Just another newbie! But a "super" one...haha

[SuperDork]

I guess you see why I'm SuperDork...lol. (yeah, but I'm not really that Super, just dorky)

Well let me introduce myself. I'm Jen, I'm 21 years old...I live in Colorado and I'm just starting Atkins today. I grew up and was never really overweight until I was about 14 - I kept getting told I Could be so pretty if I'd just lose weight (I'd already gone through my growth spurt and was the height I am now - 5'3" and I weighed about 130, which now blows my mind because I'd give my left arm to be that small again and in hindsight, I wasn't that big and I played sports so I was active!!! But I thought I was huge) and something snapped in me and I don't know, I just started eating and then there was family trouble and I ended up overweight. I never could pull myself out of that mindset or whatever and I got worse every year. I did lose about 60 pounds a few years ago and get to 170 and I was SO happy and proud and excited that I could wear a t-shirt that was a medium, then again...things pushed me back to that place where I was weak and upset and started eating again. As of yesterday I weigh 325 lbs. The thing is, in some ways....I don't feel that big. But then I see a picture of myself and I'm horrified. I can't take it anymore. I'm tired of not being able to even find clothes that fit, I can't hardly even sit in a chair at the theater....I know people look at me and stare and I'm just tired of it. And I'm tired of people treating me different because of this...I just want to be the person on the outside, that I feel like I am on the inside. I want to go snowboarding next winter...that's something I really want to work torwards. Being able to do something like that, that I've always wanted to but never been able to. Which is going to take a lot of work, because I just got an elliptical machine and I could only do a whole 2 minutes on it this morning without wanting to fall over.
I came here hoping that maybe I could find some friends who know what this is like and have support because I know I'll have days where I just feel like I can't keep doing this and I'll feel discouraged because I've got about 200 pounds I want to lose all total and that is just such a huge and scary number to me...

So, yeah.... I'm here.

[jcapulet]

Re: Just another newbie! But a "super" one...haha

Hi Jen...I'm new to the board too Nice to meet you and good luck to both of us (and everyone else!) in our weight loss goals!!

[Libbey77s]

Re: Just another newbie! But a "super" one...haha

Hi there Jen...
I too am new to the board - I joined about a week ago - and am trying to take things just a day at a time - otherwise I find myself lost in the overwhelming number of lbs that I am trying to lose (right under 100 lbs) It sounds like we have VERY similar backgrounds - I too would give anything to be back to my size 3's - but honestly, it's not been until now, at my heaviest that I have truly learned to love myself - starting with on the inside. It's funny, but until just recently, I felt heavier at 112 lbs than I did at 256 lbs - but then I woke up, and realized just how big I had become! I know that once I lose this weight - it will be for the last time - and I will finally feel on the outside, that I do on the inside and I can't wait to share that person with my husband and kids again!! We do have a long way to go - but we CAN - and WILL make it - and I know it will help having this wonderful support system on ADBB!

Good luck Jen - we are in this together!!!

Elisabeth

[SuperDork]

Re: Just another newbie! But a "super" one...haha

Thanks for the welcomes! I think it'll mean more to me than anyone can know just to have people who know where I'm coming from - because I don't feel like people who haven't been overweight before, understand very much. They think it'd just be so easy to just stop eating and go run a few miles, and there's so much more to it than that. It's like an addiction you have to kick....

Anywho! Thank you again!! And good luck to everyone as well!!!!

[BunnyD]

Re: Just another newbie! But a "super" one...haha

Hey Jen! Welcome! I'm returning to Atkins as of yesterday, I wish you tons of luck with your weight loss. I'd definitely set mini goals for yourself - the 200 number might seem like a lot, but starting with 20lbs would make it a lot more attainable. Once you lose that first 20, give yourself a little non-food reward (whatever you're into - for me it'd probably be something girly like a pedicure or new lip gloss, lol) then start working on the next 20. I just know the pounds will fly off for you!

[sunflowergrl]

Re: Just another newbie! But a "super" one...haha

I am so glad you found ADBB, and the Atkins way of life!! You should be so proud of yourself that you are getting this problem under control at such a young age! I wish I had started Atkins 10 years ago (I am 31). You can and WILL lose the weight. Just follow the plan by reading the book (Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution 2002), stay away from low carb shakes, bars, and candies, and drink at least 100oz of water a day. If you don't have the book yet, you can read the stickys and stuff on the board. I would never have done as well as I have if it wasn't for ADBB!! Listen to what these people have to say, they really know their stuff!!! Do a clean 2 week Induction, and you will be so happy!! Please, keep us posted.

[SuperDork]

Re: Just another newbie! But a "super" one...haha

Thanks for the advice! I hadn't planned on even thinking about any of the low carb bars or anything....I've actually lurked here before and read about them being such a stalling point with everyone that I don't even want to mess with that. Plus, I think it would just make it harder on me in a way to have ANYTHING sweet or whatever like that to eat...ya know? I'd much rather just go cold turkey and cut it out and try to forget about it as much as I can and get past the cravings and be okay. (I've started Atkins before and got far enough that I was past the cravings and the 2 week induction, and then I just messed up and got upset because it was so hard to do with no one around me trying to support me and everyone eating everything I shouldn't have been, so that's a lot of why I found this place and came...the whole support thing ).
And thanks for the rewarding myself idea! That's what I was thinking of doing. That's why I just decided to set a goal of 25 lbs...then I'll just set another 25 lb goal and try to go in increments because it seems like it'll be less scary that way. Instead of telling myself "I have 200 lbs to lose", I'm going to take it 25 at a time and I'm hoping those little 25 lb goals will add up to a big loss!

[staziaw]

Re: Just another newbie! But a "super" one...haha

Hey Jen! You are Super, not Dorky at all!!!! Welcome to the boards. This is a great place to hang. Loads of information.

Good luck and welcome to an excellent Way of Eating!

Big love,
Stacy

[Sheshy]

Re: Just another newbie! But a "super" one...haha

Hi Jen and welcome to ADBB and Atkins.

You've come to the right place for support and Atkins experience!

[killerbombshell]

Re: Just another newbie! But a "super" one...haha

Welcome to ADBB and welcome to the Atkins way of life! You'll find it delicious and rewarding. What are you planning to do for your non-negotiable exercise portion of the Atkins diet? (Beat you to it, 2big!)

[sunflowergrl]

Re: Just another newbie! But a "super" one...haha

Setting mini-goals is wonderful. I am one pound away from my first one, and I can't wait!! I haven't weighed myself since Tuesday, and I am trying to wait. I can't wait to see how much you lose on Induction!! I am so glad you found us!

[Austlyn]

Re: Just another newbie! But a "super" one...haha

Hi Jen I also had almost 200 pounds I wanted to lose and I have lost about 50 of it so far, So one day at a time and one minute at a time for exercise you will be there in no time at all. Welcome to

[sombersusie]

Re: Just another newbie! But a "super" one...haha

hey superdork and welcome . Reading your story i felt i could totally agree with you. At my highest weight of 339 i thought i felt fine! yes i was a little out of breath when i got to the top of the stairs but otherwise really didn't think i was that bad. It was looking at the pictures of me that i hated. I started hiding behind christmas presents, trying to, cause i couldn't stand seeing the pics of me later on. Today is the first day to the new you....don't look back and you won't have to be 325 ever again....you go girl!!!

[love2play63]

Re: Just another newbie! But a "super" one...haha

Welcome Jen! I lived in Colorado most of my life, just moved to Florida recently.

It is great that you are doing this for yourself now, don't beat yourself up about what you didn't do in the past. Only think about the positive things you are doing for yourself now. Setting mini-goals of 25 pounds is a great idea, so much easier to see on the scale. Make sure you take your measurements, as I am sure you have seen here, the scale doesn't always show when you are losing. Inches seems to keep you motivated, when the scale isn't moving. Make sure you read Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution 2002ed.

It is great that you are starting to exercise already, I figure any amount I am doing now is more than I was doing yesterday. Just add more exercise time every week and you will feel so better.

[LookingForward]

Re: Just another newbie! But a "super" one...haha

I just love your name "SuperDork", that made me laugh so hard!

First, welcome! You've definitely come to the right place to find all the support and encouragement and friends you could ever need.

Reading your post really hit home with me, it sounded like I could've written it about my own life. I was about 14 or 15 when I started gaining, too, and I was so insecure and I thought I was a WHALE, when I look back I was so small it's ridiculous, and I'd kill to be that size again! I just bought into the idea that I was fat, and it was self-perpetuating. Suddenly I'd gained about 125 pounds, and it seemed like it happened all of a sudden, but of course it took 15 years to pack it all on. My high weight was 275 at a height of 5'2", well maybe 5'1-1/2", so I can SO relate to everything you said and feel! My goal is to be able to go swimming or snorkeling or boating without feeling like everyone within a 10 mile radius is laughing and pointing at me, and MUCH more importantly, without feeling insecure and fearful of being seen. I just want to enjoy myself and my life.

Don't look at the big number all at once. 200 pounds is daunting! Make a mini-goal first, something to celebrate when you reach it, and don't look beyond that. When you reach it you'll be feeling so great and so amazed how easy it was that it'll only motivate you to set that NEXT mini-goal, and so on and so on. Do it 5 pounds at a time, if that's what it takes to keep you from feeling overwhelmed. When I hit my first mini-goal of 25 pounds lost, I was absolutely ecstatic, and nothing could've stopped me from just keeping on with what I was doing at that point.

If you ever need anything, feel free to PM me, it seems we have a lot in common. I'm proud that you're beginning this journey, it sure will change your life. I just KNOW you'll be snowboarding next winter!