Hi All! My name is Angela and I live in Tampa, FL. I'm 39 and have been watching my scale go up and down 20 - 30 lbs since I was in my early 20's. I've done paleo for about three years before I became disenchanted with the whole paleo perfectionism and the paleo police. Now I follow a JERF (Just Eat Real Foods) and NSNG (no sugars no grains) way of eating and I leave the whole paleo word out of most conversations. I'm not strict with any of it as I like to socialize and that includes drinking craft beers or other alcohol containing drinks.

I've done about 25 mud/obstacle runs to include a Tough Mudder and have been Crossfitting for 4 years until I tore my ACL this July. I had Allograft (a donor ACL) surgery in September. I started working about again about 4 weeks ago by going to spin class, Orange Theory Fitness, doing Insanity, cardio boxing classes, indoor paddle/surf board group classes and even a couple of yoga classes. That seems like a lot but I actually only workout 3 to 4 times a week. I also bought a Fitbit Force and have been averaging 8,000 steps a day. I love the Fitbit so much!!

I love the podcast and appreciate that you are not experts, but just normal people trying to figure this all out, just like the rest of us. I appreciate all of your efforts.

Just a quick THANK YOU for being such a constant here all year TJ. You are the bomb!

My name is Jack and I am a 50 year father of 3 (daughters). I live in the Houston, TX area and have been dieting off an on since I graduated college. When I was in school, my activities combined with youth was enough to keep me in "OK" shape, even though my diet was horrible. Since then however, it has been one yo-yo diet after another.her. Primarily following whatever my wife was doing. I found Fat2Fit while listening to other FRN shows and decided to check it out. There were probably about 3 episodes at that time and Carol hadn't even joined the team yet. I appreciated the realness of the show and continued to listen.

In March/April of 2013, at 263lbs and facing my 50th birthday, I decided (once again) to "do something" about my weight. At 6'2", my weight was at an all time high. I started the usual, cut fried food, watched the carbs, drank a ton of water and cut calories. With the somewhat usual success, losing 5-10 pounds over 3 weeks.

About this time, I decided to go to the NRA show in Houston where I met Carol, Zach, and Jake.

I have continued to listen to the podcast and have been as dedicated to improving my health and fitness at any point I can remember. I'm down about 70lbs, excercise daily (Run/Walk) and am signed up to do the Tough Mudder in Nashville. My weight is as low as it has been in over 25 years - lower than my wife has EVER seen me. I feel as good as I have at any point I can remember, although live in constant fear that this is a "fad" and that I will "fall off the wagon".

My stretch goal for 2014 is to lose another 10lbs or so and run a half marathon (maybe..). But really, I would be thrilled if one year from today I was within 5lbs of where I am now.

I am so thankful for F2F as it has served as "virtual accountability partners" on the journey. Thanks Carol!

Of course you can read my post on the podcast. I would love to hear you do so while I'm commuting. Thank you so much!

BTW - I know many of you are getting rid of your scales this year, but I got a Fitbit Aria for Christmas and I'm so excited. I love tracking my weight, measurements, and fat percentage (good and bad) and I've done so for over 10 years. My new scale measures 3 lbs heavier than my previous scale and more than 2% higher on body fat. I'm good with it as I use it as a tracking tool only.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!

And Angelca, if you have any specific health goal for 2014, write me with it. I am going to use your feedback a little later in January. Tomorrow we record the end of year show and we are reading listener goals so we can all commit together. You have TONS of healthy things you are doing! What is your end goal that you want to get to? Or are you already there and want to maintain? That is a goal in itself!
Thanks!

Carol

My name is Jackie, I'm 45 yrs young. I discovered in 2010 that I had type 2 diabetes. After taking insulin and a medley of medicine for diabetes, heartburn, high blood pressure etc for a year I decided that I was to young and needed to do something immediately. I joining Ideal Protein and after 3 weeks I was taken off my insulin, week 5 I didn't remember when I had heartburn last, by week 8 I was off all my meds and the weight started to come down. I didn't lose much on the scale. 35 lbs in total but my waist shrunk. In my favorite jeans, I went from a size 16 pant to a size 4 . I maintained until summer of 2013. I retired from my carrier to join my husband. We are owner operators for a heavy equipment transportation company. So basically I sit all day and eat convenience food or restaurant meals for weeks at a time. When I get home we eat very clean. The only exercise we get is when we unload and reload. This only happens once a week.

We have a Vitamix at home and enjoy veggie smoothies and clean eating. I have a nutri bullet in the truck but I haven't used it yet. We grocery shop often and have a small cooler that I can store premade salads and cut up veggies. Planning and organizing meals and fitting in exercise is what I need to do.

We listen to Fat 2 Fit HQ podcast at night before bed. It has become part of our "on the road" routine. Looking forward to loosing the 10lbs that I've gained and getting rid of the heartburn that started acting up again. I'm going to achieve this by using MFP to diaries my food and exercise.

Looking forward to sharing my journey with you and gaining knowledge and ideas from the group.

Welcome Jen and Jackie! I have been away from this discussion board too long! Not sure how I missed the notification. Probably selective attention... I've been pretty horrible with my diet. I'm great, low carb and clean eating, until about 7pm. Then it all flies out the window. Each day I am so tired and hungry that I just give up. It is still pretty decent compared to how I used to eat. It is still low carb and pretty clean, but just TOO MUCH. And exercise is pretty lame lately.

So this week I've done MUCH better. Even just reading your stories gives me more inspiration. We just recorded a show with John Kiefer that will be out on Monday(its on www.fat2fithq.com/youtube if you can't wait till then) So this guy wrote Carb Nite. I love the idea of super low carb all week and then one carb nite. Not a blow out for women, but a starch and a dessert!! I am very hopeful!!

Keep up the great work everyone. Thanks for joining us here. And for listening!!!

Carol

I will have to go back through and read all the post but thought I would jump in for now. My name is Howie I am a computer programmer in Ohio. I love fishing, camping, hunting, shooting, cooking and gardening. I have been happily married to Kimberley (GWAndroid on here) for 22 years. We both use fitness pal regularly to track our food. I have recently lost 77 lbs and she has lost 31. Total I have lost 161 and would like to lose another 84+. I have been tracking my food for the past 24 years on and off. I am striving to get to a point of just always tracking so I don't have these setbacks. You can look at my blog if you would like more info on what I do. www.thehman.com. I look forward to getting to know you all. The only time I ever made my goal weight was back in 05 and I did it by using a site called 3fatchicks.com. Community and accountability is an important part of this journey.

Hi Angela - I've heard Carol mention you several times on the podcast! Welcome to the community! :flowerforyou: