hello All,

My name is Stephanie, and I am new here..yay! So a little about myself, I am 23 years old and just got married in May. Since May I have gained about 30 pounds. When I went for my Physical in April I weighed 176 pounds, which was heavy,but that was pretty much the smallest I had been since I was 17.Since I got married I got a job where I have to sit all day, and have just become very lazy. I also tend to eat alot. I am definitly and emotional eater. When we got married I moved from a very residential part of a city, to a house in the downtown of a bigger city. I tend to be very people shy, and don't like to be watched. I fear being mocked so I tend to spend my days inside when I am home...which would be ok if I did exercise inside. Anyways, I know what I have to do in order to lose weight it is just a matter of self control on my part. I also really don't want to buy new clothes to fit my fat frame...lol! I need to do this, I feel tired and headachy alot and know that losing this weight will help me so much.

Hi and welcome. You seem very wise about what is wrong and that's a good place to start. Now all you have to do is keep tweaking.
Come to 3FC often, read lots and post so that we can get to know you.
If it's encouragement you're after, you'll find it here.
Do you have an eating plan picked out?

An eating plan? I find this very difficult. I am lactose intolerant, and am not supposed to eat wheat, so finding foods that I can eat that are healthy and also in our budget is kind of difficult. I do eat alot of wheat which is really bad, and I know that cutting it out helps so much! When I actually watch my wheat intake, I feel alot better. It is really just a matter of me taking the time to read labels, and searching for foods that I can eat.

There was thread just lately about celiac and gluten intolerance ... let me see if I can find it for you.


http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...ghlight=celiac

Hi Stephy and WELCOME!!

You had that wake up call, huh? It sounds like you've had a bunch of changes lately and they can really wreak havoc on any kind of good eating regimen we're on. Add lactose intolerance and gluten allergy (is that what it is), and things DO get more difficult.

My advice is to first, take a deep breath. You can do this. Okay, you can let the breath out now.

Second, if you are like many of us, you are overwhelmed by all the things you think you should be doing and can't possibly see how to fit them all in. If that's the case, my advice is twofold: commit to doing something about your weight AND take baby-steps to get there.

I didn't get my wake up call until much after you did. I knew what I was supposed to do, but didn't see how *I* could do it. I started by bringing my lunch and snacks to work and watching portions. For a month, that was it. That was enough!

I started also trying to "move more," but that meant that if I had a question for hubby I would walk upstairs and ask him, rather than yelling up.

Later I was able to add more to the plan, but that was enough to start.

I also mentioned commitment. A lot of people talk about motivation -- and that's great to get you going, but, let's face it, sometimes we really lack in motivation. So, make the commitment that YOU are worth this change. Commit to finding a plan that works for you and your life. Be flexible if the plan stops working as well as you like.

Above all, commitment means that when you screw up and eat what you don't want to or eat too much (and it will happen) that you forgive yourself, figure out WHY you did it, and get back on the wagon!

So, what sounds like good baby steps to you??

Thanks so much Wyllenn!

I have thought of taking baby steps, getting back into the swing of things. I am starting my getting rid of all of the junk in our house. My husband is a youth pastor, so we took our chips and Christmas cookies to youth group tonight and let the kids go nuts! I figure if we don't have it in the house then I won't eat it, and I am not one to go out and buy something just because I want it....my husband wouldn;t let me do that anyways I already take my lunch to work and snacks, and generally they are pretty decent, it is just a matter of making them a little more healthy.

AS for exercising I really enjoy step aerobics, I used to go when I had a gym membership in College...I am asking for a step for Christmas so I can get back into it. I love being at home, so if I can just make my home life more active that would be great.

I also need to learn how to solve my night time snack attacks. I work shifts so the couple nights a week that I work until 11pm I get a break at 9 and tend to eat an apple or something...sometimes chips, which is all well and good to keep me awake...but then the days that I only work until 4, and then am home for the whole evening I find I get a little snack attack at about 9. So I need to learn how to fix that craving

Stephanie -- Bravo! Those are great starts! You didn't gain the weight overnight and won't lose it overnight either. I have a lot to lose and use the time it takes to lose it all to learn how to KEEP it off (after all, that's the real goal, right?)

I snack a lot. That's not bad, but you do need to aware of what you eat. I just finished some yogurt with blueberries and a little cereal. (Not a good option for you!)

I think the key is to find some foods you like and keep them on hand. See which ones seem to work the best. What about things like popcorn? Add peanut butter to that apple for a snack that sticks with you (protein is good for that). Maybe add some cheese? or some chicken breast? (snacks can be smaller versions of other meals!)

Hi stephyk
I am new here also and was glad to see your post. I also have gluten intolerance and am finding it near impossible to avoid. I am desperate to loose some weight. I am 29 and have been married for about a year. (have gained 40lbs since) My exersize level is at about zero. I am hoping to find some friends online for support and motivation. I'm not realy sure how the site works yet, but i hope to read more from you.

hey Puncezilla,

The thing I find most difficult is that my husband can eat alot of things that I am not supposed to eat, so we have alot of "wheat stuffs" in the house...they aren;t bad for him to eat...but I can;t keep myself away from them. SO many times I just want a nice peanut butter and jelly sandwich...lol but I have to hold back. I don;t think that it is realy fair to ask him not to eat these things..it is just a matter of me realizing that I don;t need these things.

As for exercise, I also do just about zero. I work at a desk all day, so I am sitting...I am asking for an aerobic step for Christmas this, just so that I will do something when I get home from work.

It all takes time, self control, and encouragement from those around us....thats why this site is so good....just surf around, it is fun!