Hello Shape Shifters and welcome to our new members! I hope you are all doing well.
I am one of the captains of the team together with Jessica. We take care of all the data such as your weigh ins and the steps. If you have any questions, let us know! I joined this team in August 2021 and I have found it a very valuable tool on my weight loss journey.
There are a lot of things being offered here; there is the step challenge, the habit tracker, the weekly challenges, your personal weigh in and of course the Shape Shifter group chat itself. The more you engage with the group, the more you will get out of it.
Don't hesistate to reach out when you are having a hard time, chances are you aren't the only one and everyone here is kind and supportive. I often see people feel bad about posting a gain, please don't! We are all aware that weight loss isn't linear. Sometimes the scale just does what it wants, even when you do everything right. So post it, shrug it off and keep going. As long as you put in the work, the results will come, promise. Remember that one day of overeating does not erase any progress!
I wish everyone a great April with lots of victories, big and small!

Hello Shape Shifters and welcome to all the new members! I’m Patrice, and I’ve been a part of the F2F challenge since June 2021.

I live in the USA, just outside Washington, DC, in a fun, supportive, close-knit neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia. My husband and I both grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, in an area of the city where neighbors also valued a strong connection to one another I’ve always been actively engaged in community events and civic life and it’s been so rewarding to watch my sons and their friends grow and learn together here. We have two adult children who live in apartments near their university campuses. Our older son (23) is in Boston and his younger brother (22) is in South Carolina.

I achieved my goal weight of 125 in September 2021 and maintained my weight within the target range I set (between 120-130) until November 24, 2022. That day, I weighed-in at 130.5. Since then, I’ve gained almost a pound each month so I now have about 15 pounds to lose. My weight gradually creeps up over time so I need to find a sustainable way to cut about 150-200 calories out of my diet. Because I’m short (a little under 5’4 inches tall or ~163 centimeters), I can’t fit a lot of calories into my daily target, and need to change the macronutrient balance. I’d like to eat more protein and fewer carbs and fat. ‘Knowing’ is easier than ‘doing’ though —

So, I’m working to build new habits that improve my nutrition, daily activity level (exercise and everyday movement), and overall health — such as balance, strength, and social-emotional wellbeing. There are other responsibilities and goals that are absorbing the time, effort, and focus needed to improve my health.For example, I travel to Boston regularly to help care for some aging relatives who are struggling with dementia and other health difficulties that complicate daily living. I also have other relatives who are grieving, dealing with mental health challenges, or both. My business is at a crossroads and I need to put more attention into client development while I’m also trying to change the service delivery structure so I can manage my time better. I need to create a more consistent schedule so I can carve out more time for the caregiving in Boston.

For fun, I play soccer in an adult co-Ed league and enjoy rowing on the nearby Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. We can’t row on the water during the winter but our spring season starts in April so I’m looking forward to getting in the 8-person ‘sweep’ crew boat (with a coxswain leading us) and an individual sculling shell soon! I’m looking into the possibility of signing up for a summer session at the Boston Community Rowing center so I can get my older relatives set up with the additional care they need.

I’ll turn 58 this year so it’s a bit difficult to balance the needs of my adult sons - who are on the cusp of independence - while supporting my father-in-law, mother, uncles, and great-aunt as they age with as much dignity and independence as possible — AND give enough energy to my business and husband so we have our own personal and financial foundation in place! So, the social and emotional benefits of my rowing, soccer, and local community are essential to my wellbeing; and my sister and several lifelong friends in Boston are my lifeline.

This group really supports me as I try to improve my health and fitness so thank you for the encouragement and accountability, Shape Shifters! I appreciate you and look forward to getting to know everyone a little better as we move into a new month. For me, spring is a time of renewal and I can’t wait to see what April 2024 brings. In January, @LauriWrobo encouraged us to choose a word for the new year. Mine is ‘flourish’ so I think April is a great time to revisit that word. Go Shape Shifters!

P.S. Sorry for the long introduction!

@jessicakrall8 Hi, I think I can safely say I reached my goal. I’ve lost 110 pounds total!!😮
So how do I determine my “goal zone”? Thanks.

Hello Shape Shifters. Time for another intro! I would love to see more introductions, so please share if you want to tell us something about yourself.
My name is Laura, I am 36 and I live with my cat Tinus in a small village in the Netherlands. I got really lucky with the house I rent and I live very close to a national park with a second one 30 minutes biking away. I enjoy walking, taking photographs of nature (birds are my favorite), reading fantasy books, drinking obscene amounts of tea, singing, postcrossing, video games and jigsaw puzzles. I am a pretty visual person and I like sharing pictures in the group.
I struggle with some health problems that make weight loss and life in general a little challenging, but I try my best! March was decent, except for the last 9 days of it when my food was out of control. I know this will happen every now and then, but I need to be better at getting back on track sooner. The longer off plan I go, the harder it is to claw my way back. I am pretty positive about my weight loss journey overall though and I am looking forward to making April a healthy month. Good luck everyone

Since we’re doing introductions…
Hi everyone, my name is Nancy. I’m a native New Yorker, then lived in Missouri for 20 years, and now living in Aventura (a suburb of Miami, Florida). I’m a retired high school English teacher, and now teach Jazzercise and Zumba. I’ve lost 110 pounds with the help of a GLP1, which, in my honest opinion, has saved my life. Menopause hit hard. Very hard. Covid didn’t help either, and at the same time, I had a horrible allergic reaction to a statin that left me almost paralyzed for a year. So the weight piled on. Now, I’m truly living my best life, exercising daily, learning Spanish (a MUST in Miami), and returning to school to finish my Master’s in English literature. My husband and I have lived in Florida for 6 months, and it has truly changed our lives for the better. My daughter is graduating from Indiana University in May and has decided to reside in Florida as well, which makes my heart happy. I’m excited to see what this next chapter of life has in store for me. I love being part of this group, and have been inspired by so many of you!!

Happy Easter to all existing Shape Shifters & the new members who celebrate.Spring is my favourite time of year.I love blossom & seeing all the flowers & plants come alive.I always feel more motivated to walk in nature & exercise more.I look forward to the lighter evenings as the clocks went back today.

This is my little Easter Bunny he has lived in my flower pot for 30 years 😀 Every Easter he has a wash & a new 🎀 ribbon.