Hi everyone *waves* I am new here! I am at the start of my weight loss/fitness and its the first time I've joined a support forum cos I think this journey can sometimes feel lonely and its good to feel like there are others in the same boat.
Here is my story so far (if anyone wants to know...)
My vital(!) statistics:-
Height - 5ft7 / 170cm
Boobs - 34 FF
Dress Size (UK) 14/16
Heaviest weight - 92kg / 202lb
Current weight - 85kg / 187lb
Target weight - 70kg / 154lb
Ideal Weight - 65kg / 143lb
Like many women this isn't the first time I've been 'on a diet' however that was when I was younger and slimmer so it was easier to lose weight. However I am now 28 and 4 years ago I lived in Australia for a year and put on a lot of weight (got a bit too used to the laid back lifestyle!!!) The most annoying thing is that 2 years ago I lost a lot of weight through diet and exercise but last year I had a few changes in my life which meant I ended up putting all the weight back on!!! I am so angry with myself!
(
Along with going up to a UK size 16 I found my esteem really plummeted and I think for a while I was really quite depressed, I didn't want to go out at all as my friends are all very thin (tiny size 6's and size 8's!) so I always felt like the 'fat friend' - no matter what I wore I felt like a great big hippo- so I stayed in and became a bit reclusive. It didn't help that my parents were constantly reminding me that I was / I am overweight and telling me that no man would ever fall in love with me if I was a size 16 (imagine how I felt when my own mother was telling me that!) it really hurt because I knew it wasn't true and despite being overweight I didn't feel unlovable. My mum has always been stick thin and two of her sisters have bulimia and I always vowed never to become like that because its not healthy. Even though I was slim as a teenager I had big boobs and a curvy derriere so I have always looked 'curvy' even when I was slim. I've always been made to feel embaressed of my curves and my family always teased me even though my Dad is 18 stone and very overweight, he would call me 'thunder thighs' even when I was a slim size 10 (I have quite muscular thighs!) and that was really upsetting. When I first went away to university I was hardly eating as I didn't have much money and I was doing a lot of walking to and from uni so I lost a lot of weight and went down to a tiny size 8 (which is very small for me!) my hips were jutting out and you could see my ribs, so I was probably too thin, and my mum was telling me to eat more and put on weight. Needless to say now I have put on weight and she says I am 'too fat' and that I was 'perfect' at a size 8... so really, I feel like I can't win either way! I guess I will never be the 'perfect' daughter!
Anyway, to hell with that, I am doing this for myself and not anyone else!
So last month I joined a gym and I do about 3 hour-long workouts per week (although trying to increase to 4) and I have been trying to eat healthier and cutting out bread and potatoes (and cutting down on alcohol) I haven't been on a specific diet but maybe I will try one. It is difficult cos I love my food and love to cook, although I am trying to create healthy meals (low G.I.) and still enjoy the taste. One of my biggest weaknesses is Marmite on toast (with lots of butter!) which I LOVE but as I have given up bread I get my Marmite 'fix' by spreading it onto a cracker or an oatcake, and no butter... less calories! Also I have been having Watermelon & Feta Salad for lunch it is delicious!!!
So that's a bit about me, as I write this I am wearing my Spanx, and I dream of the day I can slip on a dress without having to stuff my wobbly bits into tight lycra undergarments aka scaffolding...!!!
I look forward to being a part of this support group, good luck to everyone who is embarking on this journey!!!
) x
Here is my story so far (if anyone wants to know...)
My vital(!) statistics:-
Height - 5ft7 / 170cm
Boobs - 34 FF
Dress Size (UK) 14/16
Heaviest weight - 92kg / 202lb
Current weight - 85kg / 187lb
Target weight - 70kg / 154lb
Ideal Weight - 65kg / 143lb
Like many women this isn't the first time I've been 'on a diet' however that was when I was younger and slimmer so it was easier to lose weight. However I am now 28 and 4 years ago I lived in Australia for a year and put on a lot of weight (got a bit too used to the laid back lifestyle!!!) The most annoying thing is that 2 years ago I lost a lot of weight through diet and exercise but last year I had a few changes in my life which meant I ended up putting all the weight back on!!! I am so angry with myself!
Along with going up to a UK size 16 I found my esteem really plummeted and I think for a while I was really quite depressed, I didn't want to go out at all as my friends are all very thin (tiny size 6's and size 8's!) so I always felt like the 'fat friend' - no matter what I wore I felt like a great big hippo- so I stayed in and became a bit reclusive. It didn't help that my parents were constantly reminding me that I was / I am overweight and telling me that no man would ever fall in love with me if I was a size 16 (imagine how I felt when my own mother was telling me that!) it really hurt because I knew it wasn't true and despite being overweight I didn't feel unlovable. My mum has always been stick thin and two of her sisters have bulimia and I always vowed never to become like that because its not healthy. Even though I was slim as a teenager I had big boobs and a curvy derriere so I have always looked 'curvy' even when I was slim. I've always been made to feel embaressed of my curves and my family always teased me even though my Dad is 18 stone and very overweight, he would call me 'thunder thighs' even when I was a slim size 10 (I have quite muscular thighs!) and that was really upsetting. When I first went away to university I was hardly eating as I didn't have much money and I was doing a lot of walking to and from uni so I lost a lot of weight and went down to a tiny size 8 (which is very small for me!) my hips were jutting out and you could see my ribs, so I was probably too thin, and my mum was telling me to eat more and put on weight. Needless to say now I have put on weight and she says I am 'too fat' and that I was 'perfect' at a size 8... so really, I feel like I can't win either way! I guess I will never be the 'perfect' daughter!
Anyway, to hell with that, I am doing this for myself and not anyone else!
So last month I joined a gym and I do about 3 hour-long workouts per week (although trying to increase to 4) and I have been trying to eat healthier and cutting out bread and potatoes (and cutting down on alcohol) I haven't been on a specific diet but maybe I will try one. It is difficult cos I love my food and love to cook, although I am trying to create healthy meals (low G.I.) and still enjoy the taste. One of my biggest weaknesses is Marmite on toast (with lots of butter!) which I LOVE but as I have given up bread I get my Marmite 'fix' by spreading it onto a cracker or an oatcake, and no butter... less calories! Also I have been having Watermelon & Feta Salad for lunch it is delicious!!!
So that's a bit about me, as I write this I am wearing my Spanx, and I dream of the day I can slip on a dress without having to stuff my wobbly bits into tight lycra undergarments aka scaffolding...!!!
I look forward to being a part of this support group, good luck to everyone who is embarking on this journey!!!