Hi everyone, I'm new!

[John2]

Hello everyone,

I’m new here and I came to this forum because I think I need support and motivation to lose weight. I am a 23-year old male currently weighting 230 pounds. I know a few who are in far worse shape than I am and maybe I shouldn't feel as bad I as do, but the truth is, I am I do not feel comfortable with my weight and it has affected many aspects of my life including my health and my self-esteem.

Growing up I was always skinny--even though I’d eat as if there was no tomorrow. About 4 years ago, I started gaining weight and now I’m at a point where I have stretchmarks all over my stomach. I think the problem was that I kept eating like I always had, but my metabolism slowed down so I started gaining weight. Last year, I was at 211 pounds and, through diet and exercise, I successfully lost 40 pounds in a little over 4 months. I was very happy with my weight but, after 4 months of counting calories (something I had never ever done in my life), I needed a break. During that break, one delicious meal led to the next, and before I knew it, I regained every pound I had lost and then some. I am now 19 pounds heavier than when I started dieting last year. I’m at my heaviest weight ever...230 pounds . I have tried to get back on the diet and exercise since January, but when I'm at around the second week I quit. I think I lack motivation and support to stay on the diet.

I have been reading this forum for a while and I think it’s a wonderful way to share with people who also want to lose weight. I am excited about joining this forum as I think it will help me achieve my weight-loss goals. I started dieting again today and hope to start doing some cardio exercises tomorrow. I’ve created a journal to track my progress and to receive any words of advice or encouragement you all can give me. I hope you stop by and post any comments or messages. Here’s the URL:

http://weight-loss.fitness.com/showthread.php?t=3813


Thanks,

John.

 

[Hypo Hippo]

Welcome to the forum! I'm so glad you decided to join! You know you can do this because you've managed to lose weight before.

 

[xorie]

welcome! If you're in search of support, that's one thing that you will DEFINATELY find here!

 

[jennifuffa]

Welcome John

I will agree the people here are very supportive. There is no lack of sympathy and understanding about your journey.

I know the yo-yo diet all to well. One thing that I have recently discovered is that you have to start to change your frame of mind. This is something that I have been working on. Part of the problem for me about diet and exercise is that I always think of it as temporary, a quick fix. But in recent weeks I have learned that for me exercise and eating right will have to always be a part of my life. I can't just lose weight and go back to my old ways and expect to keep it off. It is easier said than done but I just keep telling myself that this is how it is for me now.

When I get down to my goal weight or when I lose 20 or 40 or more I haven never really though of how I plan to maintain that weight loss. I started my new weight management plan in February and I have lost 16lbs which may not seem like a lot in the scheme of things but I look at it in tearms of how long I've maintained my weight loss. I have never lost and kept of 16 pounds for very long in my life and have always added extra nasty pounds to my previous start weight.

I have been on so many diets and lost so much weight over the 15 years or more that I have dieted. The first time I went on a diet I think I was 14 and I had maybe 15-20lbs to lose. If you check out my ticker I have so much more to lose now. Yo-yo dieting can be a dangerous pattern to get into so being aware is very important.

So I am going to ask you what your plan is for when you get down to your goal? Are you just going to stop or are you going to allow yourself to falter a little and pull in the reigns from time to time or do you require more discipline. If you have a plan in place before you arrive you will better prepaired.