[Arrecteve]

I have ALWAYS been overweight.
When I was 7, I received a diet book from my Aunt for Christmas.
I asked, "what am I supposed to do with this?"
"Lose some of that fat" she told me.

I've never been comfortable in my own skin.
and ate because I thought I hated the person I was.
I can't remember ever being less than 160 lbs.

This is me at age 12:




I don't know what it feels like to be thin. I'm beyond excited to find out.

All my friends growing up were teeny-tiny. They could eat literally anything, anytime and never gain an ounce. I felt obligated to eat what they ate, as I wanted to fit in. I would easily polish off 4-5 slices of pizza at a movie night, not including chips, soda and other snacks.

I weighed 180 lbs in 8th grade, and was not a happy camper.
A Curves opened up in my town, and my mother and I got a membership.
I went after school with her every day. We also did a very loose version of a low-carb diet. Going into high school I got down to 161.

I maintained at this weight, but never lost any more.
In April of my freshman year, I took a weeklong trip to Colorado with a friend of mine to stay with her Uncle.

I could tell he didn't know what to do with a couple of teenage girls, so we basically ordered takeout every night.

This is where I blew my diet.
I started gaining weight back and reached my high of 180 again.
In the summer between my freshman and sophomore year, I met and began dating my current boyfriend, Brian.

He always assured me that I was the most beautiful girl ever.
He helped me a bit on the self-esteem issue. The happiness I felt in my relationship led for me to keep gaining weight.

We ate out often, sharing icecream, big bowls of pasta. He stayed tiny. I didn't.

In the beginning of 2007, I went to the doctor to get on birth control.
I needed to be given a full physical exam before she could prescribe it to me.

I stepped on the scale. "204 pounds" she said.
I about died. All self esteem I had, deflated instantly. For the first time, I looked in a mirror and realized how fat I had gotten.

I went home and broke down.
I think I locked myself in my room for two full days before I snapped out of my funk and did something about it.

I didn't follow a diet, per-se.
But I got a gym membership and went everyday.
I ate little, and when I did it was mostly ricecakes (bleck) and salad.
I allowed myself an occasional treat.

I got back down to 170 on this method, but I could not maintain my eating patterns any longer. So I added fruits and vegetables and whole grains to my diet. I didn't gain, but I didn't lose either.

I entered college in September of 2008 weighing in at 165 lbs.
I felt ok with myself, there's a few girls on my floor who are bigger than me.
I hate being the "fattest girl there."
The campus here is 1.5 miles from end to end. So beginning school, I walked. A LOT. The school also has a beautiful fitness center that I had a free membership to.

I decided a few days into my college career that I would change my eating style. I was browsing diet books in my school bookstore and was across a little pink book called "The Idiot Proof Diet."

I purchased the book and read it all that night.
It is a watered down version of Atkins.
There is a 2 week "induction" but nuts can be had the entire time, and artificial sweeteners were not allowed.
After the two weeks was up, you could add wine and alcohol in moderation.

I wasn't completely happy with the diet situation, I like sweeteners in my coffee etc.
so I researched other low-carb diets, remembering that it worked well for me when I originally tried it in 8th grade.

I found Atkins through reading this forum.
I was intrigued by the before and after photos, success stories and on-going weightloss.

I went to Good Will the next day and got my Atkins book. I read it cover to cover and knew I found the WOE that would suit me.

It was difficult implementing this plan into a college lifestyle, as my new friends wondered why I wasn't having pizza or waffles for dinner as they were.

They've accepted it know, and just know this is how I eat.

I'm proud to say I've never tried the pizza, hotdogs, waffles, buttermilk pancakes, icecream machine and pasta bar that is offered in my dining halls on a daily basis.
and I no longer have a craving to do so.

I love this WOE. I always feel satisfied and have more energy than I did when college began. I've even had other girls notice my weightloss and ask for advice.

I am now at 145 lbs. I see my boyfriend once or twice every month or so (Long distance is hard, but we're making it work!) and his jaw drops every time he sees me. He has never seen me this little (and neither have I!)

We're going to Jamaica in March and I would like to hit my goal of 120 by then. But for right now, I'm just enjoying the ride and so grateful to have found this incredible WOE and super supportive forum.

Thank you for reading! I loved every single other story.[/img]