28 days in / 20 pounds down / Love MFP and have learned a lot!! Changing my life!!

My story is similar to a lot of others. I had been skinny most of my life and was a college athlete. Once I graduated and got married, I quit exercising and gained 40+ pounds the first winter. I managed over time to lose most of it, but I would always gain it back. The past couple of years I've spent time chasing my 3 kids and caring for elderly parents. Next thing you know, I have doubled my weight from college and was quickly approaching 300 pounds. I had experienced a couple of serious health related issues over the past couple of years as warning shots. In true denial, I ignored them and kept trucking down the same path. My biggest food issue was probably soda. I would easily drink 80+ ounces of Coke per day and would eat whenever I was hungry. I felt miserable, looked miserable, and acted miserable.

My wife had been nudging me to start taking better care of myself for a couple of years, but I ignored her. Finally, when dealing with the last couple months of my mothers decline the weight of it all hit me hard. I was burning the candle at 3 ends like I have most of my life. I was working, following my kids games, and organizing mom's care. I completely ran out of gas for the first time in my life. After my mom passed I went to the Dr. and my weight had gotten to 295!!! I had both ears infected, a major sinus infection, and was diagnosed with exhaustion. My Dr. spent probably 30 minutes talking with me that if I wanted to live too many more years I had to change - dramatically and quickly!

I worked on dieting for a month or so while I recovered. I managed to lose around 10 pounds by cutting back on soda, eating better calories, and eating fewer calories. At the end of that month I felt like a totally different human being! For Christmas my wife surprised me with a Fitbit. This has turned out to be the best gift ever! I started walking December 27. Discovered MFP shortly after the New Year. Once I started getting just a little active and discovered how many calories I needed vs. what I was putting into my body I was off to the races!

I am proud of myself that I have lost a total of 20 pounds so far in my first 28 days. It was really hard at first to make myself get out of bed and go for a walk before work. Now, I can't wait to wake up in the morning to get up and get active. I've recently added some evening ab work to my daily routine. I do have to go at it 7 days a week, because I don't want to stop the progress. I may have days I don't reach my step goals, but I still push myself to stay moving! I have completely eliminated soda and for the first time in years am pushing daily to drink at least 64 ounces of water.

It is still early in the process, but I feel motivated and committed to getting back to being closer to the athlete I once was. For my family, for my kids, and mostly for myself. Please feel free to add me. I need help to stay motivated and am happy to help others along my journey. It's not easy and I am nowhere close to being near the end, but it is amazing how in 1 month I can feel like a totally different person!

#energybus