Hello!

jennipea382

I've been on MFP for quite a while but I've never really posted on the forums. I think it's time that I start! So I might as well introduce myself. I'm Jenni, I'm 25 and I live in Minnesota with my fiance and two kitties. I enjoy photography, video games, and camping.

I used to be somewhat skinny. In high school, I averaged 115-120 lbs or so (I was just under 5'5"). I don't want to necessarily be THAT skinny again, but I do miss being small. I gained a lot of weight during college, mostly in my sophomore year. I think it was a combo of my metabolism slowing down and getting lazy. I never really worked out and I ate crap all the time. I didn't even realize how much weight I was gaining until one day the scale said 190. I had gained around 70 pounds in about 2 years! NOT ok!

Right now I'm at 180. I weigh myself a lot and I've noticed that I fluctuate between 175-180. Ideally I'd like to be around 145-150, but any weight I lose would be awesome. I'm sick of looking and feeling like this! We're getting married in March, and I'd like to look great in my wedding dress. So I'm looking to lose fat and tone up my upper body (it's a strapless dress). I also want to be able to wear a bikini on our honeymoon and not feel like I'm offending everyone around me, haha.

I have a really hard time with losing weight. I fully understand what I need to do. I need to get all the junk out of here so it doesn't tempt me. I need to stop getting convenient microwavable food and take the extra time to cook something. I need to cut out pop and even most juice and drink more water. I need to get off my lazy but and move around, whether it's an actual workout (going to the gym, using a DVD) or just cleaning and stuff. I get it. But for some reason I can't just DO it. It doesn't help that my fiance isn't the most helpful. He has a pretty high metabolism and can eat quite a bit without gaining weight. He doesn't get that I can't do that. He doesn't seem to understand that although, yes, the frozen pizza is delicious and fast (and cheaper than delivery, at least we're saving some money...), but it's not helping me reach my goals at all. Then he runs over to the gas station and buys me a pop and a KING SIZE Kit Kat. Ugh! At least I've had enough restraint to only eat half the Kit Kat and save the rest for later, but still.

Anyways, my biggest problems are staying away from the junk and finding healthy options that are still cheap and quick. Also finding the motivation to work out. I know I should find something I enjoy doing, but it's easier than it sounds. I'm just lazy. I thought about taking my fiance's bike out for a ride, but then I thought about the fact that I have to carry it back up 3 flights of stairs to our apartment. Stuff like that.

So anyways, that's my story right now. I've read a lot of posts on the forums and I hope that I will start participating more. I need a community like this to keep me focused and motivated.