Hi everybody! I just found this site today and I'm so happy! This is EXACTLY what I need to get myself moving forward toward a fit and healthy ME! I know this because...

I was a smoker for thirty years and finally quit on January 1, 2007 with the help of an online support group! Now, a year later (without a single puff, woohooo!) it's time to move into the next phase. I figure if I can beat the smoking thing -- well, then, I can d*mn well beat the weight thing! I can! I CAN DO THIS!

I have over 100 pounds to lose but that doesn't scare me. I plan on saying goodbye to them one at a time, individually. Yeah it takes an enormous effort to shed 100 pounds, but how much effort does it take to shed just one? A couple long walks? A refreshing bike ride or two? A few evenings without snacks? Doesn't sound like much!

I'm so happy to be here!

Eileen! You have such a great attitude! Your post brought a giant grin to my face!

Have you visited the 100 Lb club yet? it is a group of people with around or above 100 lbs to lose...you can meet all SORTS of buddies at various stages in their journeys there.

Congrats on the quitting smoking! You CAN do this!

Hi there! I am from Florida as well! Where are you located? I am in Gainesville.

I LOVE your optimism - we need more posters like you!

There is a saying throughout this forum for those trying to lose 100+ pounds:
"I can't imagine losing 100 pounds, but I CAN imagine losing 10 pounds 10 times!"

Nice to meet you Eileen, Congrats on the not smoking for a year what an accomplishment, sounds like you have the right attitude - 1 pounds at a time, I am there with you-I have lost 100 lbs. before but have put 45 back over the past 15 years. Now I need to get back to where I should be. I wish you all the luck with this challenge/adventure. We Can Do It!!!
I also just found the sight today - kd50

Mandalinn - thanks for the encouragement! I haven't dropped in on the 100 lb. club yet because OMG I got caught up looking at before-and-after pictures and I couldn't tear myself away!!! This site is SO inspiring with all these great examples to lead the way!!

NgShane - hello fellow Floridian! I live in the Tampa Bay area, so I'm what, about two hours from you, give or take a speeding ticket or two. I'm very happy that I live on the gulf coast, I love it here. I've lived in Florida since I was 10 years old but I hardly ever go to the beach! That's one thing I'm planning to change this year!

kd50 - nice to meet you and welcome to another newbie! Yes WE CAN DO THIS! You have the hometown advantage of having done it before - I have no doubt that you can do it again! I'll just follow your lead!

Eileen, first , let me congratulate you on stopping smoking! That is just so awsome! And i love your attitude. i have no doubt that you will be able to loose the weight too. just wanted to say good luck!!! what diet plan are you using?

Welcome to 3FC! I am in Coral Springs. With your attitude, you can do anything!

My mom was a HUGE smoker back in the day when we were kids. And she quit. Cold turkey. The day she found out 2nd hand smoke could hurt her kids she was done.

She hasn't been able to quit the food so well, though. She's always said, "It's different. With smoking you can just simply avoid the temptation. You don't have to ever put that cig near your mouth again. With food... you HAVE to eat. You HAVE to put food in your mouth. So it's not possible to go cold turkey with food"

It's a tough battle. But obviously, your attitude is a PLUS!!!! I agree, it's easy to think of one pound at a time. I could ideally lose more than 100 pounsd, but I'm settling on 87 pounds in a year. It seems more reasonable to me right now. Who knows, though! I looked at all those before and after photos too, and I realized how many people lost MORE than 100 pounds in a year just by being HEALTHIER and not crash dieting.

A positive attitude is EVERYTHING. My husband (before he was my husband) blew up at me the last time I was majorly dieting ... "Jen, if you're going to be miserable and a b*tch like you've been while you're dieting, I'd rather have the happy loveable FAT Jen then!!!"

That was a slap in the face... but a slap I needed. Who was I dieting for? If I couldn't be happy with the fact that I was taking my life in my own hands and doing something to HELP me... then what's the point? So this time, I'm HAPPY and REVVED UP and not walking around feeling like I'm deprived b/c I can't eat a fudge sundae. I've deprived myself of the freedom that a thin person has for MUCH TOO LONG.

We can do this!!!

the slim me - Thanks for the congrats. I can't even tell you how happy I am to be a whole year smoke-free! As for my plan, well last night I filled out a profile in the 100-lb-Club area and it asked about my plan so I had to find a way to put it into words. Here's what I wrote: To change my whole life - again. (After smoking for 30 years - my entire adult life - everything changed when I quit. That’s exactly what I need to do now.) My plan is to change my eating times, my eating portions, my eating choices, my eating locations, my cooking, my shopping, my outlook, my attitude, my mindset. Reinventing all of it! How much fun is that?!? That's my plan.

flower - Hey neighbor! (Well -- 275-mile-apart-neighbor, lol!) Thanks for the encouraging words! I'll take all of that that I can get!

BrandNewJen - Hi!!! I'm so happy to meet you! Reading your post I felt like YES! You really got it, exactly where I'm coming from! It's not about feeling miserable and deprived!! It's ALL about taking control and having the FREEDOM that comes with taking control! We CAN do this, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind about that!

I realize this is an old post, but I saw that you wrote a new blog in May of 2015. And you are yet again beginning a new journey. I have been trying to reply to that post, but for some reason it won't let me reply. Anyway, My name is Pam and I am just beginning my weight loss journey and was wanting to see if you would like to connect with me and we could be accountability partners for each other. Let me know if you are interested!