September Challenge & Motivation Group

I keep looking for a new challenge group and can't seem to find one. I am a part of an August challenge group and it has been a great source of motivation to meet our weekly challenges but the group is so large (started with over 150 on my team -there are 3 teams - ended with 60) that I haven't been able to get to know my groupmates and that is something I really want to do. To talk to the same 10 or 20 people to encourage them as well as be encouraged by them so I have been searching for a new group a smaller group and every time I find one that looks promising I find out that it's too late they are full or they aren't even thinking of accepting new members. :grumble:

Since I can't find a group, I've decide to try and start my own group!! I don't have a name or any special logos or tag lines but I figure we can come up with that one later. So I'm looking for 10-20 MFPs who are looking to come together and challenge each other. I have some general ideas on goals etc.

1. Try for 10 pounds in September - we might not each reach it but its good to have a start point.
2. Create weekly challenges that focus on specific nutritional or exercise goals.
3. Do weekly weigh ins - I like Fridays - I know some people like Mondays but I like to know what I weigh before the temptations of the weekend!
4. Be supportive to each other, share good recipes and work out tips.

So I guess I should share a little about me... I am a 33 yo high school teacher that has been overweigh her whole life (mostly). After college I dropped around 50 pounds (not the right way but then it wasn't on purpose either - it was just life circumstances) and go to my lowest adult weight of 175 not thin but I looked decent and felt better than I ever had before. Needless to say it didn't last... I did ok for a few years but when life stressed me out food callled my name and I came running! I have been yo-yoing up and down for years but never getting back to that 175. I went through a really stressful year (horrible new administration) in which I gained until I was around 240. I transfered to a less stressful school and by the start of that school year I was back down to 215 but again I didn't do it the right way. I went on HCG and while I still believe in HCG I didn't have a good plan for when I went off of it which resulted in me climbing back up and by Turkey Day I was an overstuffed turkey hovering in the upper 240s:explode: . That scared the crud out of me and I got moving again and managed to lose about 10 pounds through the holiday season but I was refusing to exercise I never had to exercise in the past so when a friend was in serious trouble I stepped in to help and lost track of myself again. I had an interview scheduled for a summer job and none of my work pants fit. I had to purchase a new outfit and the sizes scared me:huh: I hadn't worn anything that big since "raver" pants were in style. So I stopped avoiding the scale and found that my weight had climbed back up again to a new all time high of 256.:sad: I couldn't believe what I had done to myself again. So I started trying again and within a week or so I found MFP and the weight has been falling off. I am working out just about EVERYDAY. I have logged in to MFP everyday since the first day for a total of 65 days and 31 pounds lost!! I have TONS of short and long term goals but the ultimate goal is to be within the healthy weight range for my height by my cousins wedding next June - I would say I'm keeping my fingers crossed but I'm not taking chances I working my @$$ off! (literally and figuratively)

I know i have run on and on but I'm hoping to find equally motivated MFPs, with similar goals or obstacles and thought sharing about my struggles would let you know something about me to make it easier for you to do the same.

If you are interested in joining a smaller group of 10-20 dedicate MFPs who are challenging themself to drop 10 in September, drop me a line and we will start on Thursday (sept 1)!!:flowerforyou: