[MelMBrsl75]

Hi everyone I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Melissa. I am a 32 year old female. I came to this forum looking for some support and to get some great outlooks and tips on weight loss. I have gained 45 pounds in a year and half. I plunged down to a size 7-8 in 2006 because of a stressful situation in my marriage. I was very happy with my weight but it was that weight because all I did was smoke and drink coffee, not a very good diet but I was very stressed out and with me stress makes me physically sick and eating makes it worse. My husband and I worked things out and still are everyday. When I am happy I EAT! ..lol, not very good, I know. I love to celebrate life with food. As a teen I was always small. I was a size 5-6 when I met my husband. When I had children is when I gained weight. With my son I gained more than 80 pounds. After my first son I was into a size 16 and lost all the weight and was into a size 9-10 which I felt comfy in. I am 5'6 and like to weigh about 140 pounds which is a size 8-9 for me. I dont want to be skinny ever, just healthy. With my 2nd son Andrew I gained almost 60. I was a size 14 and weighed 180 pounds for a few years. Than this all happened in my marriage and boom, now I am a size 14-16 and weigh about 185-190. I have invested in a great treadmill and walk 4 days a week a mile and half and bought a strengthing system as well to lift weights,zone on parts of my body. I drink Slimfast 5 days a week and eat small dinners. Two days a week I allow myself to have a dessert and eat 3 small meals a day. I am going back to the doctors as well bcause I belive my Thyroid is under again. I have been on Thyroid pills for 2 years now and I am havng a hard time losing weight even though I am working out. Thanks for reading and I look foward to losing the weight and maybe helping a new friend or two and some friends to help me!

[maleficent]

welcome to the forum, glad to have you here...

from what you're desribing, your calorie intake on a daily basis is extremely low, so that might be a factor in your slow weight loss - you really do need to eat to lose weight.

You might want to consider getting an account at FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal or one of the many other free on line food journal sites and keep track of your daily calories and nutrients just to see where you really are.

[MelMBrsl75]

very true, and thanks, I will look at that site! ... Just being a member has made me feel awesome! .. I feel so much better just thinking about how great it will feel to feel like I used to when I put on my size 7-8 ..lol. Thanks again!

[kbingel]

Hi,

Welcome aboard. I have only just joined myself but it is fun and inspirtational to visit here and post when you are serious about your weight loss. It seems like you have a good handle of what needs to be done and a good attidute also.

I dont want to be skinny ever, just healthy.

You have a lot of the same issues I had at one time. Like you, I was always very skinny until I had my kids. I tended to gain LOTS of weight with each baby but eventually made it back to a decent weight. Then after gaining some of it back again, I went through a divorce and went down to 118#'s. Wow, it happened all by itself. STRESS. Not healthy however. Now its been a good 18 years later. I remarried a great guy. We had another baby, I gained weight again, lost it again, started having Thyroid problems and BAMM!!!!! I was up to the 180's and had NEVER seen that number before. Now, I had a Hysterectomy and they put me on estrogen and I gained another 10# in 6 weeks. Holy #*?#!# So, I am doing what you are doing. Trying to eat less, eat healthy and exercise. Currently I am in Chicago visiting with my 2 older chiildren and it has been about eating every ethnic food we can get our hands on. (of course they are skinny minnys!!! ) I am trying to be good but I know that when I get home, I will have tto recommit the time and energy to get with it.

As for you, keep posting. We have a lot of the same wight gain patterns and about the same amount to lose so it will be fun to buddy up and support one another. Have a great day!!!!!

[MelMBrsl75]

thanks, it sounds like we do have alot of the same. this site has motivated me all day!... I am happy and look foward to being at a healthy weight. I am going to get my thyroid checked again, I think it may be down. Thanks for the inspiration and we will reach our goals!