Coming out of the dark and into the bright light!

MissItalianPrincess

Okay, I have lurked around here plenty over the last 4 days, so I figured it's the best time to finally join in the MFP fun and become part of the support system I have seen throughout these message boards! :-)

I just started on what I hope is to be the last time I embark on a lifestyle change and stick with it for good! At a mere 5'1", I have previously lost a significant amount of weight 3 other times in my life: 40+ lbs of preadolescent chunk, 20 lbs of college fun, and 40 lbs of depressed- funk after a bad break up ( in between all those times, I was a very tiny , athletic girl maintaining a size 0-4). Most recently, I had relocated to the West Coast from my forever home on the East Coast and although my love and got to be finally no-distance, the many stressors of the move and life-altering change has reaked havoc on my emotional eating, keeping up with my vacuum of a boyfriend, and predisposition to environmental/situational anxiety/depression. Enough has been enough and I started back on Monday, July 30th, which is exactly 8 months to my 30th birthday!

I am barely pushing 5'1" and I have managed to lose 10 lbs between the spring and prior to this start and keep it off! I am weighing in at 128 and my ultimate goal is to be a fit, toned 99-100 lbs! I haven't seen that in years but my closet reminds me every day! I have a lot going on that I hope to accomplish by March 2013- that being number one, right along with permanently relocating back to the East Coast with my boyfriend within the next 6 months to a year and also getting engaged somewhere within in that time, hopefully sooner rather than later! :-)

This is all happening through the small gym at my apartment complex and outside in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mtns. ( finally be able to afford a gym membership again when we move back East, yes!!!!!!), making better food choices, and limiting foods, but not giving really anything up so I can maintain this for, well, forever!

Everyone's stories have been so inspiring and I hope that I can be further inspired and inspire some others along the way! I could definitely use some friends and new buddies, so looking forward to being a part of this all and sharing in all our stories together ( corny, I know, but it helps!) :-) I will post a before picture when I finally see some progress to not scare myself or any of you with all this junk I have in my Italian trunk, lol!!

mmreed

Hello! Welcome to MFP!

MFP is a really great resource to keep you focused and connect you with a wealth of fitness resources and like minded folks.


1. Log your foods every day - don't skip days, or parts of your day. log everything!
2. Analyze each day - see where it went good and where it went bad - too much fat? maybe too many carbs? over the calorie limit? Identify and plan how to correct it for tomorrow.
3. Reach out to the community with questions or advice needs.
4. Build a network of friends here!
5. Above all, do not believe everything you read here. There is a lot of great advice, but also some misleading and hype type advice. Part of getting fit is educating yourself in aspects of health and fitness. Make sure any questionable advice is looked at with a scientific eye and look for facts, evidence, and most importantly real world proof.
6. You are more than a number. Sometimes the scale may not say what you hoped - thats fine. weight loss is not a straight line declination. Its a bumpy line that drops over time. Don't let single day numbers get your focus away from term based results.
7. Vary your exercises. Your body forms memories and can slow down how it burns fat and builds muscles. Keep it confused! Hit it hard with cardio styles. Build lean muscle to burn even more fat.
8. and above all - take your photo now! You will want to look back and have a starting BEFORE picture to proudly display along with your series of PRESENT or CURRENT photos during your transformation and continued lifestyle of fitness.

I welcome you, and anyone else out there to add me as a friend. I have made fitness and health my passion and love the idea of folks joining me in my new lifestyle of being fit, healthy, and most importantly - HAPPY!.

I'm here to support and motivate!!! I find my own success comes easier when I help and fuel other folks success.

and remember - most folks care more about the quality of fuel they put in their lawn mowers than the fuel they put in their bodies. Don't be one of those people. Whole foods. Natural foods. Intelligent choices.



Fit for life,
Mark M. Reed
aka Marc Mayhem - Fitness Blogger, and Motivator!


Add me as a friend and take part in my daily fitness discussions, tips, and commentary on MyFitnessPal!
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mrsRhughes

Good luck with all of your goals! I think you will find GREAT support, advice (although choose it WISELY! lol) and friendship here.

MissItalianPrincess

@Mark, thanks for all the great advice! MFP has so many great tools, that I know I'm in the right spot! Congrats on your amazing success so far and good luck as you continue!

@Mrs. Rhughes , thanks so much! Lol, I will definitely agree on the choosing wisely part, too. ;-)