Looking for a buddy to help keep each other on track.

Hey, I'm on my third go at this. Currnelty on a 51 day streak and managed to knock off 11kg's or so (~24lbs). Have never bothered with the community thing on here but figured it was about time I did. Happy to chat about my experience so far if you'd like. Main ting I've learnt is to keep going for it!!!!

lol in all my years of using this handle or others like it, no one has ever picked up the reference in it. I was raised going to church, yes.

Good and bad experiences come and go, like all things in life. Motivation isn't usually the sole issue; patience has a lot to do with it for most people as well. Giving up smoking taught me that. I tried everything to give up cigarettes, most things twice. It took 7 or 8 attempts across a couple of years, but I haven't smoked in 5 years now. At the time, all I wanted to do was be rid of the habit, but trying every shortcut to get there just landed me back smoking again. The trick was being patient and sticking to it.

Weight loss has been the same for me; I use to be quite fit (before the smokes and weight gain - odd how they go hand in hand). A few years back I got super fit, was running 10 - 15km's three times a week, weight training 6 times and filling in the gaps with random cardio. There's two problems with that though, one, it's a hell of a lot of work when you're working full time and two, it's not sustainable unless that's your job (some will argue, but having a family, working 50+ hours a week etc. I simply don't have 20 hours a week to train like I did then).

I knew my problem was diet, saying that I was convinced what I was eating was ok and it was more to do with exercise - burning those calories I'd eaten. I was wrong. I found that it was not unlike low carb beer. Everyone raves about how much better it is if you're watching what you eat etc. And that's fine, if you have a couple of stubbies. Not so much if you drink the carton. I was actually eating relatively healthy foods, the problem was I was eating significantly too much. The first two times I was using MFP it worked 'ok'. Not brilliantly, but ok. I think I may have lost 4 or 5 kg's, tops. The minute I stopped I put the weight back on (because I stopped looking at what was going in my gob). I decided this time I had to do something; I saw a photo and realised just how big I'd gotten. I decided I'd have another crack. This time though, I promised myself to actually record things properly, use kitchen scales, set a reasonable exercise goal and tell people what I was doing. I don't tell people I'm dieting or anything like that. Diets are temporary; this was about a life change. Having said that, everyone has been supportive, those that aren't, well they can get nicked.

So far it has worked well, which in turn has motivated me to push further. I remember at the start when I looked at the screen after completing my entry for the day, I thought 'no way am I going to lose 20kg's'. Well, here I am 51 days later and I'm over halfway there!

Training wise I do a minimum of four days a week, usually five days (but so long as I make 4, I consider it a success). Training is around 40 - 50 minutes, about 2/3 cardio to 1/3 weights.

That's me in a nutshell. I have bad diet days too, I try to plan them. Specifically training the morning (ie extended family lunches etc). I then watch the rest of the week like a hawk, but now watching it like a hawk is more like a normal week - measured, healthy and fufilling.

happy to help or chat also. When I found out I was having kids decided it was time to make a change myself. Lost 35kgs

Thankyou and keep up the good work. You will get there