Hello I'm Rebeca I live in Frederick,MD I am 23 years old I just moved out of my mothers house and I need to lose 70pounds. I am 5'2'' and weigh 222lbs. I have a little girl she is 2 1/2 and I live with her father Chris. I am about to start school in 2 weeks I am scared that with going back to school after 6 years (droped out of high school) I will gain weight not lose. Thank you for giving me your time Rebecca

hank you all so much for the support I really needed to hear the good words..Thank you

Hi Rebecca & welcome to the board! As everyone else has said, this is such a great place for information, motivation and support. Good luck and congratulations on your decision to finish school.

Welcome Rebecca,
I was in school in my 30's and found that it helped a lot to be well organized. I took a sandwich to school and snacks from home. If I did not plan and shop for the foods I needed, I ended up with fast food. For me, it was useful to make pasking food part of my routine and to cultivate a habit of taking care of myself.

I am happy to hear that you are starting this journey while your daughter is so young. I lost my weight when my daugher was about your dauaghter's age and I know that it has been so good for her to have a healhty example as she grows up. Good for you both.

Welcome I'm 5'2", too (but I fudge and say 5'3" when I'm asked), and I started out at a higher weight than you when I began. The best part about being short is that it's really easy to see the weight coming off And in your 20s, it's much easier to lose the weight than when you get older (okay, I'm only 30, but the weight loss is waaaay slower than it was when I was younger!).

It's fantastic that you're going back to school, and we'll be rooting for you. It's amazing how a big change in one part of your life can lead to huge changes in all other parts, and we'll be here to help you however we can.

D

Welcome, Rebecca! Good for you for going back to school. I understand that it will be stressful for you, but please don't let that send you in the wrong direction. Visit and participate in this forum regularly and you will have all the information and support you need to not only NOT gain more weight, but to start losing the extra weight you already have.

I recommend you read the following threads if you haven't already:

Tuesday 5/18's Homework thread by Coaster Girl
The Baby Steps 101 - Food thread by GoingSkiing
The Baby Steps 101 - Exercise thread by Going Skiing

Reading the What's for Dinner thread will also give you some great ideas of what people here really eat every day and that would be a good place to start building your menu plans!

P.S. It's good to see another DC area member! I live in Alexandria, VA.

Welcome Rebecca!

I can't really say anything that hasn't already been said, but wanted to welcome you.

You CAN do this, and we're here to help any way we can.

Dawn

Welcome Rebecca! Good for you for going back to school - that's terrific!

You have definitely come to the right place for support, tips and motivation. I also had 70+ pounds to lose and did it the Cooking Thin way. This board helped me tremendously!

Welcome Rebecca:
Congradulations on going back to school and wishing you luck. This is the greatest forum on the net, even our K.D. reads and posts here.

Like Fer said I do concider this board my other family, I feel closer to them then my own family
It took me 5 months to loose 30 "s and now trying my hardest to maintain it. ask all the questions you want, (and no one can ask more stupid questions then me ) and I know you will get answers.

Hi Rebecca,
Welcome!

I had to leave HS also. I got a GED and went to college when I was 29. School will be hard but you have life experience. Eating healthy will help you cope with the stress.

Hang in there. Keep posting!

Denise

Hi Rebecca! I'm about your age too - I'm 24. I'll be moving to MD or DC pretty soon here as well.

Don't despair! You will be able to lose weight.. it just takes time and patience. Baby steps are the key. Make small changes you can live with for the rest of your life. I for one know that school can be super time consuming - I even missed my workout today because of it. But, I also know that I'll get right back to it tomorrow. This is a lifetime thing.

The CT board is an amazing support network - the ladies are my second moms, my cheerleaders, my friends. I've lost almost 50 pounds in a year and a half and having this support has been fantastic. Welcome to the board. Feel free to ask any and all questions. We're here to help.