New to the site, old to the nerd and the fitness part

[Slovien]

While I say that my weight has always been very high. I've been working out on and off for about three years now. My weight has gone down a few times but has always gone back up. I was a high school math teacher for two years which did not help the stress levels at all. And when I was stressed... I would eat. I am 24 years old and am at about 350 pounds down from 430 since the start of last school year. I am currently living at home and going to start college again soon to get a masters in accounting.

Currently the doctors believe I have plantar fasciitis and I agree with them for the time being. I am waiting for a call to go to a foot specialist to see what is going on. I hope it is not this or if it is they know how to get rid of it (I know that's probably not true.)

My goal is to join the military. I've always been fat and I've always wanted to join the military. Plantar faciitis is an automatic disqualification though hence my wishes above. I am going to take about 20 months to get a masters degree and in that time I am going to work to get my weight and body fat percent down to military acceptable rates.

The biggest problem or me about weight loss is food. I love food. Growing up I was picked on for many things. My family was poor so clothes and such... not really the best things in the world. Lived in our car for a while so a shower was out of the question at times. I ate when this stuff happened. It was my... safe place I guess. I know it always sounds corny and stupid when people say it but eating made me feel better. And to this day it still has that affect on me.

Living at home means eating at home as well. I personally don't mind counting calories but when Mom cooks she doesn't always look at calories or take measurements which makes it hard to figure everything out. I want to try out Paleo/Primal at some point but I am currently not working (full time student) and don't wanna spend more money than I have to. I have been a part of forums before that have really helped me out. At some point everyone started to be a jerk to those who weren't in the best shape so I left. Hoping to find a helpful place here with like minded people.

As to being a nerd I loved the Final Fantasy series up to about X-2. That's when it started going downhill for me. I played magic the gathering a lot with some students and a lot more when I lived up in Wisconsin (Arizona now, bleh.) I play a bit of Runescape still (guilty pleasure) and at times play a bit of modern warfare. Although not that much cause my internet connection likes to lag. Started playing a bit of Diablo 3 but it doesn't help much attention for long.

[VorJoshigan]

At some point everyone started to be a jerk to those who weren't in the best shape so I left.

I don't think you'll get that here, though you will have people holding you accountable if you want.

The biggest problem or me about weight loss is food.

I can identify.

First up, I highly recommend seeing somebody a therapist or something along those lines. It's not a panacea, but it can help. Ask yourself - Which do you love more, yourself, or the food? If it's yourself and you consistently go for the food instead, you might have some issues worth looking into.

Second, IMHO, you need to give up sugar. If you were up at 430, you might be insulin resistant. If you are, then eating sugar and processed carbohydrates will have the effect of making you MOAR hungry. You don't need to go paleo, but if you can give up any product at the store that includes sugar as an ingredient, you're probably 1/2 way there.