Salutations! I joined awhile back and never really jumped on a weightloss plan or stuck to visiting the board.

I am nearly 17 years old and currently weigh about 260lbs. I have been over weight since I was about 5 years old. When I hit puberty around 5/6th grade, I lost some weight because I was not feeling depressed, was dating, hanging around the older kids, etc. I still felt VERY fat although when I look back I only had about 30 pounds overweight and I carried it very evenly and so it looked really good.

During certain circumstances where I was depressed, alone, etc I gained the weight in bunches. Now, I am very alone. You see I converted to Islam, nearly 3 years ago. I really enjoy my new path and way of life, but it is hard because where I live I can't find anyone who has the same beliefs, ideas, and aspirations that I do. I feel very lonely.

I got married in Jan 2004, but we live seperately (in different countries). Hopefully, at the end of the Spring '05 semester I will be able to transfer and move with him if all the finances permit & God Willing. I don't have a good relationship with my mother whom I live with. I basically go to work part-time monday-friday and then the rest of the time I am at home. I feel so terribly lonely and I really have grown to hate the computer (I used to carry on for hours years ago and now I just want to check my mails, do basic things like listen to lectures, news, etc and then get off) so online friends are not so appealing to me.

I am a very intelligent young lady. I am very blessed. I don't mean to brag about it, but above average smarts. I also think I am very pretty. I just feel so drained.

I think alot of my depression is from lack of sun light, lack of social interaction, lack of physical activity, and an improper diet. It is basically self induced you could say, but its like a trap. You start in it and then it sucks you in deeper and deeper.

Dec 25th my husband will come to visit for 10 day and we will finally consumate the marriage (before it was basically like courtship since when we got married we didnt know each other for that long. it was the time for us to know each other more and let "love" build). We plan on going on walks together, biking, and he is going to be cooking and teaching me how to cook.

I also think my inability to cook healthy (and quick!) foods is a damper on me. I usually live off Taco Bell. I don't eat meat, but like once a week. I am not a vegaterian, but I have special religous dietary restrictions so I can't eat just any meat. I normally have to travel for about an hour to the city before I get meat. hehe

Anyway, I have alot of hopes and aspirations that I know I will never get to unless I loose the weight which will give me more energy and make the depression go away which will allow me to get to do the work I need do.

Currently, I am working on getting a regular sleeping pattern, drinking enough water, and learning to cook some.

My plan is to eat balanced meals. I want to get as much veggies and fruits in as possible along with grains, beans, and rice. I will have little dairy and meat. Due to a very crunched schedule, I will prob it 3 meals (in the morning something like a shake, hot/cold cereal, etc lunch will prob be something pre-cooked and dinner w prob be pre-cooked by myself)and then raw fruit/veg snacks thru out the day. My schedule is going to be packed with school and work.

Also, does anyone cook and then feeze all *or many* of their meals? If I wasn't so financial tied, I'd ordered precooked vegaterian food. (Store boought frozen food doesnt appeal to me AT ALL! and most of it has meat that I can eat and lots of salt).

Does anyone know if nutirition is kept any frozen food? What if it is has only been frozen for a week at the longest? I am thinking, I could do my cooking all on a Saturday or Sunday and freeze Lunches/Dinners. Any suggestions?

For exercise I plan on doing walks in the morning (starting at 25 minutes a day and on the 4th week I should be at 40 minutes a day). I also plan on doing Pilates or Bellydance work outs (usually 20-35 minutes long) after my classes and work for a boost of energy! I have windsor pilates and another pilate video - i prefer the cheaper pilate video...much more fun! and I have Veena & Neena belly dance videos and also Kathy Smith's bellydance video (her video is better even though she isnt even a dancer ! and her video is cheaper... but looks better) I have one month planned out and printed.

Also, if there is anyone 18-23 that would like to be my buddy, that would be cool. I say 18-23 because we prob both be attending uni, classes etc. Usually other 16 y/o are thinking about boys and highschool dances! hehe I am just a bit past that though.

My Yahoo is living_in_sajdah (at sign) ya hoo . c o m and my M s N is living_in_sajdah110 (at siiiign) hot mail (dot) com ...emails should be sent to the hotmail account only pls ...ty

I went to the Support Groups section but I couldn't find one that suited me. They seemed to overwhelm me because they all had so many pages going and it seemed like everyone already knew each other. If someone is part of one that suits my needs, please invite me.

Hi there!

I too joined a while back, never got on a plan or lost weight. I am now determined to lose the weight once and for all.

Also, I had a hard time finding a support group to join here, so I got up enough courage to post asking for buddies.

I am a few years older than you (22) also married, and must lose 80-100lbs. It's pretty scary but to live my life depressed and in hiding is even scarier.

Yes, you can freeze food and keep it's nutritional value. I do it all the time. I too do not like frozen store food (I can't stand frozen TV dinners). I also eat mostly veggies and carbs as I don't eat red meat and used to be a vegetarian. I'm not a great cook but have been teaching myself for the past year or so. I'm getting better as will you if you just take your time and try new things, write down tricks and stuff that worked and dishes that didn't and the reason why.

I tend to make healthy veggies soups and stews and will freeze them. I also make veggie dishes and fruit salads, also freeze them so they stay fresh and last me much longer. If I were rich I too would order healthy precooked meals and food. If only! right? I like to eat whole foods as much as I can, organic too but it can get very expensive. You do what you can, and try not to obsess over it, ya know?

I have bad food cravings that I must once and for all try to get rid of. I'm a chocoholic and have been addicted to soda for the past year or so. No good! I also tend to eat way too many slices of pizza or cake or anything that is easy to overindulge in - I do!

If you want a buddy or just someone to chat with/vent to, you can PM me. We can share each others email addy.

Hang in there. With support and dedication we can do this!

Amberoo

Hey,

I have been broken from Soda habit for a long, long time. I am very pleased with myself about that. I can't seem to drink much of anything aside from water except the occasional coffee, hot tea, or apple juice. Atleast, I have gone that far.

Have you had any negative experinces with freezing food? I know that veggies should be boiled and then thrown into cold water and cooled before thrown in the freezer (heard it on a vegan show and read it in the Whole Foods Cookbook), but I honestly haven't had much experince with freezing. I made a hefty pot of veggie soup and froze it. It is okay. I over cooked the veggies so its like mush. I tried freezing tomatoe, bean, spinach soup but accidently put too much salt.

The thing with me is I have no time to cooooooooook. Its such a struggle to resist fast food temptations. I tell myself, " You have to much work to do to go home and cook and then have to clean."

When I get off of work tonight, I plan on making cabbage rolls (rice and eggplant no meat) for 2maro. This dish is time consuming, but its one I actually can make and still eat it. lol