Greetings! I have been logging in to MFP for two years now. You can tell by my ticker that I have not accomplished much. I can make all the old excuses, but the bottom line is I have been lazy and deluded. NO MORE!!!
My hubby and I just joined a gym, so I intend to go three times a week, an hour at a time and do strength and cardio. I have a walking buddy at work and I have forced her in to committing to the "50 Miles in March" challenge. She is gonna hate me :frown:
The hard part is developing the gym habit. I really have to force myself to go, I am so used to "relaxing" after work. I don't regret going after I get there, as a matter of fact, I feel pretty good after sweating a bit.
I hope this is a little corner of MFP that actually does offer support and encouragement, I am my own worst enemy and need a little shove to keep me going through the break in period. On the flip side of that coin, I am happy to do the same for anyone who needs it. Not that I can speak from experience or great success, but certainly from a genuine heart.
So, as far as goal setting. I am confused. I am sure that losing weight is the goal, but with strength training I know I may put on weight. Anyone here have some insight into that part of the journey? What can one expect to lose in weight/inches in their first month of serious effort?

Hi everyone! My name is Jennifer. I've been on MFP since early October. I love it! It's been so helpful, and I've "met" some amazing people that are facing the same issues I am each day. It's done wonders for me.

SW: 172.8
CW: 142.2
GW: 135

Here are my goals for March:

1) Lower Body Fat by at least 1% (currently 24.6)
2) Limit eating out to once a week
3) Drink at least 8 glasses of water EVERY day - no excuses
4) Plan better (especially lunches during the week) so I"m not so tempted to eat "bad" things
5) Refrain from eating an entire bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs on Easter (yes, I have done this :blushing: )
6) Exercise at least 5 days a week - no cheating myself by making excuses
7) Meet my goal weight!!!!!! - I have 7.2 pounds to go. If I can make a good effort at # 1-6, #7 should be attainable.

When I first started out I was doing Tapout XT. I did that for 12 weeks and then took a break, telling myself that I would try something different for awhile. So far I've found "something different" to be "something boring". I've tried 30DS, 6 Week 6 Pack, I have a Bosu w/ a DVD workout, the gym, the elliptical at home, and Zumba (Fun, but I'm too big of a spaz to do that one - zero coordination). Since I am unable to successfully stick with any of those, I am going back to my old routine of Tapout XT starting tomorrow morning. I figure that if it works and I can manage to push "play" every day, then it's a good thing. I will fill in with some of the DVD's or the elliptical on days that I'm short on time to exercise.

I'm also setting smaller daily and weekly goals this month in hopes of developing better habits and getting closer to my goal weight.

I have my mind stuck on the "number" on the scale. I really want to hit 135 - mostly to prove to myself that I can do it. After that I'm going to work on building more muscle. I don't mind weighing 145 if it's healthy muscle instead of icky fat. But, I still have the hang up with the "number", so I won't be happy until I hit 135 first. (I know, it's silly, but it's just me).

My biggest weakness is sugar. I have a really hard time avoiding "treats". I used to be good about limiting myself to just one little chocolate a day, but recently that plan has gone awry. :noway:

Here's to a fabulously successful March for all of us! :drinker:

My name is Maddie, I'm from Alaska. My goals are:


March 1st.

Height: 5'3.5"
Pants size: 10
Starting weight: 167.0 lbs. (lost 8 lbs so far)
Goal weight (for march): 162.0 lbs.

1. Food goal: Eat whatever I want, just keep net calories at 1200 or less. Drink more water. I'm pretty good at balancing junk food with healthy food. (this is my goal, don't want any food Nazi to freak out on me please.)

2. Exercise goal: burn at least 300 calories 4 days a week. Start training for 1/2 marathon in June. Incorporate yoga into my exercise routine.

Add me as a friend and I'll be more than happy to keep ya accountable for your goals if you can do the same for me. ;-)

You had me at "muffin top"!!! :laugh:

I'm Sherry and I joined MFP end of December 2012. I immediately got into a 30DS group in January and then some of us went ahead and did a Ripped in 30 group in February. It was alot of hard work and dedication, but also rather rigid after two months. For March, I decided I wanted some flexibility and variety, so I'm going to not do a set program, like the 30 day programs, and instead do a variety from the videos I already have, youtube (fitness blender, BeFit, Blogilates, BodyRocktv, Daily Hiit, etc--I have a bookmarks folder full of channels and workouts to choose from). Now that the weather is nice, I'll be outside walking alot more (I live in the city with no car, but also I try to walk daily M-F at the park while my son is at lessons after school). On days that my son doesn't go to lessons, I have a park near our home where I've experimented with Tabata hill running. Working up the courage to start the c25k commitment.

Now, as for "results". Well, I don't weigh nor measure. I haven't weighed myself since about August and have no idea what I weigh. (Well, maybe some idea, but I could be off by 10 pounds, for all I know). I tried measuring since joining MFP, but didn't get stellar results and it sent me into a tailspin. That's when I ditched the tape measure too. My main goal is to form healthy habits. I want to workout every single day (well 5-6x/wk), just like checking e-mail...feeling compelled to do it without thinking, automatically. Doing two back-to-back 30 day programs have certainly helped to form a habit. Now, to be able to do it on my own.

Diet. Now, that's complicated. I've dieted tons in my life, and have had success whenever I really dedicated myself to it. HOWEVER, most of the time I was doing it the wrong way (max 1200cal/day...usu. 600-1000 and the occasional 2500cal binge day). I honestly didn't know I was doing it wrong. I thought you had to go down to 1200 or less to lose weight. I'd spend alot of time in bed and never had the energy to workout. Once in my life, I worked with a nutritionist and ate what she prescribed. It was SLOOOOOW going and at times, I think she didn't believe that I was sticking to the plan. I worked out a little and walked alot during that time. When I finally had enough and decided to eat the whole baked potato, instead of just half per the plan, etc....the weight finally melted off. Looking back now, I know that I wasn't eating enough for my activity level (ALOT of walking, pushing stroller, and living at the top of an epic hill). So, NOW, I'm trying to eat in a sustainable way. Despite lots of dieting yielding good results in my past (at least according to the scale....but NO muscles or fitness), doing it this way is new territory for me. Unfortunately, it is slow going and I can't tell if it's because of eating too low, too high, not measuring food properly, etc. I don't have a food scale and probably won't get one, so I've been building an allowance into my daily calories for mis-measuring. Basically, my diet/nutrition is a strange, on-going alchemy experiment.

So, for now, as for results, I'll go based on clothing. When I can comfortably go down a jean size, then I'll mark that as a "win". And I'm getting close. The jeans I'm wearing now are WAY too big, but they are semi-stretchy and low-rise. The jeans I have in the next size down are regular cotton and medium rise, so I just can't comfortably go down yet (pregnancy pants ruined me for life, I just can't wear tight waist bands ever again!)

Sooooooooooooooooooooo tl;dr: wanting a healthy and fit lifestyle with good habits, not just to lose weight and I'm new to that concept rather vs just vlc dieting.

So for March:
1) Fitness: To do workouts of my choosing (not a program) based on my own self-drive (5-6 days per week)
2) Nutrition: To find my "zone" for eating right, feeling good, and finally making progress
3) Steps towards goal: getting OUTSIDE more, which always equals being more active in my day-to-day
4) Goal: get into the next jean size down

Hi there! I'm Laura and I've been gaining and losing the same 20lbs over and over again! So this time I'm determined to stick to it this time!
My boyfriend and I have just joined the gym together, and we're planning on going 4 times a week, and swimming at least twice a week too :-)
I love going the gym, for me it's always been the money and finding the time to go, as I am in University for 30 hours a week and I have hospital placement work for 40 hours a week. But I now have a stable income, although it isn't much so I can finally afford to go!
Also I have my boyfriend to motivate, I've always found it easier to stick to being healthy when I have someone else to motivate and not just myself, because then I actually have to go through with it!
My goal for this month is just to lose as much weight as I can and get back into a healthy regime :-D
I'll be doing about an hour of cardio every time I go the gym and about 20 minutes of strength 2x a week at least

Congrats on the gym membership! I am looking forward to getting good use out of mine. Your approach is a bit different than mine, hopefully both work, but if not, maybe we can compare notes?
My biggest obstacle is losing time with my hubby. We already work weird schedules, but since joining the gym we hardly see each other. I think I have to make the hard adjustments and use gym time as our Mon-Fri quality time!

Hi! my name is Katie.

sw:220 pounds (this time last year) 2012
CW 186 pounds

GW: 140 pounds


goals are

1. do and find work outs that target my two problem areas my thighs and my butt I am a pear shape

2. learn how to strength train properly and to firm and tone up

3. drink 8 glasses of water a day

4. eat 3 meals and 2 snacks but make healthier eating choices

You gals doing the fitness DVD's are inspirational to me! I do not have the discipline to make that work.
Wish you all the greatest success and may we all be sporting new bikinis by summer!

Hello Ladies,

My name is Allegra, I want to lose 19 pounds, i joined today my fitness pal, my goal is to workout four days a week, I am following the dash diet plan. I plan to run the mighty mud run in April, and boost up my fitness goals.

I wish everyone great success in there weight loss journey.

congrats tara on hitting wonderland. I am 6 pounds away from getting out of 180's

This group is a great idea! I'm Claire in the UK. I joined MFP some time ago and never used it. However, since early Feb it's been my best friend and helped me lose 8lb so far.

Like most, I stepped on the scales after an indulgent Christmas and got the biggest shock. But most of all, my body felt tired at doing the simplest of things. It had gotten out of control. So....

SW: 177
CW: 168
GW: 140

Diet: I'm trying intermittent fasting and so far, it's great. I've lost 2lb per week steadily. I stick to 1200 calories other times, sometimes a bit more on weekends. I have cut WAY back on alcohol, by far my biggest derailer - I liked a bottle or two at the weekends.

Exercise: this is where I'm winning. I got back into training on Jan 7th, one month later I ran my first 5km. I now consistently run 4km - 5km 5 times a week. Plus just started circuit training at a local gym to focus on my core. I signed up for a 10k run in May and a half marathon in September. The latter scares me senseless but I have lots of lovely people telling me I can do it.

Motivation: I've yo-yo dieted my whole life but I turn 40 in November. It's only going to get harder to stay in shape from that point onwards, so I'm embodying some good habits now. I have sought the help of hypnosis and it's WORKING. It helps me stay positive & focus.

Good luck ladies, changing habits & getting in shape is not easy, no matter what anyone says.
C x

I've been a memer of MFP for a long time, but I'm not faithful for whatever reason. I have a family beach vacation planned in May (my son's 4th birthday). So, I have a "goal/reason". On top of eating healthy, I need to add strength training. I enjoy running and ran my third half marathon in February. My knee is starting to hurt, so I need to back off of long distance for a while and lose weight. I really need people to help keep me motivated.

SW: 138.8
CW: 138.8
GW: 115 / 120 (if muscle)

I know following a diet plan is not always the best, it's what helped me years ago. I just got back into my old eating habits due to stress. I still plan to run, but I plan on doing p90X (somehow have to find time to do it).

hi im sarah im 34 and im from england and i joined my MFP a few days ago SW 209 pounds GW 145 pounds.
My goals for the month are

1) To eat healthy snacks and have no junk food just healthy fresh meals.
2)To have less sweets and chocolate.
3) To use my wii fit for five times a week for 30 mins.
4) To not think negative keep postive

Hi fellow fitness pals. I would love more accountability and learn so much from everyone. After finding out that i was going to Europe for the first time with my daughter in june 2013, I began my journey last February 24th , 2012. After losing about 70 pounds i Joined mfp in August 2012. Began exercising in September. Began joining mfp challenge groups in October
I'm 5'8"
SW-285
CW-184
Goal for Paris -June 2013-165
GW-145
DW-130

My plan is usually 1200 cals, 20-40 carbs, @1500 sodium and around 1 hour of exercise a day. I just joined a challenge to log 150 miles for the month of march. I'm going to have to double my efforts.

Mfp has revolutionized my fitness success . Thanks everybody.

Hi ladies I am from California . I had weighed myself around Thanksgiving and was 3 lbs. away from 200, which was a total wake up call to me. I joined MFP I don't even remember when and just started using it two weeks before Christmas 2012. So i had 50 lbs. to lose. UGHHH!!! Started watching my portions those first few weeks, looked on the internet for workouts I would enjoy doing because i know I wont do it if I do not at least like it a lil bit. Fast forward to end of January I was down to 175.6 lbs. You would figure I would be happy with 20 lbs. lost but somewhere in the last two weeks I have totally lost my motivation. Only doing workouts here and there, maybe 3-4 in the last 15 days. I just don't know what is keeping me from moving right along with my exercise like I was doing. I decided new month , new positive outlook,right???
Today i forced myself to get up and go for a hike this morning, 5 miles with 20 lbs. vest Once I got going I felt great. So my fitness goal for this month is to be active every day and workout 5-6 days/week. I will do my hikes 2-3 times a week since I am lucky to be close to trails & I really do enjoy being out in nature and also going to try to do the first month of Insanity with my sister starting tomorrow ( she is very happy because she has been begging me to do the program with her for a year) :blushing: for nutrition I will be doing IF, I want to see if this works for me as I only tend to be hungry during a certain time of day and forcing myself to eat even though I am not hungry is not an option for me, my gaga reflex will kick in, sorry if that is TMI :noway: In no particular way will I be altering what I eat too much since I have gotten better at making myself healthy meals. I have even learned to love my protein shakes, which I could not stand at all before.
I really would like some friends to help kick my a@# into gear since my own motivation takes a vacation on some days and I promise to do the same.

Oh, almost forgot I will weigh myself on Monday but probably wont update initil weight at all until the end of the month and let you guys know my measurements when someone gets home to help me take accurate ones. Talk to you all later ladies:flowerforyou:

Hi, I'm Charlsie

I'm 5'6"
SW-191
CW-173
Goal for Baithing Suit -May 2013-145
GW-145
DW-130