Hello All! I after almost 2 year of trying to lose weight again and falling off the wagon each time (or gaining back the weight I lost each time) I have finally realized what I was missing, support! When I was sixteen/seventeen I weighed 226 at 5'10" and lost 84lbs in about 8 months and once I had reached my goal weight I kind of stopped everything I was doing and slowing started gaining it all back. I lost all the weight for a guy who I had met through another friend, I had never actually met him but talked to him on msn everyday. Once I finally felt ready and "good enough" to meet him I did and went on a couple dates with him and realized I didn't like him much at all! But it was my motivation at the time. I got into a relationship when I was 18-21, and I gained the majority of my weight back which in turn caused the relationship to end. He wanted to be with me but he wanted me to lose the weight and the pressure to go be too much so I ended the relationship after 3 years. I didn't want to lose weight for someone else again, I wanted to do it for myself. I didn't think it was right that I had to lose weight for him to want to have sex with me/stop fighting with me/want to be with me. So I thought after I broke up with him I would lose the weight for myself and show him how good I could look (with no intention of getting back together) but here I am almost 2 years later and probably 35-40lbs heavier I weight even more now at 23 then I did when I thought I would be my heaviest at 16. I am so unhappy with myself and have not dated since. I want this weight off for once and for all but I'm lacking a bit of motivation. The hardest part is going to be maintaining it. Anyone out there share a similar story?

There are similarities with our stories... I have gained and lost, gained and lost, ect-losing the weight for others. And know I need to do something but have zero motivation. It's a little scary place to be when you want it but haven't been able to stick with an eating plan past lunch. There are things I would like to do with my life and my weight is definitely interfering. I just feel overwhelmed and it seems like my goals are so far out of reach. I know we can do this... I'm just trying to figure out how.... This time!

Hi, Fatgiraffe! Our stories are actually VERY similar. Even down to the reason my last relationship failed. I wasn't big when I was a teen; I started packing on the pounds after graduation and getting a desk job. We're even the same height and have the same goals, so I know how you feel. I decided last month to finally take my weight and body seriously and lose this weight once and for all after years of going up and down. The last couple of years I've steadily gone up in pounds and finally hit my heaviest this summer, which is a number I NEVER wanna see again. You should check out some of the challenges and see if any are interesting to you. I joined a couple and I think being accountable and daily check ins are keeping me in check. So far I've gone steadily down since joining this site. I'm hoping to be 215 by Halloween and under 200 by my birthday in January. Since we have similar stats, we could even challenge/motivate each other if you want. I'm always game for a new weight loss buddy!

Also, I love love LOVE your profile pic!! Funny thing; because of my height (and the fact that I at one time used to be leggy and slender), people would call me a giraffe. So it's funny I see your pic 'cause that's probably what those same folks think of me now!

I used to be called a giraffe all the time too! What are you two doing to lose the weight? And where are you all from? Congrats to both of you for your progress so far! Would like to keep in touch and and be motivation buddies! I don't have anyone that I can relate to. My best friend is overweight now as well but has no intentions of losing the weight.

Would like to keep in touch and and be motivation buddies! I don't have anyone that I can relate to. My best friend is overweight now as well but has no intentions of losing the weight.

fatgiraffe,

I think you will get much support on here ...And I too have lost weight for a man in the past ...this time it is for me...good luck friend!

Right now I'm trying to exercise 5-6 days out of the week. After work, I get on my Bowflex TreadClimber for 30-45 minutes. I also do Aqua Fit at my local gym on Wednesdays and Aqua Zumba on Fridays. I also changed my diet; no fast food, no candy, no soda, lots of fruits, veggies, and seafood for protein. I'm thinking about starting the Shaun T Insanity DVDs... There's a few girls here who've gotten AMAZING results with that.

I live close to Washington DC. I actually took a weekend off in Niagara on the Canadian side back in April. Loved it!! Much better than the US side LOL

The person I deal with most here is one of my coworkers; she's a big girl, but has no intention on losing any weight, so it's hard talking to her about my goals 'cause she's not very supportive. I joined a local weight loss group, but the girls there don't seem too motivated either and tend to use our group sessions to gab instead. It's a little frustrating. I realized I get more support and motivation coming here.

You just wait, by this time next year you're gonna have to change that profile pic to a regular knobby kneed giraffe----we'll hit our goals at about the same time and I intend on wearing a sexy costume next Halloween

I am looking for some sort of work out DVD I can do at home as well. I do have a gym membership (I need to dust it off a bit I admit) but I work 12 hour shifts and I need some sort of FUN work out I can do at home because after a long day or night of work I just want to go home. I need to do some major habit changing too. I eat a ton of healthy foods and always have, I love lots of fruit and vegetables, whole grains etc but I think I over eat on both healthy food AND unhealthy food. I've never been a big pop drinker (the word soda still makes me laugh haha). I just don't want deprive myself of the good stuff too. Social gatherings always break me... If I could lock myself up in the house this all would be easy!

Darling you have to remember that the first key of losing weight is doing it to please yourself, not someone else. Focus on the benefits that it will give you : better health, more stamina and happiness.

I definitely am this time around!

Welcome!!

I lost the most weight and looked my very best prior to meeting my husband. He lived in another country and I had 4 months to lose all the weight before I was set to fly down and meet him and I was damn set on losing it. Then, after getting together I became the biggest I have been (Don't let my low numbers fool you, my body fat percentage is extremely high and in person I look way way heavier than I actually am.. it sucks).

Who would have thought that a 5'6 sedetary female (student, receptionist) could not eat just like her 6'0 husband who works a labor job?

Welcome! Good luck with you journey!
I, too, am another who has lost a lot of weight (100 lbs.) & gained it all back. :-( Mine could be attributed to just not feeling like it was worth the effort. I had lost very dear loved ones, stresses at work & financial struggles. I've realized though that these are things that are going to happen. I will probably actually handle them MUCH BETTER if I'm healthy.
Always think of weight loss in having 3 KEY ELEMENTS. Exercise, healthy eating & support/encouragment. I see it as a 3 legged stool, you take away one of the legs & it WILL NOT stand.
We're here to push/pull each other along the way. And to help each other back on the ole wagon. :-)

MrsTryingAgain...Well SAID!!!