HI! I defiantly want to lose weight, I just have a problem when it comes to emotional/boredom eating. I was not overweight when I was really young but as soon as I got into I think 5th grade I started to gain weight and I have been gaining ever since. I have always been involved in many things and pretty active, but I don't have a lot of time to eat during the day, so when I do eat it is at night and I eat way more than I should. It makes me sick to look in the mirror because what I see is so gross and I hate it.
I too have other obese people in my family, my sister, mom, dad, and cousin are all obese and I don't want to be like this anymore. I really need to get a huge motivation so I can get my butt in gear, because day after day I just feel like I keep getting bigger and bigger.

readytolose, I am here for you. We can all be here for each other, because I have had a lot of the same feelings. If you aren't already friends with Jack, you should be. He has been an inspiration for me and I bet he could do the same for you. We are all in the same boat, so lets keep it afloat!

Okay, so this is the introduce ourselves thread.... I was an underweight kid who got fat fast around age 11 by binging when I couldn't deal things I had no control over - short pysch analysis version? Oh geez... anyway, I've been fighting it ever since, doing okay then rapid gaining during binge cycles undoing any progress made, then begin again again. Pretty much an emotional eater, sometimes well into a binge before I realize what's going on.

I currently weigh 343 lbs, close to my highest of 358. I prefer to weigh in metric because the numbers are nicer, LOL. In metric, I weigh 156 kgs.

I'm into binge prevention and eating "normal" healthy meals while working on portion control telling myself that I am only one person, not 2 or 3 or 4. I have no desire to diet (they only lead to binges.) Exercise is something I think about doing... what I can do is quite limited.

As for family? I am the fattest person in my immediate family, others are mostly average to overweight, one sister is also over 300 lbs. There have been morbidly obese people on both sides of the extended family back several generations.

I don't hate myself... my self image is fine, tho my body image may be distorted as it always surprises me to see how big I am in photos, store windows, etc. Ultimately, I'd like to get and stay under 200 pounds but to just get and stay below 300 pounds would be fabulous!

Good luck to us all!

Mars, I am not dieting at all, I believe the diets (and yes, even cutting out certain types of food like carbs is a diet) cause weight gain. There was actually a study done that can never be done again because since then they discovered that it is inhumane. What they did is they starved people for long periods of time and yes they did lose weight, but then they gave them food again and when they started eating what they wanted they over ate and gain all the weight they lost plus some. All the people that say they aren't dieting but making lifestyle changes are lieing to themselves. Whenever you are controlling what you eat by a certain standard then you are dieting.

What I am doing sounds like something that you would like to do if you aren't already doing it. "I Can Make You Thin" by Paul McKenna. It is all about portion control and hearing what our bodies are trying to tell us. Listening to when we are hungry and not hungry. There is also a mind reprogramming cd that comes with it and that has helped also. I would recommend reading the book for sure.

I'll look for that book as it might be interesting. Thanks!

I have not always been this way. I was a healthy weight until I started taking antidepressent meds in my early 30s. I would fluctuate up and down between 120 and 140, so I was always messing up my metabolism. When I started on meds, the weight piled on. I went up to 190 and over the next few years got up to 260. When I turned 40 I lost alot and went back down to 190 only to regain and then keep gaining. I am now 46 and have put on another 30 lbs since May and am up to 285. I am freaking out because I am so close to 300 lbs. I am desparate to lose this weight. I am the only one in my family that has this problem. My dad was chubby but nothing like this. I am so depressed about this. I know I overeat and that to lose I must give up about 2/3 of my daily intake. I just can't seem to get to the point where I can do it. HELP!!!!!!!

PS. I should also add I have been battling other physical problems too. I have had trouble with electrolytes and thyroid but they are now being treated and I am starting to get well. I am very, very weak but I have been able to get out and walk daily. I can't believe this is me, I have gotten so out of shape, just lifting my son hurts me, I have to sleep with a sheepskin under me so I don't get sore hips and shoulders! I feel like I am 90 years old!

I'm brand new and shocked! All the other groups you have this questionare to fill out before you can be a group memeber. I just clicked on 'join' and I'm actually a memeber? WOW I feel accepted and supported already!

Sorry I didn't even read topic, my bad! I just was so surprised that I didn't have to answer questions that make me feel worse about myself! I think I am going like it here!

grammy, you are most definitely welcome here! I am glad you joined us.

Kathy, I really know what you mean about being weak. there are times where I think about getting up and being active, but I just don't have the energy to even get up. I am not sure if this is due to being so overweight or just down right depressed. I was on a medication, not sure if it is actually an anti-depressant, Welbutrin, and when I was on it I actually lost 20 lbs. It not only made me lose weight, but it also helped my attitude. For a time it helped my marriage, but there were things that were so messed up that we couldn't fix them.

I did a real age test and I came up 41 and I am only 31 and there are times that I feel 90 also.

Getting started is the hardest part, and I can't tell you how to start, but I will definitely be here for you whenever you need me. I do think that the place to start is inside. When I started listening to a mind reprogamming cd I started feeling good about myself. I see myself differently. I know that I am beautiful the way I am, and taking that step has helped me to move forward and care about my health. I care more about myself now than I care about what others think of me.

Kathy, you are a beautiful person and that is probably the best thing to focus on now.

What can I say, I'M HOME among a caring family who understands!

Thanks so much for the understanding and encouragement!

At my highest I was 289. Now I am 267. I started gaining weight after my second pregnancy about 13 years ago. Before that I was very into sports volleyball, tennis and softball. So never gained weight due to the fact i was always moving. Now i want to get back into activities to help me lose weight because I too am an emotional eater and will eat in spirts of whole cakes, boxes of donuts.... So I am glad to be among friends. Not to mention I am now going through a divorce.

At my highest I was 289. Now I am 267. I started gaining weight after my second pregnancy about 13 years ago. Before that I was very into sports volleyball, tennis and softball. So never gained weight due to the fact i was always moving. Now i want to get back into activities to help me lose weight because I too am an emotional eater and will eat in spirts of whole cakes, boxes of donuts.... So I am glad to be among friends. Not to mention I am now going through a divorce.

Oh yeah I have an obese sister but she doesn't see herself that way. She is 5'2 and 230. She still squeezes into a medium and cuts off her circulation but shes satisfied that she was able to get the top on. But at the bottom she says clothes run small when she cant fit into a size 20.