Looking for buddies - warning I'm a pretty severe case!

nutty2chat2016

I've been using MFP for a few months, but this is my first post. I'm on the downhill of my forties - I'll be 47 in January. Ugh! I just realized that's next month . I'm looking for info/ideas about nutrition and fitness, along with occasional motivation.

This is hard for me, but I'm gonna jump right in and put it all out there in hopes of finding out I'm not completely alone in what I'm up against, or at least that there are people out there willing to be gentle with their guidance. Please don't read this as a list of excuses. It's just what challenges me and what I'm looking to overcome.

• I smoke. I put this first to save the time of the people who will be totally disgusted and stop reading. If you absolutely have to, go ahead and nag me about it. I know its bad, but I'm not ready to give it up just yet. My doctor nags me. My insurance nags me. I have coworkers who have made it their personal mission to nag me. I even have a box of Chantix sitting out on the counter that nags me. In addition to the obvious health risks, I realize that it makes it harder for me to exercise. Its on the agenda, just not for today. Shew! OK, moving on...
• I'm post-menopausal which I'm finding brings a unique set of challenges, especially when it comes to weight loss and metabolism, but also mood and motivation.
• I've been overweight for the majority of my life, but it is worse than ever over the last few years. Since I started tracking in MFP, I've lost 13.4 lbs, but over the last year its closer to 40. I still have over 40 (41.6 to be exact) left to go. I expect the second 40 to be a lot harder than the first.
• I'm sort of known for my unhealthy habits. See the first bullet and add to that an addiction to sugar and white flour and a severe dependency on diet coke. I'm also not real fond of salads and vegetables.
• I don't like to cook. I'm working on finding ways to replace my unhealthy choices with healthy, satisfying, and *convenient* choices. I have no clue about how to make broccoli or cauliflower taste good! Since I'm finding out that potatoes, corn, carrots, and peas are discouraged as side dishes, I'm left with green beans and I don't know how much longer that can continue. I buy a lot of healthy food with the best of intentions, to only throw it in the garbage after I let it go bad in the fridge. Not good for my waistline or my bottom line.
• My physical activity level is hindered by my busy life as a sedentary person. I'm a programmer, which means the busier I am, the more I sit. It is hard for me to get to fitness classes or make visits to the gym. Yesterday I bought a spin bike for home and as soon as I finish this post, I'm going to do a YouTube spin class. If I survive that, I plan to make spin a regular part of my routine. I also recently bought a Pilates machine, which seemed like a great idea, but I have no idea what I should really be doing with it - how much, how often, etc,. I'd love to find others that use either of these machines.
• A few last things.. I don't feel like I'm using MFP to its full extent. I'm a really big nerd (I like to build robots in my spare time). I'm a married empty-nester whose husband works a different shift, so I frequently have conversations with my German Shepherd and my cat. And... I write really long message board posts.

If you're still reading, wanna be friends?

Getfitat54

Sure, let's be friends. Being here is a start... and a good one I might add.

MindyBruno

Congratulations on losing 40 pounds! That is a huge deal. I am not an expert by any means but I will give you my best advice. I have lost 73lbs since 5/15. Gained back about 6 and am 1.3 pounds away from my lowest weight again.

We have a few things in common. I am 47 1/2. A major diet coke addict and not really into cooking. I have a gym membership and I know I should go but I rarely do Sadly, my body is regular as clockwork, no where near entering menopause.

My first belief is that no food is bad. I have lost my weight by eating whatever I want as long as I can stay within my calories for the day. I eat potatoes, corn and carrots. I also eat bread, cheese and butter, to name a few things. The one thing I binge on when I start eating is potato chips. It is the only thing I try to strictly limit being around.

I weight my food with a food scale. Yes, it is pain but it really helps keep you on track. My teenage sons find it hysterical that I weigh my meat, lol.

Exercise, I found I really like walking. I have a fitbit and I get at least 9,000 steps a day. Over lunch, I walk in the basement at work. I do need to get back to the gym to build up some muscle.

As for smoking, it's like losing weight. You have to be ready to do it. Get your weight under control then think about working on quitting smoking.

PS, nothing wrong with talking to your animals. I'm even weirder, I don't have any pets but I talk to other people's dogs and cats and refer to them as my friends. I know all the neighborhood animals from my walking. The feral cat in the backyard sat with his nose to our screen door and watched us watching tv this fall.

Good luck, you can do this. Feel free to friend me. I am here for the long haul. Logging my food is what works best for me.

Getfitat54

You two are more than welcome to add me if you'd like.

katlack94

Well....congrats on your first steps... I am a walking nightmare...I was married 2 yrs ago at 146lbs give or take. I am not at 268 i believe havent stepped on a scale since march 2015. My father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 2 days before. I had taken him to hospital on thurs night as we were loading our vehicle to head to my wedding venue. And he complained of his leg hurting. I notice blood clot. long story short he is still hanging on doing well as can be. but in march of 2015 my step mother passed away suddendly at work. they believe she choked on her salad and she was alone. so needless to say its been a rough 2yrs. Ive started smoking in the last 4 yrs post hystorectomy. Working and taking care of my dad i also picked up drinking soda and mt dew at that. I needed some energy as the weight was packing on. Life has calmed a lil. But i feel horriable. body is aching i dont work out anymore no energy nothing. Ive been having aniexty attacks swear im having heart attacks. Today i reopened my fitness pal and decided its time for a change. i havent had any mt dew today and only 2 cigs. I brought my lunch and some snacks to work today instead of eating out. I want to be healthy again. i have a 6mth old grandson and i wanna be able to play with him and not be out of breath from all my weight. so please add me and we can boost eachother. have a great day.

Grammytryingtogetfit

Congrats and welcome to MFP!!! I sometimes forget to look in here, but am on here everyday.
I just turned 46 and have a lot in common with you too, anyone feel fee to add me:)

dcresider

You can friend me if you like. You should be very proud of your loss because a loss is a loss is a loss so congrats to you. That's more than I can say for myself since i'm a big foodie and wine lover, but everything in moderation.

One word of advice on exercise: you don't need fancy machines and gyms to exercise. All is takes is a nice walk outside with a good pair of walking shoes and about 1/2 an hour of your time (in your 16 hour day) 3x a week to. That's how I started and pushed me to do a little more. Good luck to you.

Adc7225

I just turned 48 and I am just getting into the menopausal stuff so I understand that issue. I can say that after reading your post I feel that you have a great understanding of yourself which can be a big thing. But the one thing I think you hit on was that these things are not excuses just part of who you are and that is okay. But if you can program, you can learn how to make broccoli or any other veggie taste good - but one thing at a time.

I will share this, I was 244 lbs, girly-girly, with a love for high heels and purses. I hate carrying a purse now, would rather chew off a finger than shop for either and I went from one pair of sneakers to at least 10 pairs and only 3 pair of high heels. . . so change can happen.

You smoke, you will stop one day . You have lost some weight so that can happen, I personally love to cook but that does not have to be your thing, you can learn to manage whatever you have been eating, meaning you might need to balance it better just so you sort of get a variety each day or over several days. Start really paying attention to servings and salt and fat. As this happens it gets easier because even if we don't realize how we feel at the moment we do know when we start feeling better. Now the physical activity part is a tricky one, but anytime spent moving is a good thing. I would suggest keeping track of your activity that way you can see improvements or not and it will help you set goals. Just try and commit to the exercise when you start, if you think you can spare 30 minutes on the bike, commit to that! And I can say that my cat probably helps me get 500- 700 steps a day, so connect with your pets.

I lost about 1/2 my weight without any MFP pals and that worked at the time but the 2nd 1/2 was a lot more fun with them. I love getting the notifications, when I see my pals getting in the workouts, it really helps motivate me to get something in that day! So, yes see what all MFP has to offer.

Best wishes to you - keep up the great work!

LaurieNelson3969

I recently turned 48 & also dealing with peri menopausal issues. I've been overweight for around 23 years. Around 5 years ago I developed Graves' disease with hyperthyroidism & the weight dropped off..however I felt horrible. Been in remission for around 3 years & have put the weight back on. My addiction is mainly high carb foods....well food in general....& Pepsi is my drink of choice. I eat for any occasion..sad, angry, depressed, all the above. I've recently been diagnosed as pre diabetic so really need to start working on this. MFP seems like a great place for rooting each other on.

Derpy_Hooves

I like you, despite your disguuuusting smoking
Friend request sent...

MrsChapmanTwo

I'll be your friend too! I'm on the young side of 40 - I'll be 43 in September, but already in full Menopause - cervical cancer treatments did that, but at least I got to live, lol! I just started on here, and I'm hoping to find some motivation as well.

I've been overweight most my life, but the big fat belly is a new post-menopause thing - ugh. I just want to have a waistline again! Right now I'm about 189, I'd like to get down to about 125 or 130 (I'm really short so that's not unrealistic I don't think). Like many of you I love my carbs and especially my sugar, but I'm trying to make at least small dietary changes (more water to start with) I also am not very active - not nearly as active as I used to be. It's hard to work out when so many types of exercise physically hurt. Walking is about the only thing I can still do without knee pain. I'm going to try to get my husband to take a walk with me tonight. Right now I'm just dealing with a ton of cravings and massive hunger (until my stomach adjusts to the smaller amount of food). 1320 calories doesn't seem like a whole lot to me and definitely doesn't leave any wiggle room for a lot of my favorite foods!

snowboardermom

I will support you! I'm 49, post menopause and dealing with many of the same thIngs! On smoking, I know you can quit when it's time! My mom quit in her 50s after a lifetime! Take one thing at a time and be gentle with yourself! You are doing all of the right things, using MFP and connecting with people who get it. That's so important!

I talk to my German Shepherd and my cat too! Only weirder is that I think they talk back sometimes!

JamesAztec

Her original post was 4 months ago and she hasn't posted in a month. I'm guessing she's not around anymore...

beesmum

Feel free to add me. I'm 43, married, mother of a 13 year old daughter. I need to lose about 80 lbs after losing it over 4 years ago and gaining it all back!!

NextRightThing2015

R u still here?

Rchin4thestarz

My doctor for years told me I had to quit smoking ....I told my doctor when I was ready I would ...In May of 2016 I said enough.... I've tried the cold turkey trick before and it tricked me...Last year though I asked for help and my doc put me on Chantix....It's a will of mind over body ...Just like with the soda ...You have to get to a point of saying enough....I don't drink Coke, Diet Coke or any soda that has color.... I will sneak a Sprite or Schwepps from time to time but thats few and far between ... Take it a day at a time... Don't set high goals for yourself.... As I type this I am reminding myself of that ....I want the quick fix ...I want the miracle cure...There's none unless I want to pay out the $$$$ ....I got myself here I will get myself out ... With the help of course of those who also walk the same path....Hope this helps...

KANGOOJUMPS

I love my cat, hes my best friend. I used to smoke. love my wine!, anyone can add me, I come on every day and will message anyone.