60x60 Member

Seven years and 100 pounds ago, I was one of the heaviest woman at my gym, the least coordinated and probably the most awkward and least healthy. It was hard and I often tried to talk myself out of going. I didn't listen and eventually I stopped comparing. I'm probably still the oldest, but I doubt any of the rest of those…

I was in a rush to go to my adult swim class and grabbed a bathing suit. When I got to the Y, I realized I had grabbed the suit that I had ordered last year that was too small. Last year I couldn't pull the top of the tank over my chest. I was frustrated looking at the suit, thinking I would have to return home without the…

I still think sometimes a weight gain in maintenance mode is just a lack of being mindful of changes in overall lifestyle, incorporating in the changes and tweaking diet and exercise. For instance, because I spent 2013 with a two hour daily commute instead of 20, my life became more sedentary. However, I was still eating…

I kept my 100 pounds off for six years no problem. New habits firmly in place, happy as could be. Then in the past year with no changes of behavior (so I thought) I gained ten pounds. After I, as the manager of my own health, did an assessment of myself, I focused on my January 2013 work assignment change. For one year…

Everytime I look in the mirror, I will smile at my reflection.

Every time I hoist a piece of luggage on the scale at the airport and see it weighs almost 50 lbs. I crack a smile and say to myself, "I used to haul two of these around all day 365 days a year!"

For a little over 20 years, I added about 5 pounds a year to my total weight. Gradually also added slightly high blood pressure and slightly higher cholesterol. Apparently also was adding cancer. Subsequent to cancer diagnosis, surgery, chemo, radiation was told the best thing I could do to attempt to prevent reoccurrence…

As I approach a milestone birthday, I have been reviewing old photos. I am delighted that in the pictures, I radiate the happiness that I felt and feel being part of such large network of family and friends. Weight is not a factor in that aspect of my happiness. However, I will say that my energy level since losing weight…

We have been adopted by all our dogs, rescue/shelter. Each served a purpose: The dachshund was a playmate and teacher to my children, teaching them patience (endless ball), responsibility (helping to feed and walk) and gentleness to those smaller. The Westie with Addison's disease taught us all to be caretakers and enjoy…

Thanks all. I am still in wonder. My body and I are getting along great! I'm not going to regret the years my physical side was less than it could have been, I just treasure these times all the more!

Bump for a pat on the back!

Ahhrgh! I love M&Ms. I skimmed through all five pages of this topic to savour them virtually. I diverted myself by calculating the calories in 12 pieces of each kind of M&M (who eats less than 12 M&Ms at a time?). I won't be a spoiler by posting. I did learn that at least up to 2010 coconut M&Ms did not contain coconut.

While I'm a firm believer in a positive attitude, one thing that helped me and my husband was that we allowed each other 1/2 an hour a day for a pitty party. Not necessarily with each other -- sometimes alone, sometimes togeher, sometimes with a dear friend. Being positive is all well and good, but there is that fear, and…

Different cancer, but worst day of my life was not when I was diagnosed with cancer, but when I had to bring in the note to work that said that I was "suffering from a life threatening illness". It is over five years later, I am the healthest I've ever been, seriously. I'm not going to lie, you may walk through the "gates…

Just wanted to try bumping once.

I have spent the past year maintaining my 100 pound loss -- at 10-20 pounds over the marker that would get me from overweight to normally (as defined by a variety of my doctors). During this time I have been practicing maintaining all of my successes -- weight loss, normal blood pressure, normal cholesteral, and activities…

Bump. A work day has gone by and I'm still chuffed.

A bump before I go to work. Can't help it, I'm proud.

I'd say enjoy to the fullest if you want. If you want to practice moderation at the same time, pick no more than two splurges. I count splurges in a restaurant as: a drink (alcohol or soda) bread appetizer rich entree that I wouldn't normally get because of calories fancy side dish dessert I go out to eat rarely, but when…

I'd recommend making an appointment with the dr. for a few weeks out. In the meantime, experiment with more water especially if you are taking new medications. You can experiment with some of the other advice as well. Then if you are still experiencing the exhaustion when you see the dr., you can itemize what you have…

In the past, my meals and snacks tended to be like run on sentences. A piece of peppermint candy or a cup of hot tea helps me punctuate my meal or snack with a grammatical period. It reminds my brain that I have eaten enough and need to stop!

That everybody dies does not exclude the fact that critical thinking and good judgment are important in approaching ones own health issues, in this instance for me the issue is the relationship of salt intake to my blood pressure management. I read the MFP posts to be exposed to new ideas, new perspectives and to have…

I have a family history of strokes on my father's side. I was obese, but have lost between 10-12 pounds over the last nine years and my BMI now has me at the high end of normal. I am the most fit I have been in my entire life. Alas, still my blood pressure shoots up when I have too much salt. I love salt so I have…

I envy those of you who can enjoy salt. Enjoy in good health! However, there are situations where people do need to watch salt intake though. Based on drs. advice and my own records, I keep mine to 1500 mg because my blood pressure shoots up when I have much higher than that (I tracked my blood pressure and daily salt…

I realized today that my 60x60 username could be misinterpreted to mean I wanted to lose 60 pounds. I lost about 90-100 pounds prior to this user name and have about 20 to go. I have a list of 60 special things that I want to accomplish (non bucket list, just prioritizing some time for what I value) mostly with friends and…

Sounds like you are on track to do your part in lowering blood pressure: 1) banana to help up potassium; 2) double checking labels, not adding salt to your cooking; 3) monitoring blood pressure to track progress. That is really great and with the weight loss and your borderline high blood pressure, I am guessing you will…

I'm going on Wednesday (hopefully I will remain on an every 10 year schedule). My BFF heard I had scheduled mine and remembered her dr. wanted her to schedule hers. So now she is going on Wednesday too, same time. My husband is the designated driver. We are laughing at the ridiculousness of the timing and enjoying…

I am salt sensitive. If I have eaten too much salt my blood pressure goes up. Tracking salt was my original reason for tracking food. I found that keeping my salt intake below 1500 mg and my potassium intake above 2500 mg keeps my blood pressure in the normal range. I have taken my blood pressure and tracked it in relation…

Exercise/Activity/Good Eating Habits/Sleep/Friends/Meaningful Work/Fun/Family: All part of my formula to do my part to take care of this wonderful life of mine. Frequently things get out of balance or life throws me a curve ball and I have to adjust the formula. Usually upping the exercise or activity level is the first…

Actually, the Dr. sent all the lab results in the mail to me so I am keeping them with my medical records. She highlighted her comment. I have lost a humongous amount of weight and inches, but these lab results are the measures that really, really matter to me. So I am on Cloud Nine. I am ending my fifties, entering my 60s…