Just started at the gym.. Success stories??

I'm 17 years old, and at my highest weight of 258 pounds (5"7). Disgusting, I know. My lowest weight was 2 years ago at 195. I've always been atleast slightly overweight all my life, and I just need a change. Next year i'm off to college, and it'd really be nice to start off as a new person. Happier, healthier, prettier.

When I spoke to one of the trainers at my gym we made my goal of losing 72 pounds in 6 months. Which is losing 3 pounds a week, 12 pounds a month.

I'm going to the gym 6 days a week, doing a combination of fast paced walking and weight training.

I'm looking for success stories, of maybe people in somewhat the same position i'm in?

I really, really want to achieve my goal by May/June.

Hooray for you! Going to the gym. Participating on Calorie Count. Wow. I don't know many young women your age that would do all that.

I have a success story. I am 49. I've belonged to gyms off and on since I started working in one in high school. Every time I join a gym, I get in shape. I stay with it for a few years and enjoy it. Then, life changes. I get bored. I quit. I gain weight. I get ashamed. I gain more weight. I find another gym and get back on track. I am back in the gym and pleased to say that it feels great to be an old lady and working out. I love it! I probably have learned my lesson by now. So here's the lesson for me:

Get too drastic and you will eventually quit. Drastic would be 72 pounds in 6 months. Read around on this website. Two pounds a week, max. Enjoy the gym but keep reading as much as possible on this site. They are sensible here. Don't be in a hurry. Don't let someone push you into something that's not going to help you in the long run. Get it right at 17 and you will have it right for the rest of your life. Calorie Count will help you get it right. The guy at the gym is not giving you good advice at all.

Congrats to you!  I was able to lose about 20 lbs my freshman year of college (that I'd gained in about 6-8 months).  I did it by going to the gym for about 1-2 hours a day, sort of watching what I ate (I say this because at the time I was still very picky, thought all salads were healthy, and drank a lot!).  It was good enough for me though. 

On the other hand, I've got a friend who was 220 lbs in high school, same height as me, 5'10''.  She decided she'd had enough and decided to lose weight before college.  She had huuuuge boobs and needed a reduction, so she had to lose 10 lbs before they did it.  Then after surgery she was down 15 lbs.  After that a strict diet and exercise for 1 hr a day, she lost 75 total lbs in 6 months!  So yes, you can do it!  Try to stay focused on what you want, make sure your parents are on board and buy healthy foods, and keep up your gym routine.  Soon enough your walks will turn to runs, your weights will go up, and it will get easier!

I am 28 years old and like you had mostly always been overweight

In Nov. 2008 I was 217 lbs (I am 5 '5).  Today I weigh in at 160 lbs.

I did this by watching what I ate but mostly because I got into the gym nearly every day. I also hired a personal trainer for a while which helped tremendously (but its expensive)

Once you start to lose more weight that will be all the motivation you need to go to the gym every day. Its to the point now where I'm angry/guilty if I can't get to the gym nearly every day. Not to mention it's great when other regulars at the gym come up to you (never spoken a word to them) to tell you how great you look and how good you are doing.

Please read this blog.  I wish someone had told me this when I was 17

http://getalegupforlife.blogspot.com/2009/11/ not-doomed.html

Thank you all so much for your encouragement & tips-- they really do help alot!

I very much appreciate it :]