Hi everyone. I find myself writing with great hesitation. I need to lose over 100 pounds and I sure could use some support from people who are in a similar situation and understand. I've been overweight my whole life, I went to my first diet clinic at 8 years old. I tried many diets for many years but have pretty much given up for the last ten years. I feel sad and depressed by how I look and feel. I would like to start today to try again. I came upon this site by accident but maybe it will be just what I need. All replies welcome.

Welcome Bamika55. You have come to the best support site on the net. Most of us here are struggling with our weight. And those that aren't have already lost theirs and are still here for support. You have made the decision to change your life and we are all here to help. Come back often. :)

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Welcome to a wonderful place to come to with some great support buddies. You will find everything you need to keep your self on track. We all are here to support each other. Some of us have lost a lot of weight, and others are just starting. It doesn't matter how much you have to loose. We are all here going through the same thing. We have to learn it's a change in our eating habits, it's a change in our life style. And get up and move. Once those things are in your daily life, you will see improvements. We are all differant. We all loose differant amounts, in differant places. You have to find something that works for your body, and that you are happy with. Change the way you cook things at first. Change your spreads, dressings, oils, cheeses, milks etc. And start moving a little more everyday. Then you will start feeling the differance and want to make more changes. You can't do something all at once and expect to stick with it. It has to be little changes to see if it's for you. I know you will like coming here. I enjoy it almost everyday. I make it a part of my schedule to sit down and read and keep motivated. I have lost 82 lbs, and have about 9 to go, with a lot of toning to do still. I know how you feel to be overweight and so unhappy with your self. I never thought I would be this weight again. I am 144 and have so much energy for my newborn. Email me if you would like. I would like to be a support person for you. I have a couple buddies I talk to a few times a week, and they are really great people. There is a chat room to go to and talk to all of us. And you can posts your ups and downs, and ask questions. So I hope you will come back all the time and keep us updated on your progress. You can make this change and live a healthy life and be full of energy. We are all strong. We have shown it by coming here looking for support. Now that you have made that first step, keep going.
Take care....
Stacey :-)

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Well, Bamika, you've come to the right place and I for one don't believe in accidents... you found this place because you were meant to be here! :) There are so many people here that understand what you are feeling and what you have been through. The board is a great place to tell people what you feeling, about successes (however tiny), bad days, questions, just whatever you feel like writing about. And the chat room is great, too! I love to go in there and get suggestions or tell someone about what I do or sometimes just to laugh and have a good time. Laughing is great medicine and so is having yourself surrounded with people who truly care and understand. Stacey, is right when she told you to start small. I haven't had a weight problem all my life, but I started gaining 5 years ago and had over 100 pounds to lose. I struggled with it just like so many of us do until I stopped focusing on the weight and decided to get healthy. To me being healthy isn't just about weight. It's a whole package and when I work on it all.... mind, spirit, attitude and body the weight will follow naturally and safely and permanently! I don't advocate any diet pills or aids like that. They might help initially, but it's only a temporary thing and the weight always comes back on plus a few. But I'm sure you already know this. Start small and make tiny little changes. Like Stacey said, maybe change your salad dressings, butter, milk etc... just little things like that. I started with making a pledge to drink 64 ounces of water a day - every day without fail. You can start walking a very little bit - maybe 15 minutes a few times a week. Then when you feel good doing that, up the time limit on it. Once you start having successes, you'll want to have more and more and you'll be in a positive cycle instead of that vicious one that you are in now. I know that vicious cycle well and won't ever let it own me again! Life is too short to be sad and depressed and you are too valuable to think that there is nothing you can do. Just make up your mind that you are going to have a "life" makeover and then make plans to do it. If you want to e-mail, write to me anytime. It's good to write through the boards, though, too.. because then every one can benefit from things that you might have to say. And i always check this board every day because it helps me so much to write.

Remember how good you'll feel when you begin to take back your life. Food won't rule you anymore.... It's not always going to be easy, but it IS always worth it! You CAN do this! We all can if we join hands and help each other! I have lost 40 pounds and have 60+ to go... I'm getting there the right way this time and there's no going back for me. You can have the same things if you want them...

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Here's to healthy and happy!

Dj

Thanks to Pauline, Sunshine and DJ for your replies and your words of support. I'm realizing that talking and sharing every day with people who understand just might be the way to staying on track. I look forward to keeping in touch with all of you.

Glad to hear you'll be coming around, Bamika! I hope to see you in the chat room sometimes. It'll be nice to get to know you. Have a great weekend and hope to see you soon!

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Here's to healthy and happy!

Dj

I am new to this site too. And I love it. I am sure I will find all the support I will ever need with so many people here that are going thru or have been thru the same thing.
I decided to give up on "dieting" and just keep moving and eating smaller portions. Good luck to you, I will be praying for your success as well as my own. I am going to try to drink more water too. Most days I drink 5 or 6 glasses of water but sometimes only 2 or 3. I am going to pledge starting today to drink 8 glasses of water every day. Thanks to the post about the water.


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Originally posted by Bamika55:
Hi everyone. I find myself writing with great hesitation. I need to lose over 100 pounds and I sure could use some support from people who are in a similar situation and understand. I've been overweight my whole life, I went to my first diet clinic at 8 years old. I tried many diets for many years but have pretty much given up for the last ten years. I feel sad and depressed by how I look and feel. I would like to start today to try again. I came upon this site by accident but maybe it will be just what I need. All replies welcome.
Hang in there. When I started, I also needed to lose 100 pounds. I decided that the year 2000 was going to ge a turning point in my life. I have lost 24 pounds and on my way to a healthier tomorrow. You can do it too. Keep coming here and get the support that you need.


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