Just moved to another country & started MFP

pjennekuuk

Hi all you MFP-ers,

I am new to the site and to the country I am currently living in. I recently moved from The Netherlands to Germany as an expat. Sofar work has been crazy and hence have not had much time to socialize or go out exploring. Not to mention my friends, family and boyriend are back in Holland. I know that on a US scale Germany and Holland are pretty much one country but there is quite a bit of difference :-). So, with all the stress of a challenging new job plus adjusting to a new life here on my own, my first reaction was to indulge in all good things German. I have a terrible sweet tooth and I can assure you Germany is not a healthy country for chocaholics!

But then I thought I would do things differently. I have been gaining weight slowly and steadily over the years and have often begun enthusiastically only to fall of the wagon after a few days. Being here alone though makes it easier for me to focus - I thought, well, if I am stuck down here anyway and don"t have much going on besides work, I might as well try to get something out of this whole moving-country experience instead of eating myself into a sugarcoma :-) . So I bought myself a crosstrainer and a scale and downloaded MFP for my tablet.

I have been lurking around the forums since last week and started in earnest this Monday. I get up an hour and a half earlier now (and I am so NOT a morning person) to do some cardio and have time to stop sweating before I go to work. I cannot tell you guys how motivating all the success stories have been sofar. Whenever I feel a bit demotivated I log onto MFP and check out some of the amazing stories here. Seeing how far a lot of people have come enables me to give myself a motivating kick in my still squishy butt and get to work! Hopefully my story will contribute to someone elses motivation one day.

Looking forward to keep following all of your stories!
My goals
Goal weight - 67 KG or 147 Lbs. But anything below 155 would be fine
Current - 86 KG or 189 Lbs

christyd4

Hey I sent you a friend request! My boyfriend lives in Germany What part are you in?

SandyAnnP

Hi! I just joined this site too and I think it is just fantastic. I live "Down Under" in Australia.
I love the food diary and how I know how many calories I have left if I feel like an extra snack or treat.
I went from someone who got out of breath just making the bed, I could barely walk around the block, to going for a brisk walk for an hour EVERY morning. I usually get up early anyway, so I just get dressed and go! I am walking 5.5 kilometres a day now and it has helped me a LOT in losing weight! I have lost around 12.4 kilos ( 26 lbs) since mid February and need to lose at least another 8 kilos. I hope you can get the motivation you need to exercise and you can find some low calorie snacks in your new Country. Do you bake? maybe you can make some low cal choc muffins and keep in the freezer for snacks if choccies are your downfall.I know it would be real hard when you are away from family and friends, but I think you will find support on this site. I wish you well! Sandy.

pjennekuuk

Thanks for your response and the add Christy! I"m in Bavaria- Munich actually - just like your boyfriend!
Ah Munich, the city of beer, sausages and well...more beer. Topped off with a few more sausages - not for me though with me being healthy and everything! Have you been here often yet?

spires2823

Hi, I tried working out for 3 month and I thought I was eating good. but I was only going up and down 5 pounds and had no results.
This has really helped me track my food and I have only been on it for 2 weeks and I have droped 4 pounds. I know that does not sound like a lot but I'm so Happy. It is very stressful when you think that you are going in the right direction and your not. So to see progress so soon. I have a ways to go. I want to drop a total of 30 to 35 pounds. But we are worth it. and I need this so good luck to you.

pjennekuuk

Thanks Sandy! Wow you have done really well and deserve to be very proud of yourself! And baking - let me tell you girlfriend, I bake like a motherlover - cakedecorating is my passion actually so I am always looking for low-cal baking recipes and such...so any recipy recommendations are always welcome. Thanks for your post!

heytherestephy

Welcome! My boyfriends family is from Holland
So as you can imagine I live, on a fairly regular basis, with all things unhealthy that are Dutch.

Boyfriend has quite the sweet tooth/is a chocoholic.

pjennekuuk

Thanks Spires - I think 4lb is quite good - and they do always say slower progress is easier to retain right? Isn"t there a proverb about a Hare and a Tortoise that is somehwat relevant to this, or am I messing up my proverbs again :-)? We can do it!

pjennekuuk

Ahh, well, if you want to practise your Dutch on me you are more than welcome Steph :-). You know the Dutch are actually more famous for their fried foods than for their sweets (excluding licorish of course) - I am sure you are familiair with our lovely Kroket and, my boyfriends fave - the Frikadel. Luckily they dont do Krokets here (just potatoe ones) - to compensate, the Germans eat lots of pork..and I mean lots! Have you been to Holland often then? Thanks for your post!

Felidae_1981

I'm a German living in the US - actually, I think the food is much healthier in Germany than in the US (no offense to anyone, I think it's the different additives and more sugar in everything, not the actual variety). But yes, the chocolate is a MUST in Germany.

I'm from Bavaria but not from Munich - LOVE Munich, but sooo expensive.

Have a good time and enjoy the food and the weather - I MISS the German weather, I live in Florida now and the heat gets on my nerves

heytherestephy

Ahh, well, if you want to practise your Dutch on me you are more than welcome Steph :-). You know the Dutch are actually more famous for their fried foods than for their sweets (excluding licorish of course) - I am sure you are familiair with our lovely Kroket and, my boyfriends fave - the Frikadel. Luckily they dont do Krokets here (just potatoe ones) - to compensate, the Germans eat lots of pork..and I mean lots! Have you been to Holland often then? Thanks for your post!

I've never been to Holland actually! I grew up in a primarily Dutch town here in Ontario so I'm no stranger to Dutch foods (We had a whole festival dedicated to Dutch food ). I myself am very very English. First generation born in Canada, and thus have full British /EU citizenship. If I were to be invited along on one of the trips to Holland, I'd very much love to go though!

christyd4

Thanks for your response and the add Christy! I"m in Bavaria- Munich actually - just like your boyfriend!
Ah Munich, the city of beer, sausages and well...more beer. Topped off with a few more sausages - not for me though with me being healthy and everything! Have you been here often yet?

Hey that's great! Nope only been once...hoping to get back again next year. He is American so it is easier for him to come here He def loves his beer and sasauge LOL!!

christyd4

I'm a German living in the US - actually, I think the food is much healthier in Germany than in the US (no offense to anyone, I think it's the different additives and more sugar in everything, not the actual variety). But yes, the chocolate is a MUST in Germany.

I'm from Bavaria but not from Munich - LOVE Munich, but sooo expensive.

Have a good time and enjoy the food and the weather - I MISS the German weather, I live in Florida now and the heat gets on my nerves

You would be correct in saying the food there is much healthier I would have to agree!