New Year, New You: Week 1

Diversity is certainly the name of the game in this group! This is my first MFP challenge. I just joined a little over two weeks ago. I had to get some extra guidance from Gretchen to get to the spreadsheet. Before I opened it I was a bit intimidated about putting in my goal weight. Looking at some of the profile pictures, I thought "Some of these women will probably laugh when they see my weight. Some of them look like they only have 15-20 pounds to lose."

Boy, was I surprised! We certainly run the spectrum in terms of our initial weigh-in. The lowest 8% to lose as of the 90th person being entered is just over 10 pounds. Some people have a lot more, including me. I thought it was interesting that another person and I have the same starting weight and same 8% goal weight, but the actual 8% numbers are 3/10s of a point different. LOL!

For me, the numbers game can be dangerous in some ways. I've read about how we should throw away our scales and just rely on the fit of our clothes, etc. I've spent too much of my life judging myself by the number of pounds I weighed. Now I know that being overweight is NOT a character defect! And, the best way for me to lose weight is to do it lovingly.

Before I go, let me share a book that has definitely helped inspire me to find myfitnesspal.com after I got my new Droid phone. It's called "The Self-Compassion Diet," by Jean Fain. Google that and you can read some of the reviews. I read it twice and have taken a few of the techniques to "sculpt" my current plan. The idea that she stressed that most moved me in the MFP direction was the idea of getting support. I've been involved in 12-step recovery for a long time. (Feel free to ask me about it). And I quit smoking 8 months ago by participating in an online voice-chat group of Nicotine Anonymous. But Overeaters Anonymous, which I tried a few years ago, just wasn't right for me. I think it's because for me it's hard to do multiple 12-step groups. Right now I actively participate in two, and that's enough! (By the way, I think OA is a terrific program.)

Anyway, I know I cannot do this alone. I do believe in the spiritual principles of recovery and the importance of having a Higher Power to make this journey. But what's every bit as important for me is having LIKEMINDED PEOPLE WHO SHARE THE JOURNEY! That means YOU! I need to share your ups and downs.

I guess I forgot to mention that the comment on my MFP Mobile home page that reads"Diet with friends to lose up to 3X more" was the primary motivator for getting involved in this online community! I don't have any face-to-face friends that I'd want to do this with, so here I am with you and this great challenge.

Apologies for taking up so much space, but sometimes when I get started writing it's hard to stop. Thanks for letting me share.

Beth

hello everyone just weighed in ive lost 1.25#s this week i wi on thurs nocs i drank my water this week and worked out ive got to tune it up the working out b cuz im not gonna reach my goal weight of 30 #s by new years if i keep this up. so i need 2 do much better, but i didnt gain so thats a plus....im so sick of being fat...n unhealthy im addicted to mfp i havent even been on fb n that saying something.. did a last chance workout this am...did 90 minutes on the treadmill at gym on 7% incline n burnt 650 calories didnt wi until 5pm...well almost bed time ....good luck in reachn ur goals