Hey peeps, just thought I'd say hi and introduce myself, so here are a few things about me:

I'm from Boston, am coping with having turned 30 a few weeks ago, have an awesome accent, love hockey more than almost anything and STILL can't believe the Bruins won the Cup during my lifetime, have a 17 year old diabetic cat, love the beach, rollerblading (for those of you who don't like the genericized trademark infringement, it's "inline skating", I guess!), and tend to be a sarcastic jerk from time to time.

Sooo, let's see... I'm 319 pounds, and in my adult life, the lowest I've been is about 170, when I was hippy, but happy (not to be confused with being a happy hippie, like Janice from the Muppets). I have absolutely reached the point of self hatred and feeling totally inadequate because of my weight, so I really need to do something. It's not just to look good, but to feel better (at 319, you feel like absolute crap unless you're like 7 feet tall, and I refuse to believe anyone who says otherwise), and because I need to play hockey again. I've made some half-hearted attempts to change things over the years, but I figure this whole forum thing will give me a feeling of accountability.

After high school, I was 170-180, went up to about 200 and stayed right around there until I got this boyfriend, we got comfortable, moved in together, and BAM! There it was: another 40 pounds before I even knew it. Then another 20. Then we broke up after six years. Then another 40 crept on. I've been back and forth from like 305-320 in the past few months; It seems like I behave for a while, and then end up REALLY screwing things up. It's not a "I've been good, so I'll reward myself with this sundae" kind of thing; more like, "oh my god, I'm starving, and if I order a pizza, I'll get three meals out of it!", or I'll get a craving for something and then totally overdo it and feel completely, horribly, guilty within seconds of finishing whatever it was... and then I'll end up skipping the gym, which is obviously *not* a good thing. So, back to the gym this week to get the ball rolling again.

So, from here on in, I need to get moving and really mean it this time. I'm not the cutesy-touchy-feely-come-on-you-can-do-it type -- I've always done my own thing, but apparently it hasn't served me well yet -- I guess I need whatever motivation I can get, right?

Welcome! As you can see, a lot of us find 3FC a good place to come for support.

At our weight (you'll notice I started right where you're starting, this time around), weight loss becomes a very long journey. We have to put our long-term health goals ahead of what is convenient, easy, or tempting at the moment, and we have to do that day after day for a very long time.

I find checking in here daily (and reporting on whether or not I met my daily goals) a good way of keeping myself accountable. Knowing that I have to show up and say something about whether I kept to my calorie limit and got my exercise in (or not) is often the extra little motivator I need.

Each of us has to do whatever works for us, of course, so look around and see what looks like it might be helpful. There's an exercise thread, several daily discussion threads, and a daily staying-on-plan challenge (the "lifeboat" in the stickies). And other areas of the site that might be of use, too.

Congratulations on making a commitment.

Welcome to 3FC =)

We've all started at different points in our lives. We follow different plans, have different habits and hobbies, but we really do want everyone else to succeed. Weight loss....getting healthier... they're universal and connect us.

So regardless of how a person chooses to do it, we can all help support and encourage each other. Mind you, I am generally a "You can do it!" person in a very sincere and hippie-minded positive way. Because, honesty, we CAN do it.

That being said, being ABLE to do something means that there are no good excuses for a lot of things. If someone asks for a butt kicking, well... they're gonna get it! "You didn't exercise, you say? Well did both of your legs fall off? Because really if one fell off you can still hop up and down to get your heartrate up." NO EXCUSES.

You'll find that you'll need different things at different times, but the boards offer a lot of diversity of thought so chances are you'll find some good advice... and regardless of whether some things fit your life or not... LOTS of support.

I'm about an hour outside of Boston, myself. 28. Been fat, overweight, obese all of my life. I don't hate myself, never really have, in all honesty. I just know that I can be healthier. I can do better for myself, because I care about myself and my life. So. I'm doing better.

What are your plans? Do you have any sort of ideas about how you want to do this? A food plan? An exercise plan? Any other healthy habits you want to add into your life?

Let us know. We'd love to support you! (Or... avoid all sorts of touchy-feely stuff and just regularly tell you to "get to it, no excuses" if that's what you need )

So. YOU CAN DO...er...GET TO IT!

Welcome! You sound a lot like me! I was also jumping between 305-320 and now when I have reached my highest I said screw this! Time to do something! I wish you the best of luck. It won't be easy but we can do it!

Thanks!

I don't know yet. Thinking of doing C25k (progressing sloooowly, of course) after work and attempting to hit the gym or rollerblade a few miles before it. I *don't* have a food plan, other than to stop f'ing around and be healthy. No more takeout, no more ordering lunch, and I need to cut the coffee as well (I have one a day, but would really like that to become 1 or 2 a week, and then 0)... otherwise, no. I don't have a specific plan, which I guess could be an issue.

Whereabouts? I'm living in Southie now, but grew up in Somerville, and most of my immediate family is in the Billerica area now.

I was big in high school, but it was more of a solid kind of big, rather than being "fat", that makes any sense. An athletic build, I'd say. Now, though? Not so much! I know I can do it, I just need to get it all figured out and stick to it.

C25K is an excellent way to start adding in activity. There are a ton of people using it around the boards, all at various levels. And when I last used it, I also did it -slooooowwwwwllly-. I actually didn't even start with running I did it with walking faster! I think I started at walking 3mph, and then up to 3.5mph alternating. So it's a good program with even building up to higher intensities of walking, not just running to start.

You don't necessarily have to have a strict/formal eating plan, but I will say that it can help out in a number of situations, especially when things need to be adjusted. As to what kind would best fit your life... any of them could depending on what you like to eat or what you hope to start eating.

If you're curious about some of the most common ones we see you'll want to check under Diet Central.

You may want to start with something as simple as Calorie Counting. That's a very easy one to use and is highly customizable.

Well, I actually grew up in southern Connecticut. When I got married a couple of years ago, I moved to Mass with my husband and we settled in Boxborough/Acton. So here I be. A full-time New Englander.

And you have the advantage being that you were actually active in your youth But, I do know what you mean. It's not going to happen overnight, of course, but you put your mind to it and it'll get done!