Hi there! This is just the kind of place I was looking for! I have support from friends and family, but none of them understand exactly how daunting this task ahead of me is since none of them have as much to lose!

I am 37 years old (38 this year) and I want to get my weight under control before I turn 40. My weight is something that I usually won't discuss - certainly not numbers, so this is a little difficult for me.

The last time I remember being happy with how I looked was when I graduated from high school - 20 years ago!! I was 165 pounds then, and on a 5'3" frame that is still considered overweight - but I was active and I felt good. The weight has been piling on every since.

I joined WW in 2002 - and was shocked to find that I weighed 292 pounds (I didn't own scales at that time)! That was an all-time high for me! I did well for the next 7 months and lost 58 pounds. I was feeling great. I don't know if I was sabatoging myself, but I decided I didn't need to go to the meetings anymore, which was just an excuse to eat whatever I wanted. The weight came back - and not that slowly either!

Fast forward to 2007 - I get pregnant. At my first appointment I weighed 294 pounds. Over the next 8 months I didn't gain any weight. I was determined that after my baby was born I would get on track - after all, I should leave the hospital weighing less than I was when I got pregnant! And, I did leave the hospital weighing less. However, I didn't have the motivation to lose - instead I kept eating, and I haven't stopped!

My daughter was born 14 months ago - and I think I am 340 pounds now! I have to stop this! I want to live to see my children grow up - and maybe even live to see grandchildren!!

I plan on starting something on Monday (12th). I don't know for sure what program I am going to try - either South Beach or WW or a combination of both.

I'm just looking for some support, and someone to keep me accountable!

Thanks for reading my long post! I look forward to getting to know you all!

Catherine.

Welcome, I only joined the forums last sunday but have already found them useful. I too can not discuss my weight issues with anyone ever, I thought a forum seemed a good way to get support without actually having to discuss issues face to face. I started a blog from this website too, I have never done anything like that before but I have found writing down how i feel at the end of the day and recording food / exercise etc to be really motivating. I am not following any special plan, I just know that I need to eat better, eat less and move more! Simple but still challenging to do! Good luck!!

Welcome, our age and starting weight are almost identical (I'm 39) and this is a great board.

Welcome Catherine!!!

We have some similarities.....I'm 38, the last time I was at a weight I was happy with was somewhere in High School. I yo-yo'd through college and was ~250 when I got married 15 years ago. Somewhere in those 15 years I worked my way up to 351 pounds. I hit the highest point 2-3 years ago after many cycles of infertility treatments, both my parents passing away and 2 adoptions. Granted I didn't go through pregnancies, but the stress of everything attributed to so much of my gain. Finally this summer I realized I HAD to turn things around...for me, for my kids...for my life!!! I started this journey in August at 340 pounds and I am now in the 250s (barely). I will never go back. Life is too good. It's not always easy, but it's worth every moment.

You can do this! You will do this! You've come to a fantastic place for support and encouragement! Make yourself right at home.

Barb

Welcome and good Luck!

hello- welcome! I just joined the forum a few days ago and am loving the encouragement I've found here! talking about my weight it something that has always been embarrassing for me as well! almost like I could hide the fact I was fat if I didn't say it or talk about it- I've had a few diet attempts before tried atkins /south beach twice and lost 35- 40 lbs each time but always regained both times and soem extra with it! I was going to do it again this time because i know it works- however I realized low carb is not a way of life for me anyways... my friends recently lost 50lbs just by calorie counting- I decided to give it a try- It's been one month since I've started it and I've lost 16 lbs and my husband lost 18! the great part you can still have all the foods you love, bread, pasta, rice, tortillas, just in healthy more portioned controlled versions! I love it! and I know I can live this way for ever! I have only had one or two cravings while being on it- while I was doing low carb I had BAD cravings every day! it made it so hard to stay on board!

If you haven't decided on a diet plan I recommended calorie counting! It's easy- affective, and the best of all it's not a diet it's a way of life that you can live with forever!

check out thedailyplate.com or livestrong.com these sites can teach you how to track your calories! for most people trying to loose they need to eat a minimum of 1200 cals a day and I'd say a max of 2000 I'm trying to stay around 1400-1500 and I've been losing 2-3 lbs a week!

GOOD LUCK!

Hi everyone - thanks for the warm welcome!

My start on Monday did not go as planned, but instead of writing off the entire week, I am just going to get back to it today.

I think I will give calorie counting a try, but I am going to start out slowly - changing one thing at a time. After reading some more posts I realize that following a specific program might not be right for a life-long change!

Thanks for the support, and for those of you that have already lost weight - you are a major inspiration. I am enjoying all of your posts, and you make me realize that I can do this.

Welcome! I also found this place recently and it has beeen very educational. I
am also calorie counting and...it's working out really well for me. 11 pounds so far and no cravings. You'll find a lot of support here.

I am also 37 and weight about 330. Like so many, high school was the last time I was thin but I thought I was fat at 130 pounds! What a fool I was when I bought into the pressure that I was flawed if I was not stick thin.
I just wanted to say welcome and that you will find great support here.