Right now all I want is a candy bar
 

Hi everyone,

I'm semi-new - lurked for a while, then vanished, but now I'm back! :) And yeah.. I'm hungry as I write this. There's a vending machine downstairs and I will be shortly walking past it in 15 minutes. EEK! I will avoid the candy bar, though. I don't have any money. LOL :D

I've struggled with weight all my life. It's been hard for me to step up and take the responsibility -- "It's an inherited problem", "I'll just always be like this", "Why can that girl stuff her face with pizza and not gain a pound, but I can't barely eat a french fry without feeling evil!?!?" and so on.

But recently I've really decided there is only one person who can change that mentality. ME!

I was able to lose about 40-50 pounds very slowly over the past 2 years. This is the first time I've worn jeans below a size 20 (I'm size 18 now). Just due to changes in my life, minimizing the amount of food I was eating, and excercising a lot more during the summer. Now I am back in college and have got cafeteria food points that I can't really escape. On one hand I'm annoyed, because it kinda crushes any calorie counting. On the other hand I'm excited because I won't be hurting anyone's feelings if I leave food on the plate, or if I don't take enough there won't be leftovers, etc. It's just a matter of eating the right amount (and trust me, I DON'T eat a lot-- that's why I'm so frustrated!) and picking the right things. :carrot: I also don't have a scale..uh oh. I'm gonna have to find one of those around here.

Oh, I forgot to add how I'm planning to lose weight. I read up on the Hacker's diet, but that was a bit too technical for me (and I'm a techie to some extent, but...). I was big on the ChangeOne diet some years ago, but I don't have much control over what food options I have and no way to cook food. So, I'm hoping to cut my portions from the cafeteria in half. Whatever I put on my plate, I will simply eat half of it. I really hate to waste the food, so I'm ALSO hoping to simply take HALF of what I need in the first place. Easy? Uhh..

A little about me, I really love classic movies (if you couldn't tell by my avatar)! I also really like dancing (if you couldn't tell by my avatar! ;) ) I am going to be learning lindy hop this summer and the less you weigh, the easier it is to be light (ha) on your feet. I also want to NEVER SET FOOT IN LANE BRYANT AGAIN!!!!! (I used to actually like their clothes but now their styles just suck! :mad: If I see one more wrap lycra top thing..) I want to wear what I want to wear! I want to feel healthier and have more self-esteem.

I'm jazzed to meet all of you and I hope to participate in challenges and stuff to help throw off those pounds!!!!

PS. Is there any where I could keep a "diary" on the forum? I would love to post pictures of my meals and get people's feedback on it... :)

if you have issues controlling yourself in certain circumstances then try your best to avoid them at all costs. Personally I have have issues with late night eating after hitting the bars. Sometimes I leave before my friends do so that they can't ask me to join them.

Actually, and this probably annoys my friends to no end, I like feeling like a martyr who ignores the ice cream bar and dessert. :D It's more with the regular food during the day -- trying to decide how much is too much and how much is too little. (There IS such a thing, right?)

good luck! i just joined too! i started at 220, am down to 185 and am working my way down to 145. we can do it!

Hi Rena1, nice to meet you! We can definitely do it..thanks for the support and inspiration :)