Hi,

My name is Michael. I live in Dallas TX. I'm an Industrial Engineer by trade and work for a medical services company (urgent care centers). In general, I observe our processes in action and try to identify more efficient ways of delivery. Boring.. well, sometimes. I look at it this way - I get paid for watching other people work and finding a better way to do it. :-)

I was at my ideal weight in May 2009 and suffered a few injuries between then and Oct 2010 - burns from cooking oil on my legs, a sprained back, a broken wrist and torn rotator cuff/torn bicep in a treadmill accident (it's pretty embarrassing so I won't go there - suffice it to say, I usually walk/run on surfaces that don't move now) :-)

Between not exercising as I was used to and poor eating/drinking habits I found myself 60+ pounds over my ideal weight. I had surgery Aug 2011 to remedy the shoulder injury and now am well on my way on the journey back to where I want to be - 188lbs.

Start 8/2011 - 264
Dec 3rd - 237
Today - 235

While each of us achieves individual results, this is a team sport - motivation and encouragement from others spurs us on to success. Look forward to encouraging and receiving encouragement from y'all. Have a GREAT day!

Happy Holidays,
MJ

Hey! my name is Nicole and I just came across this group.......where did the time go?!? 43 already????????

I am not married, but with the best man I could ask for, 12 years and counting! I have 3 boys (young men if you will )...22, 20 and 18. My oldest just graduated with his bachelors degree, middle son is a junior in college and the youngest graduated high school June 2012.

I was always 'skinny fat' (I am 5'8" and USE to weigh 110) with no body tone, etc etc etc......then about 6 years or so ago, I was suddenly a size 12! I swear it creaped up on me over night :sad:

Anyways, I am down to a size 10, but still have the 'beer belly' and am still out of shape. My goal is to be at least 10 pounds lighter by June 2012, so that would be a weight of about 143ish......and I need to learn to just get my *kitten* to the gym at least 4-5 times per week. NO excuses, just plain LAZY!! I need motivation!!

Thanks for reading, please add me as a freind if you like, good luck all!

My story begins December 4, 2004. It was as a regular work day. All of a sudden I "flipped out". I was taken to a mental hospital for observation of my behavior. I was not allowed to connect with my family or friends. After three days, I was released and given instructions to enroll in a clinic to continue treatment. I'm going on my 7th year at Lake Regional Mental Health, and still in a plan of recovery. I take 4 medications every day, twice a day. I had tried many weight loss diets and such. In February 2011, I went to Austin, Texas to assist my best friend to recover from gastric bypass surgery. When I returned home, I discussed my options with my doctor about weight loss surgery. My doctor explained that my insurance (Medicare) would not pay for it unless I was in a program for at least 6 months. So, on March 8, 2011, I went to my first Weight Watchers meeting. Wow, what a revelation!
Weight Watchers works! I have been in the program (lifestyle change) for 6 months. I have lost 25 pounds. My doctor says we can get the ball rolling on the surgery. I had forgotten all about wanting it done. I feel that today, I don't want to have the procedure anymore. I want to continue to succeed in Weight Watchers. On the Dr. Oz show, I found out about the challenge he has with a healthy nationwide change. My weight watcher leader told us all about it. I decided to meet the challenge. I can and will do my very best to suceed.
Today, I'm still on meds for my mental status, I'm diligent in WW, and now I have a challenge from Dr. Oz. I think when I have my final weigh-in I will be physically, mentally, and emotionally in a healthier status. I can't wait to become a healthy me. I have family and friends that are in support of what I decided on September 29, 2011.
I will be updating everyone on my own experience in this endeavor. Please feel free to make any comments or advise. I WILL SUCCEED!!!

I'm 43 years old, married for 18 years, I have 3 sons, 17,14 and 10. I saw a friend using this app back in April. She told me all about it, and next day I logged onto the website and loaded the app on my phone. I fell off the wagon the end of May, but as of today I am on the plan for a solid 145 days!! I was a size 10 when I started this journey and yesterday I discovered I can fit in to a size 4!! The jeans are a little snug, but I am not done yet! I am hoping to make my goal by my birthday in January! 12lbs to go!! Come closer to Christmas I will post before and after photos! I came across a photo taken of me last December, and cannot believe the difference! A few more weeks and I will add them to my profile!

My before and after photos were posted and is now my profile picture, but I'm so proud of them I will put them here too!

Hi

I’m Gareth, 46. I have two children a son aged 18 and a daughter aged 7. I was always quite active in my teens and early twenties before breaking my ankle when I was 25. I stopped exercising for about five years before taking up Karate. I did that for 5 years before breaking my Femur in two places and ended up having it pinned. I then went another 4 years with minimal exercise and I realised that my waist was expanding far quicker than my pregnant partner!

I dropped from 84kg to 70 kg within a few months using an Excel spreadsheet to track my food and have trained five or six times a week since.

I weight train three times a week (I change routines about every 12 weeks) and cycle my cardio between, Circuits, Kettlebells, Spinning, Mountain Biking and Running depending on whether I have a Run or Duathlon coming up.

I used another calorie tracking site that frustrated the bejaysus out of me before being told about MFP. This is by far the best site of it’s kind that I have found.

Hi Fabulous and 40,

I'm a 42 year old Pop Warner football coach. I always do so well until football season starts, then I loose my weight loss momentum and concentrate on all things football. I'm just looking for a few on-line friends to give a little support especially as I enter the 2012 football season.

I have 13 and 11 year old boys and one beatiful wife that I've been married to for 16 years. I have to do this for them. Thanks Guys!

Sonsiadore2

I'd like to be 40 and fabulous...but right now I'm just 46 and fat. Glad to find others in my age range to be friends with on here!

I am a married (21 years to my high school sweetheart) mom to 4 boys--ages 19, 16, 13, & 8. We also have 2 male dogs so I am overpowered by testosterone around my house. I have been a SAHM since my 3rd was born so for around 13 1/2 years and just recently got a full time job working for a CPA. A lot of sitting mixed in with some walking back and forth between offices=not much exercise.

I've struggled with my weight forever but was always just 10 or 15 pounds over what I should be. With each birth though, I seemed to add another 5 pounds so here I am....needing to lose 50+ pounds. I have tried Weight Watcher's and was fairly successful on South Beach but ended up gaining it all back plus 20 pounds. Although I seem to be happy, my weight affects every single part of my life. The more I gain, the more I want to stay home. I look in my closet and want to cry since 98% of the clothing in there don't fit. I'm not really sure why I continue to make poor eating choices but I'm sure if I dug deep enough, it is definitely related to an enormous amount of stress in my life. I try to hide it and act happy but inside, I am just really sad and disappointed in myself that I can't get this one part of my life under control. So here I am, trying to get this one thing under control.

I started logging my foods on here one Friday and I have really been loving it. I am so inspired by seeing everyone's successes and look forward to sharing my success in 2012. It is great to meet some people my age on here since we have a lot in common and I look forward to getting to know you all better. Feel free to friend me if you can relate.....

Hello! My name is Donna. I will turn 44 this month and I'm about 50 pounds overweight for my height. I recently joined MFP and have been loving the site. As most I have struggled with the weight most of my life. The weight really added up after having my boys and continued to climb when I went to work in the food industry for 15 years in a stressful management position. I became a stress/boredom eater and having good food around you while you work made it more stressful. I love to bake and that also led to weight gain. I enjoy being outside & participating in outdoor activites-especially tennis but living in Ohio the weather can be really depressing. I'm married to a helicopter pilot and have 2 boys (16 years old & 12).

Almost 2 years ago my husband was offered a very good job working oversea. We currently live in Saudi Arabia. We live on a company compound right on the Persian Gulf which provides a beautiful beach and great weather almost year round. I have settled into living in Saudi Arabia and have decided I have been given the opportunity to give myself some much need "me" time to focus on become healthier. I only work 4 hours a day now with NO stress and the weather and scenery provides a positive & energtic atmosphere.

I tried to follow other weight loss programs since moving to Saudi but found it to be difficult because the grocery stores do not have all the food option (low fat, fat free, Weight Watchers, South Beach, etc) we have in the U.S. I've been using MFP for almost two weeks and just love it.

I would love to have some friends to help support me on this new journey...
:flowerforyou: