38 Years Old - Haven't Peaked Yet.

I've been on MFP for about a month now. I really like the tools that it gives me, which make tracking my calories much easier. I've been able to improve my habits substantially in some ways. Once I saw what the sodas were doing to me (I used to drink 3 or more 20-oz bottles per day) I cut those WAY back. The same is true for treats and desserts. So far I'm not tracking things like fats and sugars (although MFP does track them for me - I just don't take note of them) and managing my calories.

At the beginning of 2012, I weighed 274 pounds. Some simple diet changes helped me drop about 10 pounds and when I started on MFP I was down to 261. I've set my goal at 175; I know it's aggressive but I think goals should be aggressive. I was 175 pounds when I came out of boot camp in 1994 and I was fit. I want to be there again. I know I can't do it in a week or a month and maybe not in six months (short of quitting my job and exercising 10 hours per day), but I know it can be done.

More important than a number for my weight, I want to be fit. I live in California where beautiful scenery abounds. I love hiking and exploring the mountains, but that's hard when you're carrying an extra person! I want to be able to run a 10K and to bike from Monterey to Morro Bay. I want to climb to the summit of Mount Whitney (highest point in the contiguous United States). These things aren't possible when the heart is overloaded.

I'm 38 years old; it's time to start enjoying my life versus enjoying my food.