Hi everyone! I've been struggling with my weight for years - to make a really long story short, it really just happened 10 pounds here, 10 pounds there.... I've tried a few diets on the way up, with varying success.

I'm hoping posting here will provide some accountability - I struggle with binge eating and I work from home so.... that can be an issue. Hopefully I can help you guys out as well! I'm following the food list for South Beach and just started today - I like that it has the potential to retrain how I eat, and isn't "no carb", but instead, "pick better carbs".

I'm a few pounds over 220 right now and I'm tentatively shooting for 150 - but it's hard to know if that's right until I get closer. To be honest, I'm hoping this is finally the TIME it sticks because it's becoming less about weight and a "number", and more about just being so dang sick of being unhealthy, of being out of breath, of worrying about if I'm going to get diabetes when I'm only 25. my husband and I travel a lot and I don't want to feel so out of breath every time we invariably climb something.

So that's my deal!

Hi there!

I was reading your post and thought.. 'hey.. that sounds almost like me!!' I'm also starting out on this weight loss journey, and weigh 228 this morning Seeing that number totally brings me down - but I'm also aiming for 140-150! I'm sure we can do this together!

Wow, we're looking at the same journey!

My number bums me out too (I may have rounded down a bit... ahem...) but we can totally do this!

Hi designchick88! You can do this! I'm also 5'8" and I've been close to 220 before. I chose 145 as my goal weight, but only because I know maintenance is really a range of weights and I want to be able to maintain between 145-155. However, 164 is the "normal" BMI for 5'8" and if I get there and decide I'm happy there. I may try to get down to about 155 and then shoot for a maintenance range between 155-164. In my younger days, it was important to me to be thin, but now I just want to be healthy and I'm well on my way and couldn't be happier! I wish you the best of luck!

Hi Jacqui D! Thanks for the warm welcome! It's so heartening to see someone at my height AND close to my starting weight that has made such amazing progress! What have you been doing nutrition-wise?

I totally agree with the moving target with goal weight - it's been so long since I've been near that weight that it feels a little arbitrary to pick it when I have so far to go. Getting to a "normal BMI" seems like a really healthy goal.

Good luck to you as well!

Hi

So I saw your post and read the replies and I am starting the same journey as the two of you.

I am from Australia, and after finding the conversions from kg to pounds I am 230(105kg) and wanting to get to 150(70kg).

I have been overweight my whole life, from a little to a lot. My heaviest was this time last year at 253 (115kg) which was scary! My lowest since high school has been 191 (87 kg) and that was really hard work with eating well and going to the gym.

Would love to be in contact with both of you for this journey.

Rees

Hi Reesy! Let's definitely check-in with each other, the more support the better! Lemondroplet/Reesy - what are you guys planning nutrition-wise? I'm following South Beach (though my day one wasn't so great...), but tracking everything I eat as well.

Thank you DesignChick, and what I am doing is watching my carb intake. I'm doing a modified version of the Slow Carb Diet. I've heard South Beach is a great plan and I bet you'll do very well on it!

Hi Designchick, I am going to use an app on my iPad, myfitnesspal, it will be easier to track, have you heard of it? I don't think I will follow one plan though or another, I will just start eating healthier, more fresh foods and less chocolate! What I really have to start doing is exercising, even just walking a few times per week. Exercise is the hardest thing for me to do as I so easily talk myself out of it!

Oh exercise.... so many excuses, so little time This week's excuse is that it is cooooooooooooold outside and the walk to the gym seems even less appealing than usual. I'm with you though, I need to just do it - I usually enjoy it once I get there, it's the first steps that are hard.

Hi Reesy! It does sound like we're all on the same goal plan, will be great to have all the motivation we can get!

Designchick - I just started on day 2 of the jenny craig diet, my day 1 was ok.. I wasn't able to eat all the food that was on my list(partially because I didn't get to the grocery store in the morning...and of course I had to forget to bring my snacks to work too lol!) - hopefully I'll get better at this lol!

I totally agree with the both of you about the exercise part! I keep telling myself that I'm gonna get up and work out...(later)... and later ends up becoming too late in the night lol .. but like you, i always feel a lot better once I've done my work out.

Hi Lemondroplet! I thought a few of my days were just "ok" as well, but I have to say even with not being perfect with my diet, my eating has been so terrible up to this point that it's already made a difference. I just feel better and it's only been a week! Eating "mostly good" compared to...well.... "crappy" is a huuuuuge difference for me Small steps right?!

I'm mostly watching carbs and counting calories. My fat intake has been kind of high because of lowering my carbs and it's making me nervous - but once I start putting back in some "good" carbs I think that'll be less of an issue.

I have a Roku and I hear they have free fitness channels. Perhaps we could find some videos to use while it's so dang cold outside!

Hey, I'm sure you will do very well. You have already picked a plan that you like, take it one day at a time and success is bound to come your way!

designchick - absolutely! all these small steps help reach our goals, every little bit helps!

I noticed it's been awhile since we've updated on here.. how's everyones week so far?

Welcome! I'm big on binge eating myself. I tend to eat when I'm bored, sad, depressed, angry, etc. Lots of comfort foods, and it's hard to say no. Totally there with you! Good luck this go around