New to this group. And happy to be here!

So I'm new to this group but not to the calorie count website. I started back in September at 224 lbs and 5'2". I am now at 169.4 lbs. (55 lbs lost) My goal weight is 137 lbs. I am excited that I can now join this group. When I first started I joined the want to lose 51-100 lbs group and am still active in it. I do find however that I have a lot less to go than many of the members, so I figured maybe I need to try out another group. So here I am, with 33 lbs to go. Yay!!!

A little about me: I'm 26, 2 kids, 2 dogs, awesome husband, full time professional job that I love (not as much as the previous things I have mentioned lol). I have been overweight pretty much most of my life. I decided to lose weight back in September, it's been slow going, but at least it's going. I don't use the website here for counting calories (I did when I first started until I really got a feel for what a normal day's food should be) I mostly use it for moral support. I exercise about 3 times per week for an hour. And I try to make healthy food choices most of the time. Not always, if I did I wouldn't be able to sustain it. I am happy with the results I am seeing and even my husband has lost 20 lbs, just due to the way we have changed our eating. If anyone has any questions or needs encouragement feel free to drop me a line!!!

Thanks :)

Wow, that is really awesome weight loss! Way to go!! I am now at 169 (started low calorie/healthy eating in March at 192.6 lbs.)  169 feels a whole lot better than even 170. I can't imagine what it will be like to hit the 150's----BUT let's find out!

Aww, Thats so exciting.. You guys are doing such an awesome job, I cannot wait to be able to post about my weight loss, I had a baby a year ago and I put on 70 lbs to my already over weight 5'2 frame, I was 211 lb the day of my delivery and quickly dropped most of the weight, But like 6 months after my daughter was born I was noticing that being a stay at home mom wasnt doing much for my activity level so I started to stack weight back on and when I went to the dr's 2 months ago for a check up i was 186.6 I nearly cried, So im sick and tired of making excuses for myself and I thought I was look outside my home for motivation and maybe some pointers... Ive been dieting for about 3 weeks and Ive dropped about 10 lbs, Im doing a low calorie/ low carb diet and im cutting back all the snacking I was doing before, Im about 166 right now, ( so my lame ass scale reads) and I can see some changes in my body but im not where Id like to be, My 23rd birthday is in Sept and I really want to see some of my friends I havent seen in a couple of years, My goal is to be around 140-145 by then, Im not sure how realistic that is But im going to give it my best! Best of luck to you both and if you have any pointers...please feel free to share!

(I posted this in another group, but it really does reflect how and why I am doing this and I thought others here might want to know)

I have plenty I want to share.

#1) I made a choice to lose weight. I have tried to lose weight many times, but this time was different. I was/am completly confident I will do it this time. I had an ah-ha moment before I started. It had to do with 3 things, I broke my ankle due to being overwight and clumsy, my doctor told me my BMI pushed into the morbid obesity range, and I found out 4 of my aunts/uncles have diabetes. I didn't want my body to fall apart like theirs have.

#2) I had to figure out how this was going to work for me in the long run. I needed to look at the big picture not just getting instant results. For me it meant that I can be deligent about what I put into my body during the week (it is easy- I just pack what I am going to eat in my lunch box and I eat it). During the weekend I relax my food intake. I don't beat myself up if I eat out with the family. My motto is to make good food choices most of the time.

#3) I work out. I really like fitness classes, and when I miss one people notice. I try to get to the gym at least 4 times per week (it doesn't happen every week). This can be tricky. I find that the easiest way for me is to go there right after work. As long as you make it part of a routine it doesn't take to much to make yourself do it.

#4) I have an excellent support group. My husband is my #1 supporter (even though he sometimes sabatoges my efforts with brownies and cookies), he watches my kids while I am at the gym, and when I get discouraged he reminds me as long as I keep working out and keep eating healthy the weight will eventually fall off. I also have a friend I work out with sometimes. 

#5) I weigh in once a week and keep track on a chart. I even weigh if I think I had a crappy week.

#6) I have no set rules, if I did I would fail. If there are no rules then I can't break them and get discouraged. I just try my best. I feel doing this way, I will be able to maintain it when I lose all the weight.

P.S. an added bonus I didn't expect: because I have changed my lifestyle (i.e. I don't buy crap I know I can't resist, I try to find fun physical things to do) my husband has lost 20 lbs. without even trying. He is smaller now then when I met him and he is getting really sexy!