[erinbeth85]

Hi everyone... I've never really done a support forum like this, but what can it hurt, right? My name is Erin, and I'm 25 years old... and I have no idea how I got the way I am. I'm not one of those people that has always been overweight; I've never been super skinny either, but I was a normal size as a kid. I look back at the pictures of myself as a 10 year old in my dance costume and just wonder what happened to that person.

I started gaining weight in high school, and was 205 by the time I started college. My first semester of college, I did a lot of walking, ate a lot of salads and sandwiches, and went swimming twice a week... the result was that I lost 15 pounds my first semester, instead of gaining that freshman 15. Unfortunately, my life didn't continue that path, and I ended college at about 240.

By November of last year (two and a half years after graduating), I was up to 268. I don't know that there was any one particular event that got me started, but I think I just woke up, and realized how much weight I'd been putting on. Even if I had been comfortable with myself at that time, where would I be in 5-10 years if I was putting on 10+ pounds a year?!?

I lost about 10 pounds in November, just watching what I ate and exercising 3-4 times a week... then I stalled. In February, my work started a Biggest Loser competition, which was an enormous help for me just for the support and the accountability. During that 8 week competition, I lost about 20 pounds... then pretty much stalled again. I started back up last week, and I'm now at approximately 233, which is definitely an improvement over 268... but not where I want to be. I want to be able to go shopping with my friends and not be embarrassed by the size I wear... I want to be able to feel confident enough in my looks to actually start dating... I want to not always feel like I'm the fat girl in the room. I want to just be myself; not the overweight version of myself.

I don't know how much help a support forum like this will be, but I really hope it helps... I'm actually honestly just excited knowing that there are other people like me out there, making this same journey, that have all the same problems I do with eating, exercising, self image, etc, etc. Thanks for being there :-)

[MissNibs]

Dear ErinB.

First of all WELCOME. If there's one thing you will get here is total understanding. We've all "been there...done that"!

I was once your age. I'm also fairly tall so 50, 60 or 70 extra pounds, while a lot, can be easier to disguise at that height.

Don't go looking for external causes for your weight issues. Stop asking yourself, "How did I get here"? Most of us just plain like to EAT. We use food for all kinds of reasons and always too much of it. There are thousands of books, articles and tv programs that have discussed this topic TO DEATH and in the end it always comes back to the cold hard fact that however we got here, the only answer is diet and exercise.

If I could look in your face I'd say, "Please, for yourself, for your future, do it NOW. Find a healthy program that works for YOU and stick with it. You will never regret it. Ever. But you WILL regret the wasted years of your life...at the peak of your youth and beauty...at the peak of your health, despite the extra weight, if you let it go on."

You'll never get the time back, sweetie. You know that already, don't you? Your body is a miracle...a gift from God. Think about all the wonderful things it does for you...seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, thinking...all the conscious things, and all the things it does without any effort on your part. Breathing, blood circulating, digesting, cleansing itself (by sweating)...I could go on and on. Forgive me if I seem a little over the top...but I feel passionately about this.

Don't waste one more day of your precious life with regrets. Start now on this battle for your life. At most it will take 8 months to a year.

I so wish you the very best and great success.

hugs,

MissNibs.

[llmw1951]

Welcome! There's lots of good info & support here! Good Luck!

[Onederchic]

Hi and welcome to 3FC.

Good luck with your goals.

Hugs
Michelle