I have been looking around the site and even made a few posts, but I thought I would just jump in and get started making connnections. Here's a little bit about me: I have been struggling with my weight since very early adolescence. We never had a scale in my house so I was never sure of my weight, but by the time I entered high school I was wearing a 24W pant and at graduation I had graduated to a 26W. Weight loss was very difficult for me. I was a very active kid but by the time I was 12 I was suffering from depression and the weight loss just heaped on. I have never been successful at losing weight. Most likely this was due to half-hearted attempts. I was never really serious about it. I could not envision myself in a thinner body. I had never been thin.
In November 2006 I began my first SERIOUS attempt at weight loss and I haven't looked back. For me a lot of my problems were psychological and so it took a lot of therapy for me to get to the place where I believed in myself and cared enough to do it. Now I take everyday as it comes. I have good one and really bad ones, but I don't let the bad ones ruin everything. I have ceased being an all or nothing thinker. I think this has helped me more than anything. I will also credit a friend of mine who was looking for a workout buddy. She helped me get into the gym and that is where I met my personal trainer who pushed me beyond the limits I set for myself. Over the last 15 months I have been able to lose 80lbs and over 60lbs of this was pure fat. I am a much stronger person, both physically and mentally, but I am still lacking a strong support network that really understands what I am going through and can help me through some of the embarrassing and difficult questions I may have. I think this site will really help with this.
I noticed that people seem to want to know what kind of food plan or exercise plan one is on. Food has been the most difficult part for me. Currently I just try to eat as much fresh whole foods as I can. I still indulge, but I work that into my calorie intake for the day. Exercise has become a big part of my life. I worked with a trainer for a year and then bought a bodybugg armband and subscribe to the online system that allows me to download my calories burned and enter my food. I set goals and weigh-in each week. There are online trainers and good feedback, but it seems that a lot of the people on the site are really fit and not in the place I am. Anyway, I workout 5-6 times a week. I concentrate on full-body weight training that incorporates cardio work such as the elliptical, treadmill or bike(3 times a week), dance classes, water aerobics, kickboxing, pilates and yoga round out the week. I try to mix things up to keep my body guessing. I am going to start running this spring when things warm up.
I have rambled on long enough, but I am really excited about this site and all the new people I can meet. Thanks for listening.
New and looking for support
Thanks SusanB and ellis for making me feel so welcome. That is really what I needed. Some days are really a struggle and it is nice to come to a place you feel accepted no matter what. 
