Over 60 success stories please

l'll join your over 60 circle. I passed the 62 mark in January. Started MFP on December 26 and have done well so far. I have adjusted my
goal twice already dropping it a bit each time. Not too far from goal currently and feel much better about myself.
Have not done heavy lifting but kept with light cardio and walking ( mostly walking the dogs).

Hi Manderson27! Welcome back, and don't worry- you totally got this, you can do it! I'm glad to hear that you are feeling better and getting back on track! God bless!

In answer to your question: I have lost a 117 pounds and counting. Here's my story:

Once upon a time, I was morbidly obese and weighed in at a whopping 355 pounds. It was March of 2016, and I was down to my last pair of jeans which had just ripped. I headed into a plus size clothing store called Avenue because their clothes are fabulous and up until now, they're the only store that fits me. Anway, I went for my usual size 22 jeans only to discover they did not fit... at all!!! Okay, size 24 you are up... or not !!!! The size 24 jeans were INCREDIBLY tight, as in maybe suck in my stomach, a little oil, and I can zipper up! I probably accurately fit a size 26, but I just couldn't do it because that would place me in the "super plus size" section of the store (26-32). I just couldn't believe it, I had gotten to the point where not even the special plus size store clothes were fitting me! Something had to change, and it had to be me.

Things had really gotten out of hand: I was tired all the time, no energy, sick ALL THE TIME- everything that came my way, I got it. I would get the flu and put it in my phone calendar that it would arrive again in six months and like clockwork, there it was again. To quote Ozzy Osbourne, I was "sick and tired of being sick and tired". I just couldn't do it anymore, the time had come: something had to be done about all this.

So I took the size 24 jeans home determined to make them fit and starting that night, I began to make some changes. First thing to go was soda since that was the worst of my many bad habits. I went through two 12-packs of soda a week, so I gave myself a "microchallenge" for the week: each night at dinner, I had to substitute soda with a healthier alternative (milk, juice, water, seltzer or homemade unsweetened iced tea). It worked like a charm! I ended up doing this well beyond the first week and soon after found the headaches went away, the bloating went down and my sugar cravings were disappearing! Next thing to go was fast food. I either made a healthy dinner at home (which I found more satisfying) or if I really wanted a burger, I found a healthier version of it (like a turkey, chicken or bison burger), and I had to have a veggie with it. So long, fast food! I can't even stand the smell of it anymore, it makes me want to puke.

Next thing was to get moving, but I was so afraid to exercise because I feared people judging me, the big fat girl. "I'm too big". "People will make fun of me". "people will judge me". "I can't even make it up a flight of stairs without wanting to pass out". "How am I going to do this?! What if?!" All these fears and doubts circled in my head. Then I read this article online about how Mick Jagger- a 70-something year old rockstar- eats super healthy and has this insane workout regimen. He works with a trainer, does swimming, jogging, kickboxing, resistance/strength training... just to name a few!!! Well, s***! If a 70 year old rockstar could do all that normal stuff, then I just ran out of excuses! (That counts as cardio, right?!) But where to start... that's when my friend Melissa, who takes yoga classes at the library where I work, gave me the idea- do a short beginner yoga video from YouTube for a few days in the week in the privacy of my own home. "A few days" became everyday. I loved it. I still do that same yoga routine before I workout; it helps me to stretch, calm and focus. Yoga turned into "it's a nice day, I'm going to walk outside around the block tonight", which turned into long walks at the local parks, which turned into joining a gym. Now I go every single day, and I love it. It's a celebration of what my body can do.

In two years, I went from a morbidly obese couch potato to a loud, proud, health-crazed, gym rat. This has been the best decision of my life, best thing I ever did for myself. I feel like I have my life back and am in control. I feel like I can do anything. I turned my life around. i still got another 80 pounds to go, but I'll get there. I want to get to the middle of my normal weight range (about 160 pounds). I will achieve my goal!!!

From age 65 (2013) I started WW @ 376#
Today 3/29/18 O made my Goal Weight 184! Today I weighed 182. Age 70 less than my HS football weight!