From Rachel, Age 19 - 03/01/11 - IP#: 99.127.197.xxx  Click here to reply  
Ht. 5'3", Start: 195 lb, Today: 309 lb (BMI %tile: 98), Goal: 135 lb - Hi, I'm Rachel. I hate the word "fat" and had always claimed to everyone I wasn't fat, just big-boned because I was too scared to face the truth. I really have gotten fat. I hadn't weighed myself for several years until 2 days ago, and was startled to see the weight I've gained! I eat whenever I am not occupied with something else, and lately this habit has become even worse. I am almost always eating something, usually fast food. After learning about my startling weight gain, 195 to 309, I really looked myself. I barely noticed how large my stomach has become. I can no longer fit in most chairs, and have to purchase 2 airline tickets because I cant fit in a single seat. A few weeks ago I was flying to see my grandparents, and it was so so embarrassing. I tried to fit myself into one seat, but I just couldn't! The button on my jeans (which, apparently, are too small now thanks to my quickly growing stomach) kept coming undone as I tried to force myself into the seat, and I kept bumping into the people around me. My legs and stomach are the worst, I have stretch marks and rolls everywhere. I know I need to lose weight, but the food always looks so good! I can't stop eating, it's an addiction. I can barely find clothes that fit now, please help me stop before I get any bigger!
Reply from elsa, Age 18 - 04/25/11  - IP#: 174.252.103.xxx
Hey im pretty much in the same boat as you. I can't stop eating! If you want to email or IM or yahoo chat me send it to carlatheartist77@yahoo.com. or just carlatheartist77 for IMs. We can get past our big bellies together!
 
Reply from bianca, Age 20 - 03/03/11  - IP#: 72.151.101.xxx
love ally13's advice by the way...my first comment seems kinda harsh...but i do alot of what ally does, the cutoff time---->mines 7pm and i just recently started no carb for 14 days to eventually get to the reverse-carb plan that she uses....it all makes perfect sense!!!!
 
Reply from bianca, Age 20 - 03/03/11  - IP#: 72.151.101.xxx
ohh babygirl i wish you were right in front of me so i could shake you! and then hug u...... i've been on plenty diets and they work but if u dont change your ind about food u will remain trapped, food is delicious but it can't rule your life. or it will be your life and thats not living. i keep recomending this tip----> six inch plate. like the size of a dessert plate, eat every meal on a smaller plate, no seconds and change the way you eat---> chew more, put your fork down, drink water or diet soda between bites and focus on feeling full. i wont lie the first 3 days are hard, but after those 3 days your stomach will shrink and adjust.... this way you can still eat what u want and get results. i have a friend who went from almost 400 lbs to 145 this way and she said the first 3 days all she ate was desserts but even 3 small desserts was less than what she ate on the regular.... right now i am on a low-carb six inch diet...i'll let u know how it works...
 
Reply from Ally13, Age 23 - 03/01/11  - IP#: 74.92.246.xxx
Rachel, hi! Welcome to blubberbusters =). I'm so sorry about what you had to go through on the plane. It can be hard being overweight and not even knowing how you got to that point/how to get past it. I often lied to myself about how I looked, but when I saw photos, I couldn't believe that 'fat' blonde girl was me.
Food is a very alluring addition, as you mentioned, and unfortunately, only you can be the one to help you stop over-eating. We can offer tips, encouragement and a place to vent/brag, but the weight loss journey starts with a will to see yourself in a healthier place.
There are some relatively easy (and painless) ways to start seeing changes though. For instance, cut out most soda and really sugary drinks (Starbucks, most fruit juices, gatorade, kool-aid) and start drinking water. If you can't stand the taste of the stuff (I'm not a huge fan), use those crystal light 10 calorie packets that you can mix into a water bottle - the fruit punch one tastes exactly like red Kool-aid! Also, set a cut-off time in the evening where you don't eat after that. I usually aim for 8pm. Another big thing that's helped me is to eat most of my carbs in the morning (think toast with cereal or oatmeal with fruit) and reduce the carbs with each subsequent meal, ie: by dinner, eat lean protein with a salad or steamed veggies and maybe one piece of bread. That way, you're giving your body most of the day to burn through those carbs. If you're a big sweets person like I am, you probably have a tough time staying away from the brownies and cookies. If so, give yourself a treat say, once a week, to look forward to and go ahead and eat that doughnut.
Basically, losing weight is about moderation. If you try to go cold turkey on too many things, you're going to find it too difficult and just give up. Why not try just one of the things I listed above and see if it helps? There's no 'right' way to lose weight. Each person has different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to food and exercise. You need to play to your strengths and try to avoid your weak spots. The main thing is that you keep at it. I've tweaked my regimen probably a dozen times in the last two years, but I've remained consistent with certain key things I know help me lose weight (mainly what I listed above).
This site is wonderful, but I'd also like to recommend a second, supplementary site: www.caloriecount.about.com. It offers an amazing network of people who have/had the same questions and problems you're currently facing, not to mention great tools that help you: bmi calculator, weight loss graphs, etc. It's a free site to join and it's one of the best discoveries I ever made. I'm on there under ally1355 so if you join, feel free to add me as a friend (just make sure you let me know it's you =D).