Hello everyone! I'm Sarah and I'm 20 years old. I'm a University student, majoring in English with the intent to get my teaching degree and become a high school English teacher...someday! I've got a year and a half left of my degree, if I succeed in my goal of graduating a semester early.
I weigh 180 pounds right now, and I'm a smallish person at 5'4", so, I definitely need to lose some weight. I have always had trouble. When I was in middle school I weighed 170 pounds, but lost that my freshman year of high school. I became anorexic (eesh) and weighed only 105 pounds for two years, then started to gain everything back. Now I hope to reach a HEALTHY (not deahtly) weight of 130lbs.
College definitely hasn't helped. Furthermore, I have a wonderful boyfriend of over a year -- this hasn't helped either. Knowing that I'm not trying to "catch" anybody has really ruined any resolve I had to stay skinny. I stress eat (I have anxiety and OCD; man, I'm just a bucket of issues), binge eat, and can NOT control my portions/returns for refills! I also really, really dread and hate excersizing, and cannot hold myself accountable for actually working out!
What made me want to get off my arse and DO something about this was that I keep, for some reason lately, running across old things I used to be able to wear (my letter jacket, for instance, from high school) or even clothes from Freshman year of college. Maybe it's a sign?
I just want to lose weight to be healthy and feel good and confident about myself again!
I would love to talk to anyone that wants to talk to me. I think support and chanelling my energy/extra time/worries into conversation, friendship, or anything other than cookies and pasta will really do wonders for me.
Ten Things To Know About Me Besides My Weight:
1. I absolutely love books. I read constantly, for school, for pleasure, out of sheer curiosity. I read everything from Shakespeare to Chick Lit to the Twilight Series.
2. I speak conversationally fluent Norwegian.
3. I've never been in an airplane, because they scare me (and everyone else in my family).
4. Jeopardy! is one of my favorite television shows.
5. I love complicated board games, RPGs, and video games.
6. I love kids, and am super patient. Right now I work as a tutor and with special needs kids.
7. I am a non-denominational believer in something bigger than we are.
8. I absolutely hate science, and am dreading my Biology education requirement...and putting it off...and off...and off...
9. Fall is my favorite season -- the colors, the Renaissance faire, Halloween...
10. I think Sarah is the most boring name in the world, and am depressed that there are no nicknames for it. (Sar? Rah? ...yeah...)
Anyways, I'm so happy I found this place. Hope to talk to lots of you really soon!
Weight loss isn't easy, is it? You really have to want it. But you can do this! You are a smart, determined young woman. You just need to find the connect point that will spring you forward. There is tons of great info on this site about many different, good plans and all the support and advise you could ever want, to go with it. Check out the different sub forums, see what might be right for you. I am a calorie counter, it is a good way to go, as nothing is forbidden and it is actually not complicated, at all.
Best tip I can give you, no matter what plan you decide is right for you, keep a food journal. Either on your computer or, like me, you can kick it old school with a notebook and pen. Logging everything you eat and the calories that go with it will keep you aware, on track and accountable. A food journal is an invaluable tool.
Welcome Sarah! Geeky gals unite! You have so many vibrant and wonderful interests already, that my only addition to the advice above is to make your journey towards better health FUN! Enjoy the wonderful tastes of healthy foods that you adore, and find activities that have that WHEEE factor. I know that walking around a whole Renn Faire for 3-4 hours wipes me out, and looking forward to the cute Wenchwear you can buy as a goal reward was an inspiration for me! P.S. Try not to fear Biology- really, it is a new foreign language (treat it that way), but it is just living poetry when you think about it that way. Good luck, and happy posting!
A great big welcome to you! I'm a newbie also. I loved your list of ten things about you.
1. I love to read as well.
2.I don't speak norweigian but I did marry into a Finnish family.
3.I've flown several times but not reently because the fear of asking for a seatbelt extender scares me.
4. While I enjoy jeopardy I am unsure as to whether I can forgive you fo getting the song stuck in my head.
5. I love board games but can't handle video games...for some reasonthey make me want to puke.
6. I love kids and have tutored special needs kids in the past as well. I also taught preschool.
7.I am a Baptist believer in Jesus Christ, my Saviour.
8.K, well, I actually liked science (was going to be a vet originally, but during the second level of organic chemistry I was like...UGH!!!!!)
9. Fall, autumn...by FAR my favorite season. The sounds of marching bands, the crunch of the leaves, the colors, the smells of fires burning...love it, love it, LOVE IT!
10. Sarah is a lovely name....nicknames, well, my college roommate, Sarah, was nicknamed...wait for it...."Roommate", and my other best friend in the world Sara is nicknamed S-air-ee. Nope, you're right...no good nicknames.
Now, go kick some butt, and stay on that path to a healthier you!
Wow! Thanks for all of the great hellos! I feel so welcome!
@ Rain: Thanks for the GREAT idea! I started a blog here to keep my food journal in!
@ Faerie: Thanks for the suggestions! It looks like I'd enjoy both groups!
@ Circe: What a great goal idea. I've never looked good in Ren-gear, so I've never justified buying any! It's nice to meet someone else who even knows what Wench Wear IS! My kinda gal!
@ Happyk4evr: Welcome to you, too! Thanks so much for the wonderful reply. Reading it this morning made my day; it was fun to learn so much about you! You sound like such an awesome gal (with a sense of humor I can pick up from a "list of ten" -- that's impressive).
@ Any/all of you -- feel free to PM me any time to talk about anything, even if it's not weightloss. I think having some more friends (I don't have many in real life -- I'm shy!), even online, would help me with my weightloss goals...plus, who doesn't want more friends just for the sake of having friends?
Thanks again for the welcome. I like it here already.
@ Any/all of you -- feel free to PM me any time to talk about anything, even if it's not weightloss. I think having some more friends (I don't have many in real life -- I'm shy!), even online, would help me with my weightloss goals...plus, who doesn't want more friends just for the sake of having friends?
You'll fit right in
I think you may need at least 10 posts in order to send PMs. I think... it may have changed. But as soon as you're at the right number of posts you need in order to PM, well, PM away!
Chunky, Geeky, but gosh-darn Nice Midwestern Gal
It is great to have you here. 
There is tons of great info on this site about many different, good plans and all the support and advise you could ever want, to go with it. Check out the different sub forums, see what might be right for you. I am a calorie counter, it is a good way to go, as nothing is forbidden and it is actually not complicated, at all. 
