From Marina, Age 23 - 02/02/11 - IP#: 70.24.26.xxx  Click here to reply  
Ht. 5'7", Start: 237 lb, Today: 145 lb (BMI: 23), Goal: 130 lb - Hi Everyone!
You might have seen me around the board occasionally - I've been around the site for about 8 or so years now but I've definitely outgrown the teens section. I really like reading & replying to your posts, but I don't really post anything of my own - so I'm here to introduce myself...
My name is Marina, I'm 23 and from Canada. I've always been healthy councious and loved fitness and sports and weighed a healthy 130lbs my entire life. Unfortunately, following some health problems which landed me in & out of the hospital for 5 years (with stays as long as 8 consecutive months) and on up to 13 different medications at one time, I ended up gaining a whopping 107lbs!
It was quite devestating and I was extremely self concious. However, I'm slowly getting back on track as I have now lost 92 of those pounds! It's been a long, hard road (as I know you all understand). However, I've learned a lot about myself, my motivation and my true passion in life!
As a result, I started university and am pursuing a degree in psychology & nutrition...I am also in the process of obtaining personal training certification. My goal is to learn to effectively help people just like us!
I still have a few pounds to lose, but I have confidence that I will have no problems getting there eventually.
I hope that I can be of some assistance and support to you wonderful people going through a tough struggle.
Good luck to you all & remember that you can do it! :)
Reply from Jeimi, Age 20 - 02/06/11  - IP#: 65.51.214.xxx
thanks alot		 
Reply from Marina, Age 23 - 02/06/11  - IP#: 174.92.123.xxx
Jeimi!
Congrats on losing 31 pounds! That's not easy and it's a great start! Sometimes it is hard, but you can obviously do it - you've already started to! There's definitely hope and it isn't going to be easy but you CAN get there.
I found that when I started out, my biggest downfall was learning that falling off the wagon didn't mean it was all over. Sometimes, I'd eat one bad thing then think..."oh I've ruined it..I'll just keep eating badly." That is the kind of thinking that gets us into trouble! We need to start realizing that even if we get a little off track, there's no reason why we can't immediately go right back on track. (it seems so simple, but when you're thinking like that, it's not simple at all).
Anyway, if you ever need some extra support just post and we're all here to help. Just keep at it and you're going to get there.
PS - I found visualization extremely helpful. Because weight loss is such a SLOW process I always thought about things long term like "well this time next month I will be able to fit into a size smaller" for example and I'd think about how much better I'd feel. & I used every small success to remind me of that goal. Also, short term goals are far more manageable than long term ones! Aim to lose 1 pound by the end of the week don't think about the other 60 pounds!		 
Reply from Jeimi, Age 20 - 02/05/11  - IP#: 65.51.214.xxx
hey thank you so much for sharing your story. I have lost about 31 pounds in the past 8months and sometimes it gets really hard esp. dorming. I sometimes feel so depressed because i work really hard and sometimes it feels like this isn't going anywhere. I'm really proud of what i have done but reading your story let me see that it's not impposible i also want to lose 90 pounds so seeing someone accomplishing what i want helps me see hard work and time does pay of.