Hello all -

I'm a 58 y.o. dude and long time MFP user and forum lurker. Key stats: 6'4", 185lbs. (plus or minus three lbs) I am an avid runner and now weight lifter. I got very serious with my nutrition and fitness five years ago after an intense work project took over my life for a year. It was CRAZY how quickly I lost fitness and packed on the pounds. An unflattering glimpse in a full length mirror was the kick in the a** I needed to set me down a healthier path. Managing my nutrition by logging and tracking was key for me to get to a comfortable weight. Strength training helped me transform from skinny fat to where I am not embarrassed to take my shirt off at the beach.

After 5 years, I continue to track my nutrition (especially protein consumption). I am also relentlessly consistent with my workouts, recovery, and sleep schedule.

I'm happy to share more about what worked for me and my experiences if anyone feels it may be helpful to their journey.

OK. I’ll bite.

I started MFP in 2018, when I was 56, at 222+, size 20-22W, and at least 25 years of obesity under my belt. (See what I did there?!)

I am currently holding at a size 4 for the past three years.

I went from zero exercise(unless you count channel flipping, crochet, page turning and snack fetching) to running, lots of walking, cardio and HIIT type classes, bike (indoors and out), work with a trainer, aquafit, and I began weightlifting to help build upper body strength for my real love, which is power yoga.

You don’t have to exercise as much as me, but movement is now the joy of my life, so I recommend finding some way to experience that joy.

I eat 2200 calories a day, which is actually less than normal right now because I’m in loss mode temporarily, following several stressful months overseas. I’ll be the very first to admit: me+bakeries=weakness.

It’s possible to lose weight eating anything you want but……I firmly believe weighing, logging and respecting my calorie goal got and kept me here. If logging and weighing are “too much trouble”, we are not going to be a good fit.

Even on my worst days over yonder, I faithfully recorded every croissant, seedy roll, tart, cake, quark ball, marzipan lebkuchen slice
and laugenecke.

I experiment a lot with ways to reduce calories in foods I love and have been pretty successful. It’s possible to be creative and still have pancakes every morning and homemade ice cream every night, with lasagna, Philly steak sandwiches, steak & potato, and more in between.

I also believe, if you think you can’t do it, you’re probably right. But if you think you can, the world is your oyster. My profile pic is me doing a headstand. 4-Year-Ago me would have laughed loudly, hurt and obnoxiously, in your face at the very suggestion.

I would work best with an older lady, who is willing to try her hardest. Your diary needs to be open and you need to be unfazed at someone looking at it and making suggestions. Falling off the wagon for a day or two is Ok and no cause for guilt. My own diary shows same. We are but human. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Most of all, I can be salty, especially with whiners. Consider yourself warned. 😬

Send me a friend request and after I friend you send me a message. Do not send the message with your request!!! That function is temporaries disabled due to an onslaught of pornbot messages in the last year or so. I cannot read any message you send until after I’ve actually accepted your friend request. You can friend someone by clicking their profile pic and then clicking their user ID until you get to the request page. Again, any message you type on the initial request goes into the ether never to be seen or read

Rather than using a shotgun approach and seeking a mentee, I went over there and made another post saying I'm still available and to please send ME a friend request. I know at least one of the folks on the mentee list has closed his account because he sent me a request well before I signed up to be a mentor. He was pretty active for a week or so, then he closed his account. I have no idea how many others over there have or have already given up. New years thing you know.

I gave everyone a hurrah for sticking to it and put it on them to initiate contact. My feeling here is that if someone can't be bothered to reply to an offer to be a mentor, they won't be taking much effort to be mentored.

I'm still curious if anyone has reached out successfully or been contacted by someone seeking a mentor. I know staff has no way to monitor it, so the only way I'll know is if someone says something.

Anyone?

I would like to be a mentor! My names is Charles and I have been using the MFP for about 2 years now. I have posted in the community forums *1year testimonials/transformations* if you would like to check that out and find out more about myself. Looking to help mentor and guide anyone interested in starting or keeping up with their fitness journeys. We can all use support and motivation so feel free to add me or message if this is something you would like.