Hi, I'm Sharon. I live in western NY and need to lose well over 100 lbs! I've gained and lost so much weight over the years that you would think that I'd be better at it than I am! But all that yoyo'ing has left the heaviest I have ever been.

This year, after an injury and watching a good friend go through all kinds of complications related to Gastric Bypass surgery - I decided this was it. I've not been heavy my whole life, but most of the last 25 years! I have multiple health problems - for which I take severals medications. In 2012, I am celebrating my 25th wedding anniversry and my 30th high school reunion. I'm also rounding the corner to 50!

I am tired or being tired, and unhealthy and being the one girl in my group of friends that can't keep up, or not being able to do things with my husband because I don't have it in me yet!

I joined MFP a few weeks ago and love the site - but more importantly the support. I saw this group and would love to join! I need the challenge and the folks to help push me to goal!

Hi Everyone,

My name is John. I just turned 50 in October and have battled my weight all my life. But when I reached 40 something happened. My knees and back bothered me so my activity level went down and my food intake went up. Then in 2006 a knee injury really put me into an almost sedentary lifestyle. I almost hit 500 pounds.

I couldn't walk 100 yards without being out of breath and in a lot of pain.

I've been on every diet known to man. I could never sustain any plan. I am an over-eater who eats to medicate.

My sister showed me the iPhone app for this site and I was hooked.

The problem is, that people with over 100 pounds to lose have different challenges. We can't exercise like everyone else, eat like everyone else. Face it, many of us have issues with food that no one would understand.

Just the other day I was out with my girlfriend and she got a chocolate frosted donut and ate half of it and said to me, "Do you want the rest of this?" I'm thinking to myself, who in the heck can eat half a donut? Honestly, I have never ate just one donut in my life, let alone a half of one.

This will be the second year in a row I weigh less January 1 than I did last year.

I've do it with limiting my intake of sugar, and white carbohydrates. Also, I'm pushing through the pain and exercising. The exercise for me is a must. If I don't exercise I do not lose weight.

So lets lean on each other. Lets pool our resources and help each other get our lives back.

Thanks for listening.

Hey Danie,

I can relate. Up until I was 40 I use to tell people I was the most in shape fat person in the world. I played basketball, football, softball, racquetball. But I was wearing my body out. My knees, hips, and ankles could take it anymore.

I actually dream about being able to run, or walk long distances. Right now I can't. I know you are the same way, but don't do what I did and wear yourself out.

If you have the activity level you have then I think some changes in your way of eating will go a long way.

I can't wait to see you obtain your goals

Hey Danie,

I can relate. Up until I was 40 I use to tell people I was the most in shape fat person in the world. I played basketball, football, softball, racquetball. But I was wearing my body out. My knees, hips, and ankles could take it anymore.

I actually dream about being able to run, or walk long distances. Right now I can't. I know you are the same way, but don't do what I did and wear yourself out.

If you have the activity level you have then I think some changes in your way of eating will go a long way.

I can't wait to see you obtain your goals

Nothing on my body actually hurt though! That was the bizarre thing. Nobody believed me when I said I didn't ache or anything. The only reason I stopped was due to just plan lack of time. I hit my junior year of high school and I was working 6 days a week, going to karate 5 days, and still having to try and graduate on time. I just didn't have the energy. And unfortunately, karate was what I dropped instead of work.

So now it's just picking back up. And the eating changes are hard because I am RIDICULOUSLY picky. I know, I know, that's not good, but I can't help it. I have OCD when it comes to food.

Can you give a little more detail about being a picky eater? What do you eat? I would also like to understand what you mean about being OCD about food? In what way?

I have a daughter who has never eaten a vegetable or piece of fruit in her life. She is 11. If I try to get her to try a taste she will gag and throw up. She only eats eggo waffles, chicken nuggets, French Fries, and Kraft Mac & Cheese.

I'm wondering if you are the same way

Sure! Some things that people are shocked that I won't touch -

- Bacon. Or anything from a pig for that matter.
- Ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, mayo, and MOST white foods (there are some exceptions to this rule). All of them cause me to gag. Yes, this means milk of any variety. Unless in a bowl of cereal, but even then it's extremely minimal.
- Cakes, cupcakes, brownies, and most cookies. Any kind of chocolate with things in it (caramel, nuts, almonds...)
- Any kind of pizza other than cheese.
- Most fruits and veggies. I do like apples most of the time (I'll explain that in the next section), red seedless grapes, and corn.
- I'm allergic to any kind of seafood (although that's not really being picky...)
- Most green food
- Spaghetti sauce
- Peanut Butter
- Any kind of jelly
- Most juice. Occasionally I'll drink apple juice but it's rare.
- Before I quit drinking soda I would ONLY drink pepsi. Not diet or any of the variations, just normal pepsi.

When I say OCD, I mean :

- I can't bring myself to eat Wendy's hamburgers for no reason other than they're square.
- The only time I'll eat the previously mentioned apples is if they're peeled and cut up.
- I will eat vanilla ice cream (the exception to the white food rule) but only if it has rainbow (not chocolate) sprinkles and/or M&Ms on it.
- I will only eat lettuce if it's cut up into squares.

I also can't have my food touch most of the time. Especially if it's got some kind of sauce/liquid on it (mashed potatoes with gravy for example) because I don't like 'soggy' foods.

And for everyone who says "oh, your parents didn't feed you enough of a variety of foods..."

Bull. Crap. My dad eats every thing except ketchup. My mom is the same way. They both tried to feed me EVERYTHING. They tried the 'you're not getting up from this table until you eat that!' approach. Fine with me, I slept at the table. They tried grounding me. They tried "this is the only dinner I'm making so if you don't like it, you don't eat." I even remember my mom making pancakes when I was younger and me taking a bite and saying to her "mom, these taste funny." She shrugged and said "I put more sugar in it, don't tell your father." I took another bite, looked down, and realized the "sugar" was actually slices of bananas that she mixed in the batter to try to get me to eat them.

It eventually got to the point where they both decided that if I was going to be so picky, I was going to have to cook my own meals.

Hi my name is Alex. I started gaining weight in eleventh grade and I'm in my second year of uni now. I need to lose 100-120 lbs, but as long as I have a healthy BMI I will be happy. I'm transferring schools in September and I'd love to be on my good way to healthy in 8 months.

Hello,

I need to drop two C notes and recognize that I can't do it alone. I look forward to the support from this group.

~Luv

Hi I am Angie, I am in my early 40's and have been dealing with my weight issue since my early 20's when I got out of the Air Force. I need to lose 150 lbs. I keep doing the yo yo thing with 20-30 lbs. I feel real good when I lose that weight, but then something will happen and I will stress out and gain it back. Yup I am a stress eater!! I need to direct that stress into working out!! Easier said than done. I love carbs also, breads, pasta, pizza . Also PORTIONS! I am hoping this site will help with my portions!!!

I need to change!! My work is suffering, my knees are killing me, and I am depressed about my weight!