*** Supportive Friends -- Looking to Release 50+ Pounds ***

Hey everyone, glad to *meet* you all. If you're looking for friends please add me but *disclaimer, I don't comment of anything unless I have something to add/say to the discussion (but I do read it unless it's during the deepest darkest nighttime of the uk, then sometimes I'll miss it), and also I can sometimes be a bit blunt so it's not all sunshine and glitter all the time on my wall.*

But I'd really happily have you all as friends! X

Hello All!
My name is Stephanie and like some of the others, was an original 'skinny chick'. I started my journey on Jan 2 2010 weighing 368lbs. I had had enough of being tired, sore knees, sore back, not being able to buy what I wanted in clothes...you know the story. I started at a gym, trained with my wonderful trainer once a week and in 2011 found MFP. I lost 120lbs and for me had passed the all important 250lb mark...finally closer to the 100s and not the 300s!! Then on Dec 1 2011 I found out that my husband and I were finally pregnant. In July I gave birth to the most wonderful little girl who is now 5 mos old and keeps me very busy.

During my pregnancy I stopped exercising (just too sore and tired) and lost some of my good eating habits. I was making some okay progress albeit slow when I headed home for Christmas (I'm a Canadian living in London, UK). Well bring back all my old ways and I have returned home 15lbs heavier than when I went and a lot more than before I was pregnant. I'm not happy with having to buy big clothes again (I pitched everything as soon as it didn't fit the first time around). I'm resigned to the fact that it is going to be more challenging now to lose the weight as I am on vacay from the gym and even if I wasn't, I can't be there 6 days a week (and don't want to be now that little one is here). I am however using her as my motivation. I don't want her to think being this big is okay or normal or healthy or to be teased for having the fat mom.

I look forward to getting to know those of you who are joining us and to the original, girls, I'm glad to see you!!

Hello everyone, Would love to be in a group like this. This is Sanem. From istanbul, Turkey. I'm 21 with 12 years of experience I'm aiming to lose around 80 pouns. I know it won't be easy as I'm working quite hard and not have time to do exercises really. Still I'll do my best. We are all here because we decided to create the time arent we.

I was never a skinny girl. And always told to lose weight. Well after my teenage years I guess. After spending many years as a not so healthy and not so confident person, I decıded to get my confidence and health back on my mid 30's. I'm here to support anyone who needs and wants it. Feel free to add me.

Good Morning!

I'd like to join. I used to belong to a group a long time ago. It really makes a difference to have support. I'm Renee, 47, have 2 daughters (16 and 22), 2 (almost 3 ) year old grand daughter and onother one that will be here in 2 weeks or less. About 5 years ago I lost over 110+ pounds. Have kept most of it off. The last year or so life has been rough (divoice, job, ect) and I've put back on 50 lbs. So, gotta get it off.

Like others, started putting other people first and forgot about me again. Time to fix that. I'm not good for anyone if I feel like crap and can function to full capacity.

Looking forward to knowing everyone.

Wow lots of great people here. Remember the more you come back the more you will get out of this thread.
Well happy to see my scale going in the right direction this morning. Lost 2.2 lbs. was going to go to the gym this morning but I have LOTS of errends to do and the in-laws are watching Eve (my daughter) so gotta take advantage of that.
Will check back in later and hope everyone has a great day and make good choices!

Julie

What is MFP?

My fitness pal

Hello, my name is Cat ( short for Catherine) , I would love to be apart of this group ...I was a 9 year stay at home mom, who has now gone all Career mom (1 year) .. And I jumped back into it with both feet! I am in TV, local programming...1 hour, daily talk show, I help book and produce.. Some days its working sun up to sun down... And with that comes along alot, A LOT of "mommy guilt"... My husband has had to pick up a lot of the "mommy duties", he is a school teacher, so it helps that my kids, who are 11 and 6, are on the same schedule...
I was always, and still consider myself an athlete. High School, right on to College. Always have been healthy, love to exercise.
Birth of my fist child, recked me.... The weight gain, the C-Section... It was awful. I did lose some, but not enough when my 2nd child came along...And another C-Section....And of course staying home day in and day out, didn't help.
I read someone else's post about always putting other's needs in front of mine, and that is so true when you are a "MOM"
Well, 12 days before Xmas in 2008, I lost my dad, very sudden 57 years old.... I was that "daddy's little girl" that bond between an father and daughter, just can't explain it! This crushed me, my world just fell apart. I also, lived over 400 miles away from my parents, so when I came back to reality, January and February were very rough, home alone... Feeling I left my support group, family and friends back in NY.... So I decided I couldn't take it anymore, and I made my YMCA, my second home... I was there sometimes 3 times a day..Spin Class, became my new love! And I was never a runner, yes I said I was an athlete, but I was a basketball player through and through...I needed a ball to chase after, I couldn't just go out and run.....WELL, thats what I thought.... I started running, the "couch to 5k" program....And fell in love with running, I just love the way I feel after I'm done...
So, a long story short, 4 years later, I have lost lots and Just since I'm back working, I have gained little...Thats not bad.
Still struggling to juggle stay at home with career mom...But I"m doing ok.
I would like to lose another 50...I have been using MFP since 2009 and I love it... To be honest, its an on again off again type relationship, again, trying to juggle so many things...I truly believe its a group thing, it makes a world of difference when you have other's around you, feeling the pains you go through, and not just the pains, but the rewards too...That feeling on the scale when you gain that pound, or lost that pound... We all know what that feels like..
I take it "one day at a time"... ITs the best I can do......I look forward to getting to know many of you. Love to meet new friends, feel free to add me.. Here's to 2013!!!!

So many lovely new faces! Nice to see some fellas here too. We used to have a skinny rooster but he went MIA.

Laney - well done on your release. That is a fantastic amount.

Well it is day 3 since I got my Christmas overstuffing scale shocker. Its actually been going pretty well and has reminded me that I can fit in exercise with baby's schedule. I know I'm not going to be getting the burns I used to get when I was at the gym 6 days a week but I can still be moving. Been for a couple of walks with the baby and when she has been sleeping I've gotten in some time on the wii, enjoying 'just dance'. Hoping to abscond with a friends hand weights so I can do some 30DS as well.
Baby is very interested in our food and wants to gum on anything which is great motivation to get out the carrots and celery as she can't actually eat them and they make her poor sore gums feel better.
Hope everyone has a great weekend! Don't forget your water!:flowerforyou:

I too am an original skinny chic. I live in Maine with my sweet hubby and 2 teenage daughters. I lost 70 lbs last year and felt young again. Then I became sick with sinus and inner ear issues for 5 months, had surgery, holidays etc and gained back over 40lbs. I'm finally feeling better and I'm ready to get those lbs off again. I've spent too much energy being mad at myself. It's time to do something about it. Welcome to all of you. I started writing replies to each of you but the list just got too long (which is great!) so I'll post what I started. Becky - thanks for starting this thread. I'm looking forward to our daily support posts and making a difference in each others lives.

Carhicks and Julie and laney and steph – nice to catch up with you all again.
Julie and laney – way to drop a few pounds this week!!

Monica – I’m looking forward to getting to know you.

Ciji – I’m with you on the 70lbs to lose.

Penny – I also gained back a great deal and I’m trying to get over it and focus on taking it back off. I’ve been so mad at myself for a month and in that month I gained another 5lbs. Lot of good that did! Nice job on your lifestyle changes so far. So come to terms with what you already know – you gained some weight back – and get on with your new plan. A year from now you will wish you had started today!

Leslie - logging your food on MFP is great but I really think combining it with a support group will be key to your success. When we were all on here daily we really motivated each other. We created challenges and celebrated each others success. I’m really looking forward to getting back to that place again.

Gayle – Welcome! Remember - Most Diets aren't about actions, they're about thoughts. If you think you hate the gym then you probably will. Try to focus on just 1 thing you like about the gym. I’m not a huge fan of the gym so I think about a skinny version of "ME MYSELF and I" while I’m there. Congrats on your nuptials by the way!

Tracy – Your story sounds like so many of ours. It’s going to be fun getting to know you. It sounds like you have a very busy house! It’s ok to focus on ourselves. It makes us happier and easier to be around!

Laura from Montana – what’s your story? Your profile pix is hysterical!! What kind of move is that?

Nickie – we have similar goals. I won’t be 21 in April but my daughter is turning sweet 16 in April and I have a smoking dress that I really want to fit back into. That gives us 3 months! We can drop 20 by then for sure!!

Tesha – congrats on losing 12lbs! Eating less and exercising more is the key. I set mini goals (walk a minimum of 30 min a day and log all my food). That helped me. I’m back on it and this time I’m not going to let life get in the way.

Melody – log those calories! That’s what I need to start doing again. Once we do it for every meal it will become a good habit and we’ll start to see the payoff on the scale!

Keep it skinny chics - see you on Monday.

Hello everyone.
With all my errends yesterday, got lots of walking in. Ate well and stepped on the scale this morning and lost another lb. but Friday is my weigh in, so hope that, plus more is lost by then.
Tonight is going to be another food test. Going over to our friends place to watch our beloved Packers play the 49ers. So lots of naughty food there. Going to be bring my own healthy food but still a test. Then we have the last of the Christmas gathering tomorrow but not to worried there.
Hope everyone is doing well and will check back in later.

Julie