3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community - Time to Stop the Creeping Up of My Weight

Hi All,
Although I am new to this forum, I am not new to the ups and downs (literally and figuratively) of weight loss and management. At my heaviest I was 225lbs. I am 5' 2". Although through much of childhood and adulthood I have been "heavy" (say 140ish), I gained a lot of weight when I was on an anti-depressant medication a few years back. I carried the weight for a number of years, but lost a lot about 5 years ago when I was put on a new medication, and I got into cycling.

That year, I became an athlete for the first time in my life. I rode 6000 miles that year and about 4000 the following years. I got into really good shape and weighted between 118 - 125 until two winters ago when I gained 10 pounds, that I didn't shed in the summer. I do have a tendency toward a compulsive eating disorder and when I am stressed I eat a lot of sugar. It bothered me to be heavier and I felt more sluggish on the bike, but I didn't really attend to losing the weight. Then, we moved and I was totally stressed out and gained another 10 pounds.

Now I weigh 139, and am 49 years old and going through peri-menopause. The hormonal fluctuations make me feel like I have PMS all the time and I get sweet cravings like mad. (Just what I need!) Anyway, I have decided that it is time to really try to lost that 20 pounds I gained. For a start, I have joined you all, to get support, to hear about tips, and to be inspired.

I am still riding my bicycle, but need to get back to the weight-lifting and yoga I used to do. I also need to work on not binging and eating for emotional reasons. I decided to try to keep a food journal for a while, which is hard for me -- mostly because I forget to write it down before I forget it.

Thanks for reading this and I look forward to getting to know you.