Hello! My name's Jen and I am ready to start losing weight! I'm 24 and the mother of two kids. I live in Spokane WA. I'm new to everything. I've never really tried losing weight. I don't know where to start so I thought I'd check out a forum and found this one! I need help and encouragement. I want to be able to keep up with my kids! I love playing with them but I tire so easily and I hate it. When my husband's family gets together, I'm the biggest person there. I hate that feeling. I wasn't always like this. It didn't start until during my first pregnancy. And now I always feel overwhelmed because, like I said, I don't know where to start. I have so many questions and I'm hoping I can get the answers and help I need here! Thanks for taking to the time to read this! I'm excited to get started!

Welcome, Jen! You've come to the right place for help and encouragement! Have you checked out the challenges threads? We've got some challenges going on right now that has target end dates of spring and summer. It's been great in helping to keep me on track and accountable. Good luck and I look forward to seeing you around the forum!

I'll definitely check those out, thanks!!

I've tried tons of different diets, and so far, the things that have worked the best for me is either simply counting your calories, or working out. I actually started slim fast about a week ago, and I've lost 6 lbs, so maybe you could give that a try! The shakes are delicious! and I don't find myself really hungry all the time like on other diets.

Does slim fast just make you feel less hungry? I'll definitely give that a try...thanks for the tip!!

Welcome! Hope you find your answers. Ask away!

I just made a post under the 20-somethings support group forum...explains what's going on in my head a little more! I've been browsing and have found a lot of helpful stuff but I don't know if I'm ready for half of it. I would like to do a challenge of some sort but once again, it comes back to where do I start!? I think I would do better making smaller goals for myself to reach a big goal. So right now, I think that's what I will do. I am going to map out what my goals are, and maybe even start writing down what I eat so I can see what my diet looks like...which I know isn't healthy...

Hi and welcome im into intermittent fasting. I like it and it seems to fit my style. Good luck on your journey

I know what fasting is but how does this intermittent fasting work? And good luck on your journey as well!

I follow Eat stop eat by brad pilon. You can just go to the website eatstopeat.com and it can tell you everything I have lost 12lbs in 3 weeks and have never felt better

Only thing I do different is I do three 24 hour fast mon-wed-friday from 6pm to 6pm and I break my fast with something light a small meal. On my fasting days I only drink water. And I don't know if we are allowed to say other websites on here etc.. im unsure of the rules but im also following a 12 week program at the moment with weights and cardio. I make sure to get plenty of protein. on non fasting days I work out before eating and after my work out I will have a protein shake, I will wait an hour and then eat my first meal of the day and I always watch my carb and fructose intake and I eat a lot of chicken, fish and veggies

Actually, it helps quite a bit. The bars and shakes are full of vitamins and nutrients, so their supposed to be one full meal each. They say their supposed to keep you from being hungry for about 4 hours or so. I can say that I don't feel very hungry throughout the day. I actually go almost a full work day without feeling hungry. I almost have to remind myself to eat the second meal. With all the snacks it allows you to have, I rarely get that feeling where I'll eat anything I can get my hands on!!!

Welcome, we're all here for you.

Thanks for the slim fast tip. Definitely will try that out. I made a list of simple goals for me to reach by the end of the year. Then I will make longer term goals at the beginning of 2013! I've never made goals for myself, so already this is a big step for me!!! And I didn't drink a soda today!!!!