[PinkFlamingo]

Hi guys!

I'm Mandy, I'm 23 and I'm here because I've decided that it's time to get off my fat *** and try to lose some weight the healthy way. I have dealt with bulimia off and on almost my whole life, and my weight yoyos a lot, but this is the fattest I have ever been. My self-esteem is pretty much nonexistant and I feel really low about my appearance lately. I gained a lot of weight on the antipsychotic drug Risperdal and the antidepressant Paxil. I'm now somewhere around 220 lbs and I'm only 5'2. Um... what else? I'm a community college student hoping to go to university next year to study social work (I want to work in mental health care). I'm a moderator on a wonderful depression and mental illness support community, and I spend most of my free time on there...

I guess that's it for now. Looking forward to meeting you guys!!!

Mandy

[tobetheman]

I don't know what I can tell u mandy, except good luck with ur weight loss plan and ur college goals. If u decide to lose weight U should take it slow and steady. The easiest was always end up getting us back to where we were or further than where we started.

[Chestnutlass]

Hey Mandy

First let me start by saying .....love your signiture! One of my most favorites...seen it on broadway 5 times!

I too am 23 years old I am a teacher and live in DE. I have been heavy forever! 4 years ago I got to 280 lbs! Ouch that hurts to say. I have done all kinds of what my family refers to as "voo-doo diets" grapefruit, apple cider vinegar, and have even struggled with "starvation diets." I have even gone the pill route..but those made me an irritable, angry and mean person... I at one time 2 years ago got down to 202---I think I paniced at the thought of being in ONE-derland, and I havent been that small since 6th grade! I have since packed back on 50 bringing me to 254...I have lost 4 lbs in the past 9 days...and it feels great!

If I have learned anything, is that quick fixes are no fixes at all, and your health, physical or mental, is never worth a smaller pair of jeans. Now I do little steps, and do things that can be part of my everyday life (I never would have thought I would learn to enjoy sandwiches without mayo!)

Let me know if I can help you in anyway.

Mary

[maegdaeien]

I think it's great that you're so involved with helping other people-- moderating for the mental health community and wanting to study social work are very respectable! I also think it's great that you're realizing it's harder to help other people when you need help as well, so I'm glad you're starting to work on your own physical health and self-esteem issues. Welcome to the community and

[shawarma]

Hello Mandy. I think we have a lot of similarities. We almost share the same height (I'm 5'3"), I have bulimic tendencies, I'm also taking Risperdal, and I have self-esteem issues. I weigh 125 lbs. and I used to weigh 10 lbs. less when I was still actively working out a year ago but my knees were always sore so I stopped.

Hope to hear more from you someday! BTW, would you mind telling me where is this mental illness support community that you're moderating so I can have a look? Thanks.

Naomi