A Newbie in Need of Major Change

cmhardin81
cmhardin81 Posts: 7
in Introduce Yourself
Hi,

I'm new to myfitnesspal, but not at all new to dieting. I have four living children and one we lost. Grateful doesn't begin to describe my feelings about my children, but 5 pregnancies in a decade was a little rough on the body. The lowest I've been in recent years is about 165 and I'm 5'4". I lost it all after having my first child, but the weight has been harder and harder to get rid of over time. Add to that some lung-health issues that left me taking steroids for an extended period of time and... you get the picture. And it's a very plump picture, but one that doesn't show up in the family album because I'm a ninja when it comes to avoiding the camera these days. It would be great to get back into the group photos again so the kids know they really did have a mom all these years.

Ultimately, I would like to get back down in the 125-130 range and I'm currently at a whopping 198 :-(

I'm trying to track my calories and move toward healthier behaviors, overall. It would be great to find some friends who are in or have been in a similar boat to share the experience as I go.

Any pointers for a person who can't afford the gym would be great, too! This is going to be a long journey and learning experience for sure!

See you around the forums!

Charlene

Replies

  • amraf1024
    amraf1024 Posts: 74
    Feel free to add me! I am always up to talking and bouncing around ideas. I'm very sorry for you loss it takes a toll when we lost my sister a few years back I think everyone in the family gained 10 lbs at least... . But never let you weight keep you out of any pictures! They are all memories and people will want u in them regardless of ur weight! As far as working out at home u. Can get some weights, walking around the neighborhood is always a good one, a yoga mat or an exercise ball is good too!
  • randilynn113
    randilynn113 Posts: 227 Member
    Hello!
    This is my third round on MFP. I've been logging in and truthful about the foods I'm eating and I'm counting my calories, even on my overeating days. I decided that January 1st was going to be the date I'd make some serious changes. I've completed 1 round of Les Mills Combat at home and I still work out 5-6 days a week doing a hybrid of Les Mills Combat and Les Mills Pump, which I purchased a year and a half ago, but never used. I'm down 19 lbs and losing a lot of inches, which is a huge motivator for me!

    I've been trying to eat better and keep my calories under control, yet eating enough so that I can actually get through my workouts each day. I know they say that drinking water helps a lot of different ways, so I've been really good with getting about 64 or more ounces a day. I never really paid much attention prior to January. I work 2 desk jobs, so I'm sitting a lot. I was at my heaviest around Thanksgiving and hated the pictures I was in, so I decided in December to do something about it. I work out in the evenings now, and tell myself no excuses because honestly, I feel SO much better when I do workout.

    Some people prefer the gym, but I prefer to work out at home, on my own time. I DO hold myself accountable, even if it is only a 30 minute walk outside, I still do something.

    Hopefully you do well on your journey, as it sounds like you are motivated right now and ready to do it! :smile:


    Anyone can feel free to add me ~ I like to have motivational people on my friends list and I promise to help motivate you too!
  • norahwynn
    norahwynn Posts: 862 Member
    You don't need to join a gym!! There are A LOT of great workout videos on youtube, and I'd also checkout dailyhiit.com. They send you a different workout each day once you sign up, and it starts out at a beginners level.

    Feel free to add me also!
  • runningbs
    runningbs Posts: 132 Member
    Get outside and run :-) It's a free gym! Add me if you wish :tongue:
  • mscountrygirl39456
    mscountrygirl39456 Posts: 113 Member
    Hi, my name is Amanda, I'm sorry for your loss, it's never easy when you lose someone...... This is my story I am 31 yrs old,I have been married for 14 yrs.. I have 5 living children, I lost one between my 2 oldest children, I lost my daddy 2 yrs ago to stage 4 colon cancer, and his Dr said that my sibblings and I needed to have colon screenings done too, so I did and I had stage 1 colon cancer..( knocked my socks off) I never would have figured that I would have it, but it was caught early enough that I didn't have to have any treatments........ I have always struggled with my weight, and I guess everytime I started on a health kick or diet I would give up because I didn't see a big difference....... I would make New year's resolutions but after a couple weeks I'd give up......same thing happened this year....... And after being told the only way I would lose a significant amount of weight was to have the lap band surgery............I decided it was time to make a big difference in my life..... I started out walking everyday the last week of March anywhere from 1 - 2 miles a day.... but I was still eating the way I had been for years......... I weighted 307 LBS........ I don't want to be this size anymore!!!!!!!! I wanted a change...... I have a friend who has lost about 75 LBS and I asked her how she did it it and she said by counting calories and walking every day, so I decided to try it... I started counting calories about the 15th of April,... So I decided to start out at 1250 calories a day sometimes I go over and I try exerciseing on those days...... so far I've lost about 25 LBS, and I want to lose 100 LBS more..... I try to drink at least twelve 8 oz glasses of water a day, and I know if I start exercising every day I would lose weight better..... I'm gonna try to do better..... my fitness pal has help a lot, it's easy to use........NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!!
  • cuttingshadow
    cuttingshadow Posts: 36 Member
    Any pointers for a person who can't afford the gym would be great, too! This is going to be a long journey and learning experience for sure!
    Charlene

    There is more than enough activities and work outs that you can select for weight loss without access to gym. I prefer walking and have a weekly goal of walking for 60 minutes over 5 days a week on leisurely or moderate speed (2.5 to 3 mph).

    It is really good that you understand that it is a long journey, we all have a long term goal (mine is loosing 50 lbs by 8 months) which we are trying to achieve. I have a target goal of loosing 1 lb per week (adjusted my calorie intake accordingly) but I work towards loosing 2 or more pound per week which keeps me really motivated but not pressurized.

    Using just logging & tracking my calorie intake and walking , I was able to loose 5 pounds till date and this is my third week. Don't worry, it works out well. All you need to do is to believe and be honest with the logging.

    -CS
  • cmhardin81
    cmhardin81 Posts: 7
    @amraf1024

    I'm sorry to hear you lost your sister.

    I agree, walking is the best thing. We were doing better about that as a family until summer hit. The new goal is getting up early enough to beat the heat advisory! :)
  • cmhardin81
    cmhardin81 Posts: 7
    @randilynn113

    Congrats on your successes!! :) MFP seems like such a great tool.
  • jenner_baby
    jenner_baby Posts: 13
    I don't go to the gym, I have several workout videos from Team beach body that are great, also Zumba is wonderful jogging is also great and if you cant jog then walk. I also want to get back down to 125- 130 ish. Add if you would like :)
  • cmhardin81
    cmhardin81 Posts: 7
    You don't need to join a gym!! There are A LOT of great workout videos on youtube, and I'd also checkout dailyhiit.com. They send you a different workout each day once you sign up, and it starts out at a beginners level.

    Feel free to add me also!

    Thanks for the tip! That's good to know. I've tried the gym, but with the gym comes child watch and the child watch usually means the kids get sick more often which means fewer days exercising... vicious cycle. Something at home is good.
  • cmhardin81
    cmhardin81 Posts: 7
    Get outside and run :-) It's a free gym! Add me if you wish :tongue:

    I'm working up the nerve for AZ in the summer. I should have started this diet in October :laugh: I think. :blushing:
  • cmhardin81
    cmhardin81 Posts: 7
    Hi, my name is Amanda, I'm sorry for your loss, it's never easy when you lose someone...... This is my story I am 31 yrs old,I have been married for 14 yrs.. I have 5 living children, I lost one between my 2 oldest children, I lost my daddy 2 yrs ago to stage 4 colon cancer, and his Dr said that my sibblings and I needed to have colon screenings done too, so I did and I had stage 1 colon cancer..( knocked my socks off) I never would have figured that I would have it, but it was caught early enough that I didn't have to have any treatments........ I have always struggled with my weight, and I guess everytime I started on a health kick or diet I would give up because I didn't see a big difference....... I would make New year's resolutions but after a couple weeks I'd give up......same thing happened this year....... And after being told the only way I would lose a significant amount of weight was to have the lap band surgery............I decided it was time to make a big difference in my life..... I started out walking everyday the last week of March anywhere from 1 - 2 miles a day.... but I was still eating the way I had been for years......... I weighted 307 LBS........ I don't want to be this size anymore!!!!!!!! I wanted a change...... I have a friend who has lost about 75 LBS and I asked her how she did it it and she said by counting calories and walking every day, so I decided to try it... I started counting calories about the 15th of April,... So I decided to start out at 1250 calories a day sometimes I go over and I try exerciseing on those days...... so far I've lost about 25 LBS, and I want to lose 100 LBS more..... I try to drink at least twelve 8 oz glasses of water a day, and I know if I start exercising every day I would lose weight better..... I'm gonna try to do better..... my fitness pal has help a lot, it's easy to use........NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!!

    Hi Amanda,

    I'm so sorry for your losses, but congratulations on the big changes you've made. 1250 is hard to do. I was trying to do that for a couple of weeks and the pounds were really coming off, but then I had a bad week last week and made a mess of things. It's a great goal though. I guess we just pick up, dust off, and keep going. It's hard though!! Congrats on your 25lbs!! I wish you the best in your journey!! :flowerforyou: :smile:
  • cmhardin81
    cmhardin81 Posts: 7
    Any pointers for a person who can't afford the gym would be great, too! This is going to be a long journey and learning experience for sure!
    Charlene

    There is more than enough activities and work outs that you can select for weight loss without access to gym. I prefer walking and have a weekly goal of walking for 60 minutes over 5 days a week on leisurely or moderate speed (2.5 to 3 mph).

    It is really good that you understand that it is a long journey, we all have a long term goal (mine is loosing 50 lbs by 8 months) which we are trying to achieve. I have a target goal of loosing 1 lb per week (adjusted my calorie intake accordingly) but I work towards loosing 2 or more pound per week which keeps me really motivated but not pressurized.

    Using just logging & tracking my calorie intake and walking , I was able to loose 5 pounds till date and this is my third week. Don't worry, it works out well. All you need to do is to believe and be honest with the logging.

    -CS

    Thanks! Yes, it's a long haul. I have done it before, but it's been a long time ago now. This is the *last* time though and it's staying off! Dang it! :happy:

    1-2 lbs/week is a good goal. I think that's about what I'm aiming for, too. I'm probably looking at a good year or so before I will hit my goal weight. Which kind of feels like walking from San Diego to Washington barefoot, so I guess I'll be setting mini-goals in between.

    It's great that MFP has so many things already logged in the system so input is easier. I've tried to log the old fashioned way and that never worked well for me. I'd lose the paper or say, "oh well, don't have a pen handy, will write it down later" then forget... :blushing: Downloaded the app, so I don't have ANY excuses.

    Here's to hoping!! Good luck!!

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