I am the queen of yo-yo dieting. Every year, I start dieting in January, and by fall, I am down to about 130. Then for some reason, I just quit, and get up to about 150 by christmas. I have been doing this for many, many years. This past year, I got down to 119, and it felt GREAT!!! But now I am at the good old 150 again. I have made up my mind to slim down and STAY THAT WAY. My body is made up of a map of stretch mark to failure, and I'm tired of it. So, I am starting this week. I'll letcha know how it is going....

I know exactly how you feel. I too have had my share of failure and success with dieting. I was always heavy in high school, weighing 185 pounds on a 5'0" frame, at the time of graduation. One day, I woke up and said, "I don't want to live the rest of my life this way." I went on a low calorie diet and lost 55 pounds. It felt great! I thought I would never go back to the old me. Then, 2 years later, I had my first child. I didn't put the weight on right away, but gradually I crept past 185 and kept climbing. I tried many different diets to lose the weight, often losing up to 30 pounds with each try, but never succeded in reaching my goal. And I always put the weight back on. By the time my second child was born, I had ballooned up to 236 pounds. I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I was just destined to be fat. But I still felt so bad about myself. I didn't want to be 25 years old and morbidly obese. I made it my resolution this year to go on a diet and make it work! So far, I have dropped 11 pounds. Not much in the grand scheme of things, but a start. I really feel like I can do it this time. Every day doesn't feel like a struggle as they did in diets past. I don't obsess about food like I used to. I feel more motivated now than I ever have before. I just started the low carb diet this week and it's going really well. This site has also helped tremendously. It feels so good to have people to "talk" to. I think the support is the crucial element in a successful diet. I really feel that the support I've received so far has been the main reason why I have been able to follow through and make this committment to myself. Remember, never hesitate to ask for help. And don't give up! If you need a friend, you can e-mail me at TMARLEDGE@webtv.net anytime. Please take care, and good luck.
Melissa

I hear you! I am the queen of stretch marks myself. I've been yo yo dieting since high school, fluctuating between 120 and 160. Like you, I'm sick of the yo yo lifestyle. I think the key is finding a healthy eating plan along with some good steady exercise, though of course I realize that's all easier said than done! However, my fingers are crossed for you and I know you can do it! Wishing you the best!

It seems we are all experts in YO-YO dieting. Last year I stopped watching my weight and put 15 pounds on. I have started yet another diet today and will work on getting down to 145-150 lbs. again. I'm 5'10 and currently weight 165 about a size 9-10. However at this weight I feel FAT!
I do have one child and went up to 217 lbs. a few yrs. ago. It took me about 4 months (after my son was born) to get back down to 150 lbs. Now that I am older (30's)it is so hard to stay 145-150 bls.
But we keep trying...I'll try along with you. Keep us updated.

[This message has been edited by annlei (edited 02-12-2000).]