Yur stories are incredible and there is a part of mine in each of yours. I symphatize with all of you because I have been thee too and struggled with my weight all my life. This Latino gal has found comfort in the 3 F's (food/family/friends) all my life. Having played soccer for 30 years has left me with bad knees, back and neck and my 5 ft. 4 frame feels each of those extra pounds. All my life, the people around me have said that I look great but I have never felt it. At my heaviest, I was 148 and my goal is to loose the last 20 lbs. I feel and look better at around 128 or so. I am in my 135's right now and trying to motivate myself to reach my goal of 128. I eat healthy but find it hard to stay on any type of diet for longer than 2 weeks. I do much better at lower carbs and higher proteins. I am looking forward to meeting new friends with the same struggle and working together while motivating each other. I turned 60 this year and really want to succeed!

Hello all of you beautiful women,

I read through some of the previous posts and some of them really reminded me of myself, which is rather comforting.

Here's my story...I was a somewhat tall and skinny kid till I started junior high. I had moved to another state to live with my aunt and uncle and cousins. I discovered Milano cookies. I could eat an entire package by myself (kind of small cookies so it was easy to do) I guess it was emotional eating. I don't remember how, but I lost weight and gained a lot more friends, though I don't remember which happened first.

Then I moved back to live with my mom and grandparents. I started gaining weight again in 8th grade and went up to about 140 and I was kind of self conscious about my weight. In high school I didn't weight myself too often, but I think from 125 to 130.

I started losing weight in college (the opposite of most people) because I started working as a waitress and got more exercise than I used to. I got married and wasn't working or exercising much and we went out to eat a lot so I the pants kept getting tighter and tighter and I finally decided enough was enough. I started working out for the first time in my life and then started watching what I ate (not too hard core, but no more cheese enchiladas once a week!).

Fast forward a few years, got divorced, graduated from college, weighed about 117. Fast forward once again to 1 year ago, I had gotten to about 122. I was still exercising regularly, but I would sometimes binge eat (usually bread). For the first time I started counting calories and got a food scale. I lost the weight I wanted, but got a little too rigid and was working out and working at a somewhat physical job and lost too much weight! I was about 106 pounds. Before I realized it I was so thin that I was beginning to look sick. This is getting rather long so I'll try to wrap it up. I am currently about 117 or 118. I have slowly gained, which in itself is not a bad thing, but I've been binge eating. At first it was okay because I needed and wanted to gain weight and actually get some JOY out of eating instead of always restricting myself. Now I feel like its getting out of control. Sometimes I just feel this COMPULSION to eat bread, cereal, pbj sandwiches. I think I had deprived myself of sugar for so long and now I've over done it and maybe I'm addicted to sugar...?
I want to get back to 113 or 114. I just have to find some kind of balance and way to overcome this compulsive sugar/carb binging. It's just so embarrassing for me when my boyfriend (who has like 0 percent body fat and weighs 125 pounds of pure muscle) comes home and all the cereal and milk are gone and I have to explain where it went. I swear its insane, I feel ridiculous and like I'm some kind of crack addict.
I'm thinking of cutting out all sugar again (which sucks since I don't want to go back to being a calorie ****!), but I'm just soooo ready to be done with feeling powerless and out of control. I feel like I can't talk to anyone about it because they will just dismiss me and go "oh you are so skinny!" I know I'm not "overweight", but this binging needs to stop NOW. >_<
Hopefully at least one of you understands how I feel (well, not that I wish this on any one of you!)

I understand! I weigh a bit more than you but knowing that the few pounds I have gained have all been from sugar and carbs is really upsetting. It's not about the number so much as it is feeling like you are out of control and constantly craving sugar like an addict.

Where there's a will there's a way, but I find that my binging is much less severe if I just purge my house of all "bingeable" foods. If I had cereal at home I imagine it would last me like two days. If you're living with your boyfriend, can you negotiate some kind of "no bingeable junk" rule and see if he can keep it in his car or something?

I'm in the throes of the vicious cycle of carb craving/binging myself and it's awful. I definitely understand where you're at.

Hi Krampus,

Hey, you're Japanese? I'm a Japanese/Eng translator, small world! haha
We also have pretty much the same goal weight.
Anyway, after I made this post I was researching sugar addiction online a little bit.
I wish I could just not have those bingeable foods, but I feel like my boyfriend (who is Japanese and has never had a weight problem in his life other than maybe having too little body fat) would think "why can't you just control yourself?". When I bring up gaining weight he says "I can't tell, just eat what you want and don't worry about it". I really hate those kind of glib responses you get from someone that doesn't understand at all.
Anyway, instead of putting sugar in my oatmeal I put half a chopped up apple and nuked it. I'm not gonna lie...not as good as sugar by a long shot, LOL. But, at least for today I'm going sugar and sweetener free.
I'm sure you understand the pressure to be thin when you're around all these tiny Japanese women even more so than I do. It seems like they can eat like a bird and be totally satisfied. Not fair!
Well, if you think it might help send me a message when you want to binge. I know its hard to pause and do anything else besides shovel in the carbs when you feel that compulsion, but maybe it will help, and I'm willing to try it!
<3

Hello Featherweights! I am new here. I spent about two hours reading through the forum last night and decided to join. Everyone seems very supportive.

I am 28 years old, 5'4, female. I was a bit chubby throughout childhood, and then got heavier when puberty hit. I was 5'4 in sixth grade, and my heaviest weight of my life was at this time - 140 lbs. I felt like a beast compared to most of the girls in my class who hadn't developed yet. I've struggled with crash dieting ever since.

I was 120 pounds when I turned 18, and have fluctuated from 110-125 since then. I find that I'm most comfortable at 110, and hope to get back to that and stay there. Currently I'm at 118. I am swearing off crash dieting forever. I know how to eat healthy. I've been a healthy vegan since I was 16, but I do need to work on exercising consistently and having a stable eating pattern- for me it tends to be all or nothing with quantity and categories of food.

My struggle is not the types of food I like to eat. I enjoy fruits, vegetables, whole grains, etc, and avoid refined foods most of the time. I have a hard time with consistency and moderation, and this is what I'll be working on.

I look forward to getting to know all of you!

-mari

Hi everyone,

While I have struggled with eating disorder issues, mostly my weight stems from eating terrible in college. I became a plump 175 as opposed to where I should be. I want to lose weight not by "dieting" but by learning to eat healthy and exercising on a regular basis (I'm still struggling with that, I have trouble getting my butt moving. Once I'm going, I'm happy, but it takes a lot...) I'm also in musical theater where most girls are thin and I'm under a lot of pressure to lose weight. So yeah, I want to be healthy and I'm hoping my weight will naturally follow.

Everybody likes a good story...
 

OMG! Italy! What could be more fun!

Yes, I imagine you will get down to business with the diet when you get back. Although, I have known people who lost weight while in Europe. They put things together differently there and everything is fresh. Not so much "junk food."
My story: I have lost the same 20 or so pounds over and over. So, I seem to be on a diet at least once a year to get rid of holiday fat. My danger season begins with "the Witches"s Tea" (an annual party with friends) and rages on through Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentines Day.

Then, the brakes go on. Usually, by the end of May, I am looking and feeling OK again. But, the last 3 years, I have been working on a book and a very large art project. I found myself sitting all day at the computer. I forgot all about exercise. At the end of that time, I had lost a lot of muscle (used to be a ski instructor) and the muscle was replaced by FAT!!!

So, at this point, I am trying to rebuild muscle and lose wt. Big job. Perhaps that is why it seems to be taking so long.

Wow, You and me both! My story is identical. Except, I now get to add loss of muscle from sitting at the computer.

I know that eating healthy works. I know if I stick consistenty to a healthy diet, I will lose weight. I just want to see those numbers go down faster. When I don't see that... I get frustrated and hungry. That's a "bad news" combination. Good luck. Please keep us posted.

jojo- it looks like your close to your goal, congrats! it really is frustrating when the numbers only creep down slowly. what's been working for you so far?

i was doing well calorie counting.. and then i stopped. i don't want to weight myself. in a few days i'll brave the scale again.

Hmmm....What's working? Only one thing works for me. I am on the Diet Center Diet. I got a copy of it back in the 80's and lost 40+ pounds. These days, there are no Diet Centers in my area; so I have no one to check my progress and encourage me.
So that is why I am here. For the checking and accountability. It matters a lot to me!
I think the Diet Ctr. Diet is almost identical to a Diabetic Diet. There is a book called:The Diet Center Program by Ferguson. It appeals to me, because she includes a lot of info. about how weight loss works.
I am so confident with this, that I simply relax and just DO it.
Parties and events still tend to run me off the road a little bit; but I get better every year. At this point, 155 has become completely unacceptable to me. (I used to think it was OK.) I now realize I function better around 145 or less.
Thanks for asking. Wishing you the best results.

The Scale
 

Ok, think of it this way: The scale is like an honest friend who will tell you the truth for your own good. The scale doesn't mean to hurt my feelings. It keeps me from lying to myself and going around in a fog thinking everything is OK...when it is not.

Example: I felt guilty this AM (party last night) and so pretended I had no scale (ha ha...very funny.) I went to the kitchen, drank coffee, ate breakfast, had a glass of water... probably a pound or so taken on board.

Then, I sat and felt guilty. Ugh, I thought: "Can't weigh now, I'll be up from eating breakfast." Then I got on 3 FC and started reading other people's stories. I felt worse... At that point, I stripped off my clothes and ran to the scale. "How bad is it?" 148! Huh? Barely up 1 pound.

I think I was carrying 10 pounds of guilt til I weighed. Now, I'm OK!

Hi Everyone,

I joined this site this evening. I'm at 180 lbs, 5'6" on a medium frame. My goal weight is 150 lbs., when I get there I'll decide if I want to lose more.

I've always struggled with my weight and I haven't been able to commit to a diet/exercise for very long. I'm currently at my highest weight ever and I feel awful. It's time for me to do something about it and this community seems to be so inspiring!

I truly belong here now.

What's my story? Well, my story is a long and hard-fought battle with self image more than anything else. I have weighed between 110-160 pounds since 7th grade (I'm now 25). I have never been happy with how I looked.

But that has changed. I've come to peace with my build and my frame. Now I am in the process of losing the rest of my weight until I get to the point where I look the best I can look.

I know that I have a larger frame for someone who is short; heck, my head is even super big for my body. I have a long torso and short little legs (even though my calves and thighs are sculpted and awesome looking, tummy flab aside). I know that my shoulders are broad and my chest is large, which helps (melons, DISTRACT!) and hurts (why does this dress zip up until my chest and my button-ups always pop out? why? why? why?)

Knowing this I am committed to a new sense of life. When I look good, I will be satisfied. I will stop trying to be something I am not (a skinny little minnie) and flaunt what I got (rockin hips, bust, legs and butt) and de-stress about the rest.

I thought i was here for pure vanity, i really want to be the 'it' girl this summer. i feel that i have really let myself go at 128, its too close to 130 for me.ive always been told i have a beautiful face but never the body to truly match it. my back and joints have been bothering me lately and sometimes i feel like i move like an 80 year old!not cool because i am only 23, i'm slowly starting to realize that this whole fitness thing isn't just to be vain (tho i do want to look bomb in my 2 piece!) but for health reasons too. i worked out last week for the first time in too long and it has been the only thing that has worked to relieve my back pain. i want to work out to live longer and give my body the Much needed attention it deserves!

I'm a Junior in college, and finally decided I needed a change. I've struggled with weight from an early age, and dieted frequently when I was younger and uninformed. In 9th grade, my eating habits turned unhealthy. Luckily, I stopped before it turned harmful, but after that, I started packing on the pounds. I had on/off moments of being chubby/healthy in high school, fluctuating around 115-130 pounds. I would lose weight and gain it back.

It happened again after freshman year of college. I was in great shape (a new look for the new school year), but moving to college and being independent really took a toll on my body. I always went out, didn't make time to work out, and often had seconds. The weight piled on an on. I finally decided to consistently do something about it this summer. After realizing that my favorite pair of EXPENSIVE jeans could no longer be pulled up my thighs, I saw a problem and I'm here to fix it. I'm still sociable, but I am a bit shyer towards guys now, when I used to be confident. I want that back.

I'm started at my heaviest weight ever, and I'm looking to get back into shape and feel better about myself.

I'm 25 going on 26 this month, and I finally decided the way I handle food is not good. That if I keep it up, I'm gonna be an obese 30-something. I was a very skinny kid. And then when I hit puberty I gained about 10lbs in a short time. I right away ended up with stretch marks and ever since I've been gaining and loosing between 10 and 30lbs. Haven't been happy about my weight the past 10 years except for once in 2007. After a break up I went from 154 to 130 in a few months. Ofcourse, it was the unhealthy way. But I remember how great I felt. I've gone up to 154 again (it is my limit, and I seem to be able to not go over it so far). The last few years I just never was able to go to the gym because of health issues (nothing major) and I ended up convinced that it's never going to happen. BUT! Here I am.

I know that I can do it now, after reading all the stories on here, but also after going to the gym this past month and learning that I'm not the worst ever at it, I feel motivated. I also know that telling myself to watch what I eat and meantime not going to the gym doesnt work. I need the combination - knowing that I pained myself in the gym just to burn 300cal will keep me from eating that 450cal bag of chips.

AND - I'm the kind of person that always sees a reason to not do something 'right' just yet, because first this and that has to be in the right place, and I need money to buy more fruits, I need time to go hike for a day, I need bladiebla to be able to do right by myself. Well, that's done with too. I need to just do it. Nike style.

My story started 4 years ago after my mom died of cancer. I was always "skinny fat". Thin but with a high percentage of body fat, not toned and kind of frumpy. It got worse after my second son was born. I was a so-so eater and sporadic exerciser at best, lol. Once my mom passed away, I made myself a vow that I would get fit and healthy - once and for all. I didn't want what happened to her to happen to me. She was thin but very unfit. Plus, the number 40 was looming so I wanted to turn 40 and be in the very best shape of my life too.

I started with Pilates then weight training and finally added running to the mix - (a few months ago) all over the course of the past four years. I cleaned up my diet and really got serious about it like six months ago. I never thought at my age (39) that I'd have a body fat that was considered athletic and a more fit and toned body than I had before kids. I guess all that stuff I went through seeing my mom waste away from terminal cancer wasn't in vain after all.

My journey has been long and arduous at times, fraught with starts and stops. I did it all on my own without a gym or personal trainer. Basically in my basement in the winter and the outdoors in the summer, lol. I've always struggled with a poor body image because of my lack of muscle tone and boyish figure. Yet the more the weight fell off, the more toned I became, I actually liked what I saw in the mirror - for the first time ever! I couldn't always say that. Quite a revelation for someone my age.

I still have a little ways to go but when I turn 40 this November, I'll be better than before, hopefully. I want to be 40, fit and FABULOUS. ;)

I've just turned 20 and I'm going into my final year at university in September. Every exam period at university I have piled on the pounds, due to a combination of sitting down revising all day and eating lots of chocolate and takeaway foods. NOT GOOD. I used to love to go out clubbing in my first year, but I've barely gone out this year mainly because I just don't feel confident enough. It's not that I'm ashamed of myself but I just feel chubby. Half of what most girls like about going out is buying new clothes and doing my hair and make up nice... but it all seemed a bit pointless when I started to feel fat.

I want to go out and feel confident about how I look. I'm only 20, tbh the idea of being 20 and opting to stay in so I don't have to have photos taken with my thin lovely friends is ridiculous. So I have this summer to sort myself out. I want to go back to uni a new me and wear all these fashionable clothes that I spend hours online looking at but never buying.

And I'm GOING to do it. And I can't wait for the shocked faces at uni when I go back at least a stone lighter. That is my motivation. :D

I was skinny as a kid, and "skinny fat" as a young woman. I probably was between 102-107 pounds until about 1999. I've NEVER been athletic or active, always preferring a sedentary lifestyle.

When I was in college, I used to drive four blocks to the local Mexican restaurant and eat a huge burrito with a side of cheese fries. That pretty much sums up my entire philosophy toward food and physical activity for most of my life.

Then DH and I started dating, and a steady diet of "man portions" plus dining out plus inactivity led to slow and steady weight gain. I was about 115 pounds when I got pregnant with my first kid. I fluctuated with my weight a bit for the next couple of years. Got pregnant again. A few months after my second kid was born, I was at an all time high of 129.

I realize 129 may not sound like much to some people, but I am very short--just 5'0". So that extra weight is VERY noticeable on me.

I've started working at trying to get back down to a slimmer size, but I am also trying to discover a love for physical activity. It doesn't come easily to me, but I'm working on it.

I'm so glad this thread is still going on from 2008! That was my first year of college and I just graduated. Shows that life is a marathon and not a sprint. We have every day to make our lives better.

I'm trying to be more active on this site. I read a lot of posts but rarley say anything so here I am and here is my story.

The first time I ever thought about weight really was in middle school. I was so so skinny and all muscle. I worked out about fifteen hours a week, did martial arts and even taught tae kwon do. I was (and maybe somewhere still am) about as tough and active as they come. But I wanted to be prettier, as I was not a cool kid and every one of the really pretty popular girls seemed to be on a diet and very concerned with what they ate and it just seemed to cool adult thing to do. When you're cool and grown up, you worry about your weight. or at least it seemed that way. So I struggled with my body perception for a while, living on candy and crap food ( I rarely eat sugar now but was a complete sugar addict-for years and years it seriously made up about 75 percent of my diet).

In high school I fell 'in love' with a cool kid that seemed to really dig me too. It was the first time ever someone liked me back. But it fizzled out very quickly and I put on about 15-30 pounds. Food was my only comfort. I'd come home from school and eat and eat anything I could get my hands on. Or there were the days I was so disgusted with myself I would eat an apple all day while still being a fitness freak. I almost passed out in a class once and my martial arts instructor took me out of the class and made me eat something. After a while I discovered vomiting up my food after a binge as some of my friends were doing it too. This took me through high school and the beginnings of college.

In college my eating was out of control. I would eat healthy foods but enormous portions of it until I was about to bust. In the dining hall I would eat sometimes five portions of food and huge amounts of waffles, cookies, and frozen yogurt. I would count calories but the numbers would be so out of control I couldn't look at them. I would eat good for half a day and then when night rolled around I would eat gobs of sugar until I felt sick. On the other hand I did recover from Bulimia. I stopped throwing up resolving that gainging weight and bingeing was at least better than bingeing and making myself throw up. I decided the only way I would get better was to stop throwing up, so that I would actually have to deal with my own nutrition.

As a side note: In late high school and college I discovered alcohol and I began to abuse it too. Alcohol made me puffy and balloon up another thirty or so pounds as well as putting me in awful circumstances, lost my friends, and most of my self esteem. Life was going down down down. Fortunately a year and a half ago I gave up alcohol through counselors and group support and got sober. And of course, I replaced alcohol with sleeves of cookies!!! It wasn't until this summer I decided it was time to take more of my life back and start eating right and exercising. I weaned myself off of white flour and sugar for thirty days after trying to give it up for years and stuck with it. I currently will have dark chocolate in moderation and sprouted bread but that's about it in the junk food arena. I try to keep my calories around 1600 a day but sometimes go a little lower or a few hundred higher than that. It's still lower than my other average of 2500-3000 calories a day! I also started running again as well as doing yoga to try to center my mind and get back into uber shape!!!

I've been on my fitness journey for about a month now and struggle hard core with motivating myself and not getting too obsessive about losing weight. For me, it's not about that anymore. It's about doing what makes me feel good and alive and making everyday better than the previous one. I am happier and happier everyday and while I still slip up, my new normal is healthier and healthier. Even a 'bad day' now is better than a good day then. I hope I will always have this resolve and I am inspired by the women and men on this forum every single day. I look forward to reading posts here every morning and night and I wish every one of you the best of luck. We can do this!!!!

This thread has been going on a long time!

I was always very athletic as a teenager, and ate whatever I wanted. I preferred real food to sweets, but oil, fried food and meat were all part of what I ate, and it didn't seem to affect me. I used to make fun of all the girls that went on diets. Then I had my first child. I was left with 10 pounds and it didn't bother me too much. Then I had my second child and although I lost most of the weight I gained, I was up 15 pounds from my younger years.
I have had four children altogether, and although I always drop most of the weight, I get stuck at 150 (my goal is 135 and I am 5"7). After my fourth I decided that I was going to lose it all. I joined WW when my baby was four months old and quickly lost 30 pounds and got stuck at... 150 - for 7 months. It wasn't because the diet wasn't working, but because I was being lazy. So two weeks ago I decided I was going to lose it. I joined this site for some extra support and started a blog which has helped me TREMENDOUSLY.
It's called thelastfifteen.com and since I began blogging I have lost almost three pounds! I'm at 147.5 and am looking forward to seeing the scale hit 135

Hi feathers!

I have been within 10 lbs of my goal weight every day for two weeks now so I figured I would come out of hiding on this forum.

I have always been on the stocky/overweight side but I never felt too bad about it or wanted to change until about 9 months ago. I got married in May 2010 and gained about 20 pounds of "love weight" over the next few months, going from the low 150s to 172.6 lbs. One day in November 2010 I just got fed up and decided to change.

I started out by just calorie counting, but I read a few nutrition/diet books and after winter break decided I would go low-carb. It has worked out SO WELL for me. I've been following The Belly Fat Cure, which is a low-sugar, moderate-carb (<120 g/day) diet. I'm now at a lower weight than I was for basically all of high school and college and I feel wonderful!

I have about 7 lbs to go until my stated goal weight of 125 lbs. I'll re-evaluate as I go along but I think I might switch to a fitness goal at that point instead of a weight goal. I have been concentrating more on working out (jogging, weight-lifting, and tennis) recently so I'm hoping to build a little muscle, too.

Hello fellow featherweights! I've been lurking on 3fatchicks for months now, reading your stories and getting eating and exercising tips where I can. I'm so glad I've finally decided to register; hopefully, this'll help me to blast through those last 20lbs I want to lose!

Some facts about me:

Age: Turning 21 in October!
Gender: Female
Current weight: 154lbs
Goal weight: 132lbs

My highest weight was somewhere around 237 lbs (107.5kg, since I live in Australia). For my height of 5'5.7" (167cm...hope my iPad converter is working properly :dizzy:), that placed me firmly in the "obese" territory, BMI-wise. I've always been overweight, possibly obese, but up until March last year, I'd never felt the desire to lose weight. Maybe I was in denial, or merely defiant against being told to lose weight by people (even complete strangers!) my whole life.

How did I get so heavy? I guess it's because I've always been a major foodie. I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, because I figured that since I was fat already, I might as well enjoy myself. I mean, it wasn't like an extra few slices of cheesecake were going to do much more to my ample frame, no? Thing was, at the tender age of 18 years my health was already starting to deteriorate - hypertension, sleep apnea, joint pain, acid reflux, heart palpitations etc. And these EXPLOSIVE nose bleeds that would happen frequently and go on forever :fr:

In March last year, an inflammatory remark regarding my weight saw me lose almost 90lbs through a strict, low-calorie diet (around 800 cals/day) and rigorous exercising (once I was light enough to move without pain). I'm quite lucky in that I lose weight quite easily...provided that I put in the work.

Once I got to around 146lbs, I kinda just...let myself go. I still watched what I ate, but allowed myself a lot of sweet treats, and eased up on the exercise front. Don't get me wrong; I haven't gone back to my former lifestyle. I'm still very fit (recently completed a 14km race). It's the EATING that I seem to have lost control over.

I've been gaining and losing the same 10lbs since January this year. This morning, when I went to get dressed for work, I discovered that NONE of my cotton shirts button up properly anymore. And the beautiful, authentic vintage dress I bought a few month ago barely zips up halfway.

It's time to get serious, and shed those last 20lbs for good! I'm so grateful that there is such a wonderful support network here, of like-minded people who are determined to reach their goals. Looking forward to chatting with you all!

Hello all!
 

I'm new here and have joined in the hopes of getting some support/movtivation as I try to lose my last 13 lbs.

I can remember hating my body from a ridicoulously young age (4th grade??) and I've struggled with my weight ever since. My body image is probably a bigger problem for me than my actual weight, but I would like to see if I actually REACHED a goal for once if I could feel ok about my body.

I've recently relocated with my husband and I'm having a hard time getting me and my daughter adjusted to a new area and also fitting in a workout routine. Hubby is feeling it too, as he has also gained a couple pounds :o I'm attributing it to stress at this point, but as we all know, ya can't just wait for the weight to disappear on its own after the stress is gone.

Additionally, it seems like ever since I hit 30 my metabolism has hit a wall and I'm having a hard time compensating for it without really, REALLY restricting my diet. I'm all for healthy eating, but I have a tendancy to go on epic binge episodes if I stay really restricted for too long.

So basically, I would like to adapt a healthy lifestyle and make maintainable changes as opposed to crash dieting, which worked for me in my younger days, but now............Not so much. Also, I would like to set a positive example for my little girl in terms of health and exercise. I don't want her to feel bad about herself like I did as a child.

Anyhow, that's my story in a nutshell. Thanks for taking time to read :)

I found 3FC a few days ago when I was looking for information about Ideal Protein. I've never been over weight nor very small and I was ok with that. But now my belly seems bigger and when it sit down, it pops out... That makes me feel unconfortable and not to sexy. Since I can't also be standing to flatten my belly, I decided to loose weigth.

I can't afford IP, but I'm still doing a high protein diet. Of course I've cut the sugar out of my diet.

For my first week, I've lost a few pounds already, mostly water I suppose. I ought to that some measurements to track the progess.

I enjoy the support and the info I find here. I'm alse very encouraged by your succes stories and your determination !!!

My story
 

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.

am i a featherweight? i'd like to be! new to 3fc - introduction!
 

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.

My Story
 

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.

Finally back down
 

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 !