Thanks so much for all of you who thought to do this. I was trying to get my friends to do an online weight loss thing with me, on a private website, but after the summer last year, most of us flaked on it. So, here I am, looking for some new friends who are focused on the same things I am, have the same issues I do... folks I can count on to help with motivation, especially when the school year starts again. I am a teacher and it's really, really rough to stay healthy when the school year starts. I'm also a mom of three. I emotionally eat, I know it, but don't know what to do about it, really.

Anyway, I decided that this summer, I was going to recommit myself to getting fit and healthy for me & secondly my family. And in all honesty, I'm just way too vain to be carrying this extra flab around. I really want my clothes to fit and if I need to buy a new *smaller* wardrobe, I'd just love it!

I just started doing Bikram Yoga again, rejoined my local YMCA, am training to run a NIKE half-marathon (mostly just to get the necklace, I am a bit selfish that way), am watching my food intake (FitDay.com), and have started journaling on my private blog -- which I may open up to friends I meet here.

It seems I've always battled weight, even if it was just perceived. But I truly began trying for healthy - (meaning no pills/fads) - after my first pregnancy - 10 years ago!! This effort came about because I noticed some back flab in the mirror the week after giving birth. How the heck does THAT happen? ICK! It was back and forth with weight loss and weight gain since then.

I've been trying to get rid of, ideally, 45 pounds, but realistically, if I can get myself to a healthy BMI - that means about a 15-20 loss, that would be REALLY fab! I have some medical history that my doctor is concerned about, so she suggested the DASH diet. Anyone heard of it? I haven't read about it yet. I need to and will before July 4.

Any tips suggestions etc.... would be most helpful. I look forward to posting and meeting all of you!

Hi and welcome! I've been here for a few weeks now, and it's really a nice supportive site. i don't really have any suggestions for you (check my ticker - I stink at weight loss!) but look forward to another companion on the journey!

Thanks for the swift reply. It's nice to know I'm not just posting into empty blog-o-sphere.
Have you been trying to lose weight for a long time? What have you tried that has worked? - even if just a little while? Collectively, you and I probably know a lot! Good luck on your journey and let me know if I can help provide motivation.. even if it's just to check your ticker and comment!

No empty blog-o-sphere here You've come to the right place for support for sure. There's also alot of people with alot dead on info who are willing to share and share their stories...can you tell I love this forum?

I'm new here too, about a week. I had to laugh today when I found the sticky that answered a bunch of questions I had, after the fact. Guess thats how I roll, lol. But anyway make sure you check out the journal/diary section and read about the challenge groups, they're awesome. The last sticky in the newcomers thread talks about those, and it's the one I missed.

I think the most helpful info I got was to click on peoples pics or names to get to their profile and then you can see threads they started or post in. It makes it much easier to find friends and keep in touch. Love your forum name by the way, it's great. Welcome and hope you like it here

What's a sticky?
I like your name, too!

OH woops sorry, lol. If you look at the tops of any forum topics you'll see some posts that look a little different. If you mouse-over them you'll see it says "stickied" or something like that and all it means is they always stay at the top and don't get bumped down like the rest. Usually they are guidelines posted by moderaters or stickied because they have good info.