My name is Marissa. I am 28 years old and I live in Plant City, Florida with my fiance Shane. I am currently following the South Beach Diet. I was diagnosed November of 2007 with Multiple Sclerosis. It has been challenging in many ways in my life. I'm learning my limits and my abilities and using them to succeed in my weight loss journey. I have always struggled with weight. I was always reminded of it by my father and his family. I was the only "big" one in the family. I remember comments like "You have got to take her to the doctor. There HAS to be something wrong with her." and one comment that sticks with me is one time when I was getting ready in my parent's bathroom to go out with friends, my Dad commented, "You'd be so pretty if you could just lose weight" I have never had self esteem.Through my life I have tried just about every diet known to man. The most successful and probably the most unhealthy was when I went on the phentermine diet pill. I lost 65 lbs in 5 1/2 months,but I hadn't taught myself a new lifestyle. I did good until March of 2005 when my dad committed suicide. It was tragic and still effects me to this day. In no time I had my weight back up to 240. Mind you, I am 6'1. I found fatsecret through my blackberry app world actually. I thought it was just an app, then I came online and checked out the website and really liked what I saw, been hooked since!!
I started this recent weight loss journey in July of 2010 weighing in at a whopping 258 pounds. Since then, through a couple relapses of my Multiple Sclerosis I have managed to loose 32 pounds total. I am determined to complete this journey and continue to live the rest of my life in a health conscious way! I hope to get to know some more of you and share motivation and encouragement!