[Michigan Jen]

Hi all, my name is Jen. I'm 22 (almost 23) and I am getting married to my best friend May 2012. I haven't always been heavy... During high school and my first year in college I was around 130lbs. I'm now at 285 and I have no idea how I could have let myself get like this.

I don't just want to lose the weight for the wedding, I also (mainly) want to lose for health reasons... I've been battling a couple health problems lately that I'm sure can be avoided with weight loss. I'm pre-diabetic, I have high blood pressure and my joints all kill. The worst of all is my depression... I try not to let it get the best of me but it's difficult.

Anyway, I'm excited to be on this wonderful forum and hope it helps! I'm ready to take action.

I've been exercising everyday but it's so difficult when I get out of breath and sore so quickly.

[ahyessophie]

Congrats on the engagement! I'm sure the wedding will be incredible motivation on top of living a healthier lifestyle. Good for you for consistent exercise - wish I could say the same for myself. The more you do it, the easier (and more enjoyable I hope) it will get.

[Porthardygurl]

Hey Jen...

Im 25..and im getting married in May 5th 2012 and im 294 pounds right now..and i havent been this way my whole life either. I know how you feel..
I understand about the whole pre-diabites and depression thing..its like were twins.. i have the same problems.. Anywho..this is an awesome forum..i find lots of support on here...So come and join us and talk away!

[bargoo]

Welcome and good luck

[Michigan Jen]

Thank you so much everyone!! Congrats to you porthardygurl!

I feel just joining this forum is a positive step. <3

[sept15lija]

Welcome Jen! I wish I had started at your age - I got married at 23 and it took me another 9 years to decide to lose the weight...complete with fertility battles due to it as well. I hate to say I have regrets about my wedding because it was truly one of the most fabulous days of my life (perhaps only competing with the birth of my children) but looking back in photos I wish I had been smaller. I was about where you are now when I got married. Anyhow this forum is wonderful and I wish you success!! Can't wait to see you around!

[Michigan Jen]

Originally Posted by sept15lija

Welcome Jen! I wish I had started at your age - I got married at 23 and it took me another 9 years to decide to lose the weight...complete with fertility battles due to it as well. I hate to say I have regrets about my wedding because it was truly one of the most fabulous days of my life (perhaps only competing with the birth of my children) but looking back in photos I wish I had been smaller. I was about where you are now when I got married. Anyhow this forum is wonderful and I wish you success!! Can't wait to see you around!

Aww, thank you! I haaaaaaaaaaate having my picture taken right now (I'm the person who will run away, AS FAST AS I CAN -which isn't very fast, lol- when the camera comes out) and I don't want to feel that and self conscious on my wedding day. Everyday I feel sad about myself, and that day needs to be happy! I'm lucky enough to have a supportive fiance, but in terms of friends... they're all pretty thin and I don't think they understand what it's like to be big. That's what made me decide to join a forum! I wasn't even nervous about posting my weight!!

[Lovely]

Welcome to 3FC =)

You aren't the only person whose weight crept up on them over the years, but step by step we can get healthier and lose pounds.

You aren't alone. There are all sorts of support sections around, but we really just enjoy encouraging everyone to be the healthiest they can. Day by day, we'll make it ^^

Best of wishes!

[Jynxmekrazy]

Hi again Jen! I understand where you are coming from. I use to get out of breath easily too. But the thing is that you have to take it slow first.

Try walking a mile a day or don't even think about it as a mile, walk for 30 minutes. Monday through Friday (or just 3x times a week). Then kick it up a notch the next week and do 35 or 40 minutes and progress from there on.

It's hard I know but it's only hard because our bodies are just use to not doing that hard work. I promise it will get better in 2 weeks or so. You just have to let your body get used to it!

And if you need to, take a 5 minute break but go at it again. But don't give up.

Cheer up sweetie. Everything will be okay. If you need me, I'm here for you! We're about the same age and I can so relate to what you're talking about!

[MonicaM]

Try to do SouthBeach for five to seven days for a great start, then start counting calories. Try to eat 1000 less than you need to maintain your current weight, and you should lose two pounds a week. Start exercising SLOWLY...not a mile! Walk to the corner, take the stairs instead of the elevator, park further away if in a safe parking lot, exercise in a pool, cut certain foods out completely. BEST OF LUCK.

[Martina86]

Hey! You know- i totally understand the frustration of when your first starting- you go to the gym and you see people who can run on the treadmill faster than you can thing for hours (or even minutes!) on end. It's intimidating. I know when i first went to the gym i was sure everyone was looking at me and wondering why i was at the gym. Just plug in to an Ipod if you can and do your thing- whatever it is- a great tip i had when i started out was start by just getting used to being at the gym. Even if i couldn't handle walking briskly for a minute i would lower my pace (as low as a 2.0mph) and stick it out for 20 minutes. Once that became easy (my heart rate wasn't going up) i would change the speed or incline a bit. I am not a runner yet- but I have seen a major progression from where i started. If i could give people who are just starting to lose weight a piece of advice- it would be, start slowly- make small changes- too many people make giant leaps into weight loss and find it hard to keep up. Oh and congrats on the engagement!

[Liliann]

Welcome!! Good luck with your efforts!! YOU can do this!!