Hello everyone!
I'm a 21 year old junior in college, but I've struggled with my weight since the fifth grade. My lowest adult weight was 150 lbs in my senior year of high school (and that was because I hardly ate due to stomach problems), though I have slowly been having more difficulty maintaining my weight since then. I am currently 166, after having lost 12 lbs since January.
I have always felt that I could never eat as much as my peers and maintain the same weight as them! The last time I ate three meals a day like everyone else, I weighed 200 lbs. (in middle school). And I didn't binge. I used to blame my weight on my genetics since both of my parents are obese, but I now realize that my sedentary lifestyle and how unhealthy those meals were are what probably lead to my weight.
I have been sedentary and have hated exercise my whole life, and until now I just maintained my weight through restricting portion sizes. However, I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that a healthy (not just portioned) diet and regular exercise are the only ways I'm going to be able to control my weight in the long term. I've also got quite thick and flabby legs, and I feel like exercise is the only way I'll have any chance of changing that.
I just started exercising yesterday and I had quite a rough time with it; I ran for 5 minutes and felt as if my lungs were on fire! I am going to try to keep gradually working it in to my walks, though. One of my ultimate goals is to enjoy exercise and get this “high” from it that others often rave about; as I am right now, I can't imagine how anyone else can stand it!
Sorry for the long introduction! I am looking forward to being part of this community.
-Kelsey