My MFP story

ACJones82

A bit of background: I hail from Cape Town South Africa. I am 35 years old, 160cm short, married with two cats and, in the last week, one dog/ future running buddy. My weight loss journey started at 90 kg. T2D and Blood pressure/ cholesterol issues run in the family. Furthermore, I daily watch work colleagues struggle with T2D and their love of food. I really wanted to get myself under control while the choice was still mine to make.

For about two and a half months before my MFP story started, I was running 15km a week but this didn’t seem to have any effect on my weight. A year ago today I was in an “eat all you can find” mood and discussing my weight issues with my cousin. She suggested I give MFP a try.

It was a Friday. I got home from work, downloaded the app, filled in all my info and then put everything I could remember eating that day into my first food diary entry. In those few minutes I began to understand food. I committed to trying MFP for 10 days. In those 10 days my relationship with food changed and I lost 2 kg.

Some wisdom I picked up along the way:

• “Frankly, your mind is going to have to tell your body it can’t have all it wants” – Max Pemberton;
• The word ‘Self-control’ stuck to my computer screen at the office;
• Persistence over perfection; and finally
• The battle is won or lost in the mind.

I firmly believe that diets do not work. My choice is to eat more of what God created and less of what man creates: all things are permissible but not all things are beneficial (1 Corinthians 10v23).

I’ve learnt to manage my weaknesses. I know that I can’t keep big bags of chips in the house because once it’s open it’s game over; so I buy a small bag once in a while. If there are snacks at the office, I ask myself: The last time I had that, did I really enjoy eating it? I no longer want to waste my calories on luxuries just because it’s there. I also don’t deprive myself if I know it’s something I really enjoy, so I have enough to satisfy the taste buds. It’s also okay to fall off the wagon, as long as you pick a spot to get back on it again.

It’s been a whole year, I’ve lost just under 22 kg, 13 cm off my chest, 22 cm off my waist, 15 cm off my hips, from 35.9 to 26.6 BMI. I still have 8 kg to go and 7 cm around my waist but, in my adult life, I don’t remember fitting into size 10 or medium clothes! As the weight has come off, running has become easier and faster.

A recipe for success:

Faith + Food + Fitness

You need to get your head right first, and then it’s 80% what you eat and 20% exercise.

ACJones82

No idea how to add a pic

ACJones82

ACJones82 wrote: »

No idea how to add a pic

I found a way

MakingItHappen2017

Congratulations! You success is inspirational I need to get my butt moving and stop pigging out! And looking at your pic has definitely motivated me.

missh1967

That's awesome! You look great!

CarrieA180

Awesome job!

aliciaaw

Great story to follow, you look great!

cbeutler

Great job

Hoppymom

WOW! You've done an incredible job of improving your health! I love the statement about eating more of what God created and less of what man creates. You are truly and inspiration! May the rest of your journey be as successful as the first part.

staylo1313

Awesome job!!

Tulip9

Thanks for the inspiration. You look great, and seem very happy. Congrats!

Penthesilea514

I totally agree about getting your head right first- so critical to be mentally prepared to lose weight, or else it usually ends up failing/relapsing. Congratulations on your success!

Mrsabror

Amazing job! I'm in the same boat, couldn't stand feeling terrible all the time and self-conscious. Definitely not how God intended us to live. I've got this verse stuck in my head,

1 Corinthians 9
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.