Introducing myself. Early 30s, F, MD, married, work full time outside of house. I gained weight about 5 years ago due to medication and a bad break up. Once I recovered and got off the meds, I still had a huge appetite and couldn't stop eating crap. I gained about 40 pounds that first year and a half, then packed on another 30 in the last 18 months from emotional eating, an intense job, and too much stress.

I tried Diet To Go from January to May this year. Only lost 10 pounds because I couldn't stop snacking (gained a couple back in the interim). This summer, I decided to get serious. I changed jobs, got a bunch of other health issues checked out, and started trying to conceive. I started Ideal Protein 2.5 weeks ago, and am down 11 pounds. I'm aiming for 150 because I'm a size 8 at that weight, and it doesn't take much to maintain it.

I have a few concerns about Ideal Protein and rapid weightloss in general. A few days after starting, I started spotting and basically haven't stopped. I read something about estrogen flooding, so I'm concerned that achieving pregnancy on Ideal Protein will be difficult for me. I'm seeing an endocrinologist in October, but in the meantime, I'm torn about continuing. Ultimately, losing weight needs to take precedence over getting pregnant, but I'm very concerned about permanent hormone imbalance and thyroid damage.

Anyway, HI! I'm thrilled to have found such a supportive, enthusiastic community, and I'm very excited to continue my journey with you.

Hi Buffysummers, and welcome to 3fc! I love this site, I've been very overweight most of my life (from childhood) and I also have hormonal issues. Right now I am following the "Be slim by eating like a slim person diet" which I made up myself lol. Seriously it is about what works for you, since you do have a physician and concerns I would ask your doctor about the plan and if it's right for you.

Emotional eating strikes us all, and I've had it quite often on my journey, but I've still managed to lose about 40 lbs., and will continue to, because that is life, you're going to be fine.

Before joining this forum I was moving very slowly in my weight loss journey, after 3 months, I was a only about 9.2 lbs. down from where I started, but since then (in the past 3 1/2 months) it has been about 30 lbs. lost, which is insane to me, but I'm so happy about it. It definitely works, especially if you do , there's so much information & support to be had here jump on in!

BTW I LOVE Buffy the Vampire Slayer, can I assume that is where you got the screen name?