Cindy

Hi everyone! My name is Cindy and I've been working at this weight loss thing for almost a year now, since I had my first baby. I've always been overweight, but after getting married 5 years ago the pounds just started packing on. After I had my daughter Sadie I discovered myfitnesspal.com and losing weight just clicked. I've lost 32 pounds since I started tracking my food and exercise last fall. The last 4 months I've hit a sort of plateau that I'm just now starting to break through, so I'm excited for this challenge! I'm hoping to lose another 20-25 pounds before we start trying for baby #2 next May/June. I really enjoy exercise, especially when I have a gym membership. I love all the variety that gyms offer because I tend to get bored easily, and when I get bored, I stop working out. I LOVE Zumba and go twice a week to Work Out West (for those of you in Greeley, the teacher rocks). I do an hour of cardio 3x per week, then 30 min weightlifting + 30 minutes cardio the other 3 days. I'm not a runner but have been working on improving this aspect of my life. I don't have any marathon dreams like some of you gals but I do want to do the Boulder Boulder 10k next spring before getting preggers again. :)

Thanks Heather for putting this all together! Let's do this ladies!!

Personal tracking pages

I know a lot of you use phone apps, etc., but I made up these pages to keep in a binder in my kitchen to help me track better and thought I'd share.  There are two pages in the file and it keeps track of everything for the week except for food (I'm logging that on a phone app).
 Just click here or on the image below to download/print.

 

Hi everyone!

Hello everyone, my name is Mandy and I am super excited for this challenge.  I've loved reading your intros so far, it's fascinating to hear what people's journeys have been and why they're ready to make some lifestyle changes. 
Along with Angela, I'm just sick of being the weight that I'm at.  I feel like I have a pretty good self-esteem but I am tired of lugging around all this extra weight and am ready to be more fit.  I don't feel like I have to be extremely thin but my goal is to be within my physician's recommended weight for my height.   I have three kids and lost all my baby weight successfully after the first two.  My "baby" is 5 now so no more excuses!
I exercise regularly (7 hrs/week) and especially love Zumba and dance fitness classes.  I am definitely not a runner but I admire those of you that have set running goals, I think it's awesome! 
My issue is FOOD!  I love food....love eating it, making it, talking about it, thinking about it....:).  We don't eat a lot of fast food or junk but I seem to be in the kitchen all the time!  I write recipes a lot and am figuring out how I can still do it but not eat as much.  I met with my physician earlier this week and also just signed up for Weight Watchers this week to help me along with this challenge.  Let's rock and roll!  p.s. I am super competitive so look out!:)

just in time

Hi my name is jill. im verry excited to be apart of this group!  I have always tried to be active. In the last several months i have slacked more than normal. I too play roller derby three times a week,but need to cross train as well, for better performance on the track. My eating habits are poor to say the least! Im looking forward to the accountabillity that this challenge will bring. Iam 35 and noticing a change in my abillity to eat what i want and keep a nice bod....Geeez !  Iam looking forward to a challenge

Hi All!

My name is Emily and I'm really excited for this competition. I do well with a little friendly pressure from friends to meet my goals.  From the sounds of it I don't have as much weight to lose as the rest of you, which means I have have to stay on top of all of the other ways to earn points.  I am definitely in it to win it!
I am a mother of four boys with my youngest being only 2 months old.  I want to shed the last 15 pounds of baby weight and work on fitness goals.  I would like to run a marathon in October 2013 and that takes a lot of preparation.  I just started running again after taking a 10 month hiatus and it is very slow going.  I need this competition to get me out there on the cold days of winter.  Good luck to everybody - may we all come out of this healthier!

Heidi

I am Heidi. I am Elise's and Angela's "sister". I have struggled with weight for a very long time. I was doing great with losing weight and exercising until this past January. In the three years prior to this past January I had successfully lost and kept off more than 100 pounds. Then I had a semi-emergency hysterectomy and I went to a very dark place in my mind after surgery (saying I was depressed doesn't begin to describe it). My only "happiness" was refined carbohydrates and sugar. When you look up "emotional eater" in the dictionary you see a photo of me. It was bad. I also wasn't allowed to do more than walk around the block once per day for nearly six months. Prior to surgery I had been working out 2-3 hours per day and I rarely ate sugar or refined carbs. Well...50 pounds later I have a lot of work to do...again. Dang it! I already lost it once. Now I need to do it again and then continue to lose more. I get mad at myself when I think about where I could have been. I could have already reached my goal weight and been happily in maintenance mode. But no. I am definitely in weight loss mode.

Sugar isn't really a weakness. It's the salty, savory, crunchy snacks like Sour Cream and Onion Sun Chips. Mmmmm.... That is my weakness. I don't really have portion control issues either (except with a bag of chips, which is why I never buy them). I am pretty good about not overloading. I do best when dieting (yuck...the "D" word) by snacking every few hours throughout the day. It's the only way I can keep my blood sugar high enough to function when surviving on 1200 calories per day and working out like I do. Yes, I cut back that far on calories, and yes I am under a doctor's care when I do it. My doctor would prefer to have me stay at 1500 calories per day, but as long as my blood work comes back normal and I'm not deficient in anything she let's me do it. I also see a dietician monthly (paid for 100% by insurance) when I'm in hard-core mode.

I thrive on competition. It motivates me. I need to find a way to just compete with myself, but so far I haven't been as successful that way. I am very excited to begin this. It's the motivation I need to get back on track.

Angela

Hello everyone.  My name is Angela...(Elise Adams is my sister).  I am a busy mom of two teenage boys, one eight year old boy and a two year old little girl that keeps me on my toes. I've been overweight most of my adult life.  Right now, I'm the heaviest I've ever been and I hate it!!  I don't want to go any higher in jean size or shirt size.  Enough is enough.  I have tried many different things and decided that I do best when I know someone is keeping me accountable for my actions.  I'm excited for this competition and look forward to taking the journey with all of you.  Good luck to everyone!  My best prize will be a skinnier, healthier body.