Hi, everyone! What a great idea for a group! I had my first baby at 37 and my second at 40, and I can relate to much of what the rest of you have said. I definitely wasn't ready to have children earlier in life. I was very career focused and also wanted to travel, enjoy the nightlife, etc. By the time I hit 32-23, I thought I was ready, but it wasn't happening. I wasn't going to seek out any fertility treatments, and I took sort of a fatalistic 'if it happens, it happens' attitude towards it.

As the years went by, I'd pretty much given up, but then in 2006, I quit my stressful job, and only a month later, we got pregnant (if only I'd done that sooner, for more reasons than one!). Down the road, I really wanted a second child, but again, it didn't seem like it was happening. I planned to quit trying if I wasn't pregnant by my 40th birthday, but two months before that deadline, found out I was pregnant again!

We've been blessed with two beautiful, wonderful boys, and I feel like the luckiest woman alive to have them! I'm so glad we waited until we'd both gotten out all of our youthful angst and were in a decent position financially, emotionally, etc. to be good, responsible parents. Our children are certainly a huge part of the reason that we cleaned up our act with regard to our diet and exercise. We want to be around for them as long as possible and to bring them up with healthy habits and role models. I think we're also coming to the realization that yes, we really are going to grow old, and we want to be as active and healthy as we can be so that we can enjoy that stage of life rather than suffering from a variety of ailments. Of course, there's no way to guarantee that, but at least we won't have regrets based upon how we spent our middle-aged years.

Hi all

Thank you for the invite Mel!

I'm Rachel, I'll be turning 40 in 16 days!! I have a 7 yr old, 5 yr old and a 3 month old! I lost 40lb 2 years ago, I gained it all back when I got pregnant with my gorgeous baby George! I'm really keen to get myself back on track, looking forward to taking part in the challenges, and being part of a supportive community to help me make the right choices!

Hello, thank you for the invite, I am 34 and my husband and I are getting ready to start a family. I am here to get healthier so I can be around for the kids.

This is a great idea for a group and I am excited to be a part of it!

Hi, just joined this group. My friends call me Wolf or Wolfman. I'm a 38 year old father of 2 boys (3 and my youngest just turned 1). They are a primary motivational factor for me getting my crap together and starting to live right. I had a bunch of bad blood work come in last Sept/Oct 2012 and I knew I had to get it together if I wanted to be around long enough to watch my boys grow up and become men. I have since reversed all of that bad blood work and lost about 40 Lbs at the same time (gravy).

I'm big into fitness these days...I am a former athlete and ran track most of my life growing up, as well as played football, wrestled, swim team, and gymnastics. I'm also a former Marine and just really let myself go these last 15 years after I was discharged. Now I'm back at it and have spent the majority of this year lifting weights and training for and participating in 5Ks, 10Ks, and a few obstacle course fun runs. I also cycle and swim which is why next year I'll be trying my hand at triathlon...training starts in February 2014 for my first sprint triathlon in May of 2014 and have 2 others on tap as well next summer. My current goal is to Ironman when I'm 45, so I have a few years here to participate in sprints, Olympic triathlons, and 1/2 ironman triathlons.

Hi all, thanks for the invite. I'm Marty and am 52. My wife and I had our children in our mid 30's. The phrase, "Your friends are the parents of your children's friends" rang so true for us. The children were in a gifted program in school and nearly all of the parents were our age - I don't think it was a coincidence. We were all ready and committed to have children. My children are almost 13 and almost 16 which means that my daughter will get her driver's license in 6 weeks.:explode:

Since I was 12, I've been the same size, 5'8", 175-190 pounds. The last time I hit 190, I said "Enough!" A friend turned me on to this site and I'm now at 175. I hope to enter a territory that I haven't been in over 40 years! Also, since I've lost my weight, I've noticed that the rest of the family has slowly modified their habits and they are making gradual improvements in their weight. Logging my food has been the biggest help because it has helped to identify all of the calorie traps. My biggest challenge will come in the fall when I'll have weird work hours but I know that my MFP friends will help me through!

Thank you for the invite!

I am Jennifer, a 40 year old mom to 4. My oldest is 8 and the baby is 2. I like to stay active but find that my diet is where I need to focus. I work full time so I have gotten creative on getting in my workouts. I want to enjoy the active time with my kids.

Thank you SO much melkadee for starting this group and for inviting me (although to be honest, I'm kinda curious as to how you found me ) I am the proud mother of one daughter who will be five in September; I am 48.

My husband and I took our time in trying for a baby and when it didn't happen, we just kind of assumed it wouldn't happen. I was shocked when I had a positive home pregnancy test at 42. I had never given up hope, but never really thought it would happen if that makes sense.

I have enjoyed reading everyone else's posts; MANY of them mirror my feelings about being a late-in-life mom, my feelings about being healthy for my daughter, my "plans" for being a healthy and helpful grandmother - someday! I look forward to getting to know all of you. And thanks again for the invite! :flowerforyou:

Hi everyone, I'm Mary. I'm 39 and have a 15 month old and my second due in January. I love being an older mum in that I have a whole lot more patience, however, I'm not looking forward to menopause and puberty colliding!

Hi, I'm Tanya. I have 8 kids. My girls are 19 and 8. My boys are 14, 13, 11, 10, 5, and almost 2. We homeschool and run a small farm. I have been a parent most of my life. My first was born a month after my 20th birthday. I definitely have more patience as a more mature mommy. It doesn't hurt to have a couple of older kids capable of helping out around the farm as well.

I'm Kay...had my first and currently only child at 35. Best decision ever for me to wait...I'm a better mom than I would have been younger, though losing the weight from having my daughter was certainly harder and its still a work in progress. I've got a goal to be the same weight for my 10 year wedding anniversary and I was when I got married...39.5 down, 27.5 to go!