Hi Everyone,
First time poster here. I live in Ontario, Canada, and have recently lost 20 lbs doing calorie counting and upping my activity level. It has been a real challenge for me, since I left myself free rein on whatever food I wanted to eat for the past 9 years.

I am an avid equestrian, and I have my own horse (in my pic) who is pretty much my life. I ride anywhere from 3 to 6 days a week. My coach has been nagging me to start taking my riding seriously by getting "fit". One day I realized that I was probably the heaviest person at the stable, and how much it probably hurt my horse to carry my fat butt around. Not to mention that I was having trouble maintaining a good position when riding, and could rarely find riding clothes that would fit anymore. I just felt like a big blah blob.

I lost about 30 lbs when I was in high school from a high weight of 175. Now 9 years later (I'm 24) I was up to 211 lbs when I finally got the guts to step on a scale. On Feb 1, I finally mentally committed to losing weight when I saw that number on the scale. I finally realized how badly I had been lying to myself.

Anywho, I have lost 20 lbs since I began. My strategy is to write down everything I eat and try and keep my calories at around 1500 a day. I signed up to the YMCA and I go to two fitness classes a week (muscle sculpt and step aerobics) plus riding most other days. I'd like to lose another 30-40 lbs, so I still have a ways to go.

I started reading this forum not long after I began my journey. And I really love how supportive everyone is here, not to mention the great advice.

and on your weight loss so far. You can do it, and all of us on 3fc are rooting for you!