[bellastarr]

Hey everyone!

I found this message board last night and I think I will be on it quite a bit!

I am a 27 year old teacher from NY who has struggled with weight my entire life.

When I was in college I lost about 65 pounds and weighed 138 lbs and wore a size 8 yet still thought i was fat. I remember skipping classes cause I felt too ugly and fat.

Two years after graduation I had ballooned up to 244 lbs and wore a size 18/20. I was digusted with myself.

I am great at dieting but i am a yo-yo dieter, binge eater, and huge emotional/stress eater.

I work out like crazy but often blow it with my eating. When I binge it is to the point of literally making myself sick. We are talking so much food my stomach bloats to the point I look preggers.

The past 2-3 years I got myself down to like 160 pounds by doing Weight Watchers and working out and was wearing a size 12/14.

Then last summer after a bad breakup and being home for three months not working out of boredom and stress I went back up to 194 and started the school year in size 16 pants. I wore those pants every other day because they were one of the few things in my closet that fit.

This past October 2007 I hired a personal trainer and started working out hard, and ate very clean. I lost a lot of weight. I don't use the scale because i became obsessed with it during my WW days and let it determine my self worth.

By May 2008 I was down to size 8/10's again. No idea what I weighed then because I last weighed myself October 29th, 2007. But I am guessing I lost at least 40 + pounds in that time.

I also met a great guy at the gym, things were looking great, we went out a few times, I fell HARD AND FAST and then wham he kind of cut contact. So I of course thought it was because I wasn't thin/pretty enough and What did I do..... eat. Like I said I am an emotional eater, now my clothes are too tight and I refuse to go buy new ones.

I can still get my 8/10's on but they are sooooo tight, I am hoping I only gained about 10 lbs since May since I can still get them on but I can't let things get more out of control.

I head back to school Sept 2nd and hope that the weight I gained is GONE!! I have started doing slimfast and am on Day 5 and feeling a MILLION TIMES BETTER, but my goal is to do that for one month along with 90 minutes of cardio 6 days per week with strength training 3 days per week to lose these 10 pounds I think I gained.

I hope to make some online friends who can encourage me and keep me on track and I will do the same for you guys!

IT is nice to know that I am not the only one who struggles with food and weight, it is hard to be patient but I have done this soooooooooooo many times before I know it can be done, and anyone can do it, you just have to stick with it and give it time.

SO there's my bio, hope to talk with everyone soon.

Good luck on the weight loss journey!

[Leenie]

@ Bella,

Welcome to 3FC's Bella. Your gonna do great here because the ladies really are compassionate, loving and smart...they really know their stuff. What ever healthy plan your going to follow, there's no doubt we have a board full of supporters, so go check them out and make yourself at home

Good luck

[BlzMaxGnrCCJkMly]

[mandalinn82]

Hey Bella -

You've learned that weight LOSS is only part of the problem, and it is weight MAINTENANCE that'll be problematic. One of my favorite things about 3FC is that we have an active, supportive Maintainers forum, so when you're at your goal weight, you'll have support there in keeping it off for good.

Since you're pretty close to goal, you might also check out the Featherweights forum...for those with less to lose than others. Or just look around and find a spot or two (or ten!) where you fit, and keep posting.

Can't wait to see you around and hear more from you soon!

[bargoo]

Welcome and good luck!!!