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My name's Joanne, I'm 23.

When I was about 16, I started gaining weight after being bullimic for 3 years and finally managing to stop. By the time I was 18, I'd gone from being 5'2 and weighing 140lbs, to weighing 185lbs. I never set out to lose weight... Yes, I'd been unhappy with the large weight gain, but everytime I tried to do something about it (starve myself for a day, only eat soup, cut out carbs completly etc) I ended up getting even bigger, because I couldn't stick to stupid faddy diets and it began messing up my metabolism. It was only when I broke up with my ex boyfriend of a year and a half, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands.

It was Summer 2004, and I started walking my dog down the woods near my house everyday for an hour or so. Within 2 weeks, I noticed my clothes get a bit looser, I'd lost 7lbs. So I decided to start eating a little better aswell, just replacing bits of the junk food I regularly ate with fruit instead, and having more vegetables at dinner rather than buttery potatos or greasy meats. A few more lbs dropped off, so, feeling encouraged, I changed my walks to gentle jogs. Eventually they got harder, and longer. I enjoyed it, and altered my eating habits even more. After 2 months, I had lost 40lbs. I felt great.

But over Winter time my good habits slipped. I ate more comfort food, it was too cold to jog. By Summer 2005, I had gained 10lbs. I panicked and joined a gym, and went crazy. I went everyday for an hour and a half, doing nothing but cardio. I did lose the 10lbs, but I was exhausted and irritable. All I thought about was food, I obsessivly counted calories. My social life went down the drain - the thought of eating out was far too much to bear. Besides, when did I have time for a social life? I was far too bus working everyday until 6pm then going to the gym for 2 hours every night.. then I had to come home and prepare my food for the next day.. it became an obsession, and if the scale ever dipped up a pound, I was so depressed. And if I was ever too tired for the gym or ate something unhealthy, I'd hate myself and feel so guilty. My lowest point was when I forced myself to go to the gym despite having a terrible, terrible cold, so I left after 20mins, then cried all the way home becauae I was so disappointed in myself for giving up. I kept binging because some days I'd eat so litte, the sight of a chocolate bar made me want more and more and more.

In Summer 2006, I stayed at the gym again, but instead went 3 times a week for an hour. I went on my runs/jogs for 45mins twice a week. By the start of the Summer I weighed 135lbs, and by the end, 130lbs (doesn't sound too much, but I gained a lot in muscle tone from doing my gym workout properly). I lost 2 inches from my waist, one and a half from my hips, 2 from my thighs. I fit into a UK size 10.

In Summer 2007, I'm 5'3, and I weighed 117lbs, and by the end of the Summer, 112lbs. Which, for the first time in my life, I thought was a bit too little. Nowadays I go to the gym 3 times a week doing a balanced workout of resistance, weights, and cardio. I strengthen, tone, and keep my endurance., and fit in jogs whenever I can if there weather's nice. I do lots of stretches at home which I've found is fantastic for helping my muscletone,  I'm now approximately 115lbs after gaining some muscle at the gym. It seems to be a balanced weight my body likes and doesn't fluctuate other than muscle loss or gain. It's took me 3 years, but I'm where I want to be and I'm maintained it for 2 and a half years. 

I made this page because I have been through all the nightmares of dieting and weightloss. I'm not going be like those people in magazines or diet pill ads who tell you it was "so easy!" The reason weight loss is hard is because people are too hard on themselves. They expect too much of themselves and become disappointed in their progress, so they give up. I'm going to try and share my experience to give ideas that you can apply to everyday life and change your lifestyle. I don't want anybody reading this thinking they're embarking on a diet. You're not. This is about changing your lifestyle and becoming a healthier person. Don't come here asking me for quick fixes, it won't happen.

I'll slowly be adding more to the site, advice about nutrition, basic rules, exercise, meal ideas etc. On the left hand side of the page, you'll find two albums with before pics and after pics, and I'll alsohealthy recipe ideas I find or make, and exercise ideas.