Hi everyone. Mary, I'm so sorry you're under stress and have health problems. Are you able to swim? I've read that many people with disabilities take up swimming, which burns a good number of calories. An MFP member called Hanford Rose posted last year about being in a wheelchair while she tried to lose weight to get ready for knee surgery -- she swam and did well with weight loss and I think had double knee surgery at the end of the year.

I posted some of my intro under an exercise question but will also post it here. My name is Hollis Grant. I'm a woman aged 59, near my goal weight but want to continue with a healthy lifestyle and not slack off and gain the weight back. I live in Pennsylvania, went back to college a couple of years ago, plus work in an office.

Last year I decided to leave my car at home and walk to work and have lost a lot of weight that way, plus raised my quality of life. I hike in a nearby national park on the weekend. Right now I'm working on exercises for upper body strength as well as walking.

My biggest problem is battling the sweets in my office. They're everywhere!

Hi! I'm Rita from NE. I'm trying to learn how to get this fitness thing right once and for all. I am currently living in NM near my daughter from Sept, 2013- May,2014. I work 2 days a week at an Apache Head Start so those little ones keep me hopping but I am officially retired from NE schools. In June I will return to NE where I have a husband, 3 married children, and 4 precious grand babies. I gained weight gradually over the years with my all time record high of 149. Since then I've lost about 30 pounds ( and gained back a few) and would love to lose at least 70 or more. But I'm more focused on fitness than the scale. I had an hour conversation today with a MFP friend who is a fitness coach and certified trainer and learned so much. I also joined a gym for the first time in my life today...forgot to mention it's been a long one, I'm 62 years young. I will start on the arc trainer and elliptical machines this weekend and start group strength training class next week. If you don't hear from me again, it means I didn't survive.

Jeanine, I was scared the first time I checked out gyms In Sept. And it took me until now to go through with the signing. But now I'm excited. The young man working there said there is always someone there to help with the machines or proper form. He said there are people there in their 70's so I figured it was time for me to start too. We can be brave and go and share our newbie stories:)

Hollis, it sounds like we share the love of nature and being outside. Is the national park mountainous or wooded? I love birds and am trying to explore new places in NM where I can observe them but I was taking a class last semester and inundated with assignments so I'm just getting started. I'm not planning on walking to work because I have a 90 mile drive each way. But it is a beautiful drive through the Sacramento Mountains and I enjoy it very much.

Mary, I would have loved to be a wildlife biologist! I hope you can find inside work in that area until your knees get better. I had mine replaced and it has changed the quality of my life. Good luck to you. Transitions are difficult. I was so scared to move 950 miles away from home and figure out how to do apartment living. But it has brought new experiences and I treasure them all because I know my time here is limited. Enjoy:)

I'm usually not this windy. Im excited to be part of this group. Thank you, jpilley, for getting this started!

Rita

Hi girls, how are you all?? am really happy to be part of this group and MFP in general, just to make you smile I have been trying to work out for a couple of days what MFP meant, until I finally realised this morning :embarassed:

I live in Cardiff, S Wales in the UK and am also 59, will be 60 in October and determined to be thinner by then!! I am not very active and don't exercise due to the osteoarthritis in my right knee which prevents me from dong a lot of things I would like, I have an office job which is sitting all day so when I stand up for a few moments I am in pain and limp for a little while, when I get going I am ok, feel about 109 not 59 when this happens!! I am hoping that losing weight is going to help, well it is not going to do any harm, I have two stepchildren and three gorgeous grandchildren so want to be able to play with them and do all the grandma things

My husband is a photographer, mainly for weddings and I go along with him and either take photos or do video another reason I want to lose weight so that I feel better about myself when I meet people as I am really quite shy, me husband could do with losing a few lbs as he is type 2 diabetic but he is very good and disciplined when he wants to be, so he is going to lose with me hopefully, but he has nowhere near as much to lose as I do, we also rescue dogs, we did have 6 but over the last 3 years have lost 2 to canine cancer and 1 to arthritis in her spine and she sadly lost the use of her back legs, she is the dog in my avatar. We now have a westie and 2 little terriers, or should that be terrors :bigsmile:

Anyway as I said I am so happy to be here, to make new friends and not feel as if I am the only one with a weight problem, together we can do this girls, 2014 is going to be our year!!!

Hope you all have a good day,

Sue x

Hi All! My name is Tiffani I am in the Air National Guard, a Civil Service Secretary & a Scentsy Consultant (very busy - but I love it!)- I am trying to continue my healthy streak and really making myself stick to logging on MFP bc I know I actually lose when I track. I am most concerned with getting healthy because of my military career.. It has always been a struggle for me to keep my waist measurements within the standards (part of it is because I am 6'2-- the standard requires me to have a 35.5 inch or under waist - I usually am right on the money). I also want to be healthy for myself and future children. I do have my struggles physically bc of a herniated disc that acts up often, but after rest I make sure I am back at it. I love love love healthy food (I wish my hubby did too bc it would make meals easier LOL).

I started the advocare 10 day cleanse this week - on day four and and I feel amazing! I started a 30 day work out challenge on the 29th and I have worked exercise into my day every day except the two days I was sick- which I will make up 2014 is my year and I feel it... Here is to us getting healthy!! Anyone is welcome to add me

Hi all, happy to be here with a great group of motivated people all working toward the same goal, in their individual ways.
Looking forward to learning from you all. This IS my year, and I will get my excess insulation to move .. already have thrown out one pair of fat pants.

I'm a Canuk, raised in Niagara Falls Canada, and have lived in Alaska for the past 13 years with my hubby, 2 dogs and a very conversational Congo gray parrot. I am currently in Canada caring for my elderly mother who has multi-health issues related to years of systemic disease (heart disease + type 2 diabetes + hypertension). I too developed type 2 at age 42. Now, going into my 49th year I am determined to drop 50 by my 50th birthday. I see myself in my mum, and her health issues becoming my issues if I cannot manage to turn things around.

I work remotely while in Canada, doing EMR for 11 specialists in Alaska - I do this for 10 to 12 hrs a day while providing home care for my mum. All the while missing my hubby and the pets so very much.

I'm down 10.5 lbs since Dec 1, 2013 and around 22 lbs overall (since Sept 2013). I've already reduced my diabetes meds by more than half and am seeing a reduction in the ugly/embarassing plaque psoriasis I developed a few years ago (after my mum's first Stroke). I would love to take up swimming again, but the psoriasis is so unsightly i'm sure it would unnerve people at the pool. I've been working out at home with handweights, an inversion table (for 3 crushed and herniated disks in my spine), as well as doing some yoga, pilates moves and a weighted hula. I think i'm slowly getting stronger as my stamina is improving. Hoping to get out walking more soon as the snow/ice recede.

Really impressed with the people I'm seeing and reading of here at MFP.

Feel free to add me - the more encouragement, motivation and support the better. Cheers everyone!

Marni (Canookie)

Hi everyone! I'm excited to be a part of the group. I've returned to MFP after a hiatus. I had lost 15 lbs and let my unhealthy eating get the best of me and gained it and a few extra lbs back.
I work in an imaging department here in the Fox Valley in Wisconsin and spend my spare time watching my 16yo son sporting events and taking care of my two dogs and two guinea pigs.
My plan is to get back to more healthful eating and excercise this year. Looking forward to making new friends and giving and receiving support in this group!

Thanks for the explanation, canookie. At first I thought I was reading a foreign language. Lol!

Hi all! Thanks for the invite Jpilley! My name is Linda, I'll be 54 in March, and I'm excited to meet you all on our journey conquer cellulite (haha)!

I am one of seven kids; four brothers and two sisters. My sisters are 9 and 12 years older than I am so we are not very close; they were out of the house by the time I began kindergarten so I've been surrounded by males.

I've been married to my best friend for 28 years and we have 4 sons that make me laugh and sometimes pull out my hair! None of my boys are married yet and no grandkids yet. I also have five cats…four of them are male too!

I have a part time job (three days/wk) that I love. I work at a library….and no...it isn't quiet….and I am on my feet the whole work shift.

I love to travel. I love to read. I have a weird sense of humor. That's me in a nutshell…feel free to add me as a friend!

Hey all, I just got the invite for the group and I'd like to stay to introduce myself properly but I'm currently procrastinating a huge pile of marking that's due for tomorrow >.<

So, for now I will say: hi all, hope you're enjoying your Sunday!

Hi Everyone!
I am Gillian, (gilly) I was originally from England but moved to New South Wales in Australia in 2006.
I have struggled with my weight for way too long and recently since moving to Australia have had to deal with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.:grumble:
I love my traditional archery and also throw a double bit axe for fun, that freaks some people out but it really is great fun and nobody messes with me when I am walking around at our club with a 32 inch long axe!!
I think this group will have a ball keeping each other focused and keen.:flowerforyou:

Hello everyone,

Seems I am way out numbered by the ladies. I'm 58 rapidly approaching 59, happily married to my childhood sweetheart for 38 years with 2 wonderful sons. I joined MFP to get my bad eating habits under control. My weight since around 1995 had been averaging 225 and when I let myself go all the way to 250. Along the way I've done various diets, low carb, South beach , etc. Lost down to a LW of 204 but gained it back when I started eating bad again. I started to get serious the week after of labor day as I was feeling bad and the Drs. could not find the answer. My wife and I have been going to Planet Fitness for about 3 years but never changed the eating habits and did not get intense with the workouts. I now go at least 5 or 6 days a week and am also training for my first 5K ( 2/8/14). Although I really don't understand the whole macro thing I do try to eat at a deficit. I have cut down on portion size but still eat mostly the same foods I was before. My ticker says 30 lbs but it probably should be 38 as I did not want to tip the scales until 3 weeks into my journey. The ultimate goal is 190 and no more blood pressure or cholesterol meds. I work as an IT Director so plenty of stress on a weekly basis. I love Nascar, bowling and golf. If you need support I will help anyway I can.

I love the diversity we have in this group, so many different lifestyles, places etc.
very happy that this is a group now, sometimes the main board can be a bit "childish" if you know what I mean :noway:

Hello Champions!

I will be 50 this year. I have a neurological disease so I have good days and bad days. The older I get the harder it is for me to move. I keep on going, I do spend some days in bed, I try to walk depending on my strength. I seem to be struggling with losing weight but like all of you I am up for the challenge with some support! I am really happy to be here and part of this group!
Thank you All for the support,
Sheil