Intro and Tracking

robvaleri

I've been on for while and started tracking when I started my journey, so it's been almost 150 days now and I haven't missed a day of tracking. I'm almost scared I'll fall off the wagon if I miss a day LOL. I started at 1800 calories and recently went down to 1700 with very minimal exercise (walking and bike riding with my wife). MFP has really enabled me to keep track of what I eat and I'm not scared to put EVERYTHING DOWN (very humbling sometimes).

I think these Message boards are amazing, and I'm truly glad my insomnia kicked in and gave me a chance to actually read and respond to some posts. I can totally relate to so much of what I've read and I truly believe I will achieve and maintain my goal thanks to my amazing wife, MFP and the people who are on here.

I don't know about most people, but the hardest thing for me is everyone else around me. Especially those closest to me, they treat what I'm doing as if it's a diet, for me it's a complete changing of my old way of life. Many of my family and friends are enablers and have never understood my issues with food and weight loss. I am a classic yo-yo. I've been completely buff and in great shape, and very obese and the complete opposite of great shape and health. I decided this time to try to change my diet before I became a "WORK OUT FIEND" to see if I could lose the weight without much exercise other than the occassional walking and biking and my daily exercise from work (running around on a sales floor). I believe I have been successful to this point but I know the hardest part for me personally has been social occasions with friends and family. At the beginning I was actually scared to go out because I knew I'd over indulge. Now I don't really limit what foods I eat, I limit my intake in total and don't beat myself up over a bad day, I just make sure I get back on track quickly. I know I have a long way to go, but what is that saying? The journey of a thousand miles begins with but a single step? I get that now and I'm seeing the results and feeling MUCH happier about myself that I have felt in a LONG time! I can now also walk for an hour or longer with out bending over with back pain after only 5 minutes! I know it's a small thing, but what a difference!!!

GOOD LUCK TO ALL and here's to meeting and making new friends and having a different sort of "ENABLER" in my life

jesz124

Great post, very inspirational, thanks for sharing ;-)) x

giabelle

Rob,

We know one another inside out and upside down. We are the best of friends but truthfully, you're the "big brother" I never had. Being the eldest in my own family, I've always felt like it came with a ton of responsibility. Too much at times for me to bare. Especially when I have been anything but the "lead by example" kind of elder. I've had so many crazy journeys in my life and you've been around for most of them. All but one. Having you in my life has been awesome. You've helped carry me when I couldn't take another step and been someone to look up to and admire in so many ways.

I'm so honored that you and I have been the "best of times/worst of times" buddies! I would like to think that I am a positive "enabler" within your life, as you and your wife have surely been for me.

Words cannot possibly describe just how proud I am of the two of you.

Thank you for allowing me to walk along side you on this path.