watch Out.

So I have considered WLS multiple times and everytime it fell through. So I have decided to do this on my own. I am 24 years old and I have no health problems at all. Not even allergies. I was unaware that this forum even existed. I look forward to hearing and being motivated by all you lovely people. Love, Tara SW 298 CW 296 GW 160

Hey Tara, you've come to the right place. I've been on here for 3 weeks and I've been so inspired and learnt so much.  There are so many wonderful folks on here who will share their knowledge and experience and are willing to support you in whatever way they can.   Taking charge of your health while you are young will be the best thing you can do because the older you get the more extra weight takes a toll on your body.  The key of course is eat healthy and exercise however, even though it's simple it is not always easy to do because there are so many other factors that makes one obese. Keep coming and posting on OH and never give up on you.  Take care.

Hi Tara,

Welcome!  It is good you are doing this now.  I was like you in my 20's - approx. 250 pounds, and no health issues.  I even exercised regularly!  But, it does get harder as you get older (although it doesn't help that I am carrying around another 100 pounds) - and while I don't have any medical issues due to my weight, I feel it at lot more now.  I am determined to do something about this before I turn 40!!  You are better doing this at 24.

And, you can do it!  Keep posting and I look forward to hearing more from you.

Heather.

Hello and welcome!!!

Congratulations on making the commitment to lose weight and get healthy!!!!
I've got a lot more years on me than you and wish I had really taken control back in my 20's....I missed out on so much of life being obese throughout my adult life.  Give yourself the biggest gift you can give yourself and get healthy.....stay committed to yourself, make yourself your #1 priority...you can do it!!!!  I know you can.
Every day with every meal make healthy choices for each meal.  Eat 5-6 smaller, healthier, meals each day.  DO NOT Skip breakfast.....you must eat it every day!  Eat something every 3-4 hours.  Eat enough calories....do not starve yourself....it you cut your cals too low you will struggle.  When I started I was eating 1,800 cals a day to lose weight.
And of course you must exercise.  Sorry, I hated that fact too but it is true.
Please read my weight lose journey it's on my blog.....ask questions or PM me if you want to chat.
I'd love to see you successful and live your life to the fullest.

Best wishes to you on your weight loss journey!!!

Hi Tara and welcome to our forum. We'd love to support you and hope that you join in regularly. It will help you focus on working on making healthy changes to your diet. Even if you fall off, come and post so we can help push you back up onto the wagon.

I wish I had taken control when I was young like you are - instead I just kept growing, and growing and growing - and well you get the picture. I was in the process of getting WLS when I decided to try one more time and I'm so thankful that I did because if you can do with without rearranging your digestive tract then your better off. WLS is the last resort and it's pretty permanent. The problem isn't our digestive tract, it's the decision of what food we put in the mouths - it's in our head. On the main board you often see people struggling over food issues - it's something that everyone who is obese needs to deal with. With some insight I realized that I had to make serious and permanent changes in my relationship with food - whether I had WLS or not - if I was going to be successful. I knew that the foods that I was addicted to can slide down any WLS tool and cause me to regain. So I've worked hard on making exercise a regular part of my day (walking briskly) and changing my diet completely. I only eat whole foods, absolutely no fast food and no industrial processed food that has ingredients I can't pronounce. I found I was heavily addicted to foods that have fat,sugar and salt and I've worked to completely change my tastebuds so that food is no longer calling my name.

You can do it too, and we would love to share your journey, no matter what you chose to do.

Welcome Tara!

Congrats on getting started so young! I wish I had when I was 24.

Remember, there is no such thing as perfection on this journey- only progress. You'll slip up sometimes, we all do, but each week, day, meal, snack offers a new choice. There is no quitting in this because we are talking about the rest of your life here! Don't try to starve yourself thinking it will take the weight off faster. It only makes you hungrier, grouchier, and usually leads to binging. Eat healthy and often, exercise, and the weight will come off!

Good Luck!
Wendy