[AndeeCreative]

I'm not technically new to this board, but I am here again after a long time, so I guess I should post an intro.

I'm a married mother of three boys. I am a college student, just came back to school last August after a long interruption...you know how life gets in the way? Anyway, before I came back to school, I had lost 112 lbs, mainly while on phentermine. I was at a plateau (this was spring 2007)...eating 1000-1500 calories a day and exercising 1.5-2 hours a day and not getting anywhere. It was very discouraging. I was absolutely obsessed with my diet and exercising. I came to my senses and realized that the obsession just was not healthy when I started using laxatives and vomiting after meals. So, I went off the phen and tried to not obsess over it so much. The weight gradually crept back on, and then during this year of school, it totally snowballed. I spent too much time snacking while studying and writing papers, and I have not had time for any exercise. I live 50 miles from school and have to commute with my husband as he goes to the city to work, so I have very little time at home and a crappy gym at my university. I get up at 5 a.m. to be at school on time, and I just haven't been willing to wake up any earlier to have time to exercise.
So--I gained almost all the weight back. I am desperate to get it off now, because I will be applying to medical school next summer. I do not want to be fat in my application photo! My family and I have made way too many sacrifices for fat to be the reason that I don't get into medical school. They can't say that you have to be skinny to matriculate, but you know they still factor it when they see the photo.

I saw my doctor today, and it was a very good visit. He put me back on phen and is willing to help and do anything I want to try, and he even told me I could shadow with him this summer! Yay!

So--I am back, and I am going to lose this fat again and keep it off this time. Looking forward to the support here! I will try to support you all as well!