really long time so i decided today to take the plunge and join because the stories and support i've seen members giving is really brilliant! so here's a bit about me...
my weight loss story began 11 years ao when i was nine, when i decided my belly was too big so i began swilling down gallons of water because i'd heard somewhere it made you lose weight! the diets ive been on have varied from total starvation, liquid diet, raw food and nothing but cereal! needless to say none of them have worked! my belly obsession has always been my biggest bugbear and personal obstacle in my life, which sounds really dramatic but its true! im very tall, (5'10") with long legs which dont get fat, so all the weight goes to my face and tummy! my self consciousness about it has prevented me from wearing certain clothes and things like that, but its even been so inhibiting that sometimes i havent left the house! i have an amazing boyfriend (since i was 15!) who is always telling me im beautiful but i dont quite believe it, and my body issues have been damaging to our relationship on occasion, so ive decided that i need to cop on to myself, shift the weight and finally be happy in myself! i think the 21 pounds ive set as a goal will be enough. im rejoining ww (for the third time) on tuesday and i went on my first ever jog today so im off to quite a good start! im going to be doing ww core plan (no pointing but restricted foods) which has worked in the past but im also trying to up my nutrition because im strict vegetarian and anaemic because of my poor diet, so those are my goals! im really looking forward to being on 3FC where everyone is in the same boat diet wise!:carrot: sorry, i really love the carrot!

:welcome: IrishRover :wave:

New to 3 fat chicks
 

I am not only new to 3FC, but also to blogging and all of this. I have never posted anything on-line so this is all new to me. In the past 5 yrs, I have gotten married, had 2 kids, and gained about 25lbs. My baby is now 1, so it's time to get my body back. I weighed about 127lb when I got married (used diet pills to get into my dress), my pre-baby weight before kiddo #1 was 138lbs, got back down to 140lbs before kiddo #2. Now I'm at 151lbs and need to at least get back to pre-baby weight---and then some. My goal is 133lbs.
Previously when I have lost weight, I've just done it on my own, smaller portions, low carb, working out etc...This time I decided it was time to get some help. I am going through Metabolic Research Centers. I am basically doing low-carb, lots of protein drinks, tons of water, lots of supplementation with vitamins and such. I know I need to start a workout regimen, but I haven't gotten there yet. I also decided I needed to get some online support. My sisters and mom are overweight, but they don't want to lose with me. My husband doesn't need to lose weight at all. So I'm hoping some online support will help get the weight off and keep it off.
I'm 29, I work as a nurse 2 days a week, the rest of the time I'm home with my kids. I have 2 boys, 3 1/2, and 1.
Looking forward to talking to you all in the future.:write::comp::wave:

Hello RNmama
 

:welcome3: RN mama. Hope we can be of support in your goal to lose the "baby fat" ;)

Dagmar :yay:

Well, I'm new here - I'm at the end of my rope in trying to lose the last 18 lbs or so.

I was a division I college athlete about 4 years ago, I was fit and trim, and then I stopped running because I had to work full time (hello, real world!)...instead of running 3 hours a day 6 days a week and lifting weights in the gym 3 days a week, I had to slow down to exercising 4 days a week, one hour per day. This doesn't sound bad for a "normal" person but my body was that of an elite athlete.... so I gained 40 lbs. Yes, I gained 40lbs while exercising regularly and eating normally.

After a year I was 160, and so I went on a 1200 calorie diet and got down to 127...and everything stopped. For a year I didnt lose anything, and wasnt doing anything wrong, and I still had 10 extra pounds to lose!

So I let myself go a little, gained 7 lbs and here I am at 135 still desperately trying to get to 117, my "normal" weight. But I'd even be happy with 120!

Right now I have been doing the Atkins nutritional approach because my body is very, very sensitive to carbohydrates. When i was bigger my blood sugar was almost in the pre-diabetic range, and if I had let myself go any longer I'm sure I would have given myself type 2 diabetes before long.

Atkins is super easy. I dont have a problem with restricting certain foods, or counting calories, or any of that. In fact, I might be one of the very few people in this world were "diets" are EASY for me! I think this is because of my athlete backgroud...when you are training you can't have certain foods, period....so I'm used to not eating foods that simply arent healthy.

The only problem is, I'M NOT LOSING ANY WEIGHT! I even went to the Dr. to see if my thyroid was wacky...he said my blood tests were normal. Then why is it that I'm about 5'3" 135 and CLEARLY have almost 18lbs of extra weight on me, but it's just not going anywhere? What am I doing wrong?

I'm hoping Atkins lo-carbing is the answer for my body...but we shall see. I've been driving everyone in my life crazy with this so thats why I now need support of strangers!! Please help. My body doesnt want to lose anymore weight even though I very clearly have much fat to lose.... hmmmm!

And that's my story :D

Welcome! And congratulations on the loss--you've done a great job! There are a lot of us trying to lose those last few pounds--I know I've been at it for a year now (and have gotten within 4 pounds of my goal and then jumped up to almost 16 pounds to goal). Join us in our weekly thread and we'll all commiserate together (and give each other pats on the back when we do well).

Hello
 

Hi, I'm so excited to have joined this website! 3FC rocks! I have just recently started the fat smash diet, and am ready to get rid of 20 extra pounds I've been carrying around... I've done this on and off for the past twenty years - gained and lost the same ole 20lbs! Though I'm grateful that I've been able to lose it, I'm tired of the games! I just want to lose it, and keep it off this time! I'm tired of wondering what clothes will still fit. Tired of losing a little weight, getting a lil' cocky - and putting it ALL back on. I'm just tired! However, this tiredness has motivated me to do something about it, and with a community such as this, I have that faith that I CAN!


:carrot: :hug:

I totally understand where you are coming from! I too have the same story of weight obsessing and beating myself up... Well, it's never to late to stop! We can lose this weight in a healthy, fun, and supportive way! AND KEEP IT OFF :) Oh yeah, and I love that dang carrot too!

Hi everyone! I've been lurking here for a while, and I am so impressed with the support and good feelings on this board.

I finally quit smoking on June 10 of this year, after 10 years of the nasty habit and on my worst days, 1 pack a day. Yay! Unfortunately, I gained 20 pounds over the months following.

I am glad to be a non-smoker; gaining some weight was definitely worth it. But I miss my body of a few months ago and would like to lose the weight, plus I would like to improve my overall healthfulness.

I also just got married five months ago, so it has been a time of great adjustment. I have been trying to be forgiving of myself, but some times I get frustrated when my clothes don't fit or I overeat.

Anyway, it's great to sign up and I look forward to being a part of this awesome community!

Newbies, Newbies everywhere :welcome: one and all :wave:

Wow, I've never been able to talk about this because my friends are not supportive at all! I have always been a size 0 or 2 and it was actually difficult for me to keep weight on and not get too thin. I was always known as the skinny girl. So, now that I have gained 15 pounds I have lost a lot of my self esteem. Being a small framed person, 15 pounds looks a lot heavier on me than any of my friends. I hate the way I look right now and am hoping to have the weight off by Thanksgiving.

I lost my father a year ago, and all I could manage to do was stay in bed and eat comfort food. My job was to take care of him, so with him gone I lost my way. It became very easy to just stay in and not move. Well, it caught up with me.

I hate the way my clothes look on me and I feel awful about my body when I look in the mirror. My friends have been having a great time with the fact that I've gained weight and talk about it all the time. It's very hurtful but when I try to tell them, they don't stop. I am still the thinnest, but that's not the point. I feel awful about myself and don't have anyone to talk. My husband is trying to be supportive, but he doesn't understand how I could have low self esteem.

I don't know what to do with this lumpy body. I don't know what kinds of clothes to wear. I can't just go into my closet and grab something. Now I have to take a lot of time to make sure not all my bumps and lumps are showing. Buying clothes is a nightmare too.

I know I have had enough so I have started to move more and eat better foods. I bought the Firm system with the Transfirmer and Slim in 6. I've also been doing pilates. We'll see how it goes! I'm looking forward to getting my body back and become stronger and more confident! Thank you all for letting my vent!

I started out with a rapid gain from my weight in school (about 152 pounds) to around 180. That gain took oh, maybe 6 weeks...two months? After a break up with a boyfriend and moving away to Uni. Never a good combination! I still cannot even LOOK at a packet of 2 minute noodles without getting queasy lol.

I dropped down to an unhealthy 110 pounds in about 8 or 9 months by basically exercising like a maniac and barely eating (Ooo...maybe 600 or 700 calories on a good day)

Ironically it was my unhealthy obsession with "getting fit" that actually put me on a true "healthy" path and I learnt by reading that one had to EAT to be healthy and lose weight to keep it off. From there I steadily gained back to about 132 pounds which on my frame looked fine.

Then I met the most recent ex and over the course of this past year and a bit have gained 10 pounds. Blargh!

Granted I'm actually a lot lot fitter now than I was a year ago I am still uncomfortable at this weight. As we recently broke up I decided to use it as an oppurtunity to give myself an overhaul and have set to getting rid of the excess baggage!

I'd like to be back to ideally 132 by January but I am aiming for 136 (62kgs). I'm kind of more interested in getting my body fat percentage down than my weight - currently at 21% and I'd like it down about 18%.

I'm calorie counting because its always been the most effective for me and I just canNOT restrict food types lol. Keeping my range between 1200 and 1400.

Exercise - I have bootcamp 3 mornings a week, gym 5-6 days a week and running on however many days I feel like it. I also walk everywhere I can and have taken to walking on my lunch break at work.

So yes, thats me!

Eeee, I love reading people's inspirational stories... AND I love knowing that there is always the small possibility that I could inspire someone else with mine... AAAAND, I'm one of my FAVORITE topics of conversation...:lol:

Here's my story:

In 6th grade, I packed on a significant amount of weight, and kept gaining throughout 7th, 8th, and 9th. I didn't eat any more than my friends did (now, I ate a lot, but so did they - and sometimes they were hungry when I was not), and I was still physically active, but I started to grow a massive gut and a double chin. I was ridiculed endlessly for it. It also didn't help that my skin broke out so badly that my face was constantly inflamed. Everyone said I was the ugliest person they knew. :(

So, the summer before 10th grade, I starved myself and lost 20 pounds, weighing in at 145. I thought I looked super hot, since I could wear size 8 jeans and nice, tight shirts without looking fat. I got my hair highlighted, got a fake tan, started wearing make-up, and my confidence level went WAY up until this guy I sort of liked (who acted like he sort of liked me) told all his friends that he thought I had a gut and acne. This caused me to obsessively wash my face four times a day and continue starving. Of course, the starving often caused me to have no energy, so I would have my periods of binging. I would feel guilty about them, and then I would exercise compulsively to compensate for all the junk I ate.

By the age of 16, I weighed around 120-125 pounds, then I started practicing more eating disordered behavior, which got me down to around 105. Somewhere around the age of 17 or 18, I decided it wasn't worth it anymore and that I should stop obsessing so much over my body. Then, around the age of 18, my life started getting very busy, and I was extremely active without meaning to be - I walked everywhere, had a band that was pretty much my life, moved out to L.A. and often involuntarily skipped meals. I stayed in the 120-125 range and was probably the most body confident I'd ever been. I never counted calories or paid attention to how much exercise I got because I had no need to; I was already thin.

Then, life slowed down. I met my significant other and moved to Florida to be with her after 6 months. No more band. No more acting. No more modeling career... just her. I had a series of very stressful jobs and financial problems, which caused me to binge eat. She cooked meals loaded with fat and carbs. I grabbed fast food for lunch because it was easy and cheap. I exercised daily for awhile but still somehow managed to gain 50 pounds in a little over 6 months. Then, I stopped exercising because I thought I reached the fat point of no return, which made me too depressed and unmotivated to do anything about it... except complain... while I was stuffing my face with Cheetos, donuts, ice cream, and french fries.

Anyway, on May 29, 2007 I stepped on the scale at Publix and it said I weighed 179. I kept telling myself that I weighed 145-150 to the point of where I almost believed it. I had to face reality: I was 20 pounds overweight. I bought a scale for myself and weighed myself in the morning, naked and empty. The scale said I weighed 175, which was my starting weight.

Now, I'm reaching the end of my weight loss journey. As of today (October 18, 2007), I weigh 139 pounds, leaving me with 14 more to lose. I'm going to be the same size as I was when I was most confident about my body, only I now have healthy habits. I'm already starting to see the ab defining lines on my stomach (upper abs only right now) and I figure that by 125, I will most likely have the 4 pack I've always dreamed of having. I'm stronger, more muscular, healthier, and more fit than I have ever been in my life.

My goal (as my sig says) is to lose these 14 pounds by January 2008. I want to start 2008 free of the fifty pounds I gained in 2006.

I'm a new featherweight member
 

Hi everyone

This is my story. I was always a skinny kid, skinny teenager and that continued until several years ago when I was in my late 30s.

I put on a few pounds one Christmas, and my friend who was in WeightWatchers at that time, gave me her WW info and told me how to do it. It worked. I lost that weight, then more weight, probably borderline underweight. I was used to feeling hungry I got into bad eating habits - too much fatty and sugary foods. I had spare capacity so I thought that a few pounds didn't matter. But I put on all the weight I lost and then some. I was the heaviest I have ever been.

Attempts to go back on the WW points and lose weight stalled after a a few pounds and I was into bad eating habits again, put the weight on, and a bit more. I was going through a difficult situation involving my house, and I lost motivation. I was not bothered about my weight and accepted it, even if I didn't like it.

In many ways, I believe that following the WW points scheme was the worst thing I ever did. All I wanted to lose was 2-4 lbs and I ended up gaining about 20lb or more from that very first day I wanted to try it.

I moved house, I felt better. I lost some weight by good habits but then my friendly next door neighbour had a love of cakes and biscuits, so I indulged when she invited me, and the weight returned and stayed. I gave up weighing myself.

Time passed and I somehow broke the association between comfort and eating. It just happened. Eventually I found that I didn't want chocolate and sweet foods whenever I was at the local corner shop. Before, I was an addict and the temptation was too great. I have no explanation. The link between comfort and eating was broken somehow.

I became more disciplined at home, as my husband and I had some bad eating habits and indulgences. I cut out snacking between meals, so that helped a bit. We had the occasional treat, but as we know, occasional can become commonplace, so I am wary of that.

Visiting relatives always meant lots of food and overeating, to the point of feeling disgustingly full, to the point of discomfort. They always have lots of biscuits, cookies, sweet cereals and snacks to hand to nibble on between meals. Last time, in August, I had one slice of cake, not two or three. So, again, I noticed that I was making a change without being 'on a diet'.

After that visit, I stood on the scales and was a few pounds down. I began to be more disciplined about food, and gradually the weight came off. The first few pounds were easy. After that, it would take maybe three weeks to lose just one pound but the general trend was downward.

Then, I reached an impasse. My weight was stuck. I did not give up a few indulgences but I realised that maybe I had to if I was to shift this last half stone. So I began to cut out the treats a bit more, to just once a week.

Anyway, Christmas is coming .... and that means a party with as much Indian food as I can eat (every year I pig out), and a weekend with the relatives (see above) which is always one big calorie-fest. On top of that, I am given Belgian chocolates, shortbread, biscuits etc as gifts.

About 10 days ago, I decided I'd try the WW points again. My aim is to weigh the same on 11 January as I did last week. I know I will eat, but I am hoping that I have the willpower to prevent myself from overeating.

I am interested in the WW Core Plan far more than the points system as I believe that it promotes a healthier eating plan. 20 points a day makes me ravenously hungry during the late afternoon/early eating and that's when it becomes hard to remain disciplined.

My intention is to eat more wholefoods - brown rice, wholemeal couscous, polenta, quinoa, oats etc and make sure I eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day.

I do not particularly want to eat 'diet' food. I don't want shakes, meal substitutes, artificial sweeteners or anything like that. I believe that changing one's eating habits is the key to permanent weight loss.

OK, that's the sensible me talking. I know the risks.

Firstly, that Christmas indulgences will break my resolve, and secondly, I am at risk of returning to the lose weight/put on even more weight cycle.

In the New Year, I intend to try the Core Plan and then use it to maintain my weight once I reach my goal. I am very close to goal now, but 'tis the season to be .... eating, drinking and making merry.

I'm here to keep my resolve. :)