I've always been very depressed. I think in 6th grade I just gave up, I started not caring about taking care of myself. My home life was going down the drain, I didnt have many friends, and I was very shy. My days consisted of going to school, then coming home and sitting at the computer till 8 at night and eating whatever I could get my hands on...some days I'd eat a few sandwiches and a whole bag of chips. I look back now...and I wish I could take those days back.

I just turned 19 years old and Im over 300 pounds. I just got engaged and my wedding is 1 year away and I have to fix this. I'm not going to quit this time, or find an excuse for myself. I can not count how many times in my life I have said this, but this time I really want this. I don't want to wear stretchy pants anymore, I dont want to stay at home and hide myself because I'm ashamed, I don't wanna turn corners and knock everything over because I'm to big to fit through areas. I know I can do this, I just need motivation...I need the friends I never had to help me. I need advice!

My name is Callie...Im over 300 lbs and eat out at least 7 or 8 times a week...I dream of being in shape and being able to go on runs and enjoy life.

I don't know how I let myself get here...but I know I am going to change this.

Hi Callie, Good for you for getting started. You say you never had friends to help you. 3FC can provide some support, but it's important to consider the support you have offline, too. You're engaged: is your future spouse supportive of your weight loss? What about family?

What kind of plan are you following? What kinds of lifestyle changes do you need to make? Different things work for different people, but many of us find that making a few small changes at a time is a good way to develop new habits.

You can do this!

Hey there and welcome to the 300+ Club! =)

We're all just making changes and taking this journey one day at a time. You'll find all kinds of advice and friendly support here! You absolutely CAN do this.

Maybe you could let us know what your plans are so we can lend a hand! Do you have a food plan? Do you have a movement plan? Or any other healthy habits you are looking to build up?

Right now my food plan is to eat healthy. To make meals on sunday and get them ready for the week. I dont have a certain diet im following...which I'm kind of concerned about. My family is supportive in ways. My mom and two sisters are about 20lbs more than they would like to be and they think that we are all in the same boat. But it just feels different. It makes me mad when I hear them talk about how "fat" they are, because I would love to look like them.

My Fiance also needs to loose weight...he is over 300 too and would like to be down at least 100 from where he is. So he is very supportive and we will be doing this together. After we are both home from work we will eat dinner together. In the morning before work we will both work out together. I'm going to change my entire lifestyle. My apartment is dirty and gross, I hardly ever cook food, I don't remember the last time I even went on a walk. I really just want it all to change...and re-build it from the ground up.

My first goal is to get under 300lbs...If I can make it under 300 then I'll really feel like I have a chance doing this.

I'm stuck in the same place. I think if I'd had friends then I never would have gotten to this place over 300 pounds. I know it's about personal responsibility, but it's much easier to stay in shape and lose weight when you have buddies to work out with and people around to help keep you motivated.

3FC Has REALLY helped with this and since joining I've lost 13 pounds. Still not under the 300 mark but I feel like it's really close now. So stick around here!

You are lucky you have your Fiance to help you. It's great that you both want to get into shape together! My fiance is thin and works 12 hours a day, my family is 2300 miles away and all I've got are the great people here at 3FC. But together, we can all reach our goals~!

If you're concerned, maybe you could build up your own plan. I'm a Weight Watchers member, but I often suggest Counting Calories to people simply because it's a very cheap and effective way of watching food intake.

It's great that you're going to have the support of your fiance! That's wonderful =)

Hi and welcome!
We can do this. June first I was on bedrest and could not walk ot the end of my driveway without getting winded. I am changing my life one step at a time walking and making healthy food choices. For me that is cutting out sugar and processed foods as much as possible and eating whole grains, fruits and veggies. I try and "plate" which is making half my plate healthy veggies and 1/4 protein and 1/4 whole grain.
Welcome to the group!
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Welcome!
Congratulations on making that first step! You will find alot of support here.
Reading the posts always help me stay on track. Sounds like you are going to make a lot of changes. Don't let it overwhelm you. Tackle them one at a time, one day at a time. You are very fortunate to have the support of your fiance.
You CAN and WILL do this!! Remember that and when it gets tough, tell yourself to push through it!!

Best of luck

Hi! Welcome! I started at 320 lbs was my highest I totally get what you mean about not having the "friends" or support. I did the same thing that you did for years. School and computer and eat. I am now 21 and I was 320 lbs at my highest. Pretty sure I was that weight when I took my trip to england at age 19 as well. I live with 3 other women who each have 50-250 lbs to lose and they know it and wont do anything about it both of my closest friends (within a distance that I can see them) are over 300 lbs (310 and 380) None of them have ANY desire to lose weight so I go at this alone. The easiest for me was to compost 45% of my diet of carbs, 35% protein and 20% fat ( I have pcos so this works for that too). I would suggest checking out some books from your local library and seeing what kind of diet you would like to follow or hey, do what I and so many others on here do, combine a few of them. I combine low carb with cal counting. Some combine weight watchers with sbd and so on. I encourage you to ask any questions and visit various parts of the site, lots of GREAT people here, I would have never made it this far without them. If you think challenges would help you two we have tons of them on the boards off the top of my head I can things of the biggest loser, thanksgiving challenge new year challenge sarge's boot camp luscious by labor day..we had a harry potter challenge, theres an oct 22nd challenge and so on!

Welcome! You can do this!!!
I wish everyday that I had put in the effort for my wedding day. I lost about 15-20 pounds, but I could have used more like 60. I regret not making the leap back then--maybe I wouldn't be in the boat I'm in now! I am rooting for you!!! Keep posting on here--the support is priceless.

Hi!!!
you've picked the right age to do this - I wish I'd conquered my weight issues at 19!!!!
i don't do a certain plan either, I follow a Low GI style of eating ( and roughly eat about 1200 cal but don't religously count them).
If you need to follow something more regimented there are lots and lots of "plans" out there, find one you like the sound of and would fit into your style of living.I think do a bit of research, so what might suit, and get stuck into changing your life!
I started by just cutting out between meal crap eating - ( I love a good sandwich too) then moved to eating better foods, and so on and so forth....

You can achieve ANYTHING to set your mind too!! You just have to be determined to stick to your plan as often as you can and accept that sometimes you'll fall off the wagon - the trick is to get straight back on....

Stick with us and you'll be a beautiful slim bride.....!!

Thank you all so much. Reading these replies really help me, more than you guys could probably imagine. I will do this...and with support from all of you it will be a bit easier mentally. I appreciate everything that was said and I will continue posting and keeping up to date on the blog I made on here earlier too. It's scary to me to make this step...but If i take it slowly...I can do this. Thank you all!

Callie, you just described my high school experience.

Hang in there, I am also over 300 pounds and I am 23. It is hard sometimes to admit where one is in life, but here we are.

Somewhere on here someone had the quote that went something like "commitment remains when motivation leaves us." I am in, you are in. Let us do this!

Hey, Callie. I think in situations like this, it's important to know that there is hope and that your dream is possible. I just read the story of "Jiffypop" which I found very inspiring. Perhaps you will also be inspired by it, as well as the other people here who have had success with what you're trying to do.

Keep it up!

Sorry folks - don't mean to barge in, but I really need to set the record straight. I lost my weight through gastric bypass surgery, not the old-fashioned way. and believe me, those of us who've had surgery still need to abide by 'the rules.' We still have to watch what we eat, and we have to exercise and get blood work done.

There are MANY people around here who have lost lots of weight - and kept it off - without surgery. I'm not one of them. Figure out what works for you and GO FOR IT!!!