My name is Mary. A friend of mine sent me this site a few months ago. At first I didn't do anything with it. I just supported her in her journey. On April 1st I woke up and decided enough was enough. Tired of being overweight, not feeling beautiful, unable to do a lot of physical activities. I gained weight during my pregnancies and living a stressful life of a military spouse. Well, kids are grown and husband is retired from the military. SO, now is my time to focus on me. As I read that last line again I have to resist the urge to feel like I am being selfish. It is a hard habit to break-giving up soda was easier! So far I have lost 18 pounds total, 2 pounds before I started logging on MFP. I logged food for a few days so that I could see how I was sabotaging my eating plan. I love the detail of what you are eating. For me I found out that I didn't eat enough protein. When I fixed that, weight started to come off. Kinda amazing! I'm still learning a lot about how the calorie in vs out works. I have lost this weight only by watching my diet. Can't wait to see what happens as I slowly add exercise! My job requires that I walk 5-6 miles a day. Mostly what I have learned just by logging everyday is that I never ate enough. As an overweight person that is hard to wrap around the brain! Two years ago I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. That has been an interesting ride. My goal is to get in shape so that I can participate in Hero Rush in October. I started using a fit bit one last week. I really love it! Looking forward to this challenge!

Hey. I'm Liz. I've been a dancer for most of my life. Ballet, belly dancing, "exotic," club, house, you name it... My mother tells me I used to dance to the rhythm of the washing machine before I could even walk. So, I've always been pretty fit.

Then in 2006, I started getting sick and putting on weight. I gained up to 150 lbs, and then determinedly dieted back down to 132. Only to start gaining again even on reduced calories. Other things went horribly wrong. Eventually my period stopped and my gynecologist called it. Hypothyroidism. So I got meds and it took a couple years to figure out the correct dose to help me lose weight again. In 2009, I got pregnant, and due to complications with the pregnancy, ended up pretty immobile. I went up to 209 lbs, between the lack of mobility and the thyroid problem (which was again hard to manage because of all the extra hormones.) I had my baby and dropped to 178, where I stayed like GLUE for 2 years, no matter what I did. Then, in September, something clicked (or so I thought) and I dropped 23 lbs, effortlessly. I was down to 154! But that stopped in December and I started feeling sick again. Memory loss, weird pain, skin changes, cluttered thinking, depression, messed up balance, being cold all the time. I worked out harder, because workouts usually help my depression. I went to a shrink for the first time EVER because I couldn't beat it, and insomnia and exhaustion were catching up with me. The shrink put me on meds for ADD, which I have never had. Then my period stopped AGAIN. I got my RMR checked, it was at 670. (Beat out by a coma patient at 1252 for my height and weight. No wonder I was COLD.) They tested me THREE TIMES. 670 all three times.

I went to a regular doc to get a full metabolic panel and a couple other tests done. I had deficient iron, potassium, and my B12 was so low, it was causing anemia and neuropathy. SO. I am on loading dose shots of B12. 2 weeks into treatment, I've dropped 4 lbs. Hopefully it's not a fluke and getting treated for food malabsorbtion will do the trick.

I've been lifting heavy 3 days per week for the last 3 months (NROL) and I walk about 5 miles a day. I have been eating at maintenance calories for the last couple months while I tried to figure out why I was sick. Now I'm ready to eat at deficit again and I hope that I am finally healthy enough to get my body back again! I'd like to get back down to 18% body fat. I'm currently sitting at about 26%.

I'm kind of a foodie, and I tend to avoid processed foods in favor of making everything from scratch, when I have the energy. Tonight I'm brining a Canadian bacon. I'll be smoking that on Friday evening for a party on Saturday. I'm also kind of obsessed with cheese. Last year I produced about 100 lbs of gourmet cheese in my own kitchen. Whoo!

Anyway... so... That's me...

Wow Lisah! You are a warrior and a great inspiration. Running is a weak spot for me. I would love to be a great runner, but not ready for that challenge just yet. I am more of a jogger. Glad to see you have so much ambition too.

Christy

Jogging IS running! Don't sell yourself short on that!

My walking is through out the day. I stand or walk on concrete for 8 hrs a day. Rough on the feet and back. I have a very low heart rate and it is difficult to raise up. I have discussed this with my doctor. Just not going to worry about it right now. I am healthy for the most part. No issues with sugar, cholesterol or high blood pressure. My sodium is actually too low. But I am getting older and those things could change. I am starting the c25k program this weekend. My cousin did this program and loved it. I would really love to try a 5k this summer. Best of luck to everyone in the group, may we all reach our goals, find the support we need and make new friends along the way

I am starting the c25k program this weekend. My cousin did this program and loved it. I would really love to try a 5k this summer. Best of luck to everyone in the group, may we all reach our goals, find the support we need and make new friends along the way

Have you tried any of the running games/apps? I have Zombies, RUN! and I ADORE it. I've ended up walking about 5 miles a day, EVERY DAY because I am on tenter hooks and want to find out what happens in the next installment. It's like TV that I only get to watch when I'm being active... I love it!

Ha ha! I have the Zombies, Run app, too. I tried it twice and it wasn't tracking any distance. Time kept ticking away, but no distance. I think I figured out the problem and can't wait to try it again tomorrow so I can FINALLY get to that damn water tower after my helicopter crash! :explode:

Inches off and inches back on. For a while at 154, my jeans were loose enough that I could pull them off without unbuttoning. Now, at 150, they're feeling tight again... I was wearing these pants at 176...

Now it hurts to have my wallet in my pocket. My butt is the same measurement, but it's now SOLID. I have a squat bootie. I might have to get bigger pants.

What is your weekend/holiday plans? Anything good?

I work in retail-no such thing as a holiday! lol Hope everyone had a good weekend!