From 180 to 171 over the past 9 weeks, I'm not new at this (not water weight)

Nine weeks ago I weighed in at 180.3. On Saturday it was 170.6!! BYE BYE 9 LBS!! Happily so!! It's been a long haul. I started at 288 lbs. , now with 118 lbs. gone I can move around easier. But, it's not been easy! If it were easy, there'd be no overweight people.

My journey actually began back in August of 2010. Please do not let that discourage you, if on the other hand, you've tried this before and you aren't sure if it really can be, the first step you are taking now, you are HERE!! WTG!!!

Over these 12 years (WOW! I can't believe it's been this long on many levels!) I had at first deprived myself of foods I really enjoy. In turn I went down to 173, but with a foot injury my weight went up to 212. I learned thanks to others, I could not cut out all of the foods I loved. A little bit later, again a foot injury, where for 18 months we fought to save my big toe on my left foot, I was not at all allowed to exercise during that time, I again went from 174 back up to 210 that time. It could not be saved. I celebrated when they took it , I KNEW I could walk easily enough and happily I DO! Well fast forward, (All in all I've broken my foot during this time 5 or 6 times, often just walking), have had 26 foot surgeries, and I'm now dealing with another foot infection (lead to a week hospitalization) but, now my thinking is so much different. I CAN thanks to my Dr. do a very limited amount of exercise (no weight bearing as of right now that can change soon). Over the past 9 weeks I've not been able to do my normal walking since week 3, hence the past 6 weeks has not been my normal. So HOW AM I LOSING weight?

I belong to the 5% Challenge, THANKS to the LTGL (Living The Good Life - AKA Healthy Habits) I've learned to listen to my body. When hungry eat, but NOT overeat, I've learned so many coping skills for the emotions that we all have (AND so many more do I experience when not being able to my normal routine) along with being GRATEFUL for what I CAN do, not looking at the "I CAN'T" Do. This is huge for me. We also exercise at our current level which helps our team/group. We ask if you have health issues go at the pace you need to, every member is very valued.

BE GUARANTEED I NEED to continue my journey, I am also in Congestive Heart Failure, thankfully I am stage 1 though I can't reverse this, I sure can keep it from progressing even faster. I write this post because so many of us have chronic health issues, others feel alone on this journey (I HAD a BFF who's so angry I've lost weight, we used to eat so much crap side by side, she's still at 260. We are not longer BFFs though I will talk to her), when we work together we have the support we need. We feel cared for, we are understood with the struggle as well as with the CELEBRATIONS we have. We become TRUE BELIEVERS WE CAN DO THIS!! YOU CAN DO THIS!!

Are you looking for what I've found? COME AND JOIN Us on the 2022 Summer 5% Challenge we are about to start soon. After you hit JOIN PLEASE look at the remaining 6 teams to see which one you'd enjoy, or ask for "Any team" you will never regret joining our group/team. We came over from Sparkpeople almost a year ago. TY TY TY MFP For accepting us, and helping us as we've made so many adjustments. Those of you on MFP have helped us to learn the site, helped us along the way, we want to THANK EVERY MEMBER for ALL YOU DO!! You ALL SPUR US ON!! Often many of you posted, we read so many posts, we still do. We've learned from you.

Here's the link to join us, please do remember to choose a team (if you are using a smart phone please verify your post was posted by refreshing the page. Sometimes the app can be a bit tricky, but many of us enjoy it)

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/143186-2022-summer-5-challenge-community