Hi. I'm new here, like everyone else. I recently stumbled onto this amazing site and I'm so glad I did. I can't fit into my clothes anymore and I'm about to move up to yet another size. (Thank goodness for Old Navy and its non-skinny sizes!)

My problem is I can't stop eating, especially anything salty or greasy. Seriously, a family-size Tombstone frozen pizza and a huge bag of cheddar Ruffles and I'm set for a Saturday night! Capped off with a pint of Ben 'n' Jerry's, of course. I was able to get away with it when I was younger and more active. However, nowadays those calories get stockpiled – in fat! I've packed on more than 25 pounds in the last couple years, and it's definitely noticeable on someone short.

Anyway, I'm ready to lose this weight. All the success stories on 3FC are so inspiring – I want to be one of them!

Hey Ginger, welcome!!! You came to the right place for support and inspiration...this place is a lifesaver for me. Anyway, good luck and you can do it!

G,day Ginger I found out about this site in one of my aussie slimming and health mags I started coming here about 4yrs ago lost the weight and then my computor blue up so it was hard to get on line very often, then I had some famliy issues and piled the weight back on I came back to 3fc about 3wks ago the support and friendships you get and make along the way are inspiring. What sort of healthy eating plan are you trying remember it isn,t a diet it is a lifestyle change shhhh if your body hears the word diet it goes into freak mode LOL. Good luck you can do this. And you will be a success story it is there just waiting to be told.
Take care I,m Julie from downunder.

Ginger!!! You CAN definitely do this!!! Have you made any plans on how you're going to do this? Let us know ^^

Hi Ginger, I can sure realate you your eating problem. It's hard for all of us. But it can be done, and you can do it. The first thing I do is make a plan. I make a menu for a week, including snacks, buy the food for those meals, and I KNOW what I am going to eat every day. It makes it so much easier! If you want someone to talk to, I would ve happy to talk, help you plan, give support.....

Hi, I'm fairly new too. Welcome! One thing that I have done that has helped me a lot is to find healthier replacements for the things I absolutely love. If you find some healthy snacks and meals that you really enjoy to replace the ones you are eating now you won't feel deprived and you will be successful.

Thanks for all the support! I can't wait to get to know everyone better.

As for the weight loss itself, I think I'm going to try calorie counting for now. Seems like the most manageable method and the least scary. And so far, so good. Of course, it's only 9:23 a.m.

Hi Ginger! Welcome to 3fc!! Today is your day 1.. I hope you´re doing great!

I´m calorie counting too, I´m just starting but the tips everybody has given me (and you) are great, planning and yumi substitutes!
I began using fitday.com too, you log all you eat daily and it counts the calories and carbs, fats, proteins, it´s great! And you can log your exercise too!

Are you exercising? How many calories are you eating daily?

Good luck!!

Hi Rafaella. I definitely need to check out that FitDay site. Thanks for the tip!

I AM exercising, but not nearly as much as I should. I need to get over my embarrassment at the gym. I avoid exercising when I need to most - like I'm waiting until I look better before I go. I'm trying to go at least a couple times a week, mostly doing treadmill for 40 minutes each time. And I bought some hand weights to use at home. Maybe 3 times a week?

As for calories, I'm trying to cut down gradually. My goal is 1,800 a day, which is still a lot, but much less than my usual 2,600 (I kept track for a week - that was my average). If I can stick to 1,800 for a couple weeks, I'll drop down by another 100... and so on. At least, that's the plan.

Thanks again for the advice. Such great support on this site!

Oh that sounds like me!