[Highstrung]

Hello everyone, I'm new and thought I would introduce myself.

My name is Carol and I am trying to lose a total of 120#. I started in earnest about a month ago when I climbed on the scales and I was at 265!!!! I was overweight in high school and lost 100# my first year in college. I managed to keep it off for nearly 12 years. I started putting the weight back on after I broke up with who I thought was the love of my life. Shortly after the break up I lost my job due to downsizing and the economy. In all of that stress I met the REAL love of my life - Rick - to whom I am now married. When we got engaged in Dec. 2002 I tried to diet in time for my June 2003 wedding. Like an idiot I even bought a dress several sizes to small to motivate myself...thank God for a good seamstress and even better undergarmets. We just celebrated our 1st anniversary June 28th, and he really is the best. He is supportive and encouraging, which helps when my motivation is failing. I really want to lose weight not only for myself, but for him as well. Now before you flame me let me explain that:

I feel like the person you are attracted to and the person you fall in love with are two seperate qualities. We can be attracted to a person and never fall in love with them, and vice versa. All the qualities my husband fell in love with are still there, but because of the weight the person he was first attracted to is buried under a lot of fat. He was attracted to an outgoing, sassy, and dare I say it - sexy woman. I don't feel sexy or sassy or very outgoing anymore. As a matter of fact all I want to do is put on PJ's and sit in the recliner eating potato chips most of the time. That wasn't me just 3 years ago. I liked that woman he fell in love with...she was proud and strong and confident. I want to find her again...I want to give my husband his girlfriend back. There's also the consideration of children. We want to start our family soon and I don't want to be overweight when we do. I'd like to be closer to my ideal so I don't look like a thanksgiving float in maternity clothes.

I've lost about 30# already, but as you other tall ladies can attest, that's not that big of a deal. I am 5'10" so I am only now seeing a small difference in how my clothes fit. But my mind is made up, and I am completely commited to seeing this thing through.

[headdoc]

carol you sound a lot like me. i am new here and not very computer savvy so bear with me. i am 39 years old and decided i will be in the best shape of my life by 40. i have had a long struggle.i was an overweight child, always the fattest kid in school. i excelled academmically but had no social life. moved on to college and did well. married a very loving man. i also went to medical school and am now a physician. i have a beautiful 5 yo daughter(who is a little pudgy-which scares me to death). i have tried everything including a liquid protein diet(lost 110 lbs in 4 monthsas well as my gall bladder and most of my hair),every diet pill imaginable, had gastric bypass surgery and lost about 80 lbs only to gain back the weight every time. i now realize this is my test in life and there will be no easy answer. i have lost 35lbs since jan 1(285 to 250), i eat about 1500 cal/day and exercise like a fiend(cardio and weights). i get angry the appearance of my body does not refect the work i put into it. i seem to be stuck now gaining and losing the same 5 lbs for 2 months now. like you i want my husband to look at me with new eyes and more importantly feel i need to conquer this to be a role model for my daughter so she does not have to sruuggle with this. it is good to know i am not the only one fighting the battle. tina

[Highstrung]

Tina,
I think this time you just may do it. It sounds as if you have realized there are no "shortcuts" or "easy ways out". I admire you wanting to set a good example for your daughter. Being overweight as a child is difficult, and even more difficult if you are a girl.
I tried the diet pills also...especially Xenadrine. Oh I lost tons of weight using X but I just knew at any moment my head was going to spin right off. It may sound hypocritical, but I'm glad ephedrine is off the market.

You say you are exercising like a fiend...do you think maybe you are exercising TOO much? I have read that exercising too hard has the same effect as eating too few calories. Have you thought about maybe a personal trainer? Even if you only get the trainer for one session s/he may be able to tell you if you are working out effectively.

[headdoc]

thanks for the encouragement. i should clarify my exercise routine. i do leslie sansone tapes(2-3 miles) 3-4 times per week and about 30 minutes of weight training 2 times per week. with work and a small child it feels like every spare moment is exercising but not realistically so. i am determined to do this this time. a personal trainor would be great. i live in a very rural area where that is not available unfortunately. i use mostly videos to exercise as time and resources are scarce. tina