Hi everyone! I've been looking around for a good weight loss support site for a while now, and it seems like this is a great one. I'm 18 years old and I have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember... at 150 pounds, I thought I was incredibly fat but, looking back, I realize how wrong I was. I am close to 180 pounds now and feel awful for letting myself get to this place. I feel so uncomfortable in my own body now, and really want to get this weight off.. but it seems I can never get up the motivation to lose it.

I have a terrible habit of pigging out every single night. I know that I could lose the 30 pounds I want to, but I find myself always giving up when I don't see results fast. I am just looking for support and encouraging words now to get me started. I've heard time and time again that I am young and that I can lose this weight quickly, but I am having trouble starting.. Food has always been the thing I've turned to for comfort, and it is difficult to change those habits, but I find myself so often disappointed in myself and upset at the weight I have let myself get to. Any words of advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated! I look forward to taking this journey..

Hi honey, you are so not alone in your struggles and you have come to a good place to get support. Logging in here every day is a really great way to get my mind of food and back onto my goal plan, because ultimately the pleasure you put in your mouth one day will cause you misery the next, but I know you already know that.

I know what you mean about getting discouraged when you don't see results quickly and it can become easy to just allow yourself to fall back into your bad habits and give up - but that does us no favours. I have struggled with my weight since I was in my early teens and i've done all the fad diets and i've hurt myself quite a lot in the process. But I realise now, that it isn't just about losing the weight one day and then returning to my normal lifestyle once I've done that, it's about learning to eat sensibly and healthily and in a way that I can sustain my eating habits forever.

My biggest problem is when I start denying myself foods. Saying, "now I can't eat this, I can't eat that, I must eat this and this and this" etc. That doesn't work and that is what causes us to binge. You must not think of a diet as a punishment but as a healthy lifestyle. You must eat as though you are already thin and you already eat well.

Whenever I start to get impatient with my weight loss or feel bored I always think to myself that whether I stop eating healthier and just give up or whether I stick with it, time is still going to pass. In a month I could either be thinner or heavier and it's my choice because that month is still going to come. Weight loss must be gradual in order for you to sustain and in the long run it will be worth it and you will be happier.

I really hope to see you around the forum - any time you need support just ask on here and there are loads of people who completely understand where you are coming from.

Hi and welcome.

Please make yourself at home here at 3FC. I'll bet that if you can get through one evening without excessive snacking, you'll have a bright new outlook. Come and read here in the evening instead.

Hi Naf and

Maybe you could hook up with archersaddict. I just read her post, young and promising, as are you. As I said to her, I can still relate to your story from my younger days.

What have I learned in those 30 years? For me, its not a temporary solution. I have to eat better and move more. Simple, and sometimes painful. I was doing well until last fall. Then I started rationalizing....Its ok for Thanksgiving....Christmas....New Years.... Easter....and when the 23 year old moved home with the bottomless bag of Nacho Doritos the end result was +20.
I couldn't eat like that when I was 18, and can't now.

You are very brave to be stepping out NOW and wanting to change. I am new here, but have found all the support I need right now.

When I feel like Doritos, I write to newbies instead. Thanks for helping me!

Best Wishes!

hey nice to meet ya.
I'm totally with you on several of the things you said. I'm a recovering comfort eater (i still relapse sometimes, but in general its a battle that im winning) and also thinking you are fat, and then finding out that you were wrong! lol
I'm 17, and we kind of have a (failing) teens thread going on http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=118949
it has its moments of activity and it has its dead moments (currently in a dead moment) but it would be great for you to come join (and maybe we can get it to be more active over the summer).

anywho, i hope that you find a lot of encouragement here. Personally, i like to go into the Goal's Photo Album, because i find a lot of inspiration in seeing all the amazing women who have achieved so much!

Welcome!

Thank you sooo much everyone! this is so encouraging!!!! I actually started a blog today to keep track of my eating/exercise too. mytime2lose on wordpress ..I hope you'll check it out, I'm so glad I found this community!

&

Welcome to 3FC! Surf around and settle in! We have forums based on eating plan, age, exercise and more!

Check out the 20 something forum (we don't card) and also Chicks in Control. THe truth is that we control what we put in our mouths. Strategies: try to not have junk food available. Chew gum, drink water, plan your food and stick to it. You can do this!