Hey, this is newbie Charlotte. I am 21 and a college student. 11 mos. ago I weighed 272. Since then I have lost 58 lbs. on what can best be described as the French "diet." Easiest diet in the world. Eat the same, but eat less. I have always been overweight I have tried Atkins, WW, calorie counting, and even contemplated surgury. Nothing worked. But then...... something clicked, I started eating less and a painless 11 mos. later I am already 58 lbs. lighter. And I continue to lose.
I wish I could lose the weight more quickly, but this is working for me and I stand by the old adage that "slow and steady wins the race." So I probably have another year or so to get to my goal.

Hi Charlotte! My name is Anna. I saw your post today; I am also looking for a buddy. 13 months ago, I weighed 270, and lost 35 pounds over the course of that 13 months. The good news is that I have kept this weight off; the bad news is I'm having a difficult time sticking to my diet. I am doing South Beach. I keep getting stuck at phase I. I can usually do it for five days without any carbs, but then, I just get so hungry! Tonight I had pizza for dinner. Ugh!

Let me tell you a little bit more about myself. I'm 27 years old. I didn't start gaining my serious weight until four years ago. Four years ago, I was activated for a tour of duty in Iraq, I was in Iraq for a year. Then, I was 174 pounds. Yes, the Army was telling me that I was fat and needed to get down to 134, but I always passed a tape test for a BMI of 25 percent.

I got out of the Army and relocated to the Boston area, then, proceeded to gain 100 pounds in the span of three years! I am ashamed to even think about it. How could I do this to myself? I stopped exercising, which I've always hated, found a civilian job where I sat 8 to 14 hours a day. I realize I did this to myself, and that there is no one to blame but me. In the Army, exercise is mandatory, and one is usually exercising at the least 2 hours a day.

Fast forward to three months ago. I lost my job through a lay-off. I realize this now that this could have been the best thing for me. No more 14 hour work days, without a break for lunch. I have been keeping very active with painting all of the rooms in our house, putting up dry wall, and remodeling the bathroom and the kitchen. I thought I would be losing again, but the weight does not come off! I'm frustrated. In the coming week the house will be done, and I can start on making me the primary goal of completion. I have a goal to lose 20 pounds by Christmas.
Eventually, I would love to see 145 again, I have feeling this goal is at least two years away.

In October my husband and I plan to relocate to North Carolina because he just got wind that he too will be laid off around that time. We cannot afford to live in Boston if one us goes through a lay-off every other year. My husband was layed off two years ago, and we were just recovering financially when I was layed off.

Sorry about that, I digress. I'm committed to starting another week on the South Beach cheat-free. I think if I can connect with someone with my struggles and how I'm feeling weight wise, I will be successful. I'm looking forward to the day when I can walk into an Ann Taylor and pick out a flitty little summer dress to wear. I'm a size 20 now; I need to be a size 12/14 to get into something like that.

What do you say? Are you up for having me as a buddy?

Wedgewood, I understand what your saying I to grew up with a family in the army and exercise is top prior. in our house , somehow over the year I to feel off the wagon. I also see your thinking to move to NC well, being a native of NC for my 27 years I can say one thing it's great here. Good luck in your weight lose journey we all have our months when the scale seems to stay at one number but ladies keep on going there's no better reward then self-reward.
Stacey

hey i'm new here too and I know what you mean about the french diet... I first saw it on oprah and I think it's great. it's amazing that someone had to write a book about it before we figured out that eating less food= losing weight. good luck with your goals!

Thanks for everyone's comments. Sure Wedgewood, I'll be your buddy. But what does a buddy even do??
: )

Hey Charlotte!
Has today been a fine day for you? This is new to me also, and I don't know all the ins and outs of posting online. It's my understanding that a buddy keeps one honest and accountable. For instance: If I were to go out and have a 7 pound piece of chocolate cake and eat it, I would have to admit what I did, and then someone (you) would tell me to get back on the diet wagon and off the chuck wagon.

In order for accountability, let's meet online a least everyother week to weigh-in. Let's meet this coming Friday for for our "official" first-time weigh-in? This way we can guage how we are doing. The first thing I have to do is go out into the world and buy a scale. Preferrably one that I can read, as I'm almost legally blind without my spectacles! Do you have any suggestions?

It's wicked hot in Boston this time of year. I spent today picking up the branches and leaves that the tornado blew off the trees this past weekend. Three trees are down in the yard. Trees equal dollar signs. $3,000.00 to take the huge broken trees away! My husband tells me that he wants to chop up the trees and haul them off himself. While I appreciate the thought of trying to save some money, I have to admit that the husband does not have a handy bone in his body available to him at the moment. He thinks that he will be able to make short work of three huge trees. Doing work like that without the proper tools, pulleys, and tree sense is very dangerous. I have a feeling that he just wants to use the ax he bought this past winter. He'll need more than an ax.

Thank God, nothing hit the house. The sign went up in the yard on Sunday. Since the sign has gone up in the front yard, it's been Grand Central around here. People are coming up to the house and looking into the windows and trying to get into see it without realizing that I'm home. It's truly disconcerting to be sleeping and hear voices outside your window. ARGGGHH!

Later on this morning I'm attending training at the unemployment office, which is a pretty depressing place to be. The staff there are surprisingly compassionate, and want to help out as best they can. I'm worried about tonight's dinner plans. A couple of friends from my old place of employment want to take me out. The dilemma is that: I want a margarita, but I'm on South Beach which allows no alcohol.

Okay, I've become quite chatty....I'll check back with you later.

--Anna

Stacy,
I was talking to my mother today. I was on the telephone with her for eighty minutes. She is 57 years old and struggling with her weight. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. She has been very good at watching what she eats for the past three weeks and still to no avail, she has lost nothing.

I told her the three week mark is not the time to give up, even though one does not see results. I told her that her body was getting used to adjusting, and sorting out her new routine. Mom works like a day laborer: riding horses, mowing the grass, and taking care of her farm. Mom needs to get on a regular exercise schedule. She cringed when I told her this.

I also told her that her ability to lose weight maybe due to the weather. I don't know how stupid this sounds, but I do know that in the winter, I'm able to lose weight more quickly than in the summer. I need to keep my mom motivated to stay the course, any suggestions?

--Anna

Hey, that is interesting. Usually people tend to gain more weight in the winter (kinda like hibernating) because you can't exercise outside as easily and with the holidays and everything...
Ok, Friday is good for me to "check-in." How about keeping it to a regular every Friday schedule? That is good for me. You? Just one thing... next Friday (the 19th) I will be away (and several days before and after...vacation!) so that Friday we will just have to let slide. Sound good?