I'm a old "newbie"

Carolsuemac

I joined MFP in 2009, and had some minor success, then let it fall by the wayside. I just celebrated my last bd before the big 6-0, and I do not want to begin my "golden years" in the shape I'm in now. In 1993 I lost 80# to be at my goal weight of 140. Kept the weight off for 4.5 years, and then slowly started creeping back til I'd gained back all of my weight in 2004. I was so depressed - I'd worked so hard to lose that weight - I did it the right way, eating right, exercising regularly. I originally did it to have the hip replacement surgery I needed (at only 40), but the benefits were so much more! I started my 40's with a new body, a new hip, and a new home (I moved from Maine to Virginia)!!

In 2004 at my highest weight ever, I had to have the other hip replaced. What a difference in recovery - the first one I breezed right thru, the 2nd one was awful. It wasn't the 11 yr age difference, it was the 85# weight diff!! I was determined (I thought) to get rid of this extra weight once and for all. But I did nothing, just stayed overweight and unhealthy. In 2007, after being told by my mom's oncologist that she was now terminal, I quit smoking, which was great except for the 47#s that I allowed myself to gain because we all know you gain weight when you quit smoking, right???

So finally in 2009, I came here, lost about 17 pounds but then faded away. Now I'm back. I'm 9mos post surgery from my latest replacement (a knee), and as bad as the 2nd hip was at 205, the knee recovery has been horendous at 220#. I'm just so depressed when I look at where I want to get to and I feel sometimes its impossible to get back there. I go between thinking I just need to accept my weight as it is, and wanted to be where I was at 40. Somewhere in the middle would be good I think! So here I am, trying again, hopefully the help of some other MFP'ers. In 2009 I did not reach out to anyone. So here I am reaching out.......... and thank you if you actually read thru all this mess. I'm not good at "condensed versions."
Carol