Hey y'all! My name is Sara, I'm 28 years old and live in Georgia. I am trying for the MILLIONTH time to lose the huge amount of weight I need to shed and I have no one in real life who truly understands the issues I'm dealing with. I lost almost 40 lbs two years ago with Weight Watchers, but due to stress, losing my health insurance which paid for my endocrinologist care for my PCOS and stopping birth control pills I've gained back all of that plus about 14 more pounds. My scale hit 350 a few weeks ago which is obscenely high and makes me just sick. I'm trying to stick to a super strict diet like the one in Eat to Live by Dr. Fuhrman. I started Wednesday, was doing REALLY well, then hit a super stressful, busy weekend and cheated. Then I cried because I was so angry that I did that.

I'm generally an upbeat and enthusiastic person. I teach band at a private school and ballroom dancing at a studio here. My self esteem is usually really solid but lately I've been flat out depressed and I don't like it. I really need some buddies to relate to as I'm trying to shed enough weight to get down to 200lbs.

I'm excited to have found this site and look forward to having people to REALLY talk to about this stuff!

Hi Sara! Welcome to 3FC

Welcome to 3fC Sara! We've all been there, and this forum is full of people who will help strengthen your will power when you feel like you want to binge and send out hugs when you slip up.

You lost 40 pounds 2 years ago, and that is no small accomplishment, if you did it once you can do it again.

If I might make a suggestion though, maybe you should start with an eating plan that is less strict than the one that you are doing. I'm sure you want to get the weight off as quickly as possible, but maybe you cheated on your plan because it's so strict. In a lot of the other forums you'll find information on different type of diets and suggestions on what foods might be triggers for binge eating. Maybe start with restricting your calories and upping your exercise to get the scale moving and then ease into a more restrictive diet.

As I said in another thread there are a lot of challenges starting right now that will help keep you motivated, so come and join us!

Whatever you decide to do good luck!!

Also "teaching ballroom dancing" how cool is that?

Keep coming back! These people are so wonderfully supportive, and there are lots of different groups! (like the February binge free challenge, and all the challenges of the month where you set a goal weight to get to by the end and everyone encourages you whether you're right on track or keep eating too much/etc.)
I agree with the above comment that trying a less restrictive diet might let you feel more in control and not left wanting more, thus not as likely to binge. I too all of a sudden woke up mentally and was like "what are you doing?! I want all this weight off now!!" Why does a healthy relationship with food have to be so hard?!!!! Grrrr! Anyways, I really hope you find something that works for you!

Thanks so much!

Yeah I know what you're saying about less restrictive eating plans, but personally I've found that I'm too sneaky to stick to those either. I think the way my brain works I really need something that is very cut and dry like the Eat to Live plan for it to sink in and stick. I cheat on diets because I get lazy and don't want to make the effort to find better stuff.
Though I must say after eating pizza last night I got SO sick! Never gonna do that again, that was a seriously unpleasant experience....

Welcome and good luck on your journey!