Hello everyone, newcomer, here!

I'm a 27 yr. old female, 5'4", and anywhere between 154 and 158lbs. It varies.

I live in both Northern NJ and sometimes Manhattan (anyone in the area, feel free to PM me, I'm very open to gaining new companions and forming new friendships!).

I've battled weight issues since I was maybe 12-13 years old (though I thought I was fat at around age 5, but when I look at pictures from then I realize that I wasn't). My highest weight was 185lbs. when I was about 15 years old, and my lowest weight was about 135lbs. when I was bulimic at around age 18-19.

All of my adult life my weight's gone up and down.

My goals are to lose fat and gain muscle. I would like to lose about 3 dress sizes.

Anyway . . . my plan for weight loss:

I've joined a gym about a month and a half ago, and I do cardio and weights. I go about 5x a week. While the scale hasn't moved too much, I can tell a difference in the way my clothes are fitting. I think I'm going to go more by measurements than by pounds in order to determine my fat-loss success.

As for eating, well, that's my biggest challenge. The gym, I enjoy. I have no problem going, no problem with working out, and working hard. But eating . . . hehehe. Ever since I've been going to the gym, I've found that my appetite has increased, big-time. So, yeah, I've been trying to deal with the appetite increase, and deal with eating the right foods in moderate quantities. But it's definitely challenging for me, and, I'd say, is my biggest obstacle. I just bought a book called Eat Clean, and I've been trying to adopt its suggestions on how to eat, when to eat, what combinations of foods to eat, how much to eat, how often to eat, and so on.

Anywho, sorry this was so lengthy. I look forward to getting to know everyone!

Hello, I Can and Will! What a great attitude and mindset! Half the battle is in our minds and it sounds like you are off to a great start. I know what you are saying about loving to eat...I'm from southern Louisiana and that's ALL people do around here! Something that has been helping me stay full is eating food with more fiber in it. I switched the bread that eat from 9 grain bread to double fiber wheat bread (Nature's Own) and I can definitely feel the difference in my appetite. (Didn't mean to sound like a commercial there, I swear I don't work for nature's own!) Anyway, glad you are here!

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thanks, pastel, for your words of encouragement

i definitely need to incorporate more high-fiber (and the un-refind kinds!) into my eating plan. i'll def. look into that bread, and appreciate your suggestion!

(and yes, i do love to eat, and in my area am surrounded by restaurants - lol - bummer.)