Hello all- My name is Jenn and I'm 21 years old. I've struggled with my weight from about the time I was 12. Although I grew up with a hispanic backround where food=love, we've always been very organic, homeopathic, and nutritionally conscious in my home, thanks to my mom. I took vitamins everyday and, being one of the only girls in my neighborhood, I was extremely involved in sports.

Around the time I started to develop, something began to wreak havoc on my body. With no change to my lifestyle, I gained about 30lbs in 6 months- which, for an active 12 year old, is unusual. My mother thought it was something I would grow out of or into, I'm not really sure- my father is Argentinian and all of the females on his side of the family got curvier as they developed, but this was ridiculous.

I contracted mono about a year after that, was taken off all of my vitamins to take the medication to relieve it, and lost nearly 20lbs that month. My doctor at the time decided to run some tests and discovered that my thyroid had been completely weakened by the interactions of some of the vitamins I was taking, and my body was unable to metabolize properly. She said my metabolism would never completely recover, but it was not a problem severe enough to take medication, which was a relief. It just meant I would now have to work twice as hard to lose and maintain weight.

I tore my meniscus playing baseball when I was 15, and the lack of rigorous activity caused me to gain roughly 35lbs. When I recovered, I was told baseball was out of the question. So I started dancing, which took the weight off. I unfortunately suffered a break in the same knee when I was 17- which, this time around, added 45lbs to my frame during recovery. I was depressed, and felt like something was working against me somehow, and I spent maybe a year and a half feeling sorry for myself(which we all know is dangerous territory when food is an issue.)

I'm at a place in my life now where I've become comfortable with the PERSON I am- I know that weight loss will never change that, that I'll always be me on the inside, and that if I don't love that person to begin with I'll never be able to find a balance in my life even with weight loss. When I close my eyes I see the way the outside me should look- and I'm ready to completely dive into the necessary steps I need to make it happen.

If anyone actually sat and read that whole thing, thank you. I look forward to sharing my journey with all of you!

-Jenn

Hi Jenn and welcome to 3FC!

You've been through a lot, I can understand. You've come to the best site for support. I commend you in wanting to change yourself for yourself and you can do this .

Hugs
Michelle

Thank you for the support, Michelle. And if I might add, you look fantastic. Your journey thus far is extremely inspirational!

You are very welcome and thank you so much!!

Glad you joined us! 3FC is a great site for support on your journey.

It sounds like your life experiences will serve you well while you travel this journey!

I hope you will post often - can't wait to get to know you better!

Thank you, Sunshine =) You ladies really seem to support eachother and I feel like I've finally found the right place to keep me on track!

Thank you! I feel the same way, and I think hardships in life are only negative if you can't learn from them and use them to improve the quality of your mindset and your outlook on life.

And your journey in pictures is very inspiring. You've come a long way and you look great! It's so motivating to have the support of so many who are not only on the same path as me but also those who are real-life success stories!

hi and welcome i cant wait to read abt your success!!