Hello there!
JenniferSpindel
Posts: 56 Member
Hi Everyone!
My Name is Jen
(Hi Jen!)
It has been 15 days since I discovered MFP
(*wait for applause*)
Seriously though... :-) I downloaded the program on the advice of my trainer and I can't tell you how fantastic it is! But let's start at the beginning. My name is Jen (as we know) and I am a 29 year old female living in Davis, CA. I have my BA in Economics from Sacramento State University and work for UC Davis.
In my childhood years, I was quite active. I played soccer and softball and did a lot of playing outside. I had always had an issue with my size though. I wasn't skinny like the other girls. What I wish I would have been told back then was that bigger and healthy was better than skinny and wimpy any day.. but I digress...
About my junior year of high school I got a part time job and a car. I was always running from one activity to the next and because of all my "extra-curriculars" I decided that I would quit playing soccer (not only that, but I was intimidated by the other players on the team who were the "cool girls" in high school and would make fun of me and shun me).
That was really the beginning of my major weight problems. I managed to stave off the massive weight gain until I went to college. There, instead of the dreaded freshman 15, I put on the unthinkable freshman 50... and if that wasn't enough, kept on gaining. I was doing less activity, more eating, I started smoking (cigarettes and other stuff) and generally not caring about my health.
In the end, I went from 150ish in high school to a peak of 270 pounds. 270!
*sigh* I was stuck in a rut of depression about myself...feeling worthless and ugly and all sorts of bad things. My doctor patiently tried to get me to take a hard look at myself through suggestions of blood tests and "simple ways" to lose weight... but I think I was in denial that I myself could take control of that.
In January of this year, I had a fall at work. I had to be carted out by ambulance due to a massive back injury. Turns out, I had a major issue with a disc in my back being so degenerated that the fall caused my vertabrae to squish it.
And I wish I could tell you that "THAT" was what got me on the road to a healthy lifestyle... but it's not. Fast forward a few months and I become friends with someone who shares a LOT of my same interests and goals.... a person who I consider to be cut from the exact same cloth as me, who taught me a ton about myself and life and love.... He said "My life is so ****ty right now that the least I can do is take control of something that I CAN control... and it makes me feel good to know that I'm doing something right that the depression lifts"
That is when I decided to get into shape.
Two weeks later, I get a call from a representative at my work. She had been trying to get ahold of me for 6 months but hadn't been able to find an email address I actually used (they were using my work one even though I don't check it!) She filled me in about a program that I was recommended for after my fall, one in which my job would pay for a gym membership, a personal trainer, a nutritionist, and a counselor...
I'm just saying... you put something into the universe, and it comes back at you in ways you couldn't imagine. This program has been wonderful for me... and the first day with my personal trainer he recommended this app. And I LOVE it.... I love that it holds me accountable for everything I eat...everything I do... It's almost a game to try to stay under my calorie limit everyday.
And I"m happy to say that in 2 weeks of paying attention to what I was doing... i have lost 8 pounds. 8! My starting weight was 258 and stepping on that scale and seeing it drop to 250? I think I almost cried!
Anyway, that's me and my story of what brought me here.... I also purchased the FitBit Ultra to try to ramp up my results....so we'll see how that works out.
Happy trails to everyone! And if I can do it, YOU can do it! :-)
My Name is Jen
(Hi Jen!)
It has been 15 days since I discovered MFP
(*wait for applause*)
Seriously though... :-) I downloaded the program on the advice of my trainer and I can't tell you how fantastic it is! But let's start at the beginning. My name is Jen (as we know) and I am a 29 year old female living in Davis, CA. I have my BA in Economics from Sacramento State University and work for UC Davis.
In my childhood years, I was quite active. I played soccer and softball and did a lot of playing outside. I had always had an issue with my size though. I wasn't skinny like the other girls. What I wish I would have been told back then was that bigger and healthy was better than skinny and wimpy any day.. but I digress...
About my junior year of high school I got a part time job and a car. I was always running from one activity to the next and because of all my "extra-curriculars" I decided that I would quit playing soccer (not only that, but I was intimidated by the other players on the team who were the "cool girls" in high school and would make fun of me and shun me).
That was really the beginning of my major weight problems. I managed to stave off the massive weight gain until I went to college. There, instead of the dreaded freshman 15, I put on the unthinkable freshman 50... and if that wasn't enough, kept on gaining. I was doing less activity, more eating, I started smoking (cigarettes and other stuff) and generally not caring about my health.
In the end, I went from 150ish in high school to a peak of 270 pounds. 270!
*sigh* I was stuck in a rut of depression about myself...feeling worthless and ugly and all sorts of bad things. My doctor patiently tried to get me to take a hard look at myself through suggestions of blood tests and "simple ways" to lose weight... but I think I was in denial that I myself could take control of that.
In January of this year, I had a fall at work. I had to be carted out by ambulance due to a massive back injury. Turns out, I had a major issue with a disc in my back being so degenerated that the fall caused my vertabrae to squish it.
And I wish I could tell you that "THAT" was what got me on the road to a healthy lifestyle... but it's not. Fast forward a few months and I become friends with someone who shares a LOT of my same interests and goals.... a person who I consider to be cut from the exact same cloth as me, who taught me a ton about myself and life and love.... He said "My life is so ****ty right now that the least I can do is take control of something that I CAN control... and it makes me feel good to know that I'm doing something right that the depression lifts"
That is when I decided to get into shape.
Two weeks later, I get a call from a representative at my work. She had been trying to get ahold of me for 6 months but hadn't been able to find an email address I actually used (they were using my work one even though I don't check it!) She filled me in about a program that I was recommended for after my fall, one in which my job would pay for a gym membership, a personal trainer, a nutritionist, and a counselor...
I'm just saying... you put something into the universe, and it comes back at you in ways you couldn't imagine. This program has been wonderful for me... and the first day with my personal trainer he recommended this app. And I LOVE it.... I love that it holds me accountable for everything I eat...everything I do... It's almost a game to try to stay under my calorie limit everyday.
And I"m happy to say that in 2 weeks of paying attention to what I was doing... i have lost 8 pounds. 8! My starting weight was 258 and stepping on that scale and seeing it drop to 250? I think I almost cried!
Anyway, that's me and my story of what brought me here.... I also purchased the FitBit Ultra to try to ramp up my results....so we'll see how that works out.
Happy trails to everyone! And if I can do it, YOU can do it! :-)
0
Replies
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Very cool story--thanks for sharing and good luck on your journey!0
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Thanks for sharing! That was so inspiring... and even a bit romantic.
It's so sweet that you were inspired by someone that way. I wish you lots of good luck and good health, and success in all your goals.
(Now that you mention it, you're right about MFP being kind of like a game. So true. The calories are just like points!)0 -
I enjoyed reading your story. I don't have the age on my side but I had gained a good bit of weight and decided to try to lose some. I started at 202. after 2 weeks I now weigh 189 I am estastic. You keep right on trucking girl and so will I . we will make it real soon.I love MFP it is a real nice tool to have to lose weight.Oh my age is 690
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