[ChunkyPeanutButter]

I wanted to tell my story that way I can get some advice

I'm 5'6 and 300lbs and 21 yrs old. It might be more by now, because I started college in January and I def feel like I've gained weight. I've been pretty heavy since first grade, but every year I seem to be getting heavier. I hate exercise (ahhh! it burns!) and I love to eat junk. I'm a stress eater, a happy eater, and pretty much I'm always eating. Family has been giving me flack about it since they started noticing that I was bigger. From yelling at me about, crying due to their worry, and just hinting around that I should diet. Needless to say, this has been a big issue for the greater part of my life.

I feel like my weight stops me. I'm a fun person but my obesity stops me from dating and doing things I should be doing at this age. No guys are EVER interested in me, and I don't feel they ever could be (no chub love lol). i have friends that love me and I don't hate myself- I just wish I could get down to a decent size and not feel awful about myself. I'm tired of the new fat rolls coming in, the odd lumps on my body, the stretched skin, etc. It's just tough because I have no clue where to begin. I feel stressed out just thinking about it.

I'm tired of:

-Squeezing to fit into my jeans
-Barely fitting into school seats
-Walking up a flight of stairs and feeling like I'm having a damn heart attack
-Flabby arms
-Not knowing what my true shape is
-...or where my ribs or bellybutton is!
-Feeling tired all of the time
-Feeling like a young killer whale

When I realized I had a problem? When i started blowing my student loan money (meant for tuition) on fast food. Pizza, Jack in the Box, chinese take-out, etc. I'm a college student fending for myself with very little money, so the fact that I got that started was ridiculous. But I guess that's the turning point that is making me re-evaluate my life. I need to stop this. It's getting so ridiculous.

So now that I'm in the 300 club, I seriously need some advice guys. Where do I start? I have the exercise part down pat (I do a lot of walking) but as far as food intake goes, I'm clueless. I can't afford to spend much due to tuition and everything that i'm paying for.

My goal is to get down to 200lbs, no matter how long that takes. I'm not looking for an easy fix, but I do want to find a method that will help me lose the weight and keep it off.

[dgramie]

WElcome!!

For me giving up soft drinks and going to all water was a huge factor in losing weight. I also started staying away from fast food.
Make a plan and stick with it.
keep us posted and let us know how you are doing.

[gggirls]

Welcome!

Take baby steps - give up fast food - you'll be surprised how much difference just that will make. If you can afford to eat fast food you can afford to make healthier choices also.

Keep posting - look forward to seeing you.

[MsBrightside]

Welcome!!! I am on the same boat as you. You are not alone. The first thing I would do was eliminate all the junk foods, sodas, and fast food. Go from there.

[xJox]

Welcome! You can do this. It is expensive to buy healthy foods, but it is expensive to eat out too. Do what is right for your body. I agree with everyone above. Cutting out junk, fast food, and soda will do a world of good. I know it is easier said than done, but try. I didn't quit soda cold turkey. I weaned myself off of it or I would have had horrible headaches. Now I can go days without a Diet Coke when in the past I had one on hand EVERYWHERE I went. Good luck!

[reallytrying]

Hello PB!,
Welcome! I just wanted to tell you that I have been in your shoes. I started out at 304 and was 5'7. Not only that, but I was 23. I remember one day it just 'clicking'. Who I was on the outside was not who I felt like on the inside. I held my weight well (if you can at 300?!) but it wasn't ME. So I completely sympathize. I am now 24 and have been at this roughly 10 months. I've lost almost 60 lbs. It's not been the easiest but I will say that it has been so worth it. Don't eat fast food or in restaurants that often. Every once and a while, yes but cooking for yourself is A) healthier and B) cheaper. What I did was write down every single calorie I was eating. That seems tedious but once you have the hang of it, it becomes second nature. Now I can ballpark things in my head. Make smart choices. Remember this, losing weight is 30% working out, 70% diet and 100% MENTAL. It all comes down to that, really. I know it seems overwhelming now but you can absolutely do it. Remember that the BEGINNING is always the HARDEST. What I do is I celebrate EVERY SINGLE POUND lost because I know that every tiny step will equal a huge leap and that I am that much closer to goal. Your method should start out by choosing simple but healthier foods. Rather than a cheeseburger, get a turkey salad that you made. Instead of a coke, have water or even a diet coke. It's all about will power and your commitment to yourself. If you ever need any advice or want to talk, let me know. I've been where you are so I can completely understand where you are coming from.

-Bridget

[JustSharing83]

There's good advice here. I started with baby steps - giving up Pepsi was my first change. Cutting back on fast food came next. I lost my first 20 pounds without really trying and it made me want to go so much farther. Find diet foods you like... I look for the best produce sales and I shop a lot at the Aldi store in my town that has all generics, but they aren't bad. I walked out the other day with 3 heaping bags for $39. You can make it work on a budget.

Small goals also helped me. I rarely look at the big picture; it's all about getting out of the 'decade' that I'm in and going from there.

Good luck!! I hope you do well while you're still so young... I didn't really start to succeed until I was 26. I wish I had gotten it together at 21.

[Telorida]

Everyone has different perspectives, and you've already heard a lot of them. I'm going to say that I agree with "small steps" over "big sweeping changes that lead to feelings of deprivation". I have slowly given up fast food, slowly given up soft drinks and cocktails (apart from infrequent social occasions), and have slowly made changes for the better.

My results are also slow, but I don't feel like I'll ever have a problem maintaining them.

Consider really looking into intuitive eating. My personal belief, based on experience with myself and things that I've read, is that those who have been seriously overweight or obese for most of their lives need to learn how to really hear what their body is saying. Before I made any dietary changes, I first did a few weeks of journaling, which I think could be helpful for you, or anyone who doesn't know where to begin. Every time I was going to eat, or to drink something that wasn't water, I wrote down 4 things in my journal: The time, where I was on the hunger scale (there are a lot - google it and pick one that resonates with you), why I felt like eating, and if I did or did not decide to eat. If I did eat, I also wrote what I ate (not to the specifics of calories, just "what" it was), and 20 minutes and 1 hour after I was done eating, I would write again where I was on the scale and how I was feeling.

I learned lots about what foods and what amount of foods left me feeling just satisfied for hours, versus foods that left me feeling bloated and lethargic for a while and then hungry again. I also learned a lot about what kinds of feelings would lead me to eat when I was NOT hungry at all.

All this insight has allowed me start doing what my body needs - I eat when I'm hungry and I generally eat whatever I feel like I'm hungry for. But I take portions that are much smaller than before. I tell myself: If I'm really still hungry for more after this, then of course I can have it. Sometimes I am still hungry, and I have more. But often times I'm NOT still hungry and I feel good about stopping.

On average, I am losing 1 lb a week. I am not depriving myself of my favorite foods. I am not avoiding social occasions with my friends for fear of it derailing my "diet". And if I ever DO binge? I go back to journaling for a few days, to force myself to listen to what my body is really saying.

Good grief, this is really long and rambling. Anyway, I really hope you find what works for you. I do know your pain, and wish you amazing success.

[pluckypear]

New Kid on the Block,

So great you are tackling this now, I am 46 and still struggling. Of if only ..... sigh

I move forward and wish you well.