GunnaLose80

Hello!

My name is Jordyn. I'm 18 years old, I'm 5'5", and I'm 196 pounds as of today.
My BMI tells me I'm obese! How did this happen? I'm an active teenager. I'm almost always out and about... So what happened? I guess my eating and sleeping habits just started catching up to me.

Two years ago, at the wonderful and naive age of 16, I weighed 150 pounds. I was healthy and happy. That's the smallest I can ever remember being.

The most I have ever weighed was 210 pounds. Yikes! I need to start changing some habits, or soon I'll start hurting myself by carrying this extra weight.

I decided to join FitDay after lurking the forums for some time. I wasn't sure where to put this kind of a post, because I'm going to update my progress and successes every week. I settled on the Success Stories section because that's what this is going to be: a success story. I sound so cheesy, I'm sorry. Haha. I'm just overly optimistic that this is just what I need! I need to be healthy and happy again. You can support me, or follow my journey, or visit this post and never come back, but that's all ok. This is for me. This is my time to shine (I sound so selfish). I am making a better life for me.

The photos attached are of me TODAY. 196 pounds. No offense that I'm so... Exposed. I figured if I showed you all what I look like, I wouldn't be able to give up or back out like I have in the past. There's a front shot, side shot, and behind shot (all full-body). There's also a picture of me with my favorite pair of jeans (size 10). I used to fit into those! I'll update every week with the three underwear shots. I'll update once a month on the 22nd of each month with the size 10 jeans.

Today's a new day.

vsabino

Your determination is great!! What is your plan for eating and exercising? Any ideas yet?
We look forward to seeing your new pictures, of a new you.
Be sure you don't undereat since you're really young and it can be dangerous.
Good luck and hang in there!

carrenross

Hi Jordyn!

GOOD FOR YOU! I am so impressed that you have made this decision to change now. Your youthful energy will keep you going. It is all about lifestyle change. I believe you are on the right track. Eat clean and move; this is your life. The best thing you can do for yourself is to learn to change.

Here is my two cents worth from years of trial and error.
Do not diet. No fad diet works - for very long. Your eating habits need to change, for life. Sorry but you will learn to love it.
All food it okay to eat - it is the quantity (portions) we eat that puts the weight on.
We need food for fuel/energy. Food is broken down into glucose/sugar and that is what the blood needs to energize us. So, eat smart - no refined (white) sugars.
Diabetics have the answer to eating properly. Check out Diabetes Type 2 sites online; American Diabetes Association will give you more info.
Balance your Protein, Carbs and Fats.
Eat six times a day. Meal/snack/Meal/snack/Meal/snack. Space them about 2-3 hours apart.
Never, ever skip breakfast. Make it one of your biggest meals and then scale down to dinner.
Eat a snack (fruit) about 3 hours before bed. It will be digested by then and you will sleep well. Eating before bed makes our bodies work all night, when it should be resting, and we wake up tired because of it.
Drink water - please. Hardest thing for me to realize and what a difference it makes. I mean, really, the leftover foods need to be 'flushed' out of the body; if you get my drift.

Okay, enough already. Just some lessons I have learned. I hope they can help you.
Carren
ps - Walk 30 minutes a day, it really IS the combination of eating/exercise that works. What you are learning now at 18 - took me 56 years to learn. Some are slower than others eh! LOL
YOU CAN DO IT!

elljak

This is an inspiration - you're not selfish at all - in order to succeed you have to do it for yourself so you're doing it for all the right reasons - go girl!!!!

smooshmcsmeesh

Jordyn I'm subscribing to this thread! I'm so proud of you and your enthusiasm to make positive changes in your life. =) You can do it girl! Can't wait to see you wearing your favorite jeans again -- it WILL happen! Just take your time and enjoy the process. We're all here to cheer you on. Count on us for support.

Best always,
Smoosh

nottango

Jordyn.
You're very brave. You've come to the right place - you'll find lotsa support here.

GunnaLose80

Thank you all for your kind words of support.

vsabino - I found a website (nowloss.com) that had a basic weight-loss program lined up, but I took it and used it as an outline for my own custom plan. I'm mostly going to be working on running until I lose a bit of weight. Then I'll work on toning. I can't control much of what kind of food is at my home (my dad does the shopping). I'm trying to get him to eat healthier. For now, the food is decent. I don't think I could ever undereat; I'd get way too hungry and end up overeating.

carrenross - Thank you for all of the tips! Some of them I sorta already have down, but I learned a lot more. I eat 5 times a day because it's a little more convenient for me. I'm trying to run a little everyday, but I will ALWAYS at least walk. I can walk forever and not get tired.

elljak - Thank you! I meant selfish as in I didn't say other people could post their successes and progressions here as well. I hope you all or others do though! I like being inspired by others' success.

smooshmcsmeesh - I love your name. Thanks for the subscription! That really motivates me to keep going. I can't wait to see my weekly pictures side by side after a while. I know I'll see a difference.

nottango - Thank you! I knew after lurking around here for a while that this was the place to be for support. I don't get much of it where I live (almost everyone I know is overweight), so being on FitDay helps a lot.

Here's a few random parts of my journal entry I thought I'd share:

"I sweat so much today... I can't remember the last time I was EVER this sweaty!"

"I really had no trouble eating decently... I guess I shouldn't let others influence my eating habits."

"I know I'll get a good night's sleep tonight."

Good luck to you all!

m330

Just wanted to echo those who posted admiring your courage. I imagine you will serve to inspire a lot of people here, including many who may be lurking and never post. Along with the others, I'm pulling for you too!

One resource I'd suggest, that nobody's mentioned here yet: marksdailyapple.com. His "Primal Blueprint" book is on Amazon.com, but all the info seems to be available on his blog if you dig around a little, and you'll find some primal fans around the fitday boards too. I've no idea how much of this approach you'd be able to adopt (since you mention you're not in control of the food available at home), but I think it's worth investigating to see if it resonates with you--at the very least, it will get you thinking.

Best of luck to you, and again, well-deserved kudos for publicly declaring your goals! We're all looking forward to cheering your success.

staceyalberta

what a great gift you are giving yourself the gift of better health. i sooo admire you for posting your pictures & what a GREAT gift you are giving yourself for later. i wish i took before pics. i never did & i regret it for many reasons, but i now encourage others to take that before pic. also take measurements great motivating factor as well.

i agree with m330 about the primal diet. i was looking into it the other day & if i wasn't happy with my plan (which i am) i would be seriously trying this one.

good luck i'm going to watch this thread so that i can be one of your cheerleaders...lol.

Deanna0404

Good Luck with your journey - you are so brave. I don't think I could have ever posted pictures but I have to take them so I can see the difference.

I will be following your story - it will be an inspiration! I just started last week, so I will be right there with you!