Hi! I'm new to the site, so this is my first post. I've read a little on other weight loss forums, and even posted once or twice but got scared off by the defensive replies. Everything I've read on this site has been very rational and supportive! It's so nice to hear!

Anyway, last week I went back to calorie counting in an effort to drop 15-20 pounds by the end of the year. (I lost 50 pounds when I was in college, and have gradually over the last 20 years, but mostly in the last 5 put on enough to make me uncomfortable.) It's been very frustrating. I run, lift weights and do yoga during the week. I hike mountains almost every weekend and have realized that I cannot eat back my exercise calories. I'm just not burning that many anymore.

I know that I'm not "fat," but I feel much too big for my skin. I don't have a set goal, though I'm guessing 125, and if that's too thin, I'll stop before I get there or just gain it back. I've proven I can do that 10 times over!

Glad that you're all here to share your stories. It's nice to hear other people's advice and experiences!

Hello flippychick and welcome!

Well done on deciding to embark on your weight loss.

About your goal, I always recommend to people to aim for a BMI of about 20 to begin with which in your case is 128-130 lbs and see how you feel from there. Although I don't think your current goal is unreasonable, but we were actually just discussing that a lot of people get disheartened by having too low a goal and I wouldn't want that to happen to any of my feathers.

What's your plan, re: calories and exercise?

Best of luck xxx

Welcome This site is highly supportive and very helpful Best of luck!!

Welcome! Good luck!

If I even get to 130, I'm sure I will be ecstatic! I really don't care about any of the numbers (other blood sugar and blood pressure), its more about the way my clothes feel. Which right now is way too tight! I have no desire to be skin and bones. If my clothes fit at 135, I'll just hang out there and try to maintain that. And since I'm approaching 40, I maybe be shrinking vertically, so my goal weight might be more realistic for 5'5". Haha.

I'm going to do 1200 calories a day, but not eat back exercise calories unless it's a real workout (like an 8-10 hour hike). I know it sounds low, but I've tried 1600 calories a day, and that's what brought on my last 5 pounds. I've tried eating more. I've tried being vegetarian, vegan, cutting carbs, eating 5 or 6 times a day - nothing worked. I just have to restrict my calories to get any results. No junk, no processed food, an occasional drink on the weekends and watch the sodium.

Of course, I went to yoga class last night and today I weighed in at 140.6 - a pound up from Monday. Sigh. Hopefully it's just water.

Anyway, thank you for the welcome messages! And if you think I'm nuts, please feel free to tell me so!