[Martinique]

Heyness.

I'm Maya, eighteen going on nineteen, fat but not obese (yet), chronically addicted to food that I know is bad for me but tastes oh so good, and determined to fit into a size six or less before my birthday, or die trying.

Well, maybe not die. But you know what I mean.

I've been overweight since I was twelve years old, and dieting on and off since I was fifteen. You know how in every group of girl friends there's that one plain, chubby girl - the one who's always tucked away in the background of every photograph and ends up being ignored whenever she's around her skinnier, better-dressed friends? That's me.

And I'm tired of being that girl. So here I am, ready for change and as prepared as I'll ever be to do it. (I've spent a lot of time reading up on how to lose weight, although I sadly haven't put nearly as much effort into actually losing it, lol). "Healthy" isn't a word I'd usually apply to myself, but I'm hoping that in a few months from now, it'll be the first thing people think when they look at me... or, okay, the second thing they think. I'd rather the first was something along the lines of "Wow".

Um, I can't really think of anything else to put in this post, except that I'm really glad I stumbled onto this forum and I can't seem to get enough of the pictures in the Goal Photo Album. It's way beyond comforting to know that other Regular Janes out there have successfully shed the pounds, and hopefully I can add my own pictures to the lineup soon.

[GONNABE165]

WELCOME! Your in the right place. Be sure to take a look around the site - keep posting and good luck!

[Lovely]

Hey & Maya!!!
First of all that Goals area is a great thing to look at, because it's important to know that it IS possible, that you CAN do this, and that it will be a LOT of hard work & commitment! (Read the stories that go along with those pictures, you'll gain a ton of insight!)

I've been there as the overweight youth. Always feeling like I'm in the background compared to my "betters". However, while I'm gaining better health & losing weight, I've found my confidence to be blossoming as well! I'm a worthy person. Worthy to be losing weight, and worthy of attention.

You say you've read up a lot about losing weight, have to selected a path you'd like to follow? What are you plans for changing? Let us know!

Best of luck & definitely keep posting!

[ZoeJayne]

heya hun
welcome to the site, u definantly have come to the right place!
we are all here for you along the way
good look with ur weight loss x

[Martinique]

Thanks so much for the welcome, you guys. (I love this carrot thing, lol.)

Faerie, I've been reading the stories as well and you're right, there's a lot of useful information (as well as inspiration) there.

About my plans - since I've been on enough crash diets to know they don't work (I've tried the cabbage soup, banana, water gulping and grapefruit diets, and all they've made me is hungry) and I've gotten tired of every restrictive diet I've ever been on (the Atkins induction phase was torture; I hated eating eggs for breakfast every morning, and by the end I was craving some fruit) I've decided to start off small, and then make bigger changes as I go along.

I've sworn off junk food (which was relatively easy to do once I realized just how much oil gets absorbed into each French fry and burger patty) and sugary snacks, and I've reduced my portion sizes a lot. I used to eat whatever I want, whenever I wanted to, but for the past few days I've stuck to three small meals a day (and included as many fruits and vegetables in those meals as I can without feeling deprived).

It's not the most drastic change ever and there's probably quite a few backslidings in my future, but hopefully it's a start.