I'm Starting Over... Seeking new friends...

Good morning. I'm starting over too. I turn 30 in little less then 3 months and I would like to drop as much of this extra weight from before my pregnancy and now after. Anyone is welcome to add me b/c I need to get in the program and would love to help others on their journey as well.

Stephanie from Phoenix, Az

I've used this site on and off for years, but have been away for a awhile so I'm starting over too. Good luck to us all!

Hello Ladies,

I need all of the friends I can get....Please add me to the Starting over...Seeking new friends list. I'm pretty sure my old friends dumped me when I fell off the wagon :-) ( My BAD)

Hello all I've been here for 580 days i log every day and support ALL my friends if you would like support you can all add me as a friend good luck with your journeys :flowerforyou: :drinker: :happy:

Good morning. I started over for the (gulp) 5th attempt at losing weight. I had pretty much thrown in the towel and was going down the path to bariatric surgery. I hit my heaviest at 400 lbs this past November. That weight combined with more awareness of the damage I was doing to my body woke me up. I realized that even with surgery the diet will need to change. So I decided to just start eating right. In my most successful previous attempt I had lost over 80 pounds but lost motivation gradually and eventually stopped trying. After that I gained back that 80 pounds plus 30 more. Since late November I've lost about 35 pounds and the motivation is staying up. But I usually start off well. Around the 4 month mark I tend to lose motivation. In a sense my first mini goal is to make it to the 6 month mark without losing motivation.

I just switched to MFP the other day after using Livestrong for two years. I have been on a journey to become healthy since 2004 by taking small steps (first step: switched to skim milk). Since then I've lost 30+ lbs, finished four half marathons, and am generally a happier and healthier person.

Being healthy is a lifestyle change for sure. I love food, so something that has helped motivate me lately is trying to make my favorite recipes healthier and discovering new healthy recipes. It's become a challenge that I really love. The good news is that as you start to cut down on the bad stuff, salt, sugar, etc., your taste buds change and something that would taste good to you before, will not taste as good to you anymore.

My best advice:

-Track what you eat, and be realistic about it! I overestimate what I have eaten and underestimate what I've burned. You're only hurting yourself if you're fudging the numbers to make it look like you are under your goal for the day (a mistake I made early on). I bought a food scale this past year and it is wonderful!

-If it's not in the house, you can't eat it. Go to the grocery store after a satisfying meal, don't buy what you will regret eating later, and make a grocery list so you don't get distracted by the good stuff at the end of the aisles. I heard that if you shop the perimeter of the store, you will avoid the processed foods. It's true, produce, meat, and dairy are all on the perimeters, so if you can limit your trips down the aisles, you're already making an improvement. Having your household members support you on your nutrition goals is essential.

-Find a local friend/family member to get you to workout and then pay it forward by being a motivator for someone else.

-Be patient - It took a long time to put it on, but it will take even longer to take it off. Your taste buds will change, you'll see changes in the mirror, you'll get into a routine. It just takes time.

-Have a "cheat" day each week - Nothing overboard, but a day to eat something you really like. I love pizza; I hit the gym hard on Sunday and then share a light cheese, thin crust pizza.

-Set a fitness goal. For me it was a half marathon in 2011; five months after running my first mile in 10+ years, I finished my first half marathon. Any sort of physical event that I have participated in is a wonderful, supportive atmosphere and gives you an incredible sense of accomplishment. I sign up for half marathons each year to give me goals to hit throughout the year and keep me motivated to train. If I can do a half marathon, ANYONE can do a half marathon. Seriously. My gym teacher in high school told me he had a grandma who could run faster than me. Actually, I picture his face every time I cross a finish line. He didn't know it then, but his comment has been a great motivation for me, ha!

If I can help anyone, I would certainly love to! My husband was my motivator and now I am trying to "pay it forward" by doing the same for my friends and family.

Amber from OH

Oh I forgot to mention I am from Chicago and I am 42 years old mom of two. 15- 8.

Hi All! I'm Sara, 37 yrs. Still needing to lose 50+. Feel free to add me. I'd luv to help encourage you all on this amazing life change!

I too am starting over...after a couple of years of being lazy and unmotivated. It is nice to see that so many of us have come back to what we know works...and that we haven't lost the desire to improve our health and our lives.

I could sure use some friends to help keep me on track...feel free to add me.

I just turned 50 yrs old. I am from Saskatchewan Canada, and am hoping to lose approx 70 lbs

I sent you a request. I am always happy to add friends. I love seeing the motivating posts from others and I do my best to motivate as well. This is a journey to heathy new you and you are so worth it. Anyone can feel free to add me.