Hi April!
Wow, congrats on your success so far, you're off to a really great start with a good plan - you have the can-do attitude to make it happen and the support you need is here to get through the ups and downs - we'll all be here to cheer you on.

Glad to have you join us! There are lots & lots of different groups and forums - I'm sure you'll find some that will keep you motivated and inspired. Try the Weight Watchers forum and the weight loss support forums, they're active and very helpful - also the Success stories are a definite must for motivation.

There are bunches of people here with more to lose and some with less - the bottom line is that we all have to do it a day at a time. The good thing is that we'll have lots of company along the way.

I've only been here since last fall, having NEVER been part of an online forum. What has been so eye-opening is how much it has helped me. Whenever I feel overwhelmed or defeated, I just log on and read some of the success stories, complete with their before & after photos - or read about others still dealing day to day with their challenges - and before I know it, the time has flown by and so have all the thoughts of going off track or giving up. It has made all the difference in my success so far.

So welcome - you've found the right place - join in by inspiring us and being inspired!

All the best - good luck with your goals - can't wait to hear of your continuing success,
Lee

Congrats on your weight loss so far!! Keep up the good work... you are doing great.

Hi and Welcome to 3 FC. It sounds like you have has a great start. That is wonderful. I do kind of worry about your comment about working out "hours a day". While it seems to be helping kick start your weight loss, will it be sustainable for you? If you depend on HOURS of excercise daily to get to your goal, you will have to depend on HOURS of excercise to maintain your goal. If you think you can keep up with what you are doing for the rest of your life, then hooray for you!, but if not, you might want to reevaluate that a bit. Best wishes!

Thank you so much for the kind words. I want this so badly that I'm willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it. I've never been small - don't think my body type is even meant to be. I've been big and I've been "built", and I know that I've been much more happy when I'm built.

April

Welcome. Keep coming back...this is an awesome place to learn, grow and make friends!

Lori, I know exactly what you're saying. Don't get me wrong, I don't work out continuously for hours. I might do Slim In 6 video for 45 min., then a couple hours later do 30 min. on treadmill, then floor work for about 30 to 45 min. that night. Every other night I do 30 to 45 min arm routine...nothing radical, trust me. I would like to build up to 2 miles a day on the treadmill, but for now, I think the workout vid and a mile a day is plenty. Thanks so much for the concern. I do appreciate someone looking after me!! Not to mention, I LOVE to exercise!! This isn't something I'm making myself do - my body CRAVES it! I can be at work, and all I can think about is getting home and working out, haha!! Oh, and as for drinking nothing but water, the WW lady told me that's unrealistic as well - but I LOVE water! I really do...now that I'm drinking nothing but, when I try a soda or juice, they taste SO sweet, it's rather nauseating actually...

Here's the thing - I have a very special day coming up in 8 months, and knowing that a few years ago I made it from a size 20 to a size 14 in 3 months just by drinking water and doing a mile a day on the treadmill, I want to work a bit harder to get from a size 18 to a size 11/12 in 8 months...if I can. I'm doing this for my self-esteem - not for anyone else. I think it's a realistic goal, and I believe I am strong-willed enough to achieve it. I'm not just doing this for the 8 months, mind you - but once I reach my goal, I plan on sticking with healthy eating and doing a mile a day. I feel that will be enough to maintain my loss. I just need the extra activity right now to get all this fat off. Does that make any sense? Thanks again!!

April

Hey, where do ya'll get all the cool weight loss meters and graphics ya'll use in your posts?? I'd love a meter so I can see how far I've come - oh, and can they be used in other sites like Facebook or Myspace?? Thanks!

April

Okay, I figured out the slider thingy...so do you have to go back and create another one each time you lose weight? Yet alas, it won't let me post mine til I make more posts...sigh.