My story.....

So I'm here for the same reason I suppose the rest of you lovely people are here for: WEIGHT LOSS. I've tried numerous times, but somehow don't ever get started...or somewhere along the line, I seem to lose my motivation.

Clinically, I need to lose 83 pounds to be at my "healthy" weight, which would be 136 pounds... but honestly, I think I'd be happy just to be under 200 pounds. I can't even imagine myself being as thin as that.

I have a rotting membership for RetroFitness, which I would really like to start using again. My only problem is that in order for me to stay focused, I need some sort of buddy system. I've tried asking everyone in my life if they would come to the gym with me or just support me in some sort of way, everyone ofcourse says they will... but it never happens.  I know it sounds needy, but hey!

All in all, I'm a 21 year old girl living in the Philly burbs just trying to get my confidence and health in order. I'm Steph, it's nice to meet you. =]

 I always wished I had a gym buddy too. I finally got my friend to sign up a few months ago, and I think she met me at the gym twice in the 2 months she had the membership. She finally cancelled it because she was so broke. It's a good thing I wasn't relying on her to motivate me, b/c I would have been wasting my time. Sometimes it's better not to have a gym buddy b/c you tend to make excuses not to go if they say they're not going to.  Anyway, I hope you can get yourself back into the routine of going to the gym. You'll really start feeling a lot better once you do.  I'll be making up for a junk food filled weekend by hitting the gym hard for the next 4 days. If you want, check in and let me know how your workouts go this week. I can be your gym buddy all the way in NY:-)

Girl I am soooo where u r.  I am also over 200 lbs and my ideal weight is 139.  I'd b happy to get back down to the 152 I was after I had my little girl 3 1/2 years ago.  I need a buddy also.  I do better when I have someone encouraging me and holding my accountable.  I'm in KY & we can keep each other motivated!!!

Hi guys..morning 42 and all, I hope that when you receive this please know you are not alone.  I use to go work out every other day by myself because I too had no friends or family living close to me..but had some motivation.  However, in addition to working full time, I am a student trying to get my MBA.  It's difficult because I have to dedicate 4 evenings a week to school and don't feel I have time for anything else, so my gym workouts got cut.   

My advice is if you can't motivate yourself to work out just yet, at least try to stay within your daily calorie intake.  As far as motivation, I can certainly be your buddy too..I'm only a hop skip and e-mail jump away...even being all the way in Chicago!

Why don't we try weighing in our stats once a week, right here on this thread?  That might at least start the motivation.  Then maybe we could gradually motivate ourselves to do more.  Let me know...we're all in this together!!       ;

Hey Syeph!! I am 22 and I live in the burbs of Philly too, and if we live close I'd love to be your buddy!!! I'm going to send you a private message too, just in case you don't check back on this post, and so we can find out if we're close by.

Anyway, my story is that when i was 19 I was on my way to becoming obese. I was overweight and leading a disgusting lifestyle of Philly food all day every day and lots of binge drinking every weekend. I decided to end it and started working out and changing my eating habits, which worked out great and I eventually turned my lifestyle around entirely.

I had a short battle with anorexia but it was nipped in the bud by myself and a few people close to me who cared. Sometimes it is still a mentle battle when I see models on TV, but my boyfriend is constantly giving me reality checks and I know I'd rather be healthy.

Now, I'm fitness/healthy eating/healthy lifestyle OBSESSED and i LOVE LOVE LOVE helping people who ask for it!!! its alot of fun for me. I'm in school right now for something entirely unrelated, but once i finish up my current program I think i am going to go back to become a nutritionist.

can't wait to talk to you

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I'll take in a little of what everyone said, but it did make me feel better. I suppose why I need support is because I don't have anyone that's going to care if I go or not. I know I should be doing it for myself, but hey... I like to be impressive. Haha. I don't eat absolutely horrible, the doctor says that I eat a fairly normal diet. My metabolism is slow, and I'm capable of eating a lot sometimes... I also enjoy sweets too much. I also need to quit to smoking.... which when I remember when I was exercising a lot before, smoking seemed so unappealing when I was trying to get fit... My biggest problem is my anxiety/depression. I'll be doing great and then I'll be curled up in bed for a week loathing life. Kind of sad really, but I'm working on it.