Hello everyone! I've been coming to this site for a couple of days now but this is the first time I've actually posted somthing. I've been looking at everyone's before and after pictures and reading your stories and I have got to say, I've never been so inspired. I've gained a lot of knowledge just by reading about you and reading the articles on here. I feel like a littel light bulb has went off inside of my head and I couldn't be more excited. For the first time in my life I feel like I am actually capable of losing the weight and being the size I've always wanted to be.
Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am 20 years old and I am a college student (psychology). I've been dieting since I was probably about 12 years old. I've had a little success in the past but I'm realizing now that the way I dieted in the past was not healthy! I guess you can say I'm a yo yo dieter. I've been in college for 2 and a half years now and as soon as I moved away from home the pounds started packing on. I was living a very unhealthy lifestyle with lots of fast food and very little exercise. I have moved back home now and I am so excited about the changes I am making in my life. I've been dieting for a few weeks now and I have list 6 pounds but it wasn't until I found this website that I got very motivated and serious about it. I was walking around with a big grin on my face yesterday because I did so well on my diet and I didn't cheat once.. which is saying a lot for me... I dont have much will power, but I'm going to prove to myself that I can do this!!
Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you! I hope we can support each other through our journies!

Hi and welcome! We're glad you're here.
Have you found a few threads where you might feel at home? We can help you with that.

No, I haven't found any yet, but I am about to start looking!

Hey girl, welcome to the site. I only stumbled upon this site a few weeks ago myself and I have also found it (rather, the people on here) very motivational. I find that these ladies that have more than 75 pounds to lose are the most impressive. I've never been there myself, but I would guess that it would be so easy to just give up when one has so much to lose and I just can't believe how these ladies on here go on to change their lives. If someone can lose upwards of 100 pounds, well I should be able to get off a measly 30 (far easier said than done, however). Best of luck on your weight loss journey and your new life back home from school (BTW, many years ago I, like many college students, also gained weight in college).

I agree mami, these girls are very inspiring. I don't think I would be in this frame of mind and so ready to lose the weight if it weren't for their stories. You are also right about college. I had always heard about "the freshmen 15" but I never really realized how easy it would be to gain weight until I actually got there. I mean it's not exactly easy to eat healthy when you are living in a dorm and have no kitchen The fact that I was surrounded by people who were in the same boat as me and had zero motivation didn't help much either. I still am lacking people to motivate me in my life and that is where this site comes in! I'm hoping that when the people I love start seeing me lose weight and feeling better it will motivate them to do the same.

You might enjoy the following link.

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...=93470&page=26

WELCOME Casey!!

We share some similarities. I was also a psych major in college -- loved it so much I got my Ph.D. in it!

And I really packed on the pounds in college. Seriously, I gained 70 pounds during college! Yikes!

It wasn't until many years later that I was able to really be successful doing something about it -- I've lost over 100 pounds since July 05!

I'm glad to see you so excited, but would hate for you to leave here when that first blush of excitement fades.

So, what is your diet like?? Do you exercise?

Hi Wyllen! We do have a lot in common.. I love psychology, I only have 3 semesters left until I graduate and then I plan on getting my masters.. I want to do testing.
I promise I won't leave after my excitment fades (now that I promised you I can't go back on my word ). I have dieted my whole life, I would always start out and get tired of it and then quit and never lose the weight and usually gain back (plus some) the weight that I did lose. This time is different... I can't quite explain it any other way than it feels like a light bulb has went off inside my head. In the past it was always fad diets or starving myself. This time I feel like I have a good healthy plan that will be easy for me to stick too. I've done so well the past two days and I don't feel deprived at all. You asked what my plan is so here it goes: I go to school on MWF so on those days I take a lean cuisine with me, I like these because they are filling and they have no preservatives. It is also easy to take those and just pop them in the microwave. In the past I would usually just swing by sonic or taco bell and pic somthing up. I am a fast foodaholic, but now fast food is in the past it will be completely cut out of my diet. My main goal is to eat all natural foods. Lots of vegies and fruits. I am not a big meat eater, I could be a vegetarian if I wanted to but I do like fish and chicken and I feel like I need the protein in my diet. Mainly I'm just going to eat good, natural, balanced meals and control my portions. I have a huge weakness for fried food and I plan to cut that out of my diet too... however, every once in awhile I might treat myself (a very small treat that is), but for the most part fried food is a no-no. Especially at the beginning because I dont want to do anything to get me off track. You also asked if I was exercising and the answer is YES! and I am so suprised at how much I am enjoying it... crazy I know!.. I walk everyday outside. My mp3 player is a huge life saver.. I dunno what I would do without it. I have been walking 2 miles everyday somtimes more and I run part of the way. I hope to one day be able to run most of the way. I also have a pilates video, but I havent been using it, after a while I might change it up but right now I am enjoying my nature walks way too much to exercise inside!
I guess that is about it, if you have any suggestions or tips please do tell! I need all the help I can get! I want to look good in a bikini by summer time.
I have a short term goal of 15 pounds by my birthday which is January 21st. I hope to lose 10 pounds every 6 weeks... do you think this is too unrealistic? I tried to be realistic because I don't want to set myself up for disapointment. I know it will be harder towards the end too. But if it works out the way I want I will be at my goal by May 13th... but I'll be happy if I'm at least close to my goal by then!

Sounds like a great plan, and I understand about the lightbulb going off.

I think you'll find that the more you eat healthy foods, the less you will want fast food. You might want to check out the "Whole Foods Lifestyle" forum for lots of healthy eating ideas.

I do treat myself too from time to time -- life sometimes involves those foods, and that's okay.

Yay on the exercise! One thing I would think about is weight training! You can build muscle, which is more metabolically active than fat (burns more calories). Ounce for ounce, muscle takes up less space than fat. And being stronger is an awesome feeling. You are at a college, so you probably have free access to a gym and maybe someone who can show you the ropes!

15 pounds by Jan 21st actually sounds like a lot, given that the holidays often put a crimp in things and you don't have that much to lose...
I am leery of setting goals for weight loss. Our bodies have their own timeline sometimes, even when we're doing everything right. I worry when people set timelines, because if they don't make them, sometime they give up. Do all the things you're doing, develop a healthy lifestyle and go from there. Celebrate your birthday by being healthier and fitter -- without worrying about the number on the scale. That's the best gift you can give yourself.

That is really good advice, makes a lot of since. I mainly set the goals just to give me somthing to aim for. And I see what you mean about my short term goal cause of the holidays. I still hope to lose the weight by the summer time but I wont be dissapointed if I dont meet the exact goal, I just want to be somewhere close ya know?
The weight training is a good idea too... my boyfriend has a bowflex, I might have him help me do that a few days a week.
Thanks for the advice!
Also, I have a question, I posted it in the 20 somthing forum but I haven't recieved any replies yet, so i'll post it in here to see if anyone knows the answer. Since I gained my weight so rapidly in college I got stretch marks around my stomach. I was just wondering if anyone knows if the stretch marks will fade when I lose the weight and if not how do I get rid of them once I do lose it?

You might enjoy posts by sweet talker (Carey). She's in school too and has some tricks for eating healthy even from the cafeteria.
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/sear...archid=1036813

Ohh, stretch marks. Honestly, I don't know. I hear a lot of conflicting things. I don't like mine, but have sort of come to terms with fact that they may be with me forever.

As for the goal -- that's a good attitude. Don't worry if you're there or not by a specific date!