Hi everyone. I'm so glad I found this site! I have struggled with my weight for my entire life. I have been up and down the scale and I am sick of it! I want to get to a good healthy weight, a good level of fitness and an active healthy lifestyle and stay there! I have been all of those things in the past but here I am overweight, out of shape and unhappy. So many times I have said "this is it, I am going to change for good" and obviously my plans did not work out. For this I take full responsibility. However, I am also taking full responsibility for my life, my body, and my happiness from this moment on. I know all about healthy living, for the most part I practice it. However, I have binge eating disorder. I'm not exactly sure when it started but i've used food as a coping mechanism for a long time. I am 24 years old now and I am determined to not let it ruin my life any longer! Anyways, I'm just really grateful to have found this site and to be able to share my thoughts, struggles and triumphs as I press on towards forming a healthy, happy life for myself! I am going to use this as a journal. So, to all of you out there, let's do this together!

Great attitude! You can do it girlfriend!!

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Hey girl,

Thanks for the really thoughtful and encouraging note you left in my journal- I responded accordingly. Through my experience on this site, I have found so many people who have shared and continue to share personal struggles with eating/weight loss that have unfortunately resulting in similar disastrous circumstances like myself [i.e. eating disorders]. However, all of us are still confronting our demons, regardless of how many 'relapses' we may endure. So, I think you'll fit in very well

Where are you from? What do you do for fitness? Hope you're having a great day!

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Hey!
Thanks so much for your encouragement! I'm still learning my way around this sight. I'm so grateful for it! Sometimes I feel like I don't want to share my weight troubles with my friends because I don't want to be a bother. See I've always been the "counselor" for my friends, I've always been the one to help everyone else out with their problems. Anyways.
I'm from Canada, right now I live in Calgary, Alberta but I'm originally from Manitoba and I'm moving home for the summer. As for work outs, I've done a variety of things over the years. But right now I am working on getting back into a solid routine. I am currently following an interval training plan at the gym. Interval cardio sessions on the Octane (which is like an eliptical) and then I do interval strength sessions, upper and lower on separate days. But I haven't been going full force. This is what I want to change. I like being in shape so I'm going to try to get as much physical activity into my life as possible. So here is my plan: 6:00 am - 30-40 min. walk/jog and 15 min. ab routine, then after work go to the gym and continue with my program. Then later in the evening go for a hike. There is a park behind my place with big rolling hills. As far as eating goes, like I said before, I'm pretty healthy. So basically I'm just kicking the binging. I think the activity in the evenings will help. As I think I said before, watching t.v. is a trigger for me, so after tonight's season finale of the Bachelor (yes I love the show-guilty pleasure!) I am going to put my t.v. into my storage room. I think this will help to kick start my "get-fit/take back my life" plan.
How are things going for you lately? I'm sure you've written it in your diary thread but, what does your work-out plan look like?
Thanks so much listening and responding!
p.s. I still can't get the ticker thing to work for me! Ugghhhh!

I don't share my weight struggles with my friends either. I think they have seen me go up and down so much, they don't really care. Even worse, my girlfriends sometimes seem to get jealous when I lose weight. Wish they'd just be happy for me. Some are, but others are competitive. Maybe because we are single!

Anyhow, what ticker site are you using?? Let me know if you need help. I usually cut and paste the code into the signature box. I think I usually choose the HTML code.

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We are the same person! I too have always been and will forever be the one who condones 'words of wisdom' to everyone in my social circle- i've always treasured the fact that so many people feel confident enough to come to me for their troubles but in confronting my own demons, I've found it to be more of a curse than a blessing.

I'll write more tom to answer your questions, ok? i'm knackered and I too am watching bachelor night x

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Hey lady-

I can completely relate to not wanting to 'burden' your friends with your 'weight problems'. The only thing is, most of the time, if they become aware of the gravity of your situation, they are more than happy to listen to you.. It's when they think you're just complaining about your weight that they begin to drift off into lala land. But from personal experience, once I informed a few of my closest friends that this wasnt just an annoyance but a disease- a disorder, they suddenly woke up and started paying attention. Perhaps you should do the same- make your friends understand that this isnt just a minor issue but something that pervades your everyday thinking. Just a consideration.. Food for thought [no pun intended].

It sounds like your fitness potential is there- you seem to know what to do to obtain your desired results. I follow the 'buff brides woirkout' only because I am trying to tone for my body. Thus far, i like it as the exercises are very 'female-oriented' and enjoyable. I'd be happy to send you a few of the routines if you wanted. As for cardio, i'm a bit lazier than most- i do about 20 minutes on my weight training days [usually m,w,f] and 40 minutes on alternating days. I know i need to step up the cardio to burn the desired calories so i'm en route to this goal!

COuldnt stay up for last hour of the bachelor- searching internet to figure out who won! Have a great day and keep your focus!

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Hey girls,

Well, things aren't the best right now. I had a couple of real good days this past week, however, last night was not good at all. I work at a school and it was the grade 12 grad last night. I was supposed to go, I was even supposed to help set up. It was gonna be lots of fun. I tried on a number of dresses from my closet, no surprise they didn't fit anymore. So I went to the mall and tried on a bunch of dresses there, alone, because I don't have any close friends in this city. I even bought those 'suck-you-in-underwear/shorts' it didn't seem to help much either. Oh it was not fun. And time was ticking away. (See I only decided to go last minute so I was shopping the day of grad.) I knew I had to get in the shower and by that time I couldn't wait to get out of the mall as I was fighting back tears. So I went home, crying all the way. When I got home I didn't know what to do and I felt so crappy. So I just sat down and zoned out with the TV and waited for the time to pass until I didn't have to go anymore. It passed. But then I felt even worse, I let my weight get in the way of a good time, oh its not the first time all year I've let my weight get in the way of good times. But this time I realized I had to face all of my co-workers on Monday with questions "oh what happened to you?". I called my sister for some support, had a real good cry and felt better. But it was a shitty, shitty day! Today I feel alright, only because I am packing up my apartment and it will take the entire day, a welcomed excuse not to have to get dressed and go out. I seriously do not enjoy getting ready, every day when I get up and go to work I try to find something to wear that works and hopefully disguises some of my weight gain, gone are the days when I enjoyed getting ready and picking out outfits. I hate this! I'm sick of it and I'm going to turn these feelings into motivation. I don't want to feel like this anymore!

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