Lifetime Fat *kitten*?

It took me over 20 years to finally shed the weight. Nutrition is huge! If you don't eat right, then don't even bother exercising. It will be a mental challenge more than anything.....you have to ask yourself.....does that Twinkie really benefit me? Does eating everything on my plate benefit me? It takes total commitment and dedication, but its worth it. I went from 230 lbs, 47% bodyfat eating large pizzas on Friday nights to 150 21% bodyfat and living a healthy life. I miss out on things sometimes, like cake and beer (not together) but its only the pyschological effect....I sure don't enjoy them as the sugar makes me feel horrible and the alcohol affects my athletic performance.
You have the power within you..it is YOUR choice to bring yourself out of the muck. I'd reccommend reading The Zone or Paleolithic eating (google) and get yourself a personal trainer to guide you to success. I've always been athletic, but had a nutrition problem. It wasn't til I had someone showing the way, that made the difference. I now have the opportunity to train others! Not many people can say that in one year they can be half fat to being a personal trainer...but I did it.....and anything is possible!! YOU CAN DO IT, BUT YOU MUST COMMIT TO IT!
I still wake up everyday and can't believe I am where I am. I still think I'm larger than I am, and I still find things I can do, that I haven't attempted since elementary school! Congrats on your success and keep it up!

I have not been overweight my entire life (I thought I was as a child and teen... but I really wasn't). That is by no doing of my own though... I just got lucky! I *have* been overweight my entire adult life. I don't feel like I ever really learned good eating/exercise habits either. I spent years thinking that other people could just eat whatever they wanted to, not exercise, and somehow they didn't gain weight (it doesn't help that this is true for one of my lifelong friends). So... of course I was frustrated when I would eat well (I thought), exercise a little... and keep gaining weight. It has only been in the last few years that I have realized there are people out there who run EVERY DAY and have for years, or who play sports recreationally on a regular basis. I've been amazed by this whole lifestyle that I didn't know existed.

I feel like I'm just starting to learn a little. I've learned how to cook healthier and am trying to eat more nonprocessed foods. I'm trying to make exercise a habit and find things I like to do (it's tough!). I have a 4 year old... and I so want him to grow up understanding how to eat healthfully and exercise and take care of his body so he isn't in the position I am 30 years from now! I'm posting random things on my blog as I figure them out.

I don't know that I have much tips... but I'm right here with you!

I have learned more probably in the last 5 months, just reading Shape magazine and being here on MFP from all the "experts" and people who've done this longer than me - than I have in my whole entire life. Now, that is just sad. I mean, growing up, sure, my parents told us to eat our vegetables but they also made us clean the plate. They didn't teach us portion control, we were always allowed 2nds or 3rds if no one else wanted the last bit, etc. I had a belly at 9 and got called fat by my oldest brother. I gained some weight in my teen years and took up exercising (walking 2 miles a day and doing some strength routines from Shape magazine as well as some from a nurse at church who was leading an exercising/toning group once a week) and started eating more balanced (lots of chicken and greens, salad, lots of water, barely any sugar, no soda, etc.). I lost some weight but didn't keep it off very long because I got tired of exercising and not seeing results (obviously from a lack of knowledge and education on how it must be done). I wasn't counting calories or carbs or protein or anything, just making sure to eat meat and vegetables and fruits.

Since I've gained the 30 lbs last year and started on this...I started logging everything into a diary on Self.com and that showed up all the macro nutrients and figured out an average of how many calories per day I was eating. At first, I was eating about 1,000...then it climbed to 1200, then 1500. Then I found MFP and figured out I needed to be eating 1200.

ALLLLLLLLLLL this to say...yes, I feel like I'll THINK like a fatty the rest of my life because I wasn't properly educated, but I know that I'll remain ACTING like a fit/healthy person because that's who I am now. I've never gotten into a routine of eating healthy & working out and have kept it up this long. It's been over 6 months now and I don't think this lifestyle is going ANYWHERE!!!

I am now a size 4 thanks to this wonderful site, and believe me I still see a heavier person in the mirror. I am working on the self image. U can to. Best of luck to you!!