I'd like to say I woke up one morning to discover that overnight I had contracted some sort of exotic disease that put a 100+ extra pounds on my body. Better yet, this disease is curable with one quick needle to my rump. But nope, it didn't happen that way. It's too bad too, because that would be way more interesting than the standard truth that I really just like fatty foods and hate exercise.

I've known for a while that I seriously need to lose weight but I have always found some awesomely original excuse to put it off...I had too much studying to do, there's a family crisis, or my job just sucks up way too much of my precious awake time. I'll start tomorrow, I promise, so it's cool to eat this delicious chocolate cake today. In fact, it's the last time I will be able to eat it for a while --- so it's like I am doing myself a favour. *Devour* Mmmm, chocolate cake...my eternal enemy, how can something so beautiful be so evil? You are the Angelina Jolie of the food world.

Now here I am at 27 years of age and weighing in at just under 300 lbs. In January, I am off to graduate school in Melbourne, Australia and plan to be on my way to better health before I can fall back on the old excuse that I just don't have the time to take care of myself. My health is worth way more than being at the top of my class or devoting 12 hours a day to a job where I am not even appreciated. Seriously, do I really want to get to my death bed at 40 and say, "hey, at least I worked a lot and ate cheese." The answer is no, even though I do admit that the cheese was really good. I am thinking of you, brie.

The cruelest part of it all, is that I kept putting on weight even as a vegetarian. What sort of sick joke is that? I respect the lives of animals, some of whom aren't even that cute (chickens), and I am rewarded with a serious muffin top? I will continue to let them live but we are not on good terms.

That is my story. Oh, and "hi!".

all the best! I gained the most weight while I was a 'junk food' vegan going through some serious health problems. Cheese IS really good but you're so right that your health is worth so much more than any of the excuses.

what plan are you going to be following?

I like your humour Grad Student. Welcome. I started around were you are now - see where I am now. There are many others who have lost 100lb plus so know it can be done.

Kitty

Welcome and good luck!

I gained nearly 50 lbs when I became vegetarian.

I also just moved from USA to South Korea a month ago. Hopefully your big move can be a positive change. Or, like me, you'll find yourself even more challenged with by food (Korea is meat heaven and I've been resorting to junk food to fill me up). Either way, checking in here has been good for me to stay on track -- I hope it helps you, too.

What an awesome quote! and good luck! Keep on posting!

Okay so you're already cracking me up.



So, Grad... what's your plan? Let us know. We'd really like to help out in any way we can.

You may want to jump into the 20-something's area, and the 100lb club for those with around or more than 100lbs to lose. And, of course, there's the vegetarian area.

Your beginning weight & height remind me of a maintainer on this forum who began her journey at about 295 pounds and 5'8"... she's now maintaining around 163 pounds and is looking fiiiiine. I'm sure you'll see her around. Her story & success is close to my heart. And I strive to emulate her. (Oh, gosh I'm sounding like some sort of crazy fan obsessed person... but it's so hard not to... I get all sparkly-eyed when I read through the Maintainers forum.)

Anyway, I'm rambling...

What I really mean to say is that "You CAN do this." It's about adjusting to a new normal.

Best of success!!!

The Plan...

The biggest change I have been making is regular exercise. I was living in Australia for a few months and while I didn't really change much of what I ate, we did spend a huge amount of time walking everywhere. The result was that as soon as I got off the plane back in Canada, the first comments weren't "hey, we missed you, you beautiful and charming woman" but were instead "you lost weight." The beautiful and charming bit was still said, of course, it just come second. *Wink* I've only been back in Canada for about 3 weeks but I decided to keep up the whole walking-is-good-for-you routine. I walk a half hour on the treadmill every morning and, if I am up for it, again in the evening. I've been tracking the distance on the treadmill and last week I managed to make 42 kilometers (about 26 miles) in about 7 hours of aerobic exercise. I actually hate it while I am doing it but it does definitely release happy endorphins in me --- which is awesome for me but unfortunately for other people (specifically my boyfriend) it means they have to put up with an even more-hyper me than usual.

As for diet, for ethical reasons I must remain a vegetarian. This is difficult as a lot of the most popular diet plans out there right now seem to be low-carb, high-protein that offer meal plans that always include meat. My ultimate goal is to become vegan so turning to even lean meats is not an option. So basically, I am taking the common sense approach (which will hopefully make it a change that lasts rather than just a diet). Breakfast every morning, drink lots of water, no skipping meals and filling up later, watching what I eat in terms of portion and calories, and no over-processed foods. Luckily, I already kicked the whole fast food habit when moving to vegetarianism (except for the occasional falafel but thankfully the best ones are about 13000 km away in Melbourne --- so cravings have to be ignored.)

I am not looking for an overnight fix, just getting started and hopefully feeling a bit better by the time I make my international move. I don't want to be a stick by the end either....curvy, baby, curvy!

Welcome and good luck! How exciting to be making such an awesome change, I am sure by January you will be much lighter. You have a great attitude.

I am glad you are here with us. Your funny and we all need that!!

on making the desicion to stay with the weight loss and making a healthier you. I am confident that you will be considerably lighter by your trip.

As for your plan, there are alot of Vegetarians in the Calorie Counters forum. I am sure there would be tons of advice and inspiration there too. i am a Calorie counter, just not a vegetarian. but you can def count calories, get your protein and still be a vegetarian, many people do it. there are also many other forums that you can use. i hope to see you around!!