Hi all!
My name is Cori and I'm a 20 year old college sophomore. I've had issues with weight since my teen years. All of my childhood and to this day my mother instilled her "values" about food and weight in me and in turn it has backfired, you could say.

As a result, I've become a compulsive over-eater, and I'm looking for that swift kick in the butt to get me on track! I need to make this change for my health (heart disease history-I already get religiously checked for cholesterol and it's quite high at the moment), and have been trying but I always fall back down.

Anyways...enough about that. I'm in school as a business major with a concentration in small business and entrepreneurship and a minor in art history. I've only recently declared my major, as I'm one of those types that likes to float through life and see where I end up. I lease my apartment with two other school-mates and love being on my own. I've always been an independent soul- perhaps one reason why I've never sought outside help for my weight loss, but I've finally decided that I need some support if I'm going to get through this!

I'm a yo-yoer. I go in spurts of insanely healthy eating (and admittedly, not eating at all) with an overkill of exercise- these are the periods I feel great and can really see the change. Then, something always happens and I go tumbling down again. It'll start with "I'll just have this chocolate..." and twenty minutes later be a full on binge.

ANYWAYS, I think I've rambled on way too much about myself here. I'm looking forward to getting to know you all better.

Welcome,

I'm a newbie here too. I just started going to this site 1 week ago, but on south beach diet for two weeks now.

I am in love with community, I got a lot of helpful tips and the people here are so encouraging.

Thanks! I've been reading through the threads and feel really good about it. How's the South Beach Diet? I see we have the same goal/height.

Hey there, Corinne!

I'm going to venture a guess that the reason you "eat a chocolate and 20 minutes later it's a binge" is because you're literally starving your body when you're going long periods eating very little or nothing. Then, when you give your body something that provides it with a jolt of much needed energy/sugar/calories, it responds by literally OVERRIDING your willpower, making it almost inevitable that you will eat. This is your body trying to keep itself from starving. It has no way of knowing you're restricting food intake on purpose, and figures that food is scarce and it needs to GET YOU TO EAT WHENEVER FOOD IS AVAILABLE.

Incidentally, this sort of "starvation mode" dieting also has been studied and shown repeatedly to slow metabolism...meaning that you burn less calories all day, every day, just to keep yourself alive than you would have before. Less is definitely NOT more when it comes to food, at least not below a certain level. Most women should not consume less than 1200 calories a day, and the vast majority of women can consume more than that while still losing weight.

We don't want either of those things! So the goal, first and foremost, has to be MODERATION. Feeding your body less (but not starving it), exercising more (but not overdoing it and leading to injury or exhaustion).

I'm glad you've found us! We have so many forums to investigate...the 20-somethings for those in that age range, forums by eating plan, etc. So look around.

Thanks Mandalinn!

I've always been aware of those facts you mentioned, I have just never been able to really jolt my old self out of my past habits. That's why I've come here- to get what I've been truly lacking, and that is support.

I'm glad to have found a place where I can find it.

The SBD is working for me so far. I lost 8 lb during PH1, that's 4lb/week! PH1 is requires you to eat atleast 1200 calories a day but no carbs/high GI foods.

Eventhough I am not eating carbs, I am actually eating more food in volume. I find myself undereating, averaging ~900 cals/day. I force myself to eat afternoon snacks to meet 1200 cals/day. I never thought I would have to force myself to eat more to lose weight - NEVER. The diet journal also helps me from undereating.

Phase 1 is meant to curb the cravings. I was aching for bread on the first 4 days of PH1, but it suddenly stopped on day 5. I was suddenly not hungry anymore! Which was awesome! I haven't had a sluggish day since the diet.

I am on PH2 now, which means I can slowly add 1-2 servings of healthy carbs a day.

My PH2 meal plan

breakfast
2 hard boiled eggs (no yolk)
1 lean ham
1/2 cup bluberries

snack 1
almonds and sugar free Jello, tea

lunch
3 oz grilled chicken
grilled tofu
2 cups steamed veggies with a splash of olive oil

snack 2
low fat cheese and sugar free Jello, tea

dinner
3 oz broiled lemon pepper swordfish
2 cups steamed veggies
grilled tofu
1/2 cup brown rice (1/2 serving)

treat
2 sugar free peanut butter cookies

I was bad today, I only had Jello for snacks and didn't finish my dinner. I was already full and sick of eating. Again, I never thought I would be tired of eating - NEVER.

Welcome! Im very similar to you, im 20, in college and have had weight problems since i was young. We even have similar weights and goals. I find this site great, i dont like to talk about weight and dieting to my friends and its fantastic to have such a community to go to for advice or just to have a moan . If you ever want to chat just PM me.

That sounds great! Awesome progress you've made! I might have to try it out.

And Umberto- me too! I love having a place where we're all on the same level and can help each other.

Welcome Cori!! Be sure to check out the 20 something subforum! I'm glad you're here!