In need of some motivational friends!

I am so not on your level the running sounds brutal haha but best of luck to you!

I completely understand where you are coming from. I was never "chronically skinny", but I was in a lot better shape than I am now. After 15 years behind a desk and a relatively sedentary lifestyle, 40 lbs ago I was at the heaviest weight I had ever been in! I still have a long way to go, but am finding my momentum and do find the days I don't exercise, I feel not bad, but wierd the next day. I typically do at least 20 minutes of the Jillian Michael 30 day shred video. I am much more out of shape than you, and have a bad knee, so it is frustrating that I can do aerobics like I used to. I am considering rejoining Jazzercise again, I loved doing it way back when and went to a couple classes a day. I looked good and want to find my shapely legs again!

Sadly, not all women are built the same and you will find as you get older when you are in your early 20's, mid 20's, early 30's mid 30's that your body changes in all sorts of ways. The bottom line, is that you do have to take in less calories than you burn. Even if you fit in 20 minutes of exercise then you will burn calories. You don't want to over do your self with exercise, but on the days that you are "breaking" I'll bet you are still burning a lot of calories chasing your 3 year old. Does he ride a bike yet? If so, take him on a bike ride or put him on the back of yours. Even a liesurely bike ride is spendning time with him, plus doing something good for yourself and getting some exercise in. If you don't have a bike, then put him in a stroller and take a walk. I always thought people were crazy at Weight Watchers when they said go take a walk, drink water if you are having the munchies. They aren't. I wasn't getting anywhere with Weight Watchers so I started doing this, and am doing really well. Plus, the people I have friended and who have friended me have all been super nice.

I weigh a lot more than you and my body requires according to MFP website to eat 2700 calories to sustain myself. They recommended 1730 calories a day, but I dropped it down to 1500 calories. I know that on a day I have the munchies that even if I go over my calorie goal for the day, as long as I keep it at 1730 or less I am good. Another thing I learned is weigh and measure EVERYTHING! I know it is a major pain, however, you will surprise yourself how a "normal" serving to you is not a normal serving. Food last longer, and you become aware that 1 oz of the pepperidge farm chocolate fish is 140 calories - do I want to give those calories up for some crackers that won't fill me up or you could spend those calories on something more satisfying like meat and a salad. One thing I don't measure is my salad. I measure the dressing, and anything I top it with that is not a vegetable.

I don't know if I'll ever be critical to you - but I will motivate you and cheer you on the best I can. The most important thing you can do is be honest with yourself about every morsel of food you put in your mouth. Maybe your "skinny" friends haven't had the same lifestyle as you have in your young life, not all became mothers at 19 years old I am sure, and not all had a desk job at 19 either. We have to deal with what life deals, and I am sure you are more beautiful in many ways than they are. Don't compare yourself to others. I struggle with that myself sometimes. God made you and made you the way he wanted and you are a beautiful person because of that. You have a husband that loves you, friends and family who really probably don't care if you weigh 140 or 240. You can do it!

I have an android phone - HTC EVO 4G and MFP has mobile applications for android and iPhone. I love it. I have a scanner app, and when entering foods I can just scan the bar code and it finds it. Sometimes (rarely) it comes up as something different, but overall it is usually on the nose. It makes logging food so easy, plus this database always has what I am looking for. If I find one that is listed multiple times, then I will check to see which one was verified the most and use that.

Good luck to you! Just take it one day at a time - don't beat yourself up if you go over calories. Make sure you are getting enough calories too, cause you don't want to have to little. Find foods that satisfy you and try to find lighter versions. Only splurge on very special occassions.

Cyndi