73 lb down, made it to Onederland!!

When I started this journey in August 2015 at 272lb this day seemed an impossibility. At 51 I found myself with debilitating pain in an arthritic knee, not able to do the things that make life worth living, out of breath and avoiding the stairs! My husband had died of cancer at the age of 48 four years earlier. Life pretty much sucked. Something had to change!

I started using MFP to log my food, and Fitbit to encourage me to move. It's not always been easy as I've struggled with my weight all my life, but it has always been simple-use more calories than you eat.

So today I find myself in a place I couldn't have imagined. Getting under 200lb is just icing on the cake. I feel healthier than I can ever remember (other than the darn knee!!). I walk regularly, go to the gym a couple of times a week, have tons more energy, get out in nature and up hills whenever I can. My mood is better, I'm more resilient when facing bumps in the road. The loss of my husband, my best friend, will always weigh heavy but I want to live my life in the way he would want me to.

This is only a step on my journey. I now look at reaching 100lbs lost and then I will reassess my goals again.

What have I learned?
1. Log everything everyday. I log even when I'm over my calorie allowance-it keeps me accountable to myself and helps me to see those days as a natural part of my journey and not a disaster.
2. Make the most of your calories-I eat lots of fruit, veg, lean protein some carbs and some treats just about everyday.
3. Drinks lots of water.
4. When you hit a bump, when your weight loss plateaus, turn to the MFP community and someone will give advice that rings true to you. We all need support on this journey.
5. Stick with the programme, it works.
6. Don't be in a hurry. As long as the trend is weight loss and feeling fitter then be content with your progress.

Sorry that this is the only comparison pic at the moment as I'm still fairly camera shy!