New to MFP and really hoping to live a healthier life

HI,
1st - CONGRATS on the weight you've removed from your body already - I bet you feel AMAZING!

I've found alot of inspiration from www.bodybuilding.com. Alot of people are afraid of the concept or bodybuilding, but I've learned so much about working out and eating clean from researching the IFBB Bikini Competitions and I've actually set competing as a long term goal - 1 year from now! You should check it out... many of the girls on the front of the magazines are competitors (not the big, bulky, scary bodybuilder chicks; but the attractive females that those of us in our mid20's would love to look like).

I am a sweet lover myself and have had to find ways to get around my temptations... I typically do a low carb diet with carb cycling (started after researching the Bikini Competitions after loosing alot of weight on weight watchers, gaining some back and becoming tired of yo-yoing). Carb cycling with counting my calories has not been easy, but with this app, it's totally do-able! Also, I have been working in a trail mix with chocolate or dried fruit or both (weight it with my pocket scale to watch portion size) and I work in a protein shake at least three to five days per week- this really helps manage those cravings (sweets can be good for you too - who would've thought?!?! I actually just bought a desert protein shake made by BSN that I'll have about a 1/2 hour after dinner blended into some yummy concoction of banana, Better'n'peanutbutter, almond milk or strawberries and water... yum.

My mom and I do this app together... let me know if you're interested in keeping in touch.

- Pamela