New members - tell us about yourself
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Hi all! My name is Marie and I've been at MFP for about a week now. I was on several years ago, lost a few, then life got in the way and time went by and I just didn't care any more. Well, I'm back on track and happy to be here.
I have been up and down (mostly up) on the weight loss ride most of my adult life. I'm a single mom whose nest will be emptying this summer and a cancer survivor twice over. I quit drinking (read: self-medicating my stress away) last summer and now it's time to tackle my weight. I really want to feel better about myself and lose these extra mid-life pounds that are hanging around my middle. I am disgusted with my body every time I look in the mirror.
Since last fall, I have been practicing yoga a couple of times a week, and the peace I find through it is amazing. I look forward to meeting more of you and hearing your stories. Together we can do this.
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58 yr old male in BC, married.
I've always eaten healthy food, but I eat too much of it.
Went from 214 lbs to 185 lbs 3 yrs ago, but ballooned back to 209. I could give excuses (lost a house), but in the end it's on me. Started at it again, and I have lost several lbs.
Hi dv7834! Welcome to the group!.... chopped liver.0 -
Congratulations on making some marvelous life changing decisions. You must be tough to beat cancer twice. So you can do this too. Welcome.0
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Hi, I am a 52 year young woman, married to my Love for 9 years, have 2 grandchildren another one on the way and live in Ca. I have been on and off of my fitness pal for the last 3 years and am ready to take control and lose this weight once and for all. Glad to be a part of this group! Looking for more friends as well!
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alphabetsoup2013 wrote: »sebenza512 wrote: »Recently, though, I saw a picture of myself in my early 20's and could not believe how great I looked -- even though my memory of myself then was as a fat girl.
I can totally relate to what you and Jen said about the warped pictures in our own heads.
I grew up believing that I was fat and hideous.
I recently saw a photo of myself in Grade 8 (someone I know posted it on Facebook). I was shocked to realize that I wasn't fat or ugly at all. I was pretty -- but sad and shy. In the photo, I am sitting at a picnic table with a group of kids with my arms covering up my stomach, like I'm trying to hide my weight....
I thought I was hideous in high school too because I was not cool and was the target of several b****s. All girl Catholic schools breed them. Anyway, I was showing my yearbook to my boyfriend and he looked at me like I was crazy. He said I was gorgeous and better looking than the Queen Poodle, which is what an overpermed bully actually looked like. I wasted my youth not thinking I was pretty and certainly not capitalizing on it. I actually like my face now. It's terrible what we let ourselves believe.0 -
nikkib0103 wrote: »alphabetsoup2013 wrote: »sebenza512 wrote: »Recently, though, I saw a picture of myself in my early 20's and could not believe how great I looked -- even though my memory of myself then was as a fat girl.
I can totally relate to what you and Jen said about the warped pictures in our own heads.
I grew up believing that I was fat and hideous.
I recently saw a photo of myself in Grade 8 (someone I know posted it on Facebook). I was shocked to realize that I wasn't fat or ugly at all. I was pretty -- but sad and shy. In the photo, I am sitting at a picnic table with a group of kids with my arms covering up my stomach, like I'm trying to hide my weight....
I thought I was hideous in high school too because I was not cool and was the target of several b****s. All girl Catholic schools breed them. Anyway, I was showing my yearbook to my boyfriend and he looked at me like I was crazy. He said I was gorgeous and better looking than the Queen Poodle, which is what an overpermed bully actually looked like. I wasted my youth not thinking I was pretty and certainly not capitalizing on it. I actually like my face now. It's terrible what we let ourselves believe.
One memory I have is overhearing my mother's monthly group of women playing Pokeno or cards saying, "Connie has such a pretty face..." and that sentence would just hang in the air without the "but"...
I used to hate shopping in the chubby girl section in Sears!
I acted like I had a lot of confidence, but I really didn't.0 -
Oh, I remember those days, had to shop in the misses section b/c there wasn't anything in the junior section big enough, so embarrassing. An aunt kept telling me it was baby fat and I would outgrow it. I was 14! Welcome glassgal, good group here.0
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Hmmm..... lovesretirement - "I used to hate shopping in the chubby girl section in Sears!" reminds me of those "Boys' Husky Pants" also carried by Sears! --- LOL0
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Nikon Pal...thanks for making me laugh..
It's so nice to communicate with people who "get" it!
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I can so relate! My beloved grandpa used to bounce me on his knee and sing, "I don't want her, you can have her, she's too fat for me." I know he was just playing with me, but.... I also remember the taunts from schoolmates, "fatty, fatty, two by four, can't get through the kitchen door." Then there was the ultimate humiliation, shopping for school clothes. In my day the stupid tops had darts, but I didn't have boobs yet, so it was so embarrassing to be told to stick some socks in my bra. No wonder I felt like such an ugly cow. At 10 years old I was 5'2", 103lbs. Maybe a bit chubby, but a head taller than most my friends. I look back at my pictures and really can't understand why I was treated like that. I was 5'7", with big bones, muscular, with big legs and hips, big feet, and 150 lbs in high school. Felt so bad about myself. I would of been totally in now thanks to JLO. I look back at pictures and think, If only I could be that FAT now!0
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Children can be so very cruel to one another, I guess it is a dog eat dog world at times. Many times a word spoken in jest accompanies us for life, I wish it wasn't so.
We need to remember that others cannot, do not, validate who we are, but we ourselves are the only ones who can define this aspect of our lives. Our thoughts on how we believe others perceive us is one key to self-confidence and happiness in this life. We need to love ourselves first, then many more will follow.0 -
Brilliantly said Happy trails and Lin, I too was 5'2" and 103 pounds at 10. Actually when you think about it those stats are terrific, but not when you are the biggest girl in the class. And for me, ultimately 5'6' and 150, it didn't get any better.0
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Thanks HappyTrails7, I wish we could learn those lessons earlier in life. I had an aha moment when my son was about 8. He was a beautiful little boy with blond locks and big blue eyes, so cute! When he came home from school in tears because someone called him ugly, it just clicked for me. If they called him ugly and it wasn't true, then maybe all the mean things people said about me weren't true either. Too bad I was 40 years old before it dawned on me. I just asked him if what they said was true. He said no. I told him then he must understand that it says more about them than him. Feel sorry for those people that are cruel, because they must feel really bad about themselves. They just want to be mean and hurt others, it doesn't have anything to do with you! I've shared that with my other two kids and both are in high school. It's helping them to deflect the comments, although my daughter seems to have a tougher time ignoring the bullies.
Marekdds, yes we were just bigger than others. Now I am starting to feel short, they are growing them bigger these days! Oh and if I could only get back down to my size 12s, 150 lb body, I'd be thrilled! Hindsight is 20/200 -
I think it must be part and parcel of the human condition to seem to take on all the negative things people say for whatever reasons and claim them as true for us! LOL Lisa Williams (psychic medium) gives hers a name "Veronica"! And Veronica tells her all the negative stuff about not being good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, etc etc. Unfortunately, I think we all have a Veronica too, undermining so much of our confidence! And isn't it so sad that you are told to first love yourself in order to improve yourself, but at the same time society and Veronica are telling you you are NOT worthy of that love because you are overweight!Like the beautiful soul you have just isn't enough to overcome your outward appearance! NOT TRUE people! ALL of us deserve to be seen for the beauty that is US, not our skin, but who we are inside! Lin, I wonder if it just takes a certain amount of maturity to realize those lessons and overcome the insecurities we grow up with? Maybe just part of our life lessons growing up? Keep talking to your kids! I'm sure it helps at least a little, it can't shut out the negativity they get from their peers but at least your voice is there too. I know my mother loved me unconditionally, but she was so obsessed with her own weight, she passed that feeling of being "not good enough" if you had a weight problem to me as well as my kids. My daughter died for it and it's taken me a very long time to overcome most of it, I can't even say all, but I had to stop punishing myself for not being perfect before I was able to get a good handle on losing my own weight.
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Hi everyone! I'm 53, married with 2 boys (27 and 22, and a great daughter-in-law). My whole life has been about others. I'm actually learning from a younger generation how to put yourself first. I'm also involved in helping my elderly parents. If I'm not healthy and happy, I don't put my best foot forward in helping others. So maybe alittle late, I'm trying to get healthy so I can be better for myself and others.0
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I think it is pretty common to try to be everything to everyone and ignore yourself. Now that I am slimmer, I have more energy, so it is a win for everybody.0
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MoochieRama wrote: »Hi, I'm 52 working to get back down about 30 pounds, but am I the onE who gets predators on here?
Welcome to our group. It's a great place to be when we need support 0 -
Hi everyone! I'm 53, married with 2 boys (27 and 22, and a great daughter-in-law). My whole life has been about others. I'm actually learning from a younger generation how to put yourself first. I'm also involved in helping my elderly parents. If I'm not healthy and happy, I don't put my best foot forward in helping others. So maybe alittle late, I'm trying to get healthy so I can be better for myself and others.
Welcome thinmog,
You have definitely got the right idea. Put yourself & your health first & then u are in a better position to help others.
We look forward to watching your journey.. 0 -
Hello all. I'm 54, divorced, but have been in a relationship for 13 years so it feels like we're married. I have a 27 year old son. I've been on MFP for 3 years. I'm a slacker when it comes to logging food. I'd like to lose 40 more pounds. I'm down around 30, so that's about 10 pounds a year. I'm making very slow progress! I like to jazzercise for exercise, and have been going 4-6 days a week for over 10 years. I have arthritis (osteo), and this helps to keep my joints moving. I am stiff like an old dog at times.0
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Brinasacat wrote: »Hello all. I'm 54, divorced, but have been in a relationship for 13 years so it feels like we're married. I have a 27 year old son. I've been on MFP for 3 years. I'm a slacker when it comes to logging food. I'd like to lose 40 more pounds. I'm down around 30, so that's about 10 pounds a year. I'm making very slow progress! I like to jazzercise for exercise, and have been going 4-6 days a week for over 10 years. I have arthritis (osteo), and this helps to keep my joints moving. I am stiff like an old dog at times.
Welcome to the group. The hare & the tortoise comes to mind, when reading your introduction, Sometime the slower we go the more successful we will be. Its great that you get to Jazzercise 4-6 days per week, sounds like great fun.0 -
Welcome brin! We all approach things in our own way. It is marvelous how you are doing it. Great exercise and the pounds will stay gone.0
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Welcome Brin! Hey, 30 pounds is 3/4 of your way there, who cares how long it takes! And Marekids is right, your way will keep them from coming back!0
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Brinasacat wrote: »Hello all. I'm 54, divorced, but have been in a relationship for 13 years so it feels like we're married. I have a 27 year old son. I've been on MFP for 3 years. I'm a slacker when it comes to logging food. I'd like to lose 40 more pounds. I'm down around 30, so that's about 10 pounds a year. I'm making very slow progress! I like to jazzercise for exercise, and have been going 4-6 days a week for over 10 years. I have arthritis (osteo), and this helps to keep my joints moving. I am stiff like an old dog at times.
Welcome to the group. The hare & the tortoise comes to mind, when reading your introduction, Sometime the slower we go the more successful we will be. Its great that you get to Jazzercise 4-6 days per week, sounds like great fun.
Congrats on the 30 pound loss...as they say....Success is not a race! Even with my methotrexate, I'm "stiff like an old dog" in the morning...but not as stiff as I once was carrying another person on my frame (LOL) --- Best wishes.0 -
Hi everyone, my name is Karen. I'm 62 and just started using MFP this week. I just finished my 6th day. I have four kids, 24,23,21, and 17. I never had a weight problem growing up, and even after my 4th child was born at the age of 45 I was doing fine. But the stress of working full time, and having four young children made me go on anti depressants. I started gaining weight and gaining more and now I'm up to 195 lbs. I should be at maybe 140 but right now I'm starting with a goal of 20 lbs. then I'll set another goal. I broke my ankle over three years ago and am still having problems with that. I'm trying to walk more and so far so good. Although today it snowed, I'm from Colorado so it snows into May so couldn't walk. I'm in overall good health except for weight. I love MFP. Entering the calories is so much fun and it's really motivated me to stick to 1310 calories. Which is what it picked for me. I never realized that a slice of Costco pizza has 700 calories in it! My motivating factor is I want to remain in good health and I know being overweight can lead to a lot of problems.
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Welcome Karen, thanks for telling us your story. We have a great group here that will be there to support you and help keep you motivated.0
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Welcome to the group. Your plan of losing 20lbs is a great goal. We will help & support u as much as we can xx0
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Hi all, My name is Maree - I'm 51 and I am married and have 3 sons (22, 19 and 17). I've been on MFP for almost 3 years now ( wow that time flew by). I lost a stack of weight in the first 15 months (woman on a mission) and then maintained well for the next 8 months until I turned 50 at xmas time. Gradually a few extra kilos have come back over the last 12 - 15 months and its take to take back the reins. I'm tracking carefully and exercising with a vengeance. Have a bit of a cold at the moment so not a strong appetite which is helpful right now
I use a fitbit surge hr so if anyone wants to add me on fitbit that would be great.
https://www.fitbit.com/?userToken=wv9yrvh81c1vjdeh5zdf
My current plan is a 100 day commitment. I'm aiming for a 500 calorie deficit from food and a 500 calorie burn from fitbit ( or at least 10000 steps).
Tomorrow is Day 11 on my1 00 day plan. One day at a time for me. I'm sure some special occassions will pop up in the 100 days but I will just get back on track the next day and continue on.
I'm using Leslie Sansones walking dvds (muted sound) in front of tv to burn extra calories each day. Pushing myself some days when I would prefer to skip but I am committed.
Feel free to add me as a friend if you think we could support each other
~Maree (off to burn0 -
Hi Maree, welcome to the group, it's very nice to meet you.
It sounds like you are very experience with MFP and have a great plan to get yourself back on track. Please feel free to jump in on any of the ongoing discussions or start a thread of your own on anything you want to share, learn, or is just fun.
I truly believe having a great group of friends on here will help us all to stay on track and maintain our fitness once we get to our goals.0 -
Hi everyone my name is Sue. I have been struggling with my weight & yo-yo dieting since I was 16. I am the mom of 2 & grandma of 1 & I am getting scared that my weight problem will never be resolved. I am at my highest weight ever of 165 but I am 5' 2" so that is too high. I have had success with weight watchers many times but always gain it back. I am trying MFP now because logging my food & seeing what other people are doing is helpful. But it's so hard to get going. I binge eat at night when everyone else goes to bed.0
