yes, you can do it (by 40+ mum)

So, several months ago, when i first thought 'its about time i did something about my weght', i minced around the internet and found mfp.

I am a 40 something mum of 2 teenagers. I have always been overweight/obese ( i had to lose over 40lb just to be overweight according to my BMI) - currently i am 0.5lb off being overweight

My intention was just to use the website to count calories and so i began this journey.

i gathered myself some friends....

i started to log food and cut my calories to 1200 (it seemed the right thing to do). I found it really hard to stick to the 1200 calories every day, then i notice lots of my 'friends' got extra calories with exercise. i thought i coulds do with a few extra calories so i started to go for 30 minute walks. this was the first exercise i had done for years.

I liked the estra calories. the weight was coming off slowly but shorly - 1 or 2lb a week.

i still found the 1200 calories difficult to stick to (even eating back my exercise calories) so i upped my calories to 1400 and it was loads easier, still the weight came off at the same rate!

i noticed several people talked about 30 day shred and C25K, so i brought the dvd and app. i tried the dvd - it was fine but i found the motivation to exercise on my own in the bedroom to a repetative dvd difficult.

Now C25K was a whole new step into bravery. it involved running outside, where i could be seen!

After several weeks of 'thinking about starting'! i finally gave it a go. i intended to do half a session (week 1 was 60 second run, 60 second walk repeated 8 times (i think)) but i waited till after dark, and gave it a go. i managed the whole thing but thought i would die!

I repeated week 1 for 2 weeks and then moved on to week 2, reluctantly. Again i nearly died doing the longer runs (90 seconds) - i think i did this week for 2 weeks as well. Slowly i moved through the program - each step up i was convinced i could not do it, but do it i did, i took my time; repeating weeks as many times as i felt i needed.

Tonight i did 8 minutes running, 3 mins walking twice.

I am actually starting to enjoy it now and for the first time tonight i noticed something completly new....my middle (probably core muscles) were engaged whist i was running, my arms were pumping and it wasnt until i stopped that i realise what had just happened!

I am hoping that this will help with my 'wobbly tummy'

I guess what i am trying to say is it is possible to change - i am getting ready to try the 20 minute run (probably next week)

Its a case of finding what works for you (not necessary to cut your calories to a minimum - i am sure i would have given up months ago if i had stuck to 1200 calories a day)

Thanks for your time...

Diane :flowerforyou: