Hello! My name is Karla. I'm so excited for this group. I really need some accountability on my food. My biggest hurdle are my proportions. I eat pretty healthy most of the time it is my proportions that are out of control. LOL! I also am a beer lover and so is my husband. We made a commitment to each other a couple of weeks ago that we would slow down and partake only a couple times a month instead of 2 or 3 times a week. So far so good. I've noticed though, for myself, once I make a decision it's pretty easy to say no.

A little about me:
I am currently (as of 11/9/2020) 185.8 lbs
I am 53 years old and refuse to feel like it.
My height is 5'7 & 3/4" but I just tell everyone I'm 5'8"
I live in Oklahoma where fried food and comfort food is its own food group
I discovered how to love exercising about 8 years ago and have a pretty consistent routine. In 2019, I had a goal to do a 5k every month for the year and I completed it. It was VERY satisfying and I was extremely proud of myself. I don't like to exercise by myself but I trained and did several of the 5Ks alone.
Weight Goal #1 - 180
Weight Goal #2 - 170
Weight Goal #3 - 160
Final Goal - 150

I've never had a problem taking the weight off when I wanted to because I would just do the latest fad diet and it would come off. The problem has been keeping it off. I joined WW about 8 years ago and got to 160. I felt great. I was exercising about 5-6 times a week. I had tons of energy and looked fabulous in my clothes. I heard how great I looked all the time and then... I lost the vision for my final goal. I didn't think I needed to write down everything I was eating. I guessed on my proportions which kept increasing to bigger ones and eventually quit WW. If it wasn't for exercising I really feel that I would probably be 230-250 by now. I was 203 when I got married in 2011. I know the only way for me to take it off and keep it off is to write down what I put in my mouth. To be mindful of what I eat and to keep in front of me that it is not a diet it is my lifestyle. I have this mindset for my exercise I need the same mindset for eating.

Sorry for the rambling but I am excited. I believe my goals are obtainable. I just need the accountability and having people with the same goal of losing their goal weight before May 1st is awesome.

Look forward to hearing about everyone's goals, thoughts and advice.

Karla

Hi Karla and Camisha! 🌈🧚

I know the holidays will be a challenge. I'm glad we've got each other for accountability and motivation! ❤️🧡💛

I also got in the habit of massive portions! I actually haven't made my portions any smaller; I've just replaced some of the heavier foods with mounds of veggies. Still get lots of food and full belly but more reasonable calories.

Camisha~ Enjoy those holiday treats!! 🥧🍰 Just remember moderation 💫 Appreciate every bite! 🌈

I'm looking forward to May! We've got this chicas! 🔮🤸🤓

Hello everyone👋! Thank you for creating this group! It's so nice to see so many motivated people here! I love everyone's story/journey and I'm glad to be here with all of ya'll! A little about me: My name is Ms. C and I'm an unhealthy food addict! I'm 50 y.o.; 55-60 lbs. overweight, and determined to lose every bit of it by retraining my brain & body to eat healthy & exercise for the rest of my life! I've been using this app for 4 years. I've only used it a few days/weeks each year and then went back to my regular eating habits, which is one of the reasons why I lost no weight. This time IS different: I can't expain it, but I'm confident of it! I started 4 days ago and I'm radical with it this time, I've made decades of mistakes, but I've done a ton of research and this time I know what I should eat and how much of it, and what I shouldn't eat, I know what to keep track of and what's not important, and I know what my addictions and my excuses are. I'm an unhealthy food addict and my main addictions are common: (sugars/breads/chocolate), so this time I said my forever goodbyes to my very unhealthy addictions. I'm approaching my addition like this: If I was an alcoholic and wanted to get sober I wouldn't go in a bar or have a shot with my friends or have a cheat day where I only drink alcohol on that day, so knowing that I'm a food addict and I want to break my addictions, I'm not going to go to restaurants, etc, and I'm not going to have that chocolate bar or that cheat day. That part of my life is over and I couldn't be happier about it! This definitely isn't an approach for everyone, and none of this is meant to be advice, I'm just sharing my own approach and my own journey with ya'll. I'm ready for this and I'm so glad to be here in this support group! -35 by May 1st: We GOT this!!! 💪😁

Hello Everyone! I'm Alexzan a so happy to have found this group. Although I would love to loss 35# by May and will try, my realistic goal will be to loose 4 pounds a month.

Some info. about my weight journey. My entire life I have loved to eat. When I was a lot younger I was able to maintain a BMI within a normal range by recreational activities, exercises and skipping meals. I have always been a binge eater, just can't have one of something if it tastes good. Salty food are my downfall! Never really a sweet eater and generally skipped desserts but always had second helping of savory food items. (125# - 140#)
In my 40's is when my weight began to creep up. Less activity and no will power. Would have spurts of dieting and lose and re-gain weight. I would eat a bag of potato chips then starve the next day to compensate. I would try to make a deficit for overeating but as time went by I would give in and eat food anyway. When I taste something really good I just need to finish it all! My body just doesn't listen to portion control and the pounds kept piling on. (145# - 180#)
Over the ensuing years I have needed a hip replacement, have bad knees and severe back issues that now prevent me from doing much exercise to help take off the pounds. So I need to rely on managing my food intake to take off the pounds. Things didn't change for the long term and now I was at the highest weight I have ever been. I believe that I eat mindlessly when stressed out and food relaxes me. When stressed or anxious I am continually hungry and can't concentrate until I have my fill of food.
(June, 2019 - 237#)
It has been a very slow process. But began to take control of my food intake, very small changes. I have lost weight, hit plateaus, gained 5 pounds but realized I didn't want to re-gain again so got back on track.

(June, 2020 - 206#)
At the year mark I was really pumped to get into the "Onederland" status but it was tough and I achieved this for about a minute.

(August, 2020 - 199#) Gained 2 and hit a plateau. Decided to get serious about my portion control problem and started counting calories for accountability. Somehow writing it down I became more committed and noticed how many times I would snatch a spoonful or bite of food. Keeping track of calories, carbs and protein on my own became tedious so I checked out the internet for a calorie counter program. After checking a few out I came upon MFP and liked the community for common goals. Joined in October, 2020.

(November 7, 2020 - 191.1) My goal is to lose +/- 1 pound a week/ hopefully 5 pounds a month. My fear is the upcoming Holidays will be a challenge and really want to stay on track. Not over-eating, continuing to make wise choices with my food and learning to portion control my food. Being able to eat 2 potato chips to treat myself and not the entire bag! Since losing some of the weight I have started taking my dogs for short walks.

Would love to hear about your goals and journey.

sandee_shore (alexzan)

Female - 70 yrs. 5' 3"
(SW) 237# - June, 2019
(CW) 191.1#
(STG) 182# - December 25 (ShortTermGoal)
(GW) 150#
(UGW) 130# (UltimateGoalWeight)

@cthea21 if you set your profile picture, it should display throughout MFP. Go to Settings > Edit Profile. If it's not working that way, you may need to send a message to support.

Hi, I’m Gabi 48yo and on my way to lose the last 15lb. I do not fit the “35lb by May” criteria, but all the other parts of this challenge: determined to try harder and be consistent with my tracking and exercise.
A little bit of background: I carried extra weight after my last pregnancy (14 years ago), added and subtracted bigger and bigger#, many times, usually with fads diets. In January 2020 I was at 20lbs remaining and took a brake from weight loss. Surprisingly I stayed there and on August 1st restarted on MFP, this time the right way, and managed to drop 5lb in almost 4 months. Probably 6+ months are not enough for me to lose the 15lb but I need to push myself a little bit more and this group sounds exactly the way to get there.
I cook most of our meals (soups and stews), but also like to snack at night enough to be at maintenance or over calories. I walk my dog about 10,000 steps a day with very little else in terms of physical activities.
I’ll login every day and look forward for the accountability.