Meg's Diary
I am 56, live in northwestern lower Michigan. Traverse City area for those familiar. I work in the non-profit sector. In the office in TC 2 to 3 days a week, WFH the rest. Married for almost 26 years, no kids but three pups. The pups are big, all over 100 pounds, and getting older.
I may be today in a different spot than many of you. But I haven't always been here. I lost significant weight (70 ish pounds) in my early-to-mid 20s, too much TBH. Got to a steady weight and stayed there until early onset menopause at 44. Hence my screen name. Found MFP then and got it off. Until early 2023.
Quit smoking after 37 years in January. That, coupled with winter in Michigan, led to weight gain. About 20 pounds. So I came back. Had some great results in first six months, but it was because I got suckered into one of those "do this and...you'll be magically thinner forever" situations that wasn't sustainable and I knew better. Oh well, at least the exercise portion is good.
Back to the basics I went, really reading the forums, paying attention to the quality of what I was eating, etc. Got almost to goal in May 2024 and went on a 25th anniversary trip to Belize. Ate one too many breakfast fry jacks - soooo delicious - and had way too much alcohol. Then it's summer here, friends and family visiting and bad habits stayed. About 10 pounds up from May. Come September, it was time to get serious again.
I bought a food scale finally. This has been a game changer for me and very eye opening. I am focusing on getting enough protein, fiber and
calcium; eating mainly whole foods; cutting down alcohol;my life. EVERYTHING; and intentional movement 5 to 6 days a week. Everything I am doing now needs to be what I will commit to doing for the rest of my life.
Getting closer to goal, only about 2 pounds to go. My goals will be all about movement. You probably won't see me post much about weight. Though happy to provide it if your curious. Here to cheer you all on, continue to be inspired by you, and help support where i can.
My March goals are:
Walk 300,000 steps
Record 20 exercise activities over 20 minutes on my Garmin
Find an outside 5k path when the snow/ice are gone and start training for a July race with my nieces.
Wow, that got long. Best of luck to all of us!
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Yay! I love learning about people. We may all be in different situations, lead different lives, but we are all here!
I have been cutting a lot of food dyes/chemicals/ artificial EVERYTHING! Out of my family’s diet, it’s hard when the food I grew up on was cheap & not great quality because my parents didn’t know any better.
Thanks for sharing & I wish you all the best!1 -
Thank you for mustering up the courage to try again. That means a lot to me. It is also nice to have someone at a different part of their weight-loss journey. You are truly inspiring. And three fur babies are delightful. I'm not a pet person. My boyfriend wants a dog but at the place we are renting it just isn't feasible. They allow them but I would prefer having an electric wheel chair so I can walk it while he isn't here. Plus he wants a husky. I'm not sure he realizes how much exercise those need and you can't just let them go like my mom did with my American bulldog.
anyways, seeing your activity is just as inspiring to me as reporting numbers so THANK YOU
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I'm originally from lower MI and we used to visit Traverse City a lot! I'm glad you feel comfortable enough here to share and so we can support you too! Everyone's goals are different and no need to share anything you don't want to.0
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Thanks for sharing your story, it is inspiring! (I have about 70 pounds to lose). And, I’m working on mustering up the courage to start a blog/thread. I think it would be helpful to have a spot to record my ups and downs, accomplishments and struggles, or whatever you want to call it/them. I have a few fur babies too, and I thought I had my hands full, lol, mine weigh 15 pounds but think they weigh 100, 😂
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Thanks all for your kind words and support. I think this group is pretty awesome and glad to be part of it.
First few days of March going fairly well. It helps that we had a few sunny days. Got several great indoor walks in. So hit my step goals 2/3 days. Third day I was over 10k, so super close. Took a short walk outside yesterday and think after this week I'll be able to move a chunk of my walking outside. Roads should be ice free by then and snow is melting enough that there is room to get off the road with traffic.1 -
I love how 'ice free' is your determination of acceptable outside conditions and I'm like 'once it hits 80 degrees' maybe I'll convince the boyfriend to go picnic at a riverside park. 😁I would never survive in Canada.
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Lol, To Tame A Fox. In Michigan, we are experiencing what we call "fake spring." So it has been sunny and in the 40s. Saw 46 driving home from my office. And...3 hours later it is 28 and supposed to snow. We like to say it isn't bad weather, it is bad gear. Looks like I'll be able to wear my new coat this season after all. I only buy great gear on sale at the end of the season. Cuz that's when I can afford it.
So yep, no ice on the road means o can walk outside.
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I also buy my gear using end of season sales. I’ve gotten some great items that way, and they last and last, and last, which I love. I’m in Oregon and we’re getting a bit of the fake spring here too. My daffodils are rising to the occasion, I just hope we don’t get a big freeze now. We certainly don’t have weather anything like you in Michigan though. I hope you get lots of ice free days this week!
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@pamelaory Oregon is beautiful! Your comment made me go check to see where my daffodils are, but snow covered. Not sure that will be much longer.
Still lots of pressures with work. I am trying to go back to what I can and cannot control to help, but it is tough. We just learned of the cancelation of a grant that provided local, nutritious foods in pantries and emergency meal sites. Slashed current funding in half, just as local farmers are planning for the growing season. That one really hurts.
Had more beers than I should have this week. But stayed in calorie range and worked out a lot and hard. Rage exercise is what I am calling it, lol. Down half a pound, which was the goal.
Hubby and I have decided against taking a big spring trip this year. Going to save to go on a longer, bucket list trip next year. Need to start working on my Spanish.
Looks like spring really is here. We'll still get more snow flurries I am sure. It us supposed to be sunny and 60 on Friday. Super excited for that.
Going to have another crazy work week. Lots of events and late nights. Going to focus on working my plan, managing my stress and eating for health.
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Hugs... sometimes i rage chop veggies!! lol.
Huge Congrats on quitting smoking.... i also gained when i quit, but seems appetite returned back to usual after awhile. Think the hardest part was unwinding the cigarettes from so many activities and replacing them with other positive (non-food) things.
I hadn't realized but i had developed a 'have a smoke and then I will do _____ whatever thing' narrative... Same with some snacking like making a bowl of popcorn when we sat down to pay bills, after we had a smoke of course! LOL
Anyway, sounds like you are well on your way with it and that's a way cool thing. Yay U!
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