Posts by Keith Harris

Hey guys, is there actually an age limit for starting birth control pills? Like, can taking them really mess with your health if you're super young??

So, roughly how much are we talking about paying here??

So, I went to see a private OBGYN, and she gave me a list of all the tests I need done before starting birth control. The catch? I can't ask my regular doctor for a referral for bloodwork because of some personal stuff I'm dealing with. Basically, I know exactly what labs I need, but I don't have an official order from an insurance provider. Is there any way to actually get this done??

I can't even get an appointment through my primary care doctor right now—they won't even consider giving me a referral. Does anyone know how much it costs to go private, and is the wait time actually bad??

Do I actually need a referral to get bloodwork done at my local clinic, or can I just walk in?

Look, I know this isn't some overnight transformation... I’m not trying to drop 10 pounds in a month just to pack on 20 more the following week... I want to actually change my lifestyle, and honestly, that's the hardest part of the whole thing.

Rebecca Ramos3 said:I totally feel you! I’m dealing with those exact same "struggles"—I push myself toward this extreme weight goal just so I can finally like what I see in the mirror, but the fallout is that everyone keeps telling me I looked way better before. They say I look like a shriveled raisin now, or just... soft. But the thing is, I don't see it. I don't get how they can claim I have rolls here or there when I don't. Honestly, I think it’s gone deeper than just vanity; it feels like a mental health struggle at this point. I’ve become so obsessed with food that my entire brain is just occupied by what I’m eating next, when I can eat, and what's actually allowed... it's a total disaster. I'm stuck in this depression and it feels like I can't climb my way out... and the worst part? No matter how much weight I lose, I'm still never satisfied...

I second everything she said... Every single time I set a target weight to hit, I reach it and I'm still just not happy. And if anyone tries to tell me I look fine, I don't believe them for a second—because how could that be true when I can literally feel my skin sagging and seeing fat spilling out of my jeans??
I'm just not happy with myself and I just want to feel even!

Yeah, honestly, I’ve already cut out most of that stuff from my diet. I'm still wondering about bread, though—I tried cutting it out entirely, but I just can't seem to do it. I need at least one slice of toast or something... What's the best kind to go for?

Also, my biggest struggle is definitely belly fat. I heard that doing sit-ups doesn't actually help and that you have to lose weight overall first, so what should I be working out instead?????? Also, am I doing it wrong by eating so little? Everyone writes about having 5 or 6 small meals a day... I only eat 2 or 3 small ones. I mean, I don't think that's any worse than the other option...

I finally stumbled upon the "emotional support" thread, and honestly, it feels like it was written just for me... I haven't had a chance to dive into the other recommended threads yet, but I definitely will as soon as I can. Thanks for the heads-up!

Regarding that whole "no eating after 5 PM" thing, I don't think it'll be much of a struggle for me. In the past, I never really ate breakfast—I’d just have a massive lunch and dinner, so I wasn't even hungry in the mornings. BIG MISTAKE! Now that I skip dinner, I actually wake up starving and eat breakfast. Honestly, I think that's been my biggest breakthrough in changing my diet. Of course, if I start feeling hungry at any point in the afternoon or evening, I’ll grab some fruit, like an orange or an apple, just to take the edge off... Actually, right now, as I'm typing this, I'm heading off to grab a pear 🙂

To melloworca7: I totally feel you! I can go long periods without food no problem, but my absolute hardest battle is resisting that chocolate bar or something sweet right after a meal. That's exactly what got me into this mess, and well, look at me now. I try to hold myself back by chewing some gum instead; it usually kills the sugar craving for me. It's my little little hack... though I'm sure there are plenty of others out there... I don't know... I'm just trying everything I can, and hopefully, it'll work!

Thanks so much for all the support, everyone...

In my first post, I mostly just vented from an emotional standpoint because, honestly, that’s just how I needed to get it out at the time. Because of that, I definitely glossed over some of the actual facts.

So, yeah, the truth is I’m still pretty young... I’m still in school, but I truly believe there is ALWAYS a right time to work on getting back in shape.
People tell me—and I’ve noticed this happens to others too—that I’m not even overweight, but at the end of the day, what matters most is how I feel about myself. I’m just not happy with where I am, and I want to be.
By my own math, I really need to drop about 15 to 20 pounds. Maybe the number itself isn't the biggest issue, but rather the way I look, with all these extra curves and stuff... ugh, just thinking about it makes me cringe...
My goal isn't to go on some crazy crash diet for a month only to gain it all back immediately. I want to make lasting, permanent changes to my lifestyle and habits. That's why I'm so grateful for the support; I'm hoping it makes this whole journey a little easier.

I don't know... maybe I shouldn't even be starting a thread here... there’s probably already one about this, and honestly, why wouldn't there be? 😢

I really don't want anyone else to feel the way I'm feeling right now...
I haven't been on the forum in ages—like, six months or so—but today, just now, I realized I need someone... literally anyone who gets it...

Some of you might find this story pretty familiar... and if you think to yourself after this next sentence that you should just stop reading, please, just give me two minutes. Please.
I just want to lose weight. And I know some people will hear that and think, "Oh great, here we go, just another girl who isn't quite right, like she doesn't have bigger problems to deal with."
And look, I do have other things going on, but right now, while I'm sitting here on the verge of tears, this matters. That's why I'm posting this.

Yeah, okay, I get it, it probably sounds super dramatic. I used to be the one judging kids who were obsessed with losing weight, too, but... I don't know... I can't fight it. Being thin is what I want.

And I have zero willpower, which is absolutely killing me inside. I try so hard to hold back from eating, but every single time I fail, this feeling hits me... total despair 😢, this sense of worthlessness... I just feel so weak...

It's not like I'm on some crazy extreme diet. I just try not to eat anything after 5 PM, stick to water, and keep breakfast, lunch, and a snack light. Okay, that's how I *wish* it worked, but rarely does...

Maybe I just need some advice, or some different perspectives, or to hear about what you guys have gone through. I just need to talk to someone who's been in my shoes...

Please write back.