Hi all! Newbie here!

Hey everyone! I just joined a few days ago -- I really love this site so far, especially the calorie tracking!! That is giving me SUCH a wake up call about my eating habits (even when I THOUGHT I was doing pretty okay!)

As for an introduction -- my name is Mande. I'm married (6 years in Feb.) with no kids, but hoping to start trying for my first in about 12-18 months. I'm 29 years old, going to be 30 in May and I refuse to allow my 30s to be a repeat of my 20s and teens! I currently weight in at 204 and have been overweight since puberty -- but things are gonna change! I'm hoping to lose anywhere from 20-40 lbs before my birthday, and then another 20-40 by September. I think my healthy weight range is somewhere between 120-140 (depending on muscle mass) and I'm not concerned with being super skinny or ripped -- I just want to be healthy, and I wouldn't mind keeping some of my curves. Pretty much everything in my life is in good order EXCEPT what matters most: health.

I've tried a handful of diets and programs and fads, but through it all the one thing that's stuck is the importance of eating right, getting adequate exercise -- and being PERSISTENT. That's my goal this time -- to start something and stick with it. I had a gym membership over the summer and dropped about 7 lbs and a dress size before quitting, but within the last 3 weeks I'm back in my "fat" jeans again. Arg! No more!

I've been working out a little on the Wii Fit (the original, don't have Wii Fit Plus yet) and I'm starting 30 Day Shred tomorrow; then I plan to start Power90 in January with the hubby. If anyone is looking to start either of those programs and wants an accountability partner, hit me up!

Have a brilliant day, everyone!

-Mande

Hi Mande, and welcome to THE best site on the web! :flowerforyou:
Between the easy to use food counter (which by the way IS SUCH an eye opener!) and all the wonderfully supportive members, you WILL be able to lose the weight that you want to, AND, it'll "almost" be easy doing it!
I recommend logging ALL your foods BEFORE you have them, rather than later, as it tends to lead to better food choices. (not to mention you'll know if you've got enough numbers left to have a night time snack, like I ALWAYS try to do!) Some people also like to weigh and measure some things, such as meats, rather than just estimating and possibly being WAY off! :noway:
Don't go making the mistake that if you have LOTS of numbers left at the end of the day that you'll lose even faster, because that DOESN'T happen. Feel free to read any info about the site in the "help" section at the top of the home page. And also, under "all topics", then "general", and check out the first few threads. They'll really help you understand how MFP works.
Before coming here, I had tried just about EVERYTHING out there, including hypnosis, TWICE, and nothing really worked until MFP!
Also, drink LOTS of water, it REALLY DOES help! :drinker:
As far as exercise goes, it doesn't always have to be awful. For my exercise, I walk almost every day, (weather permitting!) I also dance to a fast oldies CD that my husband made up of all my favorite old songs. (Like "Love Shack", Wild, Wild West", "Mony, Mony", "Footloose", and "Gloria")
It's free, (unlike a gym!) fun, and I can even watch tv at the same time, so I never get bored! :happy:
I also have Wii Fit, and jog to that, which is a lot of fun, and easy too!
So, to make a LONG story short, make good food choices, eat in moderation, get some exercise, and you WILL lose the weight that you want to!