Hello, I am new and thought I would post a little about myself.

I am an 18 year old actress at university. My weight problems started at the age of 9 when I developed anorexia, later to spiral into a mix of anorexia and bulimia.

My weight fluctuated into my early teens as I battled with my disorders from 67 pounds to 168. I have since the age of 12 been 4'10 so a healthy weight for me is around 98 pounds as I have quite a small frame [UK size 3 feet.. US size 5.]

By the age of 16 things began to get better and I settled around a weight of 154, which was a little overweight but I was happy.

Then with the beginning of year 12 and college I went the other way and started binge eating and my weight spiralled out of control to 215 pounds. I was afraid to diet in case I got ill again but I was disgusted with myself.

In September last year I started a diet and lost 30 pounds ending up at 185. since then I have moved to university away from home and gained back to 204.

I am now starting again, slow but steady. I felt I needed the support of the forums to not get back into my old bad habits thus ending up at far too low a weight, far too fast.

Reading everyones stoies has given me loads of motivation and I am aiming to lose at 3 pounds a week. I have rejoined my gym and go 6 days a week for 1.5 hours doing 1 hour cardio and half an hour weights. I also do 3 hour dance class on Thursday. I am reducing my calorie intake to 1100 [which I think is healthy for my tiny frame] esxcept Thursdays when I allow 1500 due to loads of exercise. I also walk to and fro uni 3 days a week which takes 40 mins all tolled. I look forward to sharing my journey with you all!

Good luck to everyone.

Lilypop.

I'm a little concerned about your calorie range being too low - your calories have to support your current body -not where you want to be... so you might want to bump them up and then slowly adjust them down as you get closer to your goal weight - especially given that you are exercising so much...

With them so low, you've given yourself no room at all to play with them...

Do start yourself a diary and spend some time reading around the forum - epseically the stickied threads in nutrition and exercise... welcome and have fun while you are here

3lbs a week is also a big jump 1 percent o f your body weight is a managable goal... you didn't gain the weight overnight -you aren't going to lose it overnight - patience with yourself..

Hey! Nice to see another 18 year old college student here! Three pounds a week is a little ambitious; most people are really lucky if they manage 1 or 2 pounds.

Thanks for the welcme guys! Just had my first weigh-in and lost 6 pounds.. maybe I am eating too few calories. What would you recommend?

Lilypop

With exercise - 10 calories per pound is usually a good starting point..

Depending on what you were eating before - like if you were eating al ot of higher fat or processed foods, early weight loss efforts will give you big drops - it ends up being a lot of water weight - so don't expect big drops like that regularly..

COnstistency is what will give you the best results...

I try to stick to anywhere from 1500 to 1800 calories a day, that way I have wiggle room and I'm not starving myself. There for a while I was trying to stay at anywhere from 1200-1400 and I was just miserable most of the time because I wasn't getting enough food.

Thanks for the help guys! I feel a bit fuzzy inside hehehe.

Maleficent, I don't really eat processed fatty foods but I am a bit of a wine drinker, and I indulge in to much home cooked food I guess. I have invested in a george foreman grill so hopefully that'll help a bit. I am also planning on having spritzers instead of wine when out. And vodka is 55 calories a shot so no more of that!

Hey Lindsey, starving is a horrible feeling especially at college where your brain needs to work! And everyone around you eating all they want. Worst thing about my college is starbucks... caramel cream frappucinnos are my downfall!