Hi. My name is Shari and I'm 34 years old. I'm 5'9" at a staggering 360 lbs. This is my highest weight ever, and that number was hard to swallow.

A little history:
I've been chubby all my life. At 11, I started having hormonal issues along with depression. By 13, I was bulimic and addicted to exercise. I still wasn't thin, but I was close to normal. At 19, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Around this age, I was finally treated for bulimia and stopped completely by my early 20's.

My bipolar has been a lifelong stumbling block. I've been in and out of mental hospitals my whole adult life. I've become very sedentary. Food is a huge comfort for me. My handful of medications I take everyday have weight gain as a side effect. I also have PCOS and have been infertile for the past nine years.

So now I am very fat, tired all the time, lazy, and sooo unhealthy. My husband of ten years loves me unconditionally, but I know he'd prefer for me to look more like I did when we met at 215 lbs.

I am clueless about how to make this happen. I have zero willpower. I don't have anyone IRL who can relate to my situation. That is why I'm here. I desperately need help and encouragement if I want to change my life.

Hi and Welcome!!!! You will find a lot of information and support here My advice would be just to take it one day at a time. Set small goals each day, i.e., no sugar or fried foods, go for a little walk, etc.

Good luck and keep us posted

Welcome sdobis!

Joining 3FC was a great decision. I get more support here than I do from my family (with the exception of my husband who is an amazing man). There is so much information on this site and so many helpful people.

Have you chosen a new eating plan? Maybe a way to start exercising even just a little a day? I started by cutting calories and junkfoods, then added in 10 minutes a day exercise. I never thought I could do it and still get shocked with my progress every day. It's like a miracle.

Good luck with your weightloss mission, we are here for you. Post as many questions as you have and we will all help you. You can do this, I know it!

Hi, I didn't really have anyone to relate to when I started. Now the hubby is on board too. But coming here and joined my fitness pal has made me feel like I have a whole support system of great friends. It's nice to come to the threads and see that their is always at minimum one person going through similar struggles and we all have weight loss and being healthy as a common goal. I didn't follow any plan just stopped making rice, pasta and breads. I cooked all my healthy meals and bought a used elliptical for 25 bucks that I use for 45 mins 6 days a week. Now I started slow, didn't jump in 100 percent until at least a month had passed. I hope u find what works for u, be patient and if your motivation is lacking who cares do it anyway. A year from now u will either be glad u started or regret that u didn't.
Best of luck

Welcome! There are so many great supportive people here who understand what you are going through. You can do this!

I'm with you girl, I came on board at 377lbs. I WI in 30min, im excited to put another number in my ticker. I am on the Ideal Protein diet, I have been really impressed with not only the results but how easy it is after the first 2-3 weeks. I am on week 5 right now and I am pretty sure I will be around 45lbs lost. Do your research and set your mind to it. You can do anything.

Welcome and good luck on your journey!!!

Let me add my welcome to the thread. You have definitely come to the right place for encouragement and motivation as the girls and guys here have been through the same struggles you are facing. It is so wonderful that you have a husband that loves you so. Will he be supportive and be your weight loss buddy? If so, that would be awesome. If he won't, there are plenty of us here that would live to have you as a buddy. I had problems getting started as well. I just didn't have any energy or want to get up and do anything. I just decided to get up and do it anyway and over the next few months I was walking 5.5 miles a day. I weighed 252 at the time. If you have any back or leg issues, you may choose to do pool exercise if you have the availability. I now have a back injury and can't do hardly any walking so I use the county pool. My friend was 308 lbs and has degenerative disc disease and scoliosis and she is working out in the pool and doing very well I might ad. I got hurt on my job as a paramedic and I would like to just remind you to keep taking the meds the docs prescribe for you. I picked up many patients that took drugs for the same medical histories as you that would stop taking them for whatever reasons and they got in trouble every time they did. Know that I am here cheering for you.