Hello Everyone,

I must say this place seems pretty much like an oasis for someone that needs help like me. I am new here, but reading everyone's story's and the positive words of encouragement everyone has for each person is so surprising that it makes me want to cry. I have finally decided to lose weight, because I want to get pregnant. Went to the doctor recently, and he basically told me that after almost three years of not knowing why I couldn't get pregnant, it is simply because I am lazy and fat, or that I have polycystic-ovary-syndrome. After reading every internet source imaginable about that, I felt like there was/is no hope.Yeah, that was a good day, I don't think I have ever been so scared, and ashamed in my life. What this doctor doesn't know is that I have tried to lose weight almost every way imaginable some healthy, some not.

I am not going to give up though, and I found this place, and it made me so happy, because I didn't feel like I had to do this alone, and it was my dirty secret. My husband is on a diet with me but he has already lost like literally four pant sizes, and that just makes me want to bang my head against a wall! I mean don't get me wrong I am so excited that he has lost weight, and I want him to be happy and healthy, but he makes it look SO SIMPLE.

Anyway, I am determined to get there, and to not give up but I am so very scared that I will never be able to do this, I have been overweight since adolescence, I had asthma horribly growing up and had to take steroids to be able to breathe. Doctors believe that this messed up my metabolism, and so it makes it that much harder to lose weight.

Welcome!! you've taken the first step by joining us here! You deserve to be healthy and have a family so don't give up!
also, isnt' it frustrating! Men and their speedy metabolisms! that's just natures way, try not to let it get to you!
good luck in your weight loss journy!

First of all, WELCOME to 3FC, It is a wonderful place for support.

The best thing you can start if with is changing how you think about this new journey you are about to take. Starting off believing that you cannot make it is dooming it from the very beginning. The unknown is always a bit frightening, but unless you take the first step, you'll never know the joy of accomplishing a normal weight.

I started my journey by letting go of all the things I thought I knew about dieting. I took the calorie counting approach, giving me a reality check on what my true intake was. I spent a couple of weeks, eating whatever I wanted, but counted it. I needed the practice and the feel of it. Then I was ready to begin.

Take it slow, ease into it and make it a part of your everyday life. It's going to be hard at times when your husband is doing it too, because men tend to have a competitive edge in their thinking....I am dealing with that with my own husband and his weight loss efforts. They can eat more than women because they have a higher muscle mass. Stay true to your course no matter what he may end up doing (mine cheats all the time) because in the end, only you can make it happen.

And as far as it is being hard.....all of us have something that makes it difficult. For me it is my age and menopause. So, I accept it and continue on. NO matter how hard it is now, the end result is worth the effort.

Can't wait to see your progress!

Welcome KewpieDoll!

This is a wonderful place to be, I'm glad you're joining us.

You can do this! I'm sorry it can feel so hard some days, but please keep believing in yourself and in the process - IT IS POSSIBLE AND YOU CAN DO IT!

Come on in! You can do it...I so know what you mean about your hubby losing it, I finally told my husband I am very happy with him but because weight is such a touchy subject with me I don't want to know how much he is losing most of the time..my mom caused me to look at weightloss as a competition my whole life, as if it needs to be when you have food addiction problems! I digress...

You can do this! Don't give up! Read the boards often as it helps with the motivation, even if you don't post!

Boy, I can relate. Not that I have even tried conceiving yet, but it's definitely something that my husband and I want to try in the next couple years. One of my goals is to lose significant weight first. Ideally, I'd be around or under 200 before I got pregnant. Obviously the lower the better. It's not like weight loss is the only reason why we aren't TTC right now, our financial/work situation is not quite where it needs to be, although if push came to shove we could make it work. Of course. But, my health is of a primary concern.

I know it is easy to look at how much weight you have to lose and think that it's impossible. Heck, I have to lose more weight than what my goal weight IS. I have to lose an entire person. But what good is it for me to think of it that way? Like you, I've tried losing weight before and was even mildly successful until I fell off the wagon and gained it back. This time, I'm going to look at it in smaller achievements. I'll focus each day, each week, each month and all of that will add up to something wonderful in the end.

Maybe I won't make my goal of 253 by October, but if there's a downward trend going then what more can I want? A goal isn't something to live and die by, but a guideline to aim for so that you can continue to make progress. My mantra is that you don't need to be perfect, you just need to be persistent.

welcome kew,
Where to begin? First I'm so glad you're here, welcome, welcome, welcome!!
A few suggestions:
1. Don't be shy, jump right in on the threads, get to know us and let us get to know you.
2. Share...your thoughts, your feelings, your suggestions, your successes and your frustrations.
3. Join the exercise thread..it works if you work it. Don't be threatened by those who do over an hour a day. Every minute counts. The secret is you have to MOVE!!
4. Come here as often as you can, daily is best.
5. Enjoy yourself, have a little fun, and accept the fact, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

I hope to see you around often and I look forward to getting to know you better.

All my best,
Faith

PCOS, does make it harder for many of us to lose weight, but NOT impossible. You just have to be a little more persistent, a little more patient and a little more determined.

I seem to have reversed my PCOS symptoms for the moment. My blood glucose was 104 when I was diagnosed and I just got a reading of 86 last week. And losing just 5% of your weight gets you moving toward that end.

I have done this many, many times. I had to find the right diet/exercise that worked for ME. I eat six meals a day of equal calories and I eat whole foods. Basically I'm a calorie counter, but recently discovered that because of the insulin resistance, I need to restrict carbs in order to lose as efficiently as other women do.

You can either look at PCOS as an obstacle or as a challenge. But you really can do this.

Thank-you everyone for the encouragement and kind words, I am sitting here crying just knowing that someone out there cared enough to respond. Knowing that there is people that have done, are in the process of losing weight, makes it seem less daunting.

If you ask me that's the most amazing thing about 3FC... that when you reach out and say "I need help/encouragement/support/to vent/a laugh/inspiration" someone is always here. And you'll feel just as great about helping someone else out when they need it.

And for what it's worth... I'm scared that I'll never get there too. But having lost 20 pounds now I feel like as long as I make the effort I'll at least get somewhere, and that's better than where I was, and better than going nowhere. *Hugs* We're glad to have you here!

Welcome! I've been here about a month, and I can honestly say that if it wasn't for this place, I would not have lost the weight I have so far. Everyone is very encouraging and friendly. No one judges. And The pics others post and the stories that are so similar to mine help me know I am not alone. It's priceless.
I can only say that I hope this place is as good for you as it has been for me.