I bought a scale today and was startled to find that I weighed 226.4 pounds. I've gained a full 16 pounds from the last time I weighed myself. I'm not going to let it get me down though. I'm 5'6" and my goal weight is 197.

I really need support through this, which is why I joined this website. I'm twenty and I live with my boyfriend and a roommate- neither of which have terrific eating habits- so I get tempted all the time. I also eat my stress. I've been dieting for a few days and walking at least two miles a day for the past three.

Welcome, Catherine! You'll find lots of info and support here. I would check out some of the stickies--especially in the exercise and harsh truth sections (if you haven't already) There is some great advice there.

I know what it's like living with people who are not pursuing the same weight loss goals that you are. I live with constant food temptation, but I've still managed to drop 40lbs. My secret is that I'm soo focused and determined to lose this weight that I refuse to let anything deter me from my goal. I look upon the ice cream in the freezer as my enemy, and I avoid it (most of the time!) I will let myself have a spoonful once in awhile, but not a bowl of it. The same goes for every other "naughty" food in the house.

Best Wishes!!

Oops, that was a misprint...my GW is 167.

Anyway, thank you bikinibound!

Looking around this website, it's amazing how much people know about how to lose weight! I'm glad they're putting it to use. I enjoy reading other's journals. It's cheesy but it really does inspire me to stick to it when I see others who have lost the same amount of weight I want to lose.

I'm doing crunches, leg lifts and push ups to try to build a little bit of muscle (which burns more calories at rest) as well as my walking. So far, I've been doing well, with just a cup of coffee and a protein bar (one that actually tastes good: Zone Perfect) for breakfast. I eat a little every two to three hours and find that I'm hungry more often that way! (I didn't use to be hungry very often). I'm not calorie counting because I've tried that in the past and it would put me off dieting. I know what's good and what isn't, so I'll stick to that.

Last night I had half a slice of pizza. That's the worst thing I've eaten in 5 days or so.

My boyfriend found out I was dieting (I wasn't hiding it, I just wasn't talking about it). Instead of whining as usual (he likes my body the way it is and doesn't want me to change it and has, at times, sabotaged my diet on purpose), he asked me if I wanted to join the YMCA with him. Before I met him 3 years ago, my weight hovered at 190. Maybe he has finally noticed my weight gain. Its nice to have his support.

hey there, nice to meet you !

the support of a partner helps greatly. Ive put on at least 30 lbs since meeting my boyfriend and he is so supportive of me. I know he loves me as i am, but has also said he doesnt want to lose me, and wants me healthier. We have spoke long and hard about my weight because it is a topic that often upsets me. He has said honestly it he loves me no less, and still finds me beautiful but he wants to help and support me as much as he can.

He works out alot and is very wise about food groups and nutrition so has helped me compile some recipes and daily allowances of foods.

I cant wait to drop all the weight and put on a hot little black number for him

Good luck with your weight loss goal, keep us all informed !

Thanks for the reply faye faye!

My BF is overweight too, so we're starting the journey together. He supports my diet but doesn't believe healthy diet is that effective. He thinks he'll lose the weight just exercising (I guess you can do it, it just takes more exercise than I want to/am conditioned to do).

I ate relatively well yesterday. I had mall food, but it was just a chicken pita at orange julius (after forgetting to eat for four hours, it was so good.--I actually forgot to eat, I can't believe it!) I didn't get an opportunity to go on my normal walk, but I did ten stair laps on my stairs and did my normal crunches/leg lifts/push ups. I walked around in the mall (some of that was powerwalking because we found a Wii in stock and needed to get to an ATM fast). I also played some Wii Sports. I'm not getting hungry as often, which is a good sign .

I'm sure the reason your bf has tried to sabotage your previous weight loss attempts is b/c since he's also overweight, he's afraid that if you lose weight you'll ditch him. that is a very unhealthy mindset--along with his belief that healthy eating isn't important to losing weight.

Perhaps you should mention this to him---and say that if he loves you, he'll want you to be healthy and feel good about yourself. At your current weight you are at increased risk for all kinds of health problems. His reasons for wanting you to stay the way you are are purely selfish ones based on insecurity and perhaps laziness b/c he doesn't want to change his unhealthy eating patterns...lol

Good luck with that. It is very hard to win the battle of the bulge if your partner isn't on board. If he refuses to be supportive, then you might want to get rid of him--that's not the kind of person you need in your life.

Hi Katherine, I'm a newbie too. I have a trick for making my boyfriend eat healthy. I make the food. He has to eat what I make or I get insulted. And then, before he can ruin a good dinner with a bad snack I entice him to bed for some *excercise*...TMI. Hey, it works
Hows the wii working out for you? I want to get one, but I'm afraid if I do I might have to quit my day job so I can stay home and play it.

hehe good job at the mall ! as for forgetting to eat, thats something i do all too often. Like i'll be busy in college work or watching a dvd etc and just wont think to eat.

When on a diet i know its important to eat meals throught the day and keep your metabolism going, i just sometimes struggle to remmeber because for so long when i was younger i wouldnt eat till i was hungry which could even be days.

Ive been doing alot of research and now thats not healthy! hehe

Cool you have a wii.... id love one, they look awesome. i just cant afford one, after the $2000 we'll be spending on flights soon

keep up ur good work !

Welcome to the site! This is a great website for support. You and I started at about the same weight/height. I started at 225lbs, and I'm 5'5. I know all about being tempted. My family is constantly doing things, so there is never time to make a good meal. So my parents buy fast freezer foods, and lots of easy to make crap.

You'll do it, I know you can! Just keep your chin up and we'll all support you the whole way!

I didn't do any crunches/leg lifts/etc (anaerobic exercise) and I went for a shorter walk than usual (a little over a mile), because I got home pretty late in the day. I had to run my mom around, help her move some stuff in hot weather, and deal with an unfriendly part of my family, so it was stressful. At least I didn't binge as is usual for me when I have a stressful day.
Breakfast:
-Protein Bar
-Apple
-Coffee
Lunch:
-Roast Beef Sandwich
Dinner:
-Progresso Beef and Barley Vegetable Soup
Snack:
-Yogurt w/MultiGrain Cheerios mixed in
-Orange
*I usually don't eat this much meat. I get most of my protein from low-fat dairy products.
kaplooie: The wii helps me get in some mild activity and it's really fun.
bikinibound: My BF is being very supportive this time around. I'm aware of the reasons for partners sabotaging diets (psych major), but I also wasn't committed on previous diets and I think he sensed that. I have talked to him about it and he says that when he offered me unhealthy food in the past, he wasn't aware I was on a diet (I still don't think that was true every time). Now he is very aware.

Thanks to everyone that I didn't thank in my last post (it was kinda late, I was bleary). I appreciate every single message. I love the support.
After I got out of the shower, I thought "there is a beautiful shape under this fat." It made me happy.
I resumed my normal exercises. I'm going to change them up whenever I reach a plateau.
Breakfast- Protein Bar, coffee, apple
Lunch- 1/2 serving of Wheat Thins, 1/2 cup of cottage cheese, celery
Snack- 1/2 slice of cheese
Dinner- whole grain chicken-flavored rice with mixed vegetables
I'm nervous about going to the state fair tomorrow. I'm nervous about fair food- not being able to find ANYTHING remotely healthy. I could pack a lunch and lug it around with me all day. I could eat a healthy but hi cal breakfast. Or I could give myself a bit of a break and eat just enough of whatever's there that will fill me up. Is it bad that I want to do the last option?

Well, I ate a chicken skewer (lemongrass oil and curry, not bad) at the Thai stall and had steamed rice (white unfortuneately, simple carbs, *sigh*). I also had cheesecake b/c this was a birthday thing for my BF's mom.
I walked around for five hours so I think exercise is covered.

I weighed in this morning at 222. 4 pounds lost; I'm so happy! Back on track after yesterday, didn't let it get to me.

Congrats on losing 4lbs! Nice job. Glad your bf is on board now--that always helps. Don't worry about eating lean meat--you need to the protein.