Hi all,
I'm new to the forum. I will begin by telling you I'm a 19 year old female. I am 5'9 and have always managed to stay at a really healthy and good looking weight until recently. I didn't even notice the weight, until I noticed the stretch marks. I went from weighing about 135 to about 165-170. I feel horrible whenever I look at the scale now, and I want this weight to be gone. I want to be back to the weight I was before, when I felt good. Like I said, I didn't even notice myself putting on weight until my jeans didn't fit anymore, and I saw the stretch marks coming on my sides and my legs.

I'm joining this forum looking for support. I am going on a cruise in September with my wonderful boyfriend, and as it stands right now I am disgusted at the thought of putting on a swimsuit. I want to look good and feel confident and fit by the time this trip comes around, and I can't do it alone. My boyfriend is supportive and always tells me I look good, but I want support from people who are on the same journey as I am.

My main struggle is self control. I don't have a good diet, and I don't exercise enough. I get in the mindset of wanting to lose weight, but temptation takes over.

Please help.

Thanks, and I am sure I'll meet some very nice people on here.

Welcome to the forum...you have plenty of time to reach your goal weight before your cruise. There are lots of nice folks here.

It is easy to have weight creep up on you...easy to come on, and hard to come off.

But, you can do it.

Regards,
Jim

Thanks Jim.

I just put up a weight loss journal, I figure that'd be a good place to start.

welcome to the forum...
hmmm have you thought of calorie counting?! i know this really helps me... except on those days when i cant shake bad feelings... it makes me feel good to be in control... (usually =P ) and alot of the times... you dont even realize how many calories you are consuming...i used to eat like 600 calories of peanut butter o: because i didnt know what the serving size was lol =P
good luck^^

step 1) figure out approximately how many calories you were eating a day.

Step 2) Cut out 200-300 calories a day. Keep count, buy a food scale. You have no idea how important this step is. 70-80% of your success lies here.

step 3) Create a workout routine that will confuse your body. First, lift weights. Try and get to 3 sets of 15 so you can build lean muscle mass. Cardio, do a different machine every day (treadmill, elliptical, bike, etc). On top of that, every time you hit that machine again, do a different setting. i.e manual one day at level 10, random setting the next time you do that machine.

Step 4) Get your body fat analysis done, and get measurements around your waist, hips, arm and thighs. You may not show progress on the scale, but maybe you lose an inch around your waistline. The scale can be the devil sometimes.

This is your basic process. Hope this helps.

A weight loss journal is a great start. Don't just note what you ate but also what you were feeling emotionally Most people overeat because of emotions. Use the food journal to notice patterns of when you overeat. Just this awareness can help you get in touch with yourself and is very powerful. Also don't beat yourself up - it doesn't help you. Be your number one supporter and know that there is always hope.