Rather new to the group still but here it goes.

- 29 years old (OMG 30 soon!) from Southern Ontario Canada.
- Recreation Therapist working with Older Adults
- B.A double Major Recreation & Leisure Studies /Social Development studies
- Side job - Teach Cycling and power yoga for our local fitness club
- Im secretly a very anxious person but have forced myself to deal with it and make changes so that it is no longer debilitating
- If you met me on the street you would never peg me as a yoga teacher, Im way to high strung. LMAO
- live with my boyfriend of 3 years. If all plays out we will have a house in 1 year and be married a year after that, undecided on children
- he likes to plan the big picture (see point above) - I plan the day to day "life"
- I ran a 1/2 marathon on 2010, running was my first introduction to fitness.
- I lived in India for 8 months.
- peanut butter and ice cream are my two vices. I could stare at a bag of chips for months but a carton of ice cream wont last a week between me and my boyfriend (thus its only purchased on special occasions)
- I love being outside camping, swimming hiking whatever
- I have the tightest hips imaginable despite my yoga practise
- I love bright running shoes
- I wear fitness clothing to work everyday and have a closet full of other clothing that goes sadly unworn...


I think that is me in a nutshell

Cheers,
Sarah

OOh love this

I'm Zara, nickname Jonners
Just turned 30
I'm an architect and run my own business, studied architecture and engineering
Married for 2 years and currently live South East Coast, England
Will probably have children but haven't completely decided on this point
I play football (soccer) and love food, any food no one understands my appetite lol
I ran my first 1/2 marathon in June and can safely say that I am retired from distance running!
I love lifting iron like a bad *kitten* and working on anything that will improve my football, made my own gym at home its my little S&C paradise
my weakness has to be cake, can leave chocolate but can eat all the cakes easily, makes it even harder as my mum is an excellent baker!!! just torture

And that's about all my life

Hello! Been lurking around this forum for ages but never really posted.
I am 24 years old, registered nurse in Australia.
I love anything to do with sport, be it netball, hiking, running, etc
I just started Stronglifts and going to the gym to increase my weights as I'm sick of being so weak.
Engaged, to be married next year
My life is 100% full on most of the time

Woohoo, another Aussie!!! Are there many other Australians on here, I wonder? It's hard to do the maths from lb to kg all the time from the American posters. My brain gets tired from it!

Just wanted to jump back in and say hello!

This is the best thread ever!

Hello!
I'm Becca, age 35
- I live in Atlanta, and love it

- I'm married (12 years) and have 2 awesome kids (girl 9, boy 6)

- I'm a lawyer, but took an unusual path to get there - including a previous career as a teacher. I work for a federal appeals court now.

- I'm a boot camp instructor with Operation Boot Camp - it's an outdoor workout boot camp, and I love it. It's how I got into as good as shape as I am at this point (which is not where I want to be - still working on my goals) - but, as an instructor I have to get my workouts in in other ways. That's what led me to SL.

- I run. I'm not a natural runner - it's a struggle for me and I'm not fast. But I love how it makes me feel. I've run 4 half marathon s and am training for my 5th now. I also ran my first (and likely only) full marathon last October.

I'm Liz. I'll be 35 next month. I work in a prison, and starting Sunday I will be getting promoted to a Lieutenant, which is very exciting and frightening. I'll be supervising staff, god help me. And them, LOL.

I have a pit bull who is the utter love of my life. And a cat that just totally completes my little family.

I have always been overweight as far back as I can remember. I clearly remember being called Thunder Thighs starting in grade school. My self-esteem has suffered due to being fat, and I have pretty much none. However, lifting is giving me confidence for the first time ever. I may not be losing weight or losing inches, but dammit, I'm getting stronger.

Today was the first day of week 5 of Stronglifts. It blows me away how much I'm enjoying it even as I struggle.

What an amazing thread - hello to you all and thanks for sharing. I love the diversity of the group.

Here's my 2 pennorth - there's a clue for you

- I'm 43

- Live in Lancashire which is in the North of England

- mother to a 19 year old boy who is currently at Uni who looks just like his dad but has my personality traits.

- I'm a *kitten*, lesbian, femme goddess, queer - pick whatever label suits you as I'm not bothered what box people try to put me in

- single - serial monogamist who just can't get it right when it comes to relationships. Last 5 year relationship ended in March and since then I've decided to sack it off and just enjoy being single. Saying that if I came across some silver haired butch woman who loved lifting heavy I think I could be persuaded to have another bash

- I have the most amazing support network of friends. Honestly, if I wasn't part of our friendship group I'd be wanting in

- I have 2 black pugs called Gertie and Reggie who, to be fair, are absolute little horrors. When someone said that pugs were notoriously difficult to train I remember poo poo'ing that. I'd had other dogs, how hard could it be? I need Victoria Stilwell to come and give me intensive training as they have me wrapped around their furry wee paws. And they never, ever stop! I thought pugs were supposed to be old lady dogs? Love them.

- I love cooking. Like, really REALLY love cooking. And then eating. And maybe eating some more. I have big, big issues with using food to self medicate and this is my biggest stumbling block. Life now is amazing, I'm keeping a wary eye open as to what happens with my behaviour when life gets tough again. Because it will.

- I'm an office manager for a renewable energy company. I used to be a software project manager but then I became ill, had brain surgery and didn't want to spend the rest of my life driving up and down the country looking after clients. Less money but my quality of life is better. Fair payoff in my book.

- Consider myself a low level geek. Can be snobby about what films/books/music I enjoy but then re-write the rules to allow my deemed exceptions. Got a big thing for Wolverine. And Thor. Badass superheroes all round really. Hit Girl makes me smile hugely.

- I try to learn something new and go somewhere I've never been once a year. I'm counting lifting as this year's new thing as it's important to me that I get it nailed in.

- I realise I have limited willpower and so am trying all the mental tricks possible to build lasting habits.

- Trained as a counsellor but realised I was far too bossy and just wanted to tell people what they should be doing. Counselling fail.

- No matter how hard I try I can't seem to maintain a tidy house. Or finish decorating anything. Which is insane because when things are tidy or I've finished a DIY job I feel so good. And calm. Mess depresses me but instead of it motivating me to deal with it I turn around, pick up a book and ignore it.

- I read. A lot.

- I could keep this up all day..........

Hey all, guess I shall play...

I am 5'8.5" (173cm), about to turn 29. I am originally from Canada (Toronto), but am currently living in Paris, France.

As a kid, I was a competitive swimmer, and when I stopped that, went on to play quite a bit of tennis. I have always been athletically inclined, I suppose, although after high school I pretty much stopped doing any sport regularly.

My fitness was at an all-time low earlier this year, when I really started feeling the onset of age and decided to turn things around. In the span of just six short months, I feel like I am now at my all-time fitness high as an adult. I never dreamed I would be able to run 15km (run? me?! never!!) or to do lifting with a barbell. I wish it were more common knowledge that improving fitness and changing your body can start immediately and happen so fast if you have good information. I guess I am kind of out to spread the word now that I have collected loads of info and have had first hand experience applying it.

My goal is to become stronger, more durable, and more physically dense (I have always been slim, but extremely "light" for my height/size, aka no muscle == weaksauce).

Otherwise, I heard that I am pretty geeky-- am a software engineer and have many of the interests that go with. I heart gadgets and adore the internets. I got into amateur photography a few years ago (my Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/grandevampire), though it may or may not have been due to the endless gear purchasing possibilities. It's very likely that I am one of those people who like photography just so they can research and buy stuff. I love binging on good TV (some faves are The Wire, Parks and Recreation, Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Battlestar Galactica, Orange is the New Black, House of Cards).

Loved finding out more about all of you, whose user names I now see almost daily. Keep up the badassery!

Hi,
I just joined your group yesterday.

I'm Cheryl, 46, in the middle of a divorce. I would be married 23 years on October 14, but I decided not to live another day not being respected or cherished by my life partner.
4 kids, 22, 20, 16, 14 (B,G,B,G)
I'm an RN. I work at a Children's Hospital as a float nurse. I've been trained in every unit of the hospital and I work in a different unit every day I work. My favorite units are the NICU and Emergency Department.
Based on my job, you can guess that I like change and new challenges.
Before becoming a float nurse, I worked in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit for 5 years. My heart is in the NICU, I love the babies and their parents, what's not to love about a sweet fresh little babe.
I plan on moving to Houston, Texas in 2 years
My husband was in the Air Force. I've lived in Utah, Las Vegas, Southern Georgia, and Ohio. I was born in Michigan.
I was always athletic, I played varsity tennis and swam on the varsity swim team at the same time for 3 years in high school. I ran track in the Spring. I believe that as a result, I wear my weight well.
I gained a few pounds with every baby, that's how I got big.
I love to read, but don't read enough, I have a nasty candy crush addiction.
I'm currently reading Gone Girl.

I'm SUPER excited to start SL. I plan on starting Wednesday, I have to work tomorrow and Tuesday. I work 12 hour shifts 3 days a week so I'm going to have to work around my schedule.

I loved reading this thread, but felt like a creeper so I figured I'd post.

a biology teacher according to my qualifications
currently working as a private tutor (mostly English as a foreign language) and marking IELTS exam papers but I'd rather be teaching biology (not that what I'm doing isn't fun though)

Update: I'm now working as a science teacher, teaching year 8 science, and teaching year 9 IGCSE physics, chemistry and biology :drinker: ....I accepted a job teaching English and literacy to year 1.... then they had a science teacher quit, so I got transferred to teaching year 8 and 9 science!!!! *happy dance*

*Takes the dive*

Hi All...

My name is Stephanie...go figure...I live in New Brunswick Canada (east coast right beside Maine)

I am 40 (almost 41) I have one son who just turned 19 (often referred to as Man child) Just had my 4th wedding anniversary, yes I waited and married the love of my life (he's 31...hehehe )

I am currently an SAP SME in the finance department of an ISP, previous to that I was in the Canadian Military (Artilery)

I have too many hobbies to name and love to read almost anything but my faves are hisotrical romances (can't help it) and fantasy books that involve anything magic or are mystical

As a young person I was always fit, even more so in the military until I got pregnant and those idiots stopped me from exercising...haha I got big.

At my heaviest 205 (I am 5ft 7). Recently joined MFP but lost almost 25lbs prior to that.

I have a love hate relationship with cardio of any sort...just recently threw my treadmill out...:drinker:

I have always loved being strong and look forward to the lifting (I start tonight)

Hi All,
Just joined the group, and thought this would be a good place to add a first post.

I'm Angie

I'm 47, never married, 2 boys (21 and 8). I live in Ohio

I am a global account manager and have been with my company for 28 years. I like it (don't love it) and am good at what I do. But, aspire to, one day, own a business and/or work in a field that I love and that is more rewarding.

I'm an avid CrossFitter and decided I wanted to add more lifting, and have read a lot of good things about this program. We'll see how the two things work together.

I call myself a runner. I've run 2 1/2 marathons but I'm pretty slow and have never found it 'easy'. I'd like to do a full marathon just once in my lifetime, but not sure when that will be since my focus is lifting and muscles right now.

I've recently become obsessed with clean eating.

I was in a 10 year relationship that was bad 99% of the time. Maybe even 100%, but it took me a while to figure that out! I'm currently in the dating arena and haven't been real good at it. But, I'm learning with each date. I have a strong faith and believe that all things happen for a reason. I'm an optimist and hope that my life plan includes a great healthy relationship somewhere down the road.

About 3 years ago I found myself at my highest weight of about 208. I probably weighed a bit more at some point but would not get on the scale. That's a lot of weight for someone who is 5'4". I started walking/running and joined WW. I lost about 40 pounds in the first year or two. I started CrossFit a little over a year ago and took off another 15 or so but my body has changed more than that 15#. I'm currently at 151, though my MFP ticker says 149. I've been down to that number twice, and refuse to change my ticker until it starts going down again! LOL And, I am on my way down again. My goal weight is 130 but I'll adjust that up or down as I progress. I love being strong and having muscles, and I won't give that up for pounds on the scale.

My two long term goals - To see a 4-6 pack of abs, even if it's for a day! And, to truly be competitive at CrossFit by the time I am 50.

I read a lot - not books but information, food/exercise websites, forums, etc. I suck up information....almost to a fault. I need to get off this computer now and go do something! LOL

I look forward to interacting with all of you.

I'm Deborah, 46 years of age, single, no kiddos, but Mom to one small cat named Grace, who was a rescue who rescued me. We live in Wisconsin.

I am a chemical engineer by education and work at a chemical company in the Safety and Regulatory Affairs group.

I started lifting weights with a trainer at the gym about 3 years ago, lost 40 pounds and got into pretty good shape. I currently use MFP to track my food to make sure I get enough calories and the right kind of calories for the level of activity I do each day (varies from couch to lots of activity). I don't eat sugary/desserty foods or foods with added sugar.

I tried really hard to be a runner, but I just don't like it. I would appreciate any ideas that could help me change this. I do run intervals on the treadmill at the gym to help with endurance and burst speed while on skates.

I'm also Diva KenEvil, which is my roller derby name/alter-ego. I play roller derby, which is a full collision sport on quad roller skates. I started at the young age of 44, and am currently the oldest skater in my league. We practice 4 times a week for 2-3 hours at a time, which is a lot of endurance, hitting, strategy and strength training. It makes for interesting bruises too.

When I'm not at work or on skates, I like to read, watch tv, knit, spin (with a spinning wheel, not a bicycle) and travel.

Oh, this sounds like fun!! So I'm in and here I go:

My name is Diane. I'm 28 and married with 2 beautiful daughters. I have a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and a minor in Finance. The finance minor is BS and I haven't use a single bit of it in my entire accounting career. I have an amazing husband that works hard for our family. Our two daughters are smart and make the honor roll every semester. They also are little athletes. My youngest plays Academy soccer which is a tournament team. My oldest plays on a tournament softball team that I coach. I also coach a basketball team. I'm in school right now to finish my 150 credit hours to sit for the CPA exam. Hopefully by this time next year I will be testing to become a CPA. My husband and I also plan on getting pregnant sometime next year to round out our babies to 3. Until then my goal is to lift and get fit that way I have some wiggle room when we do decide to have a child.

My name is Liz, I'm 30 and I've lived in New England my entire life. I live with my awesome BF and baby kitten Lemmy. I work the night shift as a psychiatric and detox RN, been an RN for five years and I feel like I've found my niche in the field. When I'm not working I'm a homebody and like to keep my life simple. I love heavy metal music, horror movies, going to gigs (yes, I do venture out, matter of fact I'm gonna see Morbid Angel next month), South Park and laughter. I don't take life or myself too seriously and can be a bit immature at times. I just started lifting this week and I wish I had started years ago.