Hi i am a 49 year old mom with a son and daughter ages 7 and 10. i was always a skinny kid and never overweight until about the last 7 or 8 years (since my children were born). My first big problem is that i always just ate what i wanted and never really had to worry about it. My second problem is that i had never been overweight so now I have no idea how to dress---really all I want to do is wear sweat pants and a sweatshirt for the rest of my life. I am 40lbs more than I want to be and I have arthritis in my knees that keep me from being able to do a lot of the fun cardio and exercising I used to do. even just a hour long walk/ trip to the grocery store has my knees aching. My orthopediatist recommends water, crosstrainers or the bike but watch the hills.
On top of all of that--I am not very motivated. I am always so busy with my kids, their school and sports/activities and working part time. i also LOVE FOOD!!! I don't mind healthy choices-i actually like them but every once in awhile I really want a big ole burger or pizza. I can hardly visualize cutting those out of my diet completely.

I just joined myfitnesspal today with encouragement from family--who also have joined. My sister in law started here months ago and lost weight but then sort of fell off the wagon. We hope to help each other with the whole process. As you can see I will need all the support and encouragement I can get. I am actually getting excited about being here. Can't wait to meet you and share ideas and support for each other.

Hi I am 43 with 2 sons, I would also like to clean up my diet and lose enough weight to feel healthy again.

I quit smoking in October ( after 24 years- I am very proud of this accomplishment. I tried several times before.) I kind of thought I would watch what I ate so I wouldn't gain.

Well I gained 25 lbs easily in 2 months time, I only noticed when my pants were to small for me, I weighed myself on 3 scales before I could believe anyone could gain so much so fast. The unfortunate thing is that when I quit smoking I needed to lose 50 lbs already. Now I need to lose 75!

I actually have planned for the last couple of weeks to get super serious on Jan 2013. So I have eaten any thing i wanted this past week so I know I wouldn't have missed the good sweets. I didn't go too far though.

My Plan-( I really can't follow a specific diet right now, I have learned what I can do over the years. I can't do a strict atkins, i don't want to measure or count calories, I think that is why i like this site, it keeps you honest and accountable to yourself.)

Don't eat after 8 pm. Green Smoothie once a day. Dinner simply meat and veggie. ;unch salad with protien. Have a go to sweet snack like oatmeal with honey or stevia & almond milk. Have a go to salty snack like almonds/nut mix. Have snacks available. Prepare the night before so that you don't have to think about it when hunger strikes. Force myself to eat at least every 4 hours (big problem for me, I usually substitute coffee for food).

My son bought me a Nutri Bullet for Xmas and my hubby bought a really nice belgian waffle maker.(I have to use it, in the past I haven't really used all of the gifts he has bought.) So I plan to be really good for 6 days and have 1 cheat day *Waffles of course*. I also plan to start out with kettlebell excercises 3 times a week 20-30 minutes. I did those in the past and once it becomes a habit the pounds melt off effortlessly.

I am sorry for being wordy, I wanted to share my plan. I know myself when I tell someone else what I plan to do, I am more accountable to do it. Once, my doctor told me to lose weight and I did it for her? Weird right, Women always want to please others.

Looking forward to losing with you all in 2013.

Please everyone post your plan or tips as we go along, maybe as a group we can get things moving along even faster!

Hello. I'm a 41 year old mom to a 9, 7 and 4 year old. I have always wanted to be thinner than I was but over the past couple years I have put on 20 pounds. I blame it on the 40's. I think my metabolism stayed in my thirties. I try to go to the YMCA a couple times a week but have not gone in the last month or so. I want to make it part of my daily routine. Not just if I feel like it. My eating habits have gotten terrible with the holidays too. I am a night snacker and that is my biggest downfall. Need to figure out how to cut out that habit. I've been on and off MFP and would like to stick with it. My kids are very active and I want to keep up with them.Looking forward to some motivation and hearing how everyone works towards their goal!

I am a 46 year old mother of two girls, 12 (almost 13 yikes!) and 9. I have decided 2013 is my year to get fit! It starts here with tracking food and daily exercise. I have had weight issues after having my children, especially my second and now as I enter menopause (yuck!). I lose but then it creeps back on. The holidays with eating out and COOKIES did not help. I love cookies...ready to buckle down. Getting the rest of the cookies out of the house today. I have done Weight Watchers (WW) and it has always worked. I am tired of rejoining weight watchers though because I feel that I know what to do. Hoping the trackers at this site and support from the group will aide in getting fit. It is a lifestyle choice! Let's get going!

Happy New Years Everyone. I am glad to see we are all trying to start it off right and with each others help we will end it right. I am a 39 year old Mom of 2 children ( 1 boy and 1 girl). In anticipation of the 40 year old slow down.. I am trying to lose about 70 lbs. I know what to do I just need extra support for the long term. I am hoping to find it in this group. I plan to use my body media fit band along with my fitness pal trackers. My training plan is T/T/SAT and Sunday. Good old fashion walking. I have signed up for the DIVA fitness 1/2 marathon. I work better with a goal plus it looked like a lot of fun.

Hi All,
I am 44 years old today! I have 2 girls, 8 & 10, and like most of you I am sick of losing the weight and then putting it back on. I have about 15 lbs to lose...but, everytime I lose 7 or 8, I gain back 4 or 5. And then I get completely off track, stop tracking and exercising and feel lousy about myself. So, on this 15th Anniversary of my 29th birthday I am vowing to lose it this year and keep it off! Please add me so we can help support each other

Hi i am Rowena and I am 47 -really weird when I have to write that as I certainly don't feel 47 more about 25. I live on the south coast in the UK and work as a Library Manager.

I have also yoyo'd with my weight all my life - best weight loss was with WW when I lost 3.5 stone but pretty much all gained back now.

I am married to Christos and we I have two sons 15 and 12 years old who I cannot blame for pregnancy weight as I managed to lose 1,5 stone every time I was pregnant as I was so sick and overweight at the start of it :-)

We have had a tough few years as my youngest has been ill and I have spent a lot of time with him at home and at hospital visits - comfort food and take aways have definitely been on the menu when we are together - not good for his future food lifestyle either although he is a real skinny at the moment so needs to eat but hopefully we can all make healthier food choices.

We have booked to go to Orlando at Easter it is a one off special holiday and when I booked I thought I had a year to lose weight - now I have 3 months aargh ! I am not going to be silly about this but I certainly should be able to lose at least a stone (14lb) and a dress size.

I plan to cook in advance and make menus this time as I know it is when I get home from work and there is nothing prepared that we end up getting a take away or have a ready meal in the microwave which is not good for any us.

Hopefully I can get some support from the group as we get fitter in 2013 and give some support back to others too - look forward to getting to know tthe group.

Rowena

Hi! My name is Jill and I will be 42 in April of this year, and a mother of a 19 year old and a 12 year old. Both boys. When I approached my 40th birthday, my goal was to lose 40 lbs. by that date. Well, I surpassed it and had almost 50 0ff by then. I went on to do well and have lost a total of 80ish lbs.! I gained back a little over Christmas, but it is only about 5-7 lbs. That is no problem. This past summer, I finally found my groove and started running and learned how to maintain my weightloss. I worked hard and continue to work hard at it. The eating is not so much an issue, it is sometimes the time to exercise. And the drive to exercise. Most times I have it, but when approaching that time of the month, PMS plays with me then I don't want to exercise at all. That is my difficult week. I struggle that week, but I am back full force once I finally start. My goal is to just lose the 7 lbs. I gained over Christmas and to get back on the exercise track. I am considering doing a triathlon this June coming and I need to get moving if I want to be able to do it. I am a swimmer (in the summer), I love biking, and I love running! I look forward to meeting others that are very fitness motivated. I love to help motivate others and need others to motivate me as well. I think it helps a lot to feed off each other. I can't wait to meet everyone!

Hi all,

I'm 45 soon to be 46. I have two teenage girls (luck me!). I enjoy exercising, but struggle with eating healthy. I still love all the deep fried junk from my youth! I was always that super skiney person that could eat anything, well no longer. Now I find myself really needing to think about my food decisons, and often loosing out the the call of chocolate! I like to run, swim and bike, however, I've had some hip issues so have slowed down a bit latley. I've just started yoga and am quite surprised to find I like it. This is changing my thinking about exercise- not all cardio! I'm looking forward to the support this group will bring. Heres to a happy and healthy 2013 for us all!

Hi Girls I turn 46 in March, am a mom to 3 amazing kids (19ds, 17dd, 14dd) and wife of 22 years. We help care for my parents and are a homeschooling family as well. I currently don't work outside the home. My 17yo daughter has been an inspiration as she set some goals for herself and moved forward and has lost 20 lbs over 6 months and is eating well and moving consistently. She has really come into her own and is feeling so good ab out her accomplishments. I'm so proud of her! She motivated me to join MFP which I did yesterday and I am determined to celebrate each day that I reach my goals (even just keeping my calories in the range to lose weight). I want to have baby steps so that my successes are attainable and as I make those steps, I can make the next one a little more difficult. Ultimately I want to glorify God in the way I live and move and treat myself and encourage others. I love the format of MFP! Happy New Year!! Here we go