Well, I just joined today after lurking here for about a month or so. I have read many of the success stories and even some of the stories that are still on the journey and I have to say I am totally inspired. I have chosen January 1 as the day to officially start working toward my goal, but if I keep reading these posts it will probably be before then!!

A little history about me, I have been the same height since I was about 14 years old. I weighed 120lbs then and thought (like most teenage girls do) that I was fat. I didn't realize that I was nowhere near fat until 10 years, 4 kids, and 145lbs later. I have gone up and down in the last 5 yrs or so, mostly hovering around the 200 mark. But in the last two years I have gained about 65 pounds. I woke up this morning and tried to put on a pair of my "stretchy" jeans and wanted to cry when I looked in the mirror.

Where did the skinny girl I knew go? Oh wait, I know where she is, she's in there, suffocating under stress, fast food, and laziness. Well, I believe that I can find her again and unbury her from all the fast food and laziness. The stress will always be there, I'll just have to find some other way to deal besides comfort food.

I know I should've done this a long time ago, but I don't believe I was ready then. I thought the only way I could be skinny again was to starve myself and I'm not very good at depriving myself, obviously. But, when I look back on my teenage years I realize that yes, I ate whatever I wanted to, but I did massive amounts of physical activity. I rode bikes, I walked, I ran, I danced, I was constantly moving. After I started having kids I still ate the way I always did, but I stopped moving, and I got lazy!!!! So here I am, with 130lbs to lose, and fiery determination. I will do this, I have to do this!!!!! I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I want to go shopping for regular size clothes, heck I want to wear the regular sized clothes I have hanging in my closet!!!!

I know my post is long, but thanks for listening!!!! to all!!!

Hi darling!!! I think that I'm pretty much headed on the same path that you've been on, except you had a lower starting point! 120 woman, teensy tiny!

Also, the trying-on of the clothes that used to be baggy/perfect fitting on you and having them squeeze too tight and make you bulge? Ugh. Worst feeling in the world. Shelve those jeans and find a pair that you slip into perfectly in the meantime. No point in feeling icky in something too tight while you start your weight loss journey, right?

I wish you tons of luck with your January 1st beginning to your weight-loss journey and hope that I'll be on my own at that point as well!

Hiya Skinny and Glad you made the decision to start today. All that matters is that you start. Good luck and keep posting

Welcome and good luck! Why wait until the first of January ? For today and tomorrow which may have a lot of holiday foods, Practice portion control, just eat small amounts or none of the fattening foods. Mashed potates, gravy, pie, cake, eggnog , just a little or none, Concentrate on vegies, if you just can't do it , start on Dec 26. you can do it!Do it for yourself and your 4 kids so they can have a healthy mommy.