Hi I'm Helen. I live in the UK, in West Yorkshire, with my partner, 1 cat and 4 chickens. No children, but I do have a nephew who I try and see as often as possible. I joined MFP in September, but I'd been losing weight since April using Fitday. MFP is easier to use as it has UK specific foods on here and I don't have to enter much from scratch.

I have gradually been putting on weight for the past few years, but started a new job with a lot of travel, a lot of staying over in hotels and hence a lot of eating out and went up from 148lbs to 169lbs in about 2 years, when I realised I was over 12 stone and starting to have to buy size 16 clothes and had gone up from a 36C to a 38D bra I decided I had better do something about it before I got any older and it became harder. I'm 5'9" so I decided 147lbs would be a good target.

I got down to about 150 in the summer and had a bit of a break whilst I went on holiday - well you can't go to Italy and not eat all that lovely food. Then we had a few music festivals and so that meant eating rubbish and drinking beer. I had a couple of months break and started again in September. Since then I've shifted the last 3 stubborn lbs.

My aims are to keep the weight off, keep running 3 times a week and keep eating healthily. I wasn't too bad at the latter when I was at home, I just needed to be more aware of portion sizes. I need to try and eat more healthily when I'm away too, although there is a lot of temptation around with all that nice food. So no more starters, just main course and if it's just me I think I can dispense with the glass of wine. Sometimes. I now try and book into hotels that have a gym, and I'll get up early and go to the gym before going to visit clients.

Phew that was a long one.

Helen

Hi everyone, thanks so much for the invite!!

My name is Janice, I am 47 and live in New Brunswick, Canada. I am married, I have 3 grown children (28, 24 & 20), 2 step daughters (27& 23), 2 wonderful grandsons and 3 cats.

I love to cook, baking is my stress relief. I found out this year that I have a gluten intolerance, so I am having to learn a whole new way of eating and cooking. I have to admit it has been a struggle but I finally feel like I am getting the hang of it (well most of the time anyway). I hope to get some great ideas here that will help me become more healthy. And of course be able to share any of my experiences and tips as well.

My long term goal is to lose about 55lbs - but this time around I am just looking at 5lbs at a time, otherwise I find I get too overwhelmed with the big numbers and not reaching a goal quick enough. I have committed and recommitted so many times now that I am frustrated with myself. But I am at a point in my life that this is very important to me and my family, so it is time for me to get very serious and find my "inner goddess" that I know is hiding under the extra layers on my body!

I am really looking forward to getting to know you!!

Hi everyone! Diana here. I just turned 57 last week. Among my Bunko group, I'm known as the one who can tend to go overboard when it's my turn to be hostess! Most of the group likes to be fairly casual, but to me that's just too boring!! I'm also someone who likes variety in what I eat and my food diary usually reflects that, except for some fairly regular Peanut Butter and Jam toast for breakfast and Quest Protein Bars for snacks. I admit that I actually like to cook. On the nights I'm not into it, my husband and I like to eat out. Balance in life is good, right? I look forward to this group and checking out the posts as I get time. :flowerforyou:

Hello to everyone out there! :-) My name is Teri and I live in Tucson, Arizona. I love the weather here because I can be outdoors 95% of the time. I love cycling, hiking, gardening, reading, and cooking/baking. I have 2 grown children (daughter 28 & son 25) so its just my husband and I and we both love that. I own a health/nutrition company and my husband is a certified personal trainer and martial arts instructor. We both pretty much set our hours and can really enjoy life as it was meant to be instead of "punching a clock" and living by another person's idea of how it should be.

I'm a vegetarian (the only thing keeping me from being a true vegan is cheese & sour cream, which I love). I've been slowly experimenting/converting old family recipes to my eating lifestyle and have found nothing is impossible :-D My son is also vegan so we have a great time experimenting in the kitchen. I've even gotten my husband enjoying the food in a healthier way; although he still likes an occasional burger. Our whole family is super sensitive to what is (and has been) happening to our food. We support our local farmers, shop at the farmers markets, and only buy foods from companies that support GMO labeling and are 100% verified organic. The Food Movement is this country is real and growing. We all need to stand up for ourselves and what is right for our families and future generations.

Did I mention I love being outdoors?? I feel a strong connection to nature and am passionate about protecting it for future generations to enjoy. I'm an advocate for alternative modes of transportation and am working to bring agencies and communities together for safer infrastructures so more people will want to get out and enjoy it like I do. I only drive my vehicle 1-2 times per month if I really need to; otherwise I'm on my bike. I bike everywhere: grocery shopping, banking, post office, library, visiting friends and clients, event training, you name it. I never would have thought I would be on this life path a few years ago. I was in a horrible biking accident 26 years ago and vowed to never get back on a bike. Funny how life heals you and opens your eyes/mind to a world of possibilities.

My husband and I are registered for Tucson's biggest race: El Tour de Tucson (111-, 85-, 60-, & 42-mile events). We're signed up for the 60-mile this year. My goal is to be able to race the 111 in a year or two. The race is always the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This year marks the race's 30th anniversary and it happens to be our anniversary as well. What better way to spend it!! Race day also marks the 2-year anniversary of me getting back on a bike.

I signed up with MFP on January 15, 2012 after researching food journaling apps for a friend who was looking for a way to get back on track with eating. I use food journaling as a method of accountability so when I saw an app that had everything I was looking for, I was excited. I've lost 30 pounds so far (which was my original goal) and would be super happy to lose another 5-10. I believe it is completely possible considering my activity level. I laugh every time I pull something out of my closet that was too small for so long that is now too big.

Feel free to read my profile & my few blog posts and/or send me a friend request.

Hi, my name is Lorri. I live in Baton Rouge, LA. I am married (20 years) and have 2 kids left at home (11 & 13) and a grown daughter who is married with 2 kids of her own. I started MFP (for real) 9/12/12. I told myself for my 44th birthday (June of 2012) that I would lose 44 pounds for my next birthday. Well, I don't really want to lose 44 pounds (129 - would be too skinny for my body), but am planning on losing at least 28 (that wold get me to 145, my weight when I met my husband).
I have tried dieting and exercising to lose weight, but never at the same time. Lol, I'm glad I finally realized that the combination of both at the same time actually works.
I love to cook, but mostly desserts. I am having a hard time cooking meals I CAN eat and my kids WILL eat.
Hopefully, I will get some great info from you ladies

Hi! My name is Elise. I currenlty live in the Texas Panhandle. I struggled with being "chubby" all my life but became obese after having children. Just last year I decided I had finally had enough and needed to try AGAIN to lose the weight. Well, I really thank God I did because I have successfully lost 70 pounds and totally changed my life and way of thinking. I started out walking, then running, then hired a personal trainer and now I love HIIT and weight lifting! Never thought I'd learn to do so much at 42 years old. With my trainer's encouragement and my family's support I am training to earn my personal trainer certification. I even have my first (non-paying) client as part of my course work. Fitness has given me a brand new life that I love!

Hi I'm Tracey I am 47 from the UK, I have struggled with my weight most of my life. I have 3 grown up children and 2 gorgeous grandchildren and I want to be healthy so I can enjoy them as they grow up.

Hi I'm Laura (accepted the invite last weekend but no time to respond then) 58 in Denver, Colorado. Married for 39 years the 10th of November with 3 grown sons & 3 grandsons.

This is my second round of being on MFP and I have just reached my goal. Since I failed on maintenance last time I'm not leaving MFP this time because I know I need the accountability that being here gives. I plan 90% of my meals and I cook on the weekends preparing for the coming work week. I love to cook and challenge myself to find new receipes that will work for this new lifestyle.

I have found that if I eat in moderation I can still have my occasional treats but am always looking for a lower calorie way of making my treats.

Everyone have a great day.

Laura80111

Hi, My name's Izzy, I'm 49 and I live in Ipswich, Suffolk. My weight tends to creep up and down so, this time round, I'm trying to make a few, simple lifestyle changes to ensure it creeps down, and stays there. So far I've lost just over a stone; I'd like to lose another two, and then stay steady at 10st (140lb; no idea what that is in kilos!)

Thank you for the invitation. I've just slid into 50 in August, 2012. I have been married for 29 years. I have a son-25 and a daughter- 21 and a beautiful granddaughter- 16 months. I decided last November 24th, that my health had to become a priority for me. I was tired of feeling so terrifble. So I started doing something about it.

My goal is to be at 100 pounds lost before or by November 24th, my 1 year anniversary of starting a new lifestyle. That will put me halfway throught the weight loss leg of my journey. I am close. I always welcome weight loss advice.