Introduce yourself!

245

Replies

  • Name
    Where you live
    Age
    Starting weight and Goal (or how much you want to lose)
    Family

    Hi everyone! My name is Jean, I'm 41 and I live in Northern NJ. I'm currently 253lbs & would like to get down to between 150-160. I've been married for 18yrs and have 5 kids, one singleton (b,17) & two sets of b/g twins (15 & 10). I've struggled with my weight since I was about 8yrs old, and I'm just tired of it! My husband is supportive, but there are times when I know he's not saying anything if I start slipping b/c he doesn't want to hurt my feelings. I want to feel good and be willing & able to be more active with my kids. I volunteer as a cheerleading coach for my youngest daughter and I'd like to set a better example for not only my own daughter, but for all of "my girls" as well.
  • drjw70
    drjw70 Posts: 6
    My name is Debbie
    I live in Connecticut
    I'm at my heaviest which is 300...
    My goal is to lose about 140....
    I join this site in last yr but did not use it.....now is the time that I take back my life....I want to be healthy and live a long life....
  • mjhuddleson
    mjhuddleson Posts: 9 Member
    Hi, my name is Melissa and I am 34 years old. I live in Hamilton, Ohio (just north of Cincinnati). I am a single mom to an incredible 10 year little boy. I have been divorced for 7 years now. I have always been the “fat” girl ever since I can remember. When I got pregnant with my son, I weighed 260 lbs. I lost 30 lbs. after I had him and gained quite a bit during my divorce and the years afterwards. I decided to finally do something about my weight and I had the gastric sleeve surgery on February 14th, 2012. It was the greatest Valentine’s day present I could ever receive!

    I am currently down 60 lbs. but I have such a long way to go. Just because I had surgery doesn’t mean that I took the easy way out. Actually, people expect me to lose it faster, but it is still a hard journey. I can’t eat as much at a time as others, but it doesn’t mean that I can’t eat things I shouldn’t. I find that when I take my vitamins like I am supposed to and get in all the protein I should, that I lose weight a little faster. I have been on a plateau for 6 months though – and I am really feeling sluggish. I didn’t go through all the struggles I have to not lose the weight – although I am not balking at the 60 lbs. that I have already lost! My highest weight was 339 lbs. and I was so mad that I let myself get to that point. My big goal right now is to be at 200 lbs. Of course I want to get down even more, but I am trying to set reasonable goals at first. My short term goal is to lose at least 10 lbs. by the time my one year surgery anniversary comes around.


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  • gettinfit320
    gettinfit320 Posts: 32 Member
    Hi all - I'm 56 and live near Gainesville, Florida. I've struggled with weight all my life. I have done WW countless times and at my lowest (as an adult) was about 199 on my wedding day (over 33 years ago-I'm still married to the same wonderful husband). When I got pregnant with my only daughter (age 30) I weighed 220. I never lost my 'baby weight' and flucuated between 240-260 most of my life.
    After relocating to be with my mother who was ill, she died within 2 months of my quitting a job and moving to a new area. When my mother died I let food be my comfort and almost reached 300. But I quickly got a job, and have tried to lose the weight. I managed to lose about 50 lbs. I've kept it off over the last several years.

    Over the summer I lost another loved one within 30 days of his diagnosis and with eating out and the grieving process after his passing AND the holidays - I was horrified to look at the scale. I did and am shocked to see I've gained 20 lbs. I am up to 260. I must stop this destructive pattern and get back to good health. So here I go again...no WW, no plan other than MFP and what I've learned over 30 + years of yo-yo diet tries. Just smaller portions, and counting calories with exercise. I know WHAT to do, I just need to do it AND stick with it. Looking foward to feeling better due to the better habits that I will be using. Thanks for listening....
  • Tansy98
    Tansy98 Posts: 45 Member
    Hi, I'm Tansy and I'm from Perth, Western Australia. I'm 43 and have been a single mum to my 3 awesome kids for the last 10 years - my main priorities until now have been in looking after them and rebuilding our broken family, and putting myself through university and starting a new career as a teacher. It's been a long, hard road for us all but we have made it through the tough times together, though now that my kids are getting older (they are 19, 18 and 13 now), I really feel it is time for me to do something for myself and really try hard to shed all the weight that had kept creeping up on me over the years. I am now 110 kg (about 242 pounds) and mainly just want to feel better about myself. I've never joined anything like mfp or a forum before, and am really just hoping to meet some new friends that can motivate and inspire me to keep on with the weight loss journey, and that (hopefully!) I can inspire at some stage as well. :)
  • HI my name is Deb, I live in Rhode Island and I'm a 45 yr old woman, who has used to many excuses and let things go to far! Time to take charge and turn my life around and be healthy and happier! I work third shift so my social life is limited and being able to log in here make me feel more connected to the real world. My highest weight was 287, I am currently at 242 but at a stand still.

    I have a very supportive man in my life of 9 years and I would love to be fit and healthy so that we can do more fun active things together, instead of me being to tired or out of breathe! lol I've made up my mind and life is to short to waste on my excuses. Time to get up and move and shed this weight!!!

    Feel free to add me as a friend, and goodluck to all of us on this journey!!
  • Cynduck
    Cynduck Posts: 255 Member
    Hi Everyone,

    I'm Cynthia and live in Ohio. I am 41 years old although I really can't figure out how that happened already! Time goes way to fast. My highest weight was 338.3 pounds. :( With last weeks weigh in I was at 293.2 bur I have been sneaking peaks at the scale and this week is going really well LOL My initial goal is 190 so that I can wear the Air Force Blues again. I am a squadron commander for Civil Air Patrol and I would really love to wear the USAF uniform instead of the corporate one. My entire family is involved and I would love to be able to run the mile with my kids and my cadets. I will re-evaluate my goal once I am at 190 but I will probably want to get to 175 again. We will see.

    I have been married for 22 years. We have 4 beautiful daughters. Currently they are 17 and 12 year old twins. My oldest died a little over 4 years ago at the age of 14. She would have been 19 in a few months. She had severe disabilities. I gained a lot of weight over the years from feeding my stress with food, all the horrible hospital food (she was always in the hospital) etc. I put her needs and the needs of my other children and husband so far ahead of my own that I forgot the importance of taking care of me.

    I lost 20 pounds a few years ago and kept it off. Last year I did really well and lost another 40. I kept all 60 off until about fall when I gained some of it back :( The good news is that I was aware of it and caught myself before it got out of control again. I am back on track and headed to goal now.

    I look forward to getting to know all of you!

    *** edited to add that I also have PCOS and dealt with the difficulty of trying to get pregnant. I know how hard and stressful that is for those of you going through it right now.
  • campbs01
    campbs01 Posts: 14 Member
    Congratulations on starting here. I am just restarting, and can't wait to start posting progress. I will be here for any support you need.
  • campbs01
    campbs01 Posts: 14 Member
    Good luck, we are here with you!!
  • campbs01
    campbs01 Posts: 14 Member
    Good morning everyone!!

    My name is Shelly, and in my picture I am the one in back, behind the Razor. I have been saying that I am going to start this life journey, and get healthy since I was 16 and started gaining weight. My 33rd birthday is just around the corner and I need to start living my life, not hanging in the shadows.

    I am at a weight of 248 lbs. I have been down to as little as 137lbs at one point in time. I really miss those clothes and the way I felt. I am happily married with 2 wonderful children and I need to start taking care of me. I want to be healthy for my family and for myself.

    I wish everyone here the best of luck in life and the determination they need to continue. We can all do this! I can't wait to hear from all of you out there and I will be here if you need to talk.
  • robinhoward123
    robinhoward123 Posts: 106 Member
    Hi everyone,
    I live in Kentucky
    I am 5`2
    Starting weight-240
    Current weight-226
    Goal weight-140 but be happy with 160

    I am a stay at home mom, of two (b) 7yrs and (g) 3yrs. I'm home a lot, with hardly any money to out and pay for a gym membership. So everything I do is at home on my own. I have started this in Dec of 2011. And lost track of it in the summer over my moms health.now I don't have any excuses, and I need to start taking care of myself for the sack of my young ones.
  • ladysatrina
    ladysatrina Posts: 1 Member
    Hi Everyone. I'm Amanda and I live in Las Vegas NV. I'm almost 28 and I'm at my highest weight ever 305. I used to weigh 170 about nine years ago and I'd love to go back to that. I have two daughters who are 7 and 2 and a wonderful husband.
  • LuckBeWithU
    LuckBeWithU Posts: 173 Member
    Julie here and I live in Maryland.
    I'm 47 Young
    Married 25 years with 3 kids (Chris 24, Brendan 21 & Kelsey 17)
    I’m a Stay At Home Mom.
    My Starting weight: 295
    Current Weight: 250
    Goal Weight: 135-150 (Onederland will be so sweet)

    I've been overweight since my pregnancy with my daughter. I gained 100 lbs. with her. How did that happen, when I only gained 30 with my other two? Never got all the way down in weight. My father died in a car accident and I broke my ankle with surgery to boot. These definitely didn’t help. On top of it I broke my other ankle months ago, luckily no surgery.
    Minor setbacks.
    I really think my problem was, putting myself on the back burner to take care of everyone else. Normal mother thinking. Well enough of that, my kids are grown.
    I love Zumba, kickboxing and dancing..
    I am also a huge Washington Nationals Fan
    Love Baseball…

    Let’s Do This Together, We All Have In Us…

    Feel Free To Add Me..:smile:

    .
  • gdneff
    gdneff Posts: 279 Member
    Howdy Y'all from "Sunny" Florida!

    My name is Ginger. I am 41 and have 2 grown boys. The oldest is 29 and the baby is 20. Finally an empty nester! After having just graduated from College with an AS Degree (after 6 years of school), I decided to tackle the next big goal that I had been trying to accomplish for several several years (we won't go into how many). TO GET THIS WEIGHT OFF!

    As of 1/1 I weighed 273.8 (5 pounds down from my highest of 279). My goal is to get to about 150, so have about 125 to lose. I know it isn't going to be easy (as I have tried before) but this time something in me seems different and I know this is the year to do this. I am not into exercise. I am also a picky eater which limits which "plans" I can do. Because of this, I decided to watch what I ate (foods, portions, etc), try to get up and move a little bit more.

    I am approaching this like a baby learning to walk. Baby steps. Small, slow, baby steps. Little changes each month are what I have planned and am hoping to be able to meet. To look at the whole 125 pounds to lose is just too intimidating (kinda like looking in the mirror), so am making mini goals by each Holiday (Valentines, Easter, My Birthday, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think that taking this smaller approach just might be the trick that I need this time.

    Good luck to everyone! WE CAN DO THIS!
  • med79
    med79 Posts: 288
    Hello! I'm Marie and I live in beautiful western North Carolina. I'm 33 and have been married 12 years to my amazing husband who is also doing this journey with me on mfp :-) we have a 21 year old son, a ten year old son, and a three year old daughter. My husband and I work together as teaching parents in a group home for teenage boys. We have five teenagers living with us learning social skills at any given time. My starting weight was 316 as of two years ago. I currently weigh 265 but am sick and tired of gaining and losing the same 20 pounds over the past year so I'm getting serious and have committed to eating clean for the entire month of January to see what kind of results I can get. That's right, no "cheat" days for an entire month! My first goal is to get below 250 (it's been since before my babies were born that I've seen the 240's). Then I want to get below 200 (my husband has never seen me that small). Ultimately I want to wear a size 6. It doesn't matter to me what weight I am at that point but I'm guessing it will be about 140.
    Good luck all! We can do this!!
  • mairinosteen
    mairinosteen Posts: 30 Member
    Hey y'all

    I live in Georgia.
    I am 5' 8.5" and 310lbs
    I just started MFP so I haven't lost any weight yet but my goal is around 150. Not too sure about that since I don't know what I would look like at say 140 versus 160 (I am pretty tall and even the skinny women in my family have an *kitten* and thighs). My main goal is more to be fit than to be a certain weight.
    In the past my main obstacles to weight loss have been hectic schedules (I just finished undergrad) and poor health. For several years I even had doctors telling me not to exercise! Apparently raising my body temp would damage my kidney's further (I was born with bad kidney's) so they thought weight gain was better but now there is new research so time to shed the weight added by 10+ years of being advised to not exercise (and a fondness for food).
  • Redladystl
    Redladystl Posts: 351 Member
    Hi everyone, my name is Red (Chel). I live in Tacoma WA. Never married :-( 2 adult kids, son and daughter 20. Both are very supportive of my journey neither live at home. Exactly last year this time I was 266.0lbs, I was going strong on this journey down from 301lbs the previous year. In January I had knee surgery which made matters 100% worse. Then in March I had an emergency hysterectomy, basically I couldn't adapt to 100% vegan with 60 minutes of vigorous wrkouts per day to prevent the surgery. Today, I weigh 285.4 and am struggling to get back to eating right, working out regularly, making better decisions about food in which I absolutely love. I love the good and the bad but, the bad always wins.

    My first goal is to get STRONGER and down to 175lbs.

    Diabetes, high blood pressure and, heart diesease run rampant in my family. Although I havent been diagnosed with any of it I know my weight can be a culprit. None of the people in my family that battle with the health issues are overweight and never have been.

    So far really glad about this thread. This is the first one that I've joined that includeds women close to my own weight. So now I don't feel so alone. Although there is a lot of support on this site period. All of my current MFP's are the reason I stay on this journey.

    You all can add me if you like, and we can chat it up from time to time. Forgive me for the typo's and misspelled words, I'm at work using my phone and my break is up.
  • Hi, I'm Ali.
    I just started this on New Year's Day.

    I've tried to diet before, but never stuck with anything. This time will be different!
    I was chubby as a kid and teenager but then as an adult, I've just gained a little bit of weight every single year until it added up to this.

    I started at my highest ever weight of 268.5.

    My goal weight is anywhere from 120-160. We'll see.

    My goals for this year are:
    - to track my calories every day and be under my calorie target almost every day
    - to exercise at least 30 minutes at least 4 days every week
    - to lose at least 6 pounds each month

    I like to walk on the treadmill for exercise, at least right now.
    I am only weighing myself on the first of each month, otherwise I play mindgames with myself and sabotage my goals.

    I am 39, married, no kids.

    I also have goals to read at least 52 books this year, write the first draft of a novel (probably a romance novel), stick my budget, keep up with my chores at home, and make an effort every day to look my best (make-up, hair, etc).
  • nsapp
    nsapp Posts: 9
    Hi! I'm Nancy and I live in Southwest Kansas. I am 61 years old and have lost 100+ pounds over the years only to regain more each time. I currently weigh 234 and would like to get down to the 130s. I'm only 4'10" so my "ideal" weight would be below that. I think the "ideal" weight can be misleading. I believe the older you are, the harder it is to loose. I plan on retiring by August 2015 so I want to get down and stay down before then. I have been lucky in not having too many health issues, but the older the greater the risk. I have 5 beautiful grandchild, 2 wonderful children who each have fantastic spouses. I want to be fit enough to keep up with all of them. I also love to travel, but finding it harder as I continue to struggle with my weight. I am looking forward to new friendships, support and motivation from the women of this group. I believe we ALL need that. My mantra this year is one day, one meal, and one step at a time. I pray all of us in this group will be successful.:flowerforyou:
  • Hello everyone I'm Ashley and I live in Houston, TX. I'm 21 and I'm 5'10.5 I want to lose about 100+pounds I know I have a long way to go but I'm just taking it one day at a time. I would love support from anyone! My sibilings and boyfriend are very supportive. I'm studying to be an Elementary teacher and I can't wait to help my future students. I'm not sure if losing 10 pounds a month is a realistic goal but I will try. Thanks and good luck to everyone :bigsmile:
  • Hi Everyone,
    I'm Valerie and I live in Hampton, VA. I just turned 30 in November and I'm a wife and mother to two gorgeous kiddos. My starting weight is 261 and I am 5'4. I plan to lose 100lbs and be back to my cheerleading size before I had my kids.

    What works for me is blogging. My blog is going through a renovation right now, I have a page on fb that people can follow in the meantime and it just fuels my motivation. I know I can do it I just have to work hard. We have two weddings this year, both in Texas. One in July and the other in November. So I plan to be halfway to goal by the first and to full goal by the 2nd!

    We got this!
  • dhydes2
    dhydes2 Posts: 17
    Hi my name is Dishauna, I live in Boston, MA. I'm 26 years old and single. I'm at my heaviest of 272lbs and I would like to get down to 150lbs. I have a family history of obesity, but I'm determined to overcome this and reach my goal weight.

    I've been a size 16 most of my teen and adult life, and I've maintained that for as long as I can tell. I did a weight loss study back in 2007 and I lost around 40lbs, but once I stopped I gained all of that back and more. I am planning to lose over 100lbs+ but at a rate that is manageable. Slow and steady. I hate taking pictures because I don't like the way I look. I want to lose the weight because I'm tired of hiding from the camera. I'm so ready for a change and I need all the motivation and encouragement to make it. I've dieted before and exercised and I've never kept with it, but this time it will be different.
  • brittaney0625
    brittaney0625 Posts: 268 Member
    So exciting all of your introductions!
    Can't wait to get to know you all better!
    Feel free to add me if you would like.
    Also, I started a topic for just chatting in our group. :)
  • Hi Everyone! I am Audrey and I am determined to lose in the year of 2013!
  • hi i am Linda, I am 27 i started off at 296 and am at 280 right now! YAY! I would like to get to 150! I live in Manitoba, Canada. Married and can't wait to shed these pounds
  • Hi my name is Paris I am 49 years old, I live in Alabama I have a 24yr old son and twin daughters whom are off in college. Now that I am home alone I would like to work on losing weight ,I weigh 293, And would like to weigh around 200 I work as an educator so I do very little excersise, But I do have some eguipment that I never use. I am glad to become a part of this family:happy:
  • HI my name is Jennifer and currently I weigh 379 pound. My goal right now is to get down to 200 pounds so.....I am literally trying to lose another person. LOL. It is my first day on MFP and I am really going to try and hold myself accountable (good and bad) from here on out. My ultimate goal is not to be stick thin but just healthy and to feel better. I wish everyone good luck!
  • Hi, my name is Lateresa and I currently weigh 257. I have been overweight most of my life with the same old story of losing weight then gaining it back. Last year I put on 30 pounds. My short term goal is to 200 but would ultimately like to get down to 130. I just want to feel good and have some energy again.
  • brittaney0625
    brittaney0625 Posts: 268 Member
    HI my name is Jennifer and currently I weigh 379 pound. My goal right now is to get down to 200 pounds so.....I am literally trying to lose another person. LOL. It is my first day on MFP and I am really going to try and hold myself accountable (good and bad) from here on out. My ultimate goal is not to be stick thin but just healthy and to feel better. I wish everyone good luck!

    You can do this, Jennifer!!
  • When I was pregnant with my daughter, I had kidney failure at 5 mos, my first stroke at 8 mos and following her birth 39 strokes and when she was 9 mos old had 2/3 of a kidney removed.

    I am not trying to one up your story, but I am telling you that everything is a day at a time. When I had a headache or was stressed I would ask my daughter for a hug and it would go away. I promised myself that I would take 2 min morning noon and night to tell her how much I loved her and what a gift she was to me. When I felt the world crushing me, that intentional 2 minutes with her fought off the dragons.

    I did the school at night and read biology homework to my daughter for her night time stories. When I switched to accounting, she would quiz me on terms. We did our homework at the table together. I was a single Mom for 27 years. You can do this Marlee. Let your love for each other be your strength and incentive. Being a single Mom just means you don't have to share her :)



    Thank you for sharing your story with me. Its been a very long Journey these last 7 years with her health. On average its about 2 weeks a month shes in the hospital 2.5 hrs away from Home. I need to learn to start eating healthier so that when i dont always have a way of working out hardcore, besides what i can do in a hospital room, then everything doesnt fall apart on me. I am very grateful my daughter is so supportive and love to help me with my homework. Its hard tho, i have class till 10 most nights, come home do hours of homework and start my day at 5:30 to make sure shes out the door with all of her medical needs getting done in the morning. I let her know to the fullest how much she means to me, and how special she really is. We have a bond like ive never seen with a lot of parents, basically because shes never left my side until recently. As her health gets worst its harder for me to stay focused on myself. Thats the one thing her dr's tell me, my friends tell me, and my family tell me all the time. I never take enough time for myself in a day. I will go weeks without doing one thing for ME to benefit myself. Thats why this whole new year is a "toast" to her health staying stable, hopefully graduating at the end of the year, getting my life back after a very nasty breakup a few months ago, and getting back to just being me. I am ready to start living and i love ALL the supportive words and encouragement that i see on here. I feel like we're all in this together, and i havent had that in a long time. Im very excited for this Journey!