Hi Everyone,

I am new here. I guess in the last 8years I have put on about 80lbs. I know that I was going through a lot in so many different ways and I was not in an emotionally healthy place. I could blame other people, but the reality is that I stuck the food in my mouth. Thats ok. I have days when I am so mad at myself for letting myself go but the reality is that it does not help to beat myself up so over the last few months I have been focusing on going to the gym on a regular basis. I actually love it once I am there but getting there is a darn nightmare. I am also trying to eat better even though I am struggling with portion control and late night eating. I am taking it one step at a time and hopefully I will reach my goal of losing 80lbs over the next 24 months. After all it took me 8 years to put it all on and it wont come off over night.

Thanks for listening.

welcome to the forum

Thank you for the welcome, I definately need a plan when it comes to my food intake. I dont know if my approach is right but right now I want to increase my activity level so I am heading to the gym and walking more. That is my plan for this month of August, My hope is that next month I will start focusing on my food intake, journaling, calorie counting etc. I have found in the past that when I try to do everything at once and I fail at one aspect, I feel like a total failure. So I have decided to take it one thing at a time and slowing add to it. So next month, I will increase my vegetable intake! it will probably take me a while but I have a good feeling about this approach.

The only thing that I still have to figure out is the darn late night eating. I dont crave ice-cream or sweets or anything like that. I crave carbs like a piece of toast slathered in home made butter, nigerian meat pie or sausage roll or a bowl of white rice. So, that will be a challenge and I will keep you posted onhow that goes!

I recently heard about this site and I am glad to be here.
You know the old expression "What a Man thinks, he can become"?
We'll about 15 years ago, i was considered overweight.

I began to research and write about Healthy Eating and Weight losing strategies. The strangest thing happened to me.

Since i was writing and researching to help not only myself but other people
i suddenly started to lose weight and "Buffed up".

I have lost about 70 pounds from the time I began my Writing/Researching.
The weight is off and I have maintained my 175lbs for years.

My advice is to begin your journey first in the mind and the body will follow.
Regards
Leonard

Love2b150- Thank you, I need to start counting calories, Its tough because I eat a lot og ethnic food but I will modify them so I can at least watch my portion. I am focusing a lot on getting into the gym habit. I hope that once I have that down packed, I will start focusing on the food. I can't seem to do both, i.e watch food and head to gym at the same time.

I am sure I just need to hunker down and start counting calories and writting everything down but that seems tedious but I will have to do it. Thanks for the awesome welcome.

Welcome!!!!!! I had about 80lb to lose as well, started off at 215 and wanna get to 135 in the long run, but what I did was convince myself I only had 20 lb to lose.
Once I got there, Only 20 more, so my goal kept going down and down, I'm down 51lb as of this morning and I know in the back of my mind I have 29lb to go, but my ticker and everywhere else just says 19 lb, if that makes any sense ! LOL

The gym becomes a need after a couple weeks, I cant go more than 2 days without hitting the gym or I feel bad about myself. And I do swear by counting calories, I had tried everything in the past and nothing worked but this.

If you need any tips or advice or just need to rant im here for you

oh and i forgot to mention i started March 20th 2011. Only 5 months ago.

That is stinking awesome caramelkitty, you really just motivated me so much more than you know. That is incredible amount of weight that you have lost. Good for you. I need to start writting everything down, including the chicken, Mozzarella Panini I just had for lunch...... lmao.

Now off to the gym. I actually am starting to love that ache you get in your leg from working out.

Welcome to the boards and good luck to you in losing weight. Everyone here is so friendly and informative.

Best wishes!

I loooove the 2 day aches I get ... it reminds me that its working :-)

Hey! What type of ethnic food do you enjoy? I have some really great recipes---a lot of Indian recipes especially, I'd be willing to share. Cut the calories, but don't sacrifice flavor!!!

I love African food, like Nigerian, Ghanian and also west Indian and Persian food. Basically, I love CARBS. :-)

9jachic, welcome to the forum. I want to start by saying your goal if losing 80lb in 2 years sounds really smart, you are losing weight the healthy way.

Ghanian food is so great, right? I never thought I would like African food, but after a visit to Ghana this past spring, I was hooked on Ghanian food. Just watch the red palm oil and control your portions. Honestly I didn't see one overweight person in Ghana.

All that matters is that you started down the road to where you want to be!