[SunnySideUp1981]

I'm a 25-year-old "fat chick" with hopes of getting myself healthy, slender, and athletic.

Throughout high school and the first couple of years of college, I worked out almost every day, ate only a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet, and subsequently weighed 110-120 pounds. Then as I got serious with my now-husband (who is 6'0" and has the metabolism of a hummingbird on meth, damn him), I started to let myself go. I want to get myself back.

I'm currently 192, which isn't so nice on my 5'2" medium-framed body. I want to eventually be in the 115-125 range.

My doctor just started me on Phendimetrazine (35mg, 3x/day) and a diet that is high in lean protein and low in refined carbs. I have never taken any appetite-suppressing medicine before, unless you count the One-A-Day Weight Smart vitamins, and those made me sick so I had to stop taking them. I will be reporting in weekly to my doctor so he can keep track of my progress and of any potential side effects from the medication. (I've been on it two days so far and have had no side effects, so hopefully that good luck will continue.) I realize that the Phendi is a short-term "helper," but after too many failed diet/exercise plans, I think I need the initial "kick in the butt" that the medication (along with diet and exercise) will give me.

ANYway, I just want to be healthy and athletic like I used to be. After gaining weight, I developed sleep apnea, which makes me very tired even with CPAP therapy (plus the normal fatigue of just plain being overweight). I also have high cholesterol (courtesy of a mixture of genetics and obesity). I plan to live forever , so I want to be as healthy as possible.

OK, I've rambled on enough. Hi, again!!!

[FatKat89]

Hi SunnySideUp (and everyone!)

I too am 5'2" and weighed between 110-120 in high school! But now... I'm tipping the scale at 240!!!

Many factors have gone into the big weight climb, but to give the quick version: bad back, boyfriend who loves to eat, quit smoking in 2006, poor stress coping mechanisms.

I used to say, "Oh, I can lose weight so easily," but that was when I was a smoker! Plus, I always put the weight back on!

So... in the interest of support toward healthy weight loss, which does not involve nicotine or yoyoing, here I am. I haven't started anything official beyond getting one of those Complete Idiot books, but I'm thinking I will apply the formula that worked with quitting smoking: books, hypnosis CD's, support group, writing down what I eat every day. Also... meditation! Which is something I was going to do when I quit smoking, but I found it so much easier to shove food in my mouth

Anyway, that's the "skinny" on me. I'm glad to be here! And... while I was typing this, I wasn't eating! LOL

[Mami]

Welcome ladies, you'll find 3FC very helpful and supportive!

[SunnySideUp1981]

Thank you, and hello, FatKat!!!