Microlass

Hello Everyone! I am 23 years old, living in Japan and working here. I think I am the only person in the world that would start writing an introduction on a diet forum while simultaneously eating a bag of popcorn. I guess you can see why I am here.
I am a vegetarian from birth (no fish or meat AT ALL) and a lover of junk food by nature. I am very athletic and unfortunately am the type that puts on bulky muscle (I used to ice skate and now I run, it's all in the thighs) instead of looking lean and cut like Madonna.

I am 5'8'' and used to weigh about 18 pounds less than I do now. When I moved back to America from Japan the first time in 2005, I was 152lbs. I have always weighed a lot more than I looked (I could wear a size 4-6 then) and for at that time I felt pretty thin. I think the secret to my diet was being 21, and drinking wine and smoking cigarettes instead of eating regular meals. I also worked out everyday, but still, I think it was a lot of unhealthy weight loss as well.

2 years, a happy relationship where eating is one of our hobbies, and a life of partying less than once a week on average later, and I am 170 pounds. I can still wear some of my size 6 clothes, but I am noticeably larger than some of my jeans would like to fit, and I think my boobs have grown-which I hate!!!!. For these reasons, and for a boost of confidence amongst all the tiny, perfectly thin women in Japan, I want to loose 15 pounds.

I am going to make an effort to eat less junk (but not eliminate all), less dairy (I eat a lot of cheese-related food since everything here either contains meat or cheese and I can't eat the former), less starchy foods like white bread, potatoes and white rice, and try to eat more whole grains and vegetables. I also am going to keep up not partying often and not be tempted into drinking after work on weekdays. I am going to continue excersizing as much as possible (I just rolled my ankle so I can't run, but I just went on a 150km bike ride from Nagoya to Kyoto and I have been walking to work uphill 50mins a day) and drinking lots of water!!

Anyway, nice to meet you, diet forum-ers! Any advice or encouragement would be welcome! Critism too! I just want to shed a little weight and feel better about myself!!!

XOXO,
-Microlass