I need to lose at least 100lbs.

RaeAnn01

I am 21 years old and have been overweight my entire life. I stayed at the same weight from the beginning of HS until I had my daughter in May 2011, since then I have gained another 60 lbs. I am having a really hard time getting started with some sort of diet. I am not a very active person and I have such a hard time dieting because it seems like when I buy healthier foods my grocery bill doubles. My weight has always made me very self conscious and now the recent gain has made me really feel bad about myself and is getting in the way of my relationship. I just want to feel good about myself and be healthy for my daughter. But I think I need help on where to start and what to do, and I definitely need a good support system.

monicacallahan2011

Im with ya girl!! Im 22 and need to lose about 100lbs. I started at 295.. and I am now 251. Still have 100 to go!! WE CAN DO THIS

jiddu17

Hi there! I'm 33. I have over 100lbs to lose. I am a mom to a 3 year old. I work full time, my husband is a student and I do the bulk of the grocery shopping and the cooking.
You've started by joining this site!! Have you begun logging your food yet? What kind of momentum do you have right now? Ready to get rid of some food from your house? Ready to tackle a bit of exercise? Do you cook?
There is an argument as to whether healthy eating costs more or not. The truth is... if you are adding healthy foods to your existing list, yes, it will cost more... but if you are only buying good for you foods, you will likely be eating less. Also - it is summer... finding less expensive produce is easier. And while it may increase your grocery bill a bit at first, once you are in the habit of purchasing some of the same things over and over, you will know how long it lasts and how to maximize use.
First - make a list: In one column, fruits and veg you love. In another column, those you just like. Can be anything.... grapes, corn, cucumbers, watermelon. Next to each - consider the way you will eat them: frozen, canned, raw, heated.
Next - choose starches and mark them as love or like. The trick here is that if you LOVE the starch, you need to eat leass of it (in my opinion), but they are an inexpensive way to round out your plate.
Lastly - write down some of your favorite dishes to make, whether it's because you like the taste of them so well, or simply because they are easier to make.
Take this list, coupled with your favorite dishes, and examine how you can make your favorite dishes healthier by substituting some of your favorite fruits/veg. You're more likely to eat it if you LOVE the substitutions. Also - the list will help you in NOT wasting money on some foods.
My biggest piece of advice with food, when changing how you eat, is to NOT buy into the hype that "Fat Free" or "Light" actually make a ton of difference. 1) The calorie count is frequently not that different 2) The "reduced" versions often contain fillers of sugar or salt that upset the healthful balance of the product 3) We unconsciously believe we are eating better, and we WILL eat more of it. My only personal exception to this is dairy products. I will buy the reduced versions of many of them. Just depends on what the label tells me.
There is a great website [ http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/how-much-do-i-need ] that helped me with the "produce costs more" issue. When pondering 100 calorie snacks, one has the choice to eat those expensive 100 calorie portion packs, or eat 100 calories of a given fruit/veg. For example - I can eat 20 Cheez-its, or I can eat 16 strawberries. Which one is going to be more filling? What is the likelihood I will even finish 16 strawberries? (I've come close.... lol). You can buy 6 pks of 100 calorie snacks fo $3-$4 or you can buy 2 pounds of strawberries for $2-$3. If you're worried about expiration, it will only take a couple of times of throwing away that "expensive" produce before you realize eating it is preferable to wasting it, for SOOOO many reasons.
I was 21 and obese. I'm now 33 and I'm still obese. Start it now. Because either way, you're going to be 33 one day and it would be far more comfortable to arrive at it being armed with good nutrition. I feel like I wasted my 20's eating and now I'm paying the price of my gluttonous behavior with High Blood Pressure and borderline Cholesterol issues. I'm trying to undo what I've done. And it starts with eating and being honest about what you eat. Whatever emotional issues or needs you think might be forcing you to hold on to the food will loosen their grip. We all have tragedy and unfairness in our pasts, but eating poorly doesn't show it "who's boss" - rising above it and being a healthy person IN SPITE OF IT does!!