Hi! I'm Brenda and I live in SD. I will be 45 this summer and have one seven year old son.

I never had weight problems until I hit 40. Somehow I gained 20 pounds in three years. Couldn't have been the ice cream I had every night for a snack, could it? Yep, that's my downfall. I love ice cream. So I quit the evening ice cream, started JM 90 Day Body Revolution and MFP. Since starting a regular exercise routine I've got more energy, so am better able to keep up with my very active son! I'm having trouble with the 1200 calorie diet. Feel like I'm hungry all the time. Also, I haven't lost any weight this last two weeks and it's frustrating!

Thanks for starting this group! It's hard taking this journey alone so will be great to share it with others my age.

Brenda,

What gets me is that my husband and girls can have homemade chocolate milkshakes several times a week, and I'm try to be so good and just have my 40 calorie fudgesicles. They stay slim, and I steadily gain weight! 10 years ago I could have a shake with them with no problems. Hoping an exercise program and logging my calories will help me start losing. Logging my food has been an eye opener! Even when trying to eat healthy, I know I was eating way too many calories.

Hi all...I'm Beth from NC, this is my first go a at a group. I'm 43, only 5' tall so every pound counts and I would love to lose 30-35 of the ones that I have . I have a very demanding job where I have everything in line but at home I am mess! I am not organized and having healthy meals ready at a reasonable time is my biggest challenge. I'm looking forward to some support by women like myself. Thanks!

Jetta,

How long have you been dealing with back issues, if you don't mind sharing? I had micro decompression surgery (L5/S1) in 2003. It really motivated me at the time to start exercising and to lose my post baby weight. Unfortunately I have really let my weight and fitness slip the last few years. Losing weight and a consistent exercise program is what I need to do to help minimize future issues with my back but I'm also always nervous about doing something different that might cause me to reinjure myself.
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Hi Emy

My back problems started at 30. L4 bulged in 2000, then L5 slipped early this year and around 2009 there was compression in some area of my neck. I feel they're all related to my 4 spinal taps. I have some pain everyday but the exercise is helping. The trick is strengthening your core without injuring yourself further, its a very fine line.

Good luck.

Hi girls, hope you don't mind me joining. I'm Andrea and I'm from the UK. I'm 41 with a 7 and 5 yr old and have been on MFP for the last couple of years but have fallen off the wagon a few times. Been really sticking to it since Jan of this year and so far have lost 10.8lbs. I'm certainly finding since hitting 40 the weight doesn't come off easily, plus I was on some meds for nerve damage for a few years which affected my metabolism, gradually making me put weight on and blocking me from losing it despite my best efforts. I've now come off the meds and am losing a steady 1/2lb a week. Not a lot but I'm thankful for a small regular loss without having to deny myself anything - I believe life is too short to make yourself miserable about food. :drinker:

Hi! I'm Lisa, and I am 43, from Windsor Ontario. I have 2 kids aged 13 & 9. My husband & I own a busy pool & spa store, so for 6 months of the year I am working crazy hours while trying to balance kids, activities, work & eating healthy. I gained weight after quitting smoking in 2007, and start to lose it during the winter but gain it back when we are busy during the summer. I am hoping this is the summer that I continue to lose, so that in the next year I lose it all!

I need somewhere to check in daily, so hopefully I have found the place. I just finished moderating a 90 day challenge that kept me going.

Currently I do heavy lifting 3 times/week & I run on the off days.

Hello! Happy to have found this group I'm Maureen in Nova Scotia. Just turned 46 yrs old, and have 2 teenage boys. I lost about 60 lbs back in 2003 and have done a "pretty" good job at keeping it off...but this past winter had a hard time. I need to lose about 15-20 lbs right now. I don't have any problem with exercise...its food that gives me the problem! I have been running for quite a few years, its my main form of exercise but I also do some strength classes and workout videos.

Look forward to getting to know you all

Good Morning Everyone. I'm Robin, I turn 47 tomorrow and I live in Wisconsin. Married, 2 girls 23 & 17, and I work full time. I was thin until I hit about 30, and since then have had a huge struggle with weight. Type 1 diabetic, which makes it very difficult for me to lose, but I really need to get rid of about 50-60 lbs. Not sure if I will have much to offer, but I will be thankful and grateful for the support and ideas.

What is the Olivia Method?

The best is to search it on mfp, when I go on my laptop next time, I will post the link. It is away to figure out how much you should be eating in a day by what you weigh. And if you are active. For instance I have calculated that if I do nothing for exercise that day I should eat about 1350 calories, but if I am active can eat around 1550. Than my husband figured when I can eat back more calories depending how active I am. It works on a 500 calorie deficit. I am not really good with figuring out these things but the way people on here explain it makes sense and people have had success with it on mfp.

Hi, I'm 41 (will be 42 by end of summer), and I've been heavy all my life. I don't have "baby weight" as I'm not a mom, but right now I look pregnant due to the weight I just gained. I'm pear-shaped, so I have a big butt and thighs, but I also have "swimmers' shoulders" due to swimming butterfly as a kid. I'm only 5'2"...and 252 lbs., so I'm out of proportion with myself. I am not looking to be a twig. I've never been one; I just want to be at a weight where I have the energy and stamina to do my job the way I want...low energy means zero patience. I'm just looking to break 200 lbs. (for now...we will see how I feel when I get there). Aside from a short time in 2006, I haven't been below 200 since I was in high school. I'm also changing habits for my health.

I'm an only child and just lost my mom the end of February, so I've been dealing with all that goes with the loss of a loved one and work stress (we lost dad 6 years ago). I also have winter depression, so summer is the time for me to get going on my exercise and eating habits and get them set as a routine before the snow flies in October (I live in the blustery state of ND).

I began MFP in August and had lost 40 pounds until my 17 pound backslide after my mom passed. I see a dietician when I can, and I'm starting anew with my goals as of June 1 (which happens to be right now).

I use South Beach as a food plan basis with some Special K shakes or Slim Fast meal bars tossed in when I'm on the go! My food downfalls are potatoes, monster cookies, and Dr. Pepper. My favorite foods to eat with the "good eating habits" are cereal and blackberries with yogurt instead of milk and a romaine lettuce "salad" that has granny smith apples, pecans, strawberries, Craisins, and cucumbers...no dressing needed as I put lemon juice on the apple bits to keep them from turning brown.

I used to try to stay at 1200 calories, but my dietician told me that 1200 was putting my body into starvation mode, so my daily net goal was between 1350 and 1600 and had been working pretty well. I will use that as my guideline until I see her again this month.

My family has a history of diabetes and kidney disease, so my diet consists of low sodium (I haven't added salt to a meal in years) and healthy carbs/fats/fiber/protein. I want to prolong the onset of these two diseases for as long as possible...my entire life if I can do it!

I lap swim and ride the Expresso bike for exercise, and I'm looking forward to losing weight with all of you! Let's have a great journey!