Hello everyone! My name is Jessica! I am 21 and weigh 194.7! I have lost 5.3 pounds my first month here! I want to weigh 130 though my first mini-goal is to get down to 179! I am a broke college student and I find that challenges hold me accountable! I think this challenge will be a lot of fun and help me continue on my path to a better lifestyle for myself! I am really looking forward to this challenge!

Hi everyone. Enjoying our current challenge and looking forward to the next. My name is Samanda. I was living in India for a few years (thus the mfp name) and I am now in The Netherlands. I love cycling n walking and I am willing to give most of Melodie's crazy roadblocks and detours a go. Seriously silly looking dances have been known to happen. All in the name of healthy being fun. Thanks for coordinating @mallowbar.

Hi to everyone. I'm Pat. You guessed it... I'm Irish. I notice several teachers here. I'm the retired kind. I'm very active and have about 10 pounds to lose, not really that much but because I'm a biker it's the difference between being in the bunch all the way up the hills and being on my own out the back.

Hi, my name is Beth. I am a teacher, wife and mother of two boys ages 10 and 14. I am 39, 4'11 and currently weight 135 lbs. My goal is to lose 15 lbs, but mostly I just want to feel healthy and strong. I am going to accomplish this by eating well and working out for 30 minutes every day. Since I started 10 days ago, I have already lost 3 lbs and have only skipped 2 workout days (going from not working out to doing it every day at 5 a.m. when I am NOT a morning person has been tough). Changing my eating habits has been pretty easy for me though. I am eating cleaner for the first time and loving how it makes me feel. I am looking forward to this challenge because it will help keep me motivated and accountable.

Hello everyone. I'm Meghan 30yrs old with 2 beautiful daughters. When I started mfp I was at a very uncomfortable weight for my liking. I was weighing in a 160 lbs. Which was almost 10lb heavier then I was when I was 9 month pregnant with my now 2 year old. I started last March and then in June I fell off the healthy train and went back to old habits. I started again on my journey on January 1st of this year weighing in at 156lbs. As of yesterday I was at 145.5. My goal is 130lbs. I've noticed I've been starting to slowly fall back into habits that I really would not like to fall into. I'm hoping this group will give me the motivation I need to succeed with my goals. I'm not sure how this group really works. Is anyone able to message me privately to give me he low down woth everything? I would really appriciate it! Good luck to everyone

Hi , im alice. I have 4 kids that i homeschool 4-13. I am 39, 5'6, and at about 154 lbs. i'd like to get down under 140 lbs. I've never done a challenge on mfp.

Hi, all. I live in Queensland, Australia, and am returning to MFP after over a year of struggle. I was 1kg away from my goal weight, having lost 8kg, and then suddenly I stopped. Everything. Now I have gained all my 8kg back, plus another 4, leaving me 13kg away from my target. I have become so negative and abusive towards myself in my head, which is not a fun place to be. Gritting my teeth and needing to regain some joy and zest for life.

Some background; my daughter was diagnosed with a life-limiting disease in August, 2011, and not expected to survive another 12 months to her 3rd birthday. She is now almost 6.5years old, and doing remarkably well. A blessing, and a miracle. I can't work, because her health can turn very quickly, and I am required to be on-call 24/7, but now that she is at a very supportive school I find that I have a little more time for me. Although a lot of that time is now taken up with caring for my parents-in-law. Ma has dementia, and Paps has some heart issues, and they are both elderly and determined to stay in their own home as long as possible. I am committed to helping them do this. My husband works away, and we have separated, although are in the unusual position of me renting the house next door in order to provide him with as much assistance as possible with our daughter when he is at home.

I honestly have no clue how to rise above the struggles and relentless worry, and am terrified that I have forgotten how to laugh. Many of my friends have kind of moved on with their lives, and I have lost my ability to relate to people on a casual and "normal" level.

This is pretty heavy stuff, but I need to be real about my challenges, and the fact that I have never needed support or encouragement more. My starting point has to be getting back into a healthier routine, where I can start moving more consistently and making better choices about my nutrition. My girls eat so healthily, and I am a massive advocate for Paleo (I think it is the biggest reason my daughter is doing so amazingly well), but I have fallen into a sugar addiction, and emotional eating. Really hoping that this challenge will assist me to get back on track, and I am looking forward to receiving and giving support as we all take it on together.

Thanks for reading my story.

@MarlinWil thank you for sharing your story. We are here to support you and even if you just need someone to talk to, I love to listen.

Hi, I'm Nia and will have my 71st birthday during this challenge. I retired almost 6 years ago with obesity related health issues from a desk-bound job. I only need to take care of myself and my cat so joining a group challenge is a good way for me to stay connected and be motivated. MFP has been my 'friend' since 2012 and during that time I have done pretty much the same thing as I did for the 30 years before then ... lose and regain and gain some more and lose and regain again. In September of last year I gave myself the goal to get out of the obese category by my 72 birthday ... so I have about 15 months left to get to my goal. It's doable if I stay on track of losing at least 1 pound a week ... and I know from experience how hard it is for me, or anyone, to consistenty lose that much weight week in and week out. So ... challenges that help me get/stay active physically and motivated emotionally are what I really need and would like to help give to others as well. Glad to be joining in.

Hi, guys! My name is Aly, I am 26 and I currently live in Georgia. (Moving back to Alabama to my Husband's family farm house very, very soon though!) I am new to this challenge group, but it sounds like a lot of fun. I am excited to get started My goal is to lose about 27 more lbs before my 27th birthday (5/25), and I am hoping this challenge group helps keep me on track to meet my goal loss, as well as help me continue to tone up. I have lost 53# total in the last 13 months, and I am so glad to be so close to my healthy weight goal. Here's to the next couple months, yall

Hi I have been doing mfp since feb 1st and I have lost about 8.5 pounds so far. I am 36 years old and for me this isn't a diet my husband and I are doing a life style change. We are eating more fruits and veggies. And exercising regularly. My goal is to lose 60 pounds. And to be a healthier me.

Also, I have 3 friends on mfp. I would love more.

Hi guys!!!! I'm a married mum of three who works part time for the NHS. I'm good at keeping on track mon-Fri but struggle a little on the weekends when the routine of the week goes to pot!
Looking forward to getting to know everyone and taking part in the challenge! X

Diana6ft wrote: »

My name is Diana. I'm 34 years old. I'm about 6ft tall and weigh 185. Google suggests that I weigh 159.5 lbs, but I'm not sure that's possible. For now I'm focusing on logging everyday and exercising at least 5 times a week. I have five kids ages 8, 11, 13, 15, and 16. We recently moved to the Coachella Valley in southern California because my husband got a teaching job here. I'm having a bit of a mid life crisis. I was 17 when we had our first daughter, so my life has really been about my family. Now I'm in my mid 30s, my kids are older, my husband is (finally) settled in his career, and I'm not quite sure what to do with myself.

There are lots of ways to calculate ideal weight. Using Harwi I get an ideal weight of 165lbs for a woman your height. If you have a big frame that can be up to 183lbs, for a smaller frame down to 144lbs. Matters where you feel happy n healthy.

As for the crisis. What else can you enjoy outside of being a mum? Huge step to find those things and define ourselves beyond our roles in other people's lives. For me learning great nutrition, cooking, exercising, hobies, social events n travel all contribute. Hope you find this challenge part of your inspiration.

Hi everyone. My name is Karrie. I'm a breast cancer survivor. During my 2 years of chemo and radiation I was unable to work because it was so toxic on my body but it did NOT do anything for lack of appetite. I craved hamburger and Broccoli like they were the final things on the earth. I spent 2 years living as a couch potato and eating. And now it's just been a constant battle fighting the meds I have to take for the rest of my life. And fighting the urge to cover up the trauma with food. I need to find that happy medium I previously had.
I'm 5'9 and 200#. I miss that woman who was once 165 and fit. I'd like to find her again.