I'm new to Calorie Count, and new to the idea of counting calories. I'm still trying to get used to a new routine of food awareness, regular eating habits, and higher levels of activity. I'm hoping to find some people on this site who can relate to what I'm starting, and how big of a life change it is. I am essentially trying to rewire the way my brain thinks about food, and unlearn some unhealthy habits which go back over a decade. I would love to find some people who understand so that we can be a support system for each other while facing the same struggles.  

I wrote some background info in my profile, so people who are interested can check it out.  I'm hovering around 250 pounds right now (my bathroom scale says 245 but I'm not sure I believe it) and my target weight is somewhere between 150-160, so that leaves me with about 90-100 pounds to lose.  

I'm not in a huge rush, so if it takes a year or two, or even five, that's okay. There's that old cliche - even if it takes me five years to do this, those five years will pass by whether I do something about my weight, or not. So I might as well make the change! Better to have it happen in 5 years than never.  

At least...that's what I keep telling myself! Part of what I am trying to do is to teach myself that this is not about a quick fix. It's not about working hard and depriving myself, just so I can get to a lower size and then reset my behaviour to normal. This has to be about changing my definition of what 'normal' is. I have problems sometimes with giving up on things if I don't see results right away, and that is part of why I am looking for encouragement and motivation here. I know I need to convince myself that I'm in this for the long haul and that living healthier is worth it, no matter what size my jeans are.

Hi!  I am new to calorie count too...I have used other dieting websites, but I have never reached out for a buddy.  I have come to realize that maybe, that is a key element that I am leaving out, so looking to make this weight loss journey a group effort....as they say, it takes a village to raise a child.  A lot of what you said hit home with me...I also need to re-think my eating habits and re-train myself.  I have struggled with my weight for long and I am so tired of trying everything under the sun.  So...here I am.

My current weight is 223 and I am looking to lose about 90 pounds.  I in my early 30's...

So consider me part of your support system and lets this weight off and get healthy for good!

Shanna

Hi Ladies,

I joined a few weeks ago but just started on the forums tonight. I'm 25 and weigh 240-245. I too am ready to make a life change for the positive and start making healthier choices. I was about 150 for all of my adolesence and up until about 4 years ago and then when my son was born. Well, with the birth of my son, my metabolism and energy went out the window and it was easier just to grab fast food on the way home from work rather than cook. The result of that is 100 pounds over the last 4 years.

The goal weight I have in my head is 115-120 because I'm only 5'2'' but mostly I want it to be about how comfortable I am in my daily life and don't have a timeline as long as I am continually making progress, even if it is baby steps. I'm reaching out for support also because I am so new to this. It has just been within the last couple of months or so that I have become very unhappy with my weight and lack of fitness. Plus, I want to start setting a healthy example for my son. Fortunately, he absolutely loves his fruits and vegetables and won't touch a french fry!

I want you both to know that I am here for encouragement anytime you need it. I wish I could say I have some tips too but I don't really! One day at a time is the motto I'm sticking with. I wish you both well on your journeys to health!

I'm new to this whole experience too and have about 110 pounds to lose.  I'm currently at 240 and want to be 130.  Consider me part of your support system as well!

Hiya, y'all!!

I'm 26, 235 and looking to lose to about 120 (I'm 5'2"). I checked out a bunch of pictures of people who were 5'2" to see what my goal weight really is, but it didn't help much. Then I found out my (not incredibly thin) Tiff is 5'7" and around 120. So it might (*faint*) be too HIGH (?!?!?!) a number, but I'm pretty sure I'd be just as happy at 150. Who knows?

I've never (besides the years under 10) been less than 169. I was 14 when that happened. I got down to 2teen in college, but then moved in with my parents for a year and waved good bye to that. I've been trying to count WW points for months, but I'm just as frustrated at can be, so I thought I'd try something more straightforward and count calories for a while instead.

I'm excited about the new start!!

Hi Guys! I'm in if you would have me :) I'm 26, 5'5 and 233. New to Calorie Count as well. Its a little daunting to think that I have 100lbs to use. To be honest, I dont think my husband would want me to be 130...eek!! I like me curves too!LOLOL! But I would love to be about 180lb. That is my primary goal. I was 199 last time I had a trainer, and I looked great! If you can believe that....I have a weird muscular thing going on. I'll have to post some pics for you to believe me

I would love to join you guys for support and such!

Hi all!  This is something very new to me and I need to change my ways in thinking I can do this by myself.  I started out at 275 June 14, 2008,  right now I'm at 258.5 5'9".  So far 16.5 lbs gone! Yay,  but still a ways to go.  My goal is to lose 100 lbs.  I have an emotional eating problem,  as when things go south I turn to food for comfort.  Not a good thing.  My fiance' is currently deployed and I've added a considerable amount of weight because I've comforted myself with food while we've been separated.  Not a good way to comfort yourself, believe me.  And being independent doesn't help, but I'm realizing that it is good to have the help of others.  I have to not be stubborn and just ask.  So, if a stubborn, independent, emotional eater such as myself can be included, I would love the support and I would love to be able to support some other folks in this journey as well! 

  Angela 

Hi I am new too!

Currently weigh 240 pounds standing at 5'7" and would like to lost 75-100 pounds.  I think my biggest weaknesses are leading a pretty sedentary lifestyle (which I am working on correcting) and not consuming enough calories a day.

  I recently joined a kickball team and am going to join a gym in the area with some friends so hopefully that will help!  So far this year I have lost about 40 pounds. I'm unsure of the exact weight loss but thats the closest I can guess.

I would love to chat or e-mail with anyone who needs motivation and/or could help motivate me!

I would love to get in the group also. As of this morning, I'm 228.2 pounds.  I started my lifestyle change three days ago at 231.2 pounds.  I am 5'4'' and would love to weigh 131 pounds.  So that was an initial weight goal of 100 pounds.  I have 97.2 more pounds to go!  I have always been extremely heavy and wish to finally experience being of normal weight and in sparkling health.

Kay

I'm slightly older (31) than your target group, and with slightly less to lose (60-70).  I figure those last two make it even - those couple of years seem like they can do a lot on metabolism slowdown.  So I think I'm close enough. :)

My own particular story: when I graduated high school, I was 108 pounds.  Definitely skinny, particularly because I had been taking tap/ballet lessons my entire childhood (12 years of them): leg muscles from hell.  Anyway, I went to college.  Rather than the freshmen fifteen, I lost ten pounds by Christmas, because I'm a picky eater.  By the time I left college, I was at 128 - a good, healthy weight.

Ah, but then the decline.  Somehow, by the time I got married in August of the following year, I was in the 150's.  Part of that, I think, was going on the pill, but the rest is pretty simple: no walking and stairs (like I had at college), and I could cook whatever I wanted!

A few years ago, I started South Beach after I reached 190.  I lost 30 pounds on it, but plateaued out and gave up.  I'm back to that 190ish level (after several years - not really a yo-yo thing), and I've decided to do the calorie counting bit because I don't think I could do South Beach phase one again.  Oh, and I'm 5'2".

Hey I just started this site and lifestyle change on yesterday. I did fine but wish I would have worked out more. My main downfall is motivation. I am 27, 5'4" and 260 lbs. I would like to be around 160. My head too big to be small...lol. When I weighed myself and saw I was about the same size as my dad it was depressing, my dad is a big guy. Even though I don't look like I weight that much it does affect my health and I need to change that quickly.

I always find myself doing things to lose weight and when I start seeing results, for some reason I just fall off the ban wagon. Seems that that should push me harder to continue to get those results.

As I am reading these posts I find we are all, for the most part, in the same boat which I think is good because we can all relate to each other. I would definitely like to be a part of a support system because I know I really need it. I am 23 and I am at 220-225 lbs and am only 5'2", so I have about 100 lbs to loose but right now I'm just aiming for 80 to feel comfortable again.

It's pretty hard because my three year old boy is under weight and they have him on 2% milk and higher fat content foods, which are just sitting there in the pantry staring at me when I am hungry. Also my husband is a very picky eater and is mainly a red meat and potatoes kind of guy, he's a little heavier then he wants but still in reasonable condition, since he's in the Army and participates in PT every day. He's been a great motivation in helping me at the gym, but making family meals is harder than I thought. I have to bring the measuring cups and spoons to the dinner table with me!

I have a feeling this post could get really long, so I'll just end by saying, I'd love to have the support from other ladies like me and knowing what y'all are trying out and share what I'm trying too! So let's support and share the up's and downs, because you know there will be, but for once I'm hoping there will be more downs! lol  

Nicolewolf

Hello all!  I too am new to this site.  I have been logging calories and weigh ins for almost three weeks but I am thinking that having support from other women who are trying to loose a large amount of weight may help give me that extra little push I need.  I am 32 years old, 5'3 and at 243.8 lbs as of this morning.  I am trying to make nice with my scales.  I have never owned a set until now! 

My gain begain after I was married.  I probably weighed in around 130 on my wedding day and honestly thought I was fat.  I have been married almost thirteen years and I gained the largest portion of my weight within my first two years of marriage.  We moved away from home and everything I knew, so I ate.  We were trying to start a family, and I was diagnosed with PCOS and severe endometriosis, so I ate more.  Before I new it I was a size 22 and still had problems seeing myself as the fat girl.  Crazy huh!  My husband has been wonderful through it all, he still looks great, like he did the day we were married!  I often feel like poeple want to know what a guy like him is doing with  a fat girl like me.

Two years ago we adopted a precious little boy and I stay at home with him.  He keeps me very busy but I want to be able to play soccer,  play monsters and run with him.  I want to get heathy because I want to watch him grow up, get married, I want to hold my grandchildren and enjoy the rest of my life instead of being trapped in something that I am not.  We are taking a trip to Disney World at Christmas and I have to be able to fit on the rides.  I never thought I would have to worry about fitting on an amusement park ride, but here I am!

I will say that since my last Doctors visit I have lost 12 lbs.  So I feel good about that.  I eat fresh fruit all the time!  Healthy nuts like pistachios take care of my cruncy cravings.  And my favorite find for a sweet tooth is the Luna Nuts over Chocolate bars (yummy)!  I drink 6-8 bottles of water each day, adding crystal lite with activia when I just can't chug one more drop of water.  I have been doing this for almost a month keeping my calorie intake to around 1200 per day.  Drastic yes, but I have to make changes so I can teach my boy how to be healthy or he will likely struggle with eating and weight at some point in his life, and that is one thing I do not want to pass down to my children. 

Well, I too, could go on and on about why I am here but I won't.   I know you all are sighing with relief right now.  I am glad to find other women who want to loose large #'s too.  I wish everyone the best and I look forward to being apart of the group....accountability helps!!!

Have a successfully BLESSED week!

There are a couple of things I use for sweets:

for breakfast, I'm taking fat-free, no sugar added yogurt and flavoring it with baking cocoa and then adding artificial sweetener

Sugar-free jell-o - 10 calories and tastes the same to me! :)

fruit leather (now fruit-a-bu, I believe?), tropicana fruit strips and/or cliff kids fruit twists

no sugar added fudgsicles

I'm having smooshed up fruit because I can't handle the crush of most fruit.  I'm a texture eater, so I prefer things that are the same texture throughout.  I've never checked for sure, but I think I'm a supertaster, someone with more tastebuds than average, so I also have more sensors for feeling my food.  That's just theory, though.

Hi Ya'll!  This is soooo encouraging to find so many who can relate to the same life struggles.  I am new to this site too and am 39 yrs old, 5'5, 245 lbs and looking to lose 105 lbs.  After my divorce 7 years ago, I weighed 210 and started walking every day.  I got up to walking 5 miles a day and then joined a kick-boxing class.  That was FUN!  I had so much energy and got down to 170.  Even though I looked good and felt good at that weight, I think I will be and feel even better at 145.  I am generally a positive, upbeat person and haven't made my weight an issue.  I was just going through life without thinking about it and eating whatever I wanted.  In the last 3 years, I have had a string of bad relationships.  Looking into the whys of this, I have discovered that I keep myself "unavailable" for a real relationship with my weight.  Sooo, I am doing multiple things to increase the quality of my life.  I am excited about this site because there are people like you who can relate.  I work with some fabulous people and have great friends but none of them are considerably overweight like me.  I propose we start a group (if that's acceptable here) to stay in contact with each other and help each other along this journey.  Maybe we could name it...something like the 100 club?  I don't know...just a thought.  Looking forward to reading more of your posts!

I am 42 and over weight. I have been fat through my entire life. But now with 5 children I had to make a change. At 300 lbs 5'5" my body is tired. I had the lap-band 15 months ago and now I am at 200 lbs. I feel funny without the weight and I am trying to adapt to this new eating. This band is my life saver and I love everyday now. My kids are happier now cause I can run and play with them. I exercise only 30 minutes  3-4 days per week. I eat  almost everything but not to much. I do eat ice cream everyday. I drink no sodas only water or gatorade or suger free tea or crystal light. I am not rich so I watch what I spend at the grocery store. Tuna and pita bread is my favorite. Enough about me good luck to you and watch your food and exercise and I hope you make your goal. You can do it!!!!

Hi there guys and gals,

I'm 25 in the UK looking to go from 350 down to 210. I'm fed up with being fat! It's great to be able to come here and talk to others who need to lose some weight. Hopefully we can all get thin and healthy together!

I recently joined CC again a few weeks ago.  I've gained a ridiculous amount of weight over the last two years.  And now I am trying to regain control of my life.  I've spent the last two weeks observing my calorie intake, and now, I'm cutting down to 1500 calories (I was at 1800).  I'm trying to do this right.  Change for life.  More concerned for my health than how I look (though I still really care).  My goal is to lose 140 pounds over the next two years.  Cheers to change!

I am brand-new to CC and I really relate to what you said about feeling one way but seeing another in the mirror.  I tell people that I have the opposite of anorexia - I am fat but imagine myself skinny!  Over the past five years, I had put on 20 plus pounds always thinking I'll start that diet and exercise program tomorrow.  But then the unbelievable happened...I became pregnant!  I am 38 with two teenage daughters and was not expecting to add to our family.  I gained 30 lbs during pregnancy and not only did I not lose it after the baby was born, but I gained 8 more!  So I really need to get myself in gear not only because of what I see in the mirror, but for my health.  I applaud everyone who tries and we must remember that it is baby steps and to make small goals!  Good luck to everyone!

Hey there Bonne_.....

I'm not a woman in my late 20's but I'm in a similar situation to you and that is my scale reading between 245 and 250 for about the past 3 months......

I don't necessarily believe that I should ever weight in the 150-160 range (I haven't been there since probably junior high) I do know that I've got to shed some pounds.

It's all about getting healthier and feeling better about yourself, however, like you said there is no quick fix. 

This is about the long haul, making perm. changes and sticking with it until it's not a change any longer but your new way of life.

I'm a cheap guy by nature, so one thing I did is got a gym membership (well, i'm actually on my free trial right now, but will sign up the day after that expires so I can milk it for everything it's worth).  I will get a long term one (3-4 years, whatever they offer) Because I will know that my money is already tied up in it so if I don't go then I just threw all that away.  With me being cheap, I will not allow myself to just stop going.

I'm also trying to surround myself with buddies outside of work who are wanting to make a change so that I have someone to go to the gym with and motivate me.  Everything helps, even if it's just my one friend talking to me on the way home and asking me if I'll be hitting the gym again.... it puts it in my head and helps get me motivated to go.

I'm also trying to surround myself with new, virtual, buddies online who are in the same boat so that I'll have people to share with and discuss with.  Hence the reason I signed up here and started posting.

Sorry I typed so much, but to sum it up.... and quote Bon Jovi "I'll be there for you" following along with your progress and replying with motivational words as you need it.

It's late and this is the last post I'm reading before I head off to bed so I'm not going to write much, but I just wanted to say that I'm right in there with you!

I just turned 25 in June, 5'4" and am the largest I've been in about 5 years- 230lbs.  I had gotten down to about 160 about 3.5 years ago, but fell out of my good habits and gained it all back and then some.  My ultimate goal is to be about 140-145... I'd like to keep some curves. :)  I can't even imagine what I'm going to look like.

I just joined CC yesterday, so I know it's going to be a long, tough journey ahead.  But I look forward to seeing the results and to getting and giving some much-needed support and encouragement along the way!

Big hugs!