My name is Cindy, I'm 57 and I've been a member of this group since 11/2018 (I joined MFP 10/2018). I have been overweight off and on since college. I have tried many diets (Jenny Craig, Nutri-system, Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, just plain old dieting, etc). I would take the weight off but it would eventually return. I was prompted to make a permanent change in my life after making a business trip last October. I was 273 lbs, the biggest I had ever been in my life. I had not flown in a plane since I was a child so I was already scared to death. That was compounded when I was seated next to a mean old woman who rudely asked to be seated in another seat because I was too big. I had to get a seat belt extender and I didn't even know what that was....it was a small plane and I barely fit through the aisles....it was the stuff of nightmares. This isn't mentioning the walking through Charlotte Douglas airport which seemed to be about a mile long. When we got to the destination it was a small coastal town where you had to walk everywhere. Some of my co-workers wouldn't wait for me so I ended up lagging way behind everyone else (one person kindly did wait on me). On the plane trip back, I decided that I would NEVER face that humiliation again so I made an appointment the next day to see a weight loss specialist. She recommended MFP and the rest is history. I still need to lose about 39 lbs but I feel sooooo much better. It's gotten a lot harder to lose weight but if I am only losing a couple of pounds a month that is ok.

One thing I told myself from the beginning is that this isn't a "diet". This is a lifestyle change. I completely changed how I eat. I went from fast food, high fat, high carb, processed sugar overload to a simple low carb, lean protein, high fiber diet. I try to walk 4 to 5 miles a day. This is my life now. The most important thing is that I journal every single day. It keeps me from going overboard on the days I'm really hungry. For the first time in my life I have found something that works and this is something that is permanent.

This is a great group of people here.....everyone is so supportive. Posting here has kept me going thru the tough times.

ABOUT THE CHALLENGES & REQUIRED WEIGHT POSTINGS

We are also going to be running (Optional) Mini-challenges again this month: Question of the Week (assuming I can remember to do that) and Daily Posts

First and foremost is that participation in these challenges is optional. It's up to you as to whether you want to try this. If you don't want to participate in these challenges, you don't have to, the choice is yours, but I would like to encourage you to participate as it seems to help keep us on track and thinking about our goals on a daily basis and it's encouraging to see other's successes and struggles so that we realize that we are not alone!!

The Daily Posts Challenge is based on another challenge on MFP called UAC (Ultimate Accountability Challenge). The way UAC works is that the aim is to follow 5 basic rules.

#1. Track EVERYTHING you eat that has calories.
#2. Stay inside your allocated daily budget.
#3. Try to do at least 20 minutes of activity a day (anything: walk, run, cycle, swim, gardening, housework, yoga, gym, etc.. As long as it gets you active and off the couch)
#4. 1 pass day permitted per week (went over calories, could not track, not enough exercise, intentional pass)
#5. Check in daily (tracking yes/no, calories yes/no, exercise yes/no).

****End of the week. those who have managed to keep to plan for 6 out of 7 days are recognized in the thread as being part of the weekly "Winners Circle".

A side note as there has been a bit of confusion for new members in the past, this is not the same as the official results, which are weight based, this is just another tool to help you reach your weight loss goals.

**REMEMBER**
You set your own daily budget.
You choose you own exercise and intensity (no step limit, no exercises you cannot or should not do, 20 mins of gardening counts as much as a 10 mile run, activity is activity, anything that gets you up and moving!).
Is not weight based (as weight fluctuates day by day).
Can continue beyond weight loss.

Daily check in keeps you in touch with those doing similar. Longer term weight management is hard to do on your own.

It also has frequent resets (as in a circle each week).

It works on an honor system. Being honest with yourself and others is a key to making things work. Remember, this is a judgement free zone, everyone has good days and bad days, but the way to get to the finish line is by being honest and when we have a bad day, picking ourselves up and carrying on the next day!

Consistency and new habits have been shown the only long term successful way to change weight. We all want the progress made here to last a lifetime.

Your posts should look like this:
Daily Post (Sunday/Date)

Track: Yes/no
Calories: Yes/no (were you under)
Exercise: Yes/no (what type and how long)
Goals/Day/Comments: (Tell us a brief description about your how your day went or your goals for the day)

The Question of the Week Challenge is a fun participation booster and we will be using it sometimes just as fun and sometimes it can help to foster new ideas for others as we all are different and have different experiences so sharing ideas can help someone else with motivation of freshening up their routine even!! Keep on the lookout for these questions.

Please post your weight on your scheduled weigh in day, as if you miss weigh-ins, you may be eliminated from the challenge and we don't want to see that happen!!

Your posts should look like this:
Username:
Week: December Week 1
PW =(previous weight)
CW=(current weight)

Please, please setup your posts in that format as it really makes it much easier for us to track your progress for the challenges and the weight loss!!

We'd like to help you be as successful as possible and if we can help in any way, please let us know. Also, if you have any suggestions for the team or fun ideas to spice things up a bit, please feel free to share them, we look for new ways to help engagement and keep people motivated!!

We are committed to this group and to help where we can, and please let us know if we can help in any way!!

Once again Welcome to DECEMBER Challenge!👏🏾👏🏾🎉🎉🎊🎊

Your Captain Ashley (@AB0215) &;
Co-captain Gloria (@Gjaholy33)

SUNDAY weigh-in

PW: 167.8
CW: 166.7

I am headed in the right direction and determined

gjaholy33 wrote: »

WELCOME BACK TEAM SLIMSONS & NEWBIES JUST JOINING! WE'RE IN FOR ANOTHER AWESOME MONTH DURINGTHIS DECEMBER CHALLENGE! 👍🏾👍🏾

My name is Gloria @gjaholy33, once again I will be your Co-captain which means motivating and keeping track of your weight.

I am 40 years old and still trying to lose 200lbs.

So this past few weeks I've been stuck in the hospital and then Rehab but hoping to leave this week🤞🏾🤞🏾 I've been really digging through my issues these past few months with my psychologist. So there was time where I wasn't as efficient in responding to the teams post and I apologize and can only try to do better as things move along for me especially with this big move from New York to Charlotte, NC this month.

A little more about my history: I have always been obese since the age of 8 weighing 176lbs. Even with parents and doctors putting me on various diets as I child.

Just to encourage those who are struggling with staying on track I have been trying to get healthy since 2010 and it's a constant struggle but I've learn to set short attainable goals in order to succeed.

I always set goals for myself and this month my goals are:

Be more active in this group as I've been slacking due to my health issues.

Still trying to be more active and get out the bed more lose 10lbs!

Exercise 10-15 minutes every other day.

REMEMBER WE GOT THIS!💪🏽💪🏽
Best Wishes,
Glorious Gloria
Co-captain

Hey I moved from NY to NC 4 years ago. I love it here. You will too.
Hang in there. You are doing a fabulous job

Kin59vara wrote: »

SUNDAY weigh-in

PW: 167.8
CW: 166.7

I am headed in the right direction and determined

Nice loss!!!

Happy Sunday all. Woke up today feeling feeling very crappy. My throat has been bothering me on and off all week. Going to take it easy today. Hope you all have a fantastic day

Hi,
I’ve been having a huge problem with my weight for the last few months. I’m determined to turn over a new leaf. I joined a gym and hired a trainer, met with her today and I feel good. December 1st, a new beginning.

December Goals
Gym 4x week
Loose 10lbs
Max 1400 calories

Best to everyone!

Hello everyone! I am new here. My name is Mary and I am 62 years old. I am what people call a Snowbird! Minnesota in the summertime and Arizona during the winter. I have lost up to 70 pounds but have regained 10 pounds during a recomposition maintenance phase. I always have trouble during that time. I do much better with structure! That is why I need to join this group!! My preferred exercise is Russian kettle bell swings. I started out weightlifting but it is much easier to transport my kettle bell from state to state. In Arizona I like to hike the mountains and ride my eBike. When I am in the losing mode my preferred diet is keto. Otherwise calories in calories out. I would love to get a recipe for a bread alternative for the keto diet. I think I remember that Ashley is on that type of food program.

Can’t wait to get to know everybody!

I do have a question about posting our weight. I weighed in on Saturday and posted that as my starting weight. Do I need to re-post on here?

Saturday
Calories: over/under? Under
Water: over/under? Under
Steps : 10006
Exercise: -walking cleaning

Hi guys! I decided to join this group because I need some motivation. At my highest I have ever been and ready to lose the weight. I know it will take a few months but accountability and competition are great motivators!
I gained weight in 2015 then got pregnant 2016. Beginning of this year I had a work injury and gained weight from meds and stress.

I am turning 40 next year and ready to not hid behind my kids for pictures lol! My Goal this week is I want to work out 3 times a week and 10000 steps a day. I would like to limit my sweets to one cheat day a week.

Good luck to all of you and I would love to support all of you!

Daily check in: Sunday

Track: yes
Calories: under
Exercise: None

I'm working tonight and wasn't prepared so instead of cycling, I'm trying to nap. I'm too old to be pulling 24 ER hour shifts with no sleep.