I joined a while ago, but I don't think I have ever posted, so I will start by introducing myself.

I'm 20 years old, living in Michigan. I've lost about 80 lbs over a year and have kept it off for slightly over two years now. I still have 10 to about 20 lbs to go, I have just been able to maintain my weight. I have a problem with binging and depression, which has caused me to start backsliding a bit recently. I would really like to accomplish getting my eating under control, get my exercise regular and upping my self esteem. (Sigh. That is a lot to do!) I thought it would help to be more active with people who are sharing my experience, you know, to inspire me and keep me on track. I hope I can offer something to others as well. ^.^

Hope I covered all basic essentials and I am looking forward to posting.

Hi Neurotic and

First off, well done on losing those 80lbs and keeping them off for so long. That's a massive achievement. Onto the last remaining few. Well you could come join the featherweights forum and there is also a weighloss and depression forum so wherever you feel comfortable just jump right in and start posting.

Good luck

Hi Neurotic..
I am new here myself.. have been lurking for a while.. I have lost (and gained back) 75 - (I am on my way back down again). I have the EXACT same problem with bingeing.. I used to binge and then (because I just can't make myself purge) would fast to make up for it.. I have been able to get the bingeing under control by eating (6-7) small meals a day and by NOT starving myself after I would slip and have a day I would call a "binge" day.. I do believe that allot of people tend to call "over eating" bingeing because this is such a popular term. I believe true “bingeing” is consuming like 10,000 calories extra in a day.. are you really doing that? Realizing this was a large step for me because the mentality I would put myself in would be to be very afraid, mad and constantly beat myself up.. (when really I was just having a “off diet” “old way of eating” day. The fasting would then come and be sort of my "punishment"..

I have learned to be MUCH more loving to myself. the self esteem issue has to come first.. I totally stopped focusing on the weight and started working on "myself". Telling myself each morning I was going to "take good care of myself today". I made an effort to be kind to myself. While I was going through my self imposed "therapy".. I realized the way I was loving myself before was with food.. and when I stopped the constant overeating (and lost weight on the first diet).. I didn't replace this "food love" with appropriate other forms of careing for myself.

what do you love about yourself? make a list..

You know I feel the same way you do.. I am here for support.. hope some of this rang true for you..
C~

Thanks for the Welcome, Doughnut.

Rununrefined, yeah a lot of it did ring true, which helps in itself. I don't mean it in the popularized form, a little over eating would probably be preferable to binging. I never focused on the self-esteem issue as much as I am currently, which I think is making it more difficult as well, since oddly, it can be a very tough thing to love yourself and feel natural in yourself. I've been very quiet and reserved for a long time, but that's not who I really am, so it's been very stressful just trying to be open and myself all the time since I am so self-conscious. Thanks for the post.