I need to make a change.

Hi everyone

I've tried diets before, and tried to exercise properly, but I quickly lost motivation and never had that "fire," that drive under my butt to keep me going. The exercises got "old" for me, as did the healthier food. I've been overweight probably since high school, but now I am out of college (and have been since December), and have finally decided it is time for a change...especially when I saw my scale read 229 lbs and I am only at a height of 5'1". That scared the crap out of me.

I started a diet/exercise regimen (or is the word regiment??) about 2 weeks ago, and have lost 5 pounds so far. I lost 7 in a week quickly, but I overindulged on dinner one night and gained a few of those pounds back. I am 22, a college graduate (with a Bachelor's degree), and yet because of the stinky economy in the shape it's in presently, I am only working as an Avon rep for right now until I can get my foot in the door in the social work field (or be able to afford to pay off loans for grad school to get higher in that field).

I currently live with my father, his live-in girlfriend (a.k.a. my "personal nutritionist,") and our pets: my dad's dog Brandy (a Chihuahua/Dachshund mix) and my two tuxedo kitties, Gizmo and Zoe. My dad's girlfriend's brother has taken it upon himself to become my "personal trainer," because every time he comes to visit (at least 3x a week), all he does is pass a basketball to me and teach me how to shoot properly.

Currently I am trying to overcome being an overeater...I used to eat Kraft macaroni and cheese by the boxful at least once a day (twice if we didn't have much else in the house to eat). That probably appalled some people. With Joi ("personal nutritionist") living here, my meal quality has increased tenfold. She encourages me every day, but doesn't push me -- that's her brother Talley's job (the "personal trainer"). I am eating pretty much everything I used to eat before, just not as much in one sitting...but more with it at the same time. Like, instead of just mac&cheese, I'll have pigs in a blanket and mac&cheese...just smaller portions of both. She caught me making a list of healthy foods and said "you don't need to change your entire life honey, just limit what you have." I thought she was crazy until I lost 7 pounds in a week!

Joi has me walking twice a day, since we have a long and deserted road we live on (very few neighbors, secluded area). We walk to a neighbor's mailbox (usually 10 minutes) an hour after breakfast, I'll either do basketball or a workout DVD after lunch, and then we have a longer (20 minutes usually) walk an hour after dinner to a radio station up the road, then back. I think I am doing well -- I lost another pound today, so I'm down to 224. I still have a long way to go -- I want to lose at least 90 pounds and put my BMI back in the "healthy" range.

I'm sorry if this is a novel, I just wanted to throw my history/current regimen(t???) out there. Good luck everyone!