over 300 pounds - something needs to change!

Hi everyone! So I've actually been a member of MFP for several years now, but only recently decided to commit to making changes. The changes came because of a scare I'm going through. I got married about a year ago, and I noticed one day that my fingers were swelling pretty badly and the skin around my ring was red. I went to take off the ring and it was stuck, and it took me 30 minutes to take off the ring. I knew at that point, that something was wrong.

I've always been big, at my smallest I was a size 12 in high school. I'm 5'8". I gained about 80 pounds following the birth of my daughter. However, rather than trying to lose that weight, I slowly became more and more sedentary. I also ate anything and everything I wanted.

Back to the present. So I made a doctor's appointment to have some tests run, because I knew swelling like that was not normal, especially given that it wasn't my TOM or anything. When I went in, my blood pressure was pre-hypertensive, and my weight was 322. My test results came back that they think there is an issue with my thyroid. I just went back for more blood work and I'm waiting for the results from that to do a diagnosis.

So while I've been waiting, I've started to just pay more attention to my lifestyle. I came back to MFP and started logging my food, not making any changes, but just logging everything I ate. WOW! I was floored. I was easily going over 3000 calories a day. On top of that, I was doing absolutely no exercise. I'm amazed that I didn't get even bigger!

So that's when I decided that change is necessary. I cut out all regular soda and have solely been drinking coke cherry zero, and only 1-2 a day. I'm drinking at least 5 bottles of water a day. I'm starting to make some healthier snacking choices, such as carrots or cherry tomatoes, or apple chips, or flavored rice cakes. For breakfast, I'm drinking either a Naked smoothie or a homemade smoothie, with fruit. I was eating a breakfast sandwich with that but when I discovered how much sodium was in those, I cut them out. I'm usually eating a turkey, veggie and hummus sandwich on multigrain bread for lunch, with fruit and yogurt. The hardest meal for me continues to be dinner, because my husband and I revert to unhealthy recipes and he and my daughter aren't very receptive to healthy changes.

Yesterday, I had a bad day. I was starving by the time I left work (I'm a teacher), and had a food binge. I told my husband that has to stop. NO more fast food, no more junk, and I have to move more. I started today with the goal of doing the 10000 steps, just in an effort to get me moving more. I'm happy to report that 2 hours into my day I am a quarter of the way to my goal! I've been doing laps around my classroom. I'm enjoying it!

Right now, I just want some friends for encouragement. I'm at 322, and I figure my first goal is to lose 100 pounds. Anyone who is willing to add me, please do, and anyone who is willing to share some healthy, quick, inexpensive dinner recipes, I'd love to hear them! Thanks all!