[GirlInterrupted]

Hello everyone,

First of all i wanted to say how pleased i was to find this forum! It's just what i need for inspiration and inspirational stories. I have been looking through the forum for a few days and decided it was time for me to make my first post.

My names Sam and i'm 35, i live in the United Kingdom.
I have been overweight since the age of 6, i was bullied all
through my school years (Especially high school) which had a
very bad effect on me. I started to lose a little weight in the last 2 years of high school and got down to about 11 stone (154 pounds). After leaving school i just started to pile on the weight again and this is how it's been ever since. I currently weigh 25 stone 9 lbs (359 pounds). I also suffer with severe clinical depression, Obssesive Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety and IBS. I am pretty much housebound and only leave the house a few times a year (I go out for family birthdays for dinner, or to the docs or opticians etc etc). I started my diet on Monday and i'm doing good so far, it's the longest i have been on a diet for years. I just have not felt mentally strong enough before now to even suggest dieting. But i feel like something has just clicked inside of myself and the want to lose weight's becoming stronger than the want for junk food(Comfort eating). I went out 2 Sunday's ago for a family dinner and i felt so fat and horrible i could not wait to get back home and shut myself away. I look in the mirror and i just don't recognise myself anymore, it's given me a new desire to lose some of this weight.

So that is basically my story in short, see you around the boards!

Hugs Sam x x x

[tavinsmom]

I just started weight watchers a couple weeks ago, and even in such a short time, I feel so much better. Good luck, and remember it's one small step at a time. You can't change the past, but you can give yourself a new future.

[Pamb]

you can do this! take it one day at a time, don't try to do it all at once. hang in there! Pam

[Skinnybride]

You can do it hang in there, theres a great support here!! Welcome

[randomcards]

Welcome, you will find a lot of support here...

I'll concur with others that I was shocked with how quickly I started to feel better after diet/exercise even when I had only lost a few pounds. I would throw out a couple of unsolicited tips.

Even if it is really minor (walking around the block) I would encourage you to get some exercise as part of this process. The dividends in how you feel and how it makes you rethink what you eat are enormous.

Also I encourage you to "think" about everything. Make every decision you make whether good or bad a conscious decision. And then take ownership of all of those decisions.

The simple action of making my brain recognize and own the dozens of little daily decisions I make each day in regards to food/exercise has done amazing wonders towards moving more of those decisions from the bad column to the good column.

Glad to have you here, stick around and post.

[LotusMama]

Hello and welcome, Sam. Come here often for support; it will help tremendously.

I am glad you are joining us and sharing your weight loss journey with us. I wish you the very best on reaching your goals!

Cheers,

J

[giselley]

Hi Sam, and welcome. I guess you know that losing weight is the #1 health move that you can make to change your circumstances. I know that at 287 I was looked at like: "Wow, you are huge!" I even had a male friend say, "I could never be [romantically] interested in you because of your size." Bullying is awful (I've had my fair share) and depression is real, but one of the best pieces of (mental) health advice I have ever had is to "let the past become history, and live in the now." I think most of my depression came from re-hashing miserable old events from childhood. I no longer do that, and am off medication. I personally recommend Buddhism and meditation-- but that is neither here nor there. Live long and prosper.

[GirlInterrupted]

Thank you all for your warm welcomes and advice.
I will definately take all the advice i can get! I am
going to take my journey one day at a time and hopefully
this way it will take away any stress of trying to rush into
things to quickly. Thank you again to all of you for your replies
and well wishes. I hope that you are all successful on your
journeys also.

Hugs Sam x x x

[Summerblue]

Welcome SAM! You are here and you are starting, that is an INCREDIBLE first step....I think the first step, is the hardest.

Take it one day at a time and working on getting moving...even if it is to walk out to the curbside and back to the house, it's movement and you can start in babysteps. One day at a time.Like we ALL have to remind ourselves and I have to remind myself of this DAILY -the weight didn't come on overnight and it isn't going to come off overnight.

YOU CAN DO IT! And we are here for eachother!