Hi everyone!! I am really excited to join your board. I have read for a few days and everyone seems very supportive and friendly.

A little about me - I am married with a 20-month old son. I have been overweight ever since I can remember (probably 8!). At one point in 2003 I got as low as 199 which was my lowest weight since probably middle school. Unfortunately I let myself get out of control and am back to almost 300lbs. I need to weigh myself tomorrow morning...

I figure that I have two choices now. I can beat myself up for gaining back the weight and continue to wallow in my self pity and eat myself into oblivion OR I can forgive myself and do what needs to be done to be healthy. This isn't about vanity anymore. It's about being healthy.

I have chosen the latter and I am here for support and hopefully to support others.

Thanks

Welcome! This is a great, supportive site to be on for your journey.

What type of plan are you thinking of following?

WELCOME TO THE FORUM! I love this site and everyone here, I hope you do too!

I am not sure actually. I have done WW before but I think I need a change. I definitely "think" about food too much. I'd like to try something along the lines of Intuitive Eating, but with guidelines.

Is there a thread where people discuss the plans they are following?

Thanks everyone for the welcome!

Hi! Welcome to the board!! This place is fabulous.

There is an area on the board that has to do with the different plans. Personally, I'm a calorie counter.. I think about food all the time, but it's more of a planning what I can eat and stay in my calorie range.

Welcome! You can do it

Welcome! Glad you found us. This is a great site with lots of support and great ideas.

I too have a 20 month old, an a 4 YO, 5 YO and 13 YO . I was getting too obsessed with food as well. I plan my meals out for the week on the weekends. this includes snacks. I don't always count calories for now but I eat between 1200 and 2000 calories a day. I also keep extra low-cal snacks just in case what I've planned for the day doesn't sound good, I've still got a healthy alternative waiting in the wings. I do exercise at least 30 minutes per day. (I'm about to up it to 45)

Thank you all for the warm welcome

Do you ladies use a website to track calories or just do it on your own?

I have been really paying attention to portion sizes and stopped eating seconds this week but I need to kick it up. I also have been outside with DS a lot running aroudn which helps!!

Some folks use Fitday, the Daily Plate, or Sparkpeople to keep track. I keep mine in a spiril.

Glad your here, that is awesome that you have forgiven yourself!!

I have a 3year old and my starting weight when I became pregnant with him was 174, I thought since I was PG that I could eat what ever I was at 215 after labor and I just went up from there. I have been off and on of different diets alot of diet pills, I was really addicted, since I had my son and we wanted to try for another with in a year but I could not become pregnant at my weight. I was really mad at myself for having let three years go by and not loosing the weight. So my point to my rant is that now I have decided that beating myself up for what I could of done I am not going to waste any more time, heck I want 5 kids and I am not getting any younger

Anyhow welcome!! glad you are here

I use fitday to track my calories. I really like it, I don't always trust what their numbers say, if I take it out of a package I make a custom food out of it. I have also made lots of custom foods for the meals I make for my family to eat on a regular basis.. esp the casseroles they can be tricky.

Welcome! We're really glad you've joined us. I keep track of my calories by just writing them down in a small notebook. I use the Calorie King book to look up the food.

Good luck to you!