Hey Kathy! My name is Ivy;) I am wanting to start Monday as well! I am the same way when it comes to starting stuff & not finishing esp when it comes to my own health! We should help each other out!!

Hi Girlie, I attempting to start a conversation with you but it didn't work.  Still trying to figure out the site.  I'm really excited we are starting together. A little about me, I'm 40 (soon to be 41) single parent of a 17 year old (soon to be 18 yikes) and I've always struggled with weight issues.  I always wanted the quick fixes though.  I've finally realized there is no quick fix and the most successful programs are those that incorporate both diet and exercise.  My last weight loss  venture was HCG and I don't knock it at all because you do lose weight, but it taught me nothing about keeping it off.

I'm hoping this next 12 weeks brings about some major personal changes.  

Congrats on the new baby!

Hi Ladies,

I am Judi and I too am really bad on starting exercise/nutrition plans and not sticking to it for longer than one week!  I really want to finish these 12 weeks and feel proud of myself!  I am soon to be 47 and am a full time student-graduating in december with a degree in medical imaging-can't wait to be done!  I have 2 kids, a 19 year daughter in college and a 17 year old son still in high school.  Last year I had gastric bypass surgery and I have lost 8o pounds so far but it is getting harder and harder to keep losing and I really want to lose about 15-20 more pounds.  Surgery was a hard decision to make but I just felt like after all the years of ups and downs with my weight it was the right choice for me.  The last year has been really tough with so many rules to follow post-op but I feel so much better than I did pre-surgery!  I hike, bike, play softball but I really need a more stringent weight training program and need to stay diligent about eating well.  I do feel good about what I have accomplished so far but I need to complete this challenge to prove to myself that I can stick with a healthy lifestyle forever!!  

Thanks Kathy! I actually have a (just turned) two year old and a ten month old!!! they are 14months apart;) I swear I was pregnant for 2 years, I am just now feeling like ME again. Now to stick with this diet!! I understand about the quick fixes, I have done many cabbage soup diets throughout the years and just like you said, lost some weight but didn't teach me anything about weightloss. I am finally down to my prepregnancy weight, but that doesn't mean much lol I was already over weight before I got pregnant, and now two kids later and I am a mess, and I carry my weight so differently now, horribly. I am ready to stick with this, I keep telling myself I need to plan plan plan, and the more I read on this website the more inspired I am. I just went grocery shopping this morning and stocked up on healthy fruits, veggie, fresh fish, and lots of water bottles! (thats a hard one for me is drinking so much water!!) I woke up this morning and today was a cardio day, so I did some boxing on the wii;) I'm stuck at home with my little ones so going to the gym isn't an option for me, so I am trying to find ways to create my own home gym;) My arms are killing me lol esp after my weight training yesterday, I'm motivating myself for Monday;) Are you working out at home or gym?

Judi- 80lbs is AMAZING congrats on the transformation! I would love to see some before and after pics;)

Well lets do this ladies, I am ready to lead a more healthy lifestlye! I'm taking this weekend to get prepared, I want to really stay organized with my planning as well I feel if I'm organized I will have better results, and stay focused better. I'm taking my "before" pictures as well and doing my measurements! Good Luck in all your preparations ladies!

Good afternoon!  my name is Joy and I can really relate to what people are saying about not following through on weight loss goals.  I'm 35, married, no children but have 4 cats that are my family.  I'm currently 197 pounds.  I work part time as a clinic caretaker and relief nurse for a veterinary clinic that my husband and I live below.  I've tried BfL before but have never finished...hopefully third time's a charm!  This weekend I'm working on grocery shopping, beginning my journal, and planning out my meals and workouts.  I also am hoping to make it to a gym nearby that does hydrostatic body fat testing so I can get an accurate starting point.  So much to do!  I'm nervous and excited at the same time...thank you all for being here!!  Take care!

Hi ladies, I'm starting another challenge Monday as well. I did my first complete (after countless starts and then quitting) challenge earlier this year. Pics from that are on my profile. But after some time off of exercise for surgery and then a cross country relocation, trying to buy a house and sell the old one, I fell back into old habits of relieving stress with my good friends Ben and Jerry instead of healthy eating and exercise. So, it's time to gain back the ground I lost. Hopefully I'll be able to get back to where I was in less than 12 weeks and use the remainder of the challenge to get in even better shape than before!  We can do this! When the initial motivation and excitement wears off, remember that is motivation is overrated. You don't have to be motivated to stick with the program. You just have to do it...motivated or not. Stay committed even when you aren't motivated and the motivation will follow. Get ready to transform!

Hi My name is Dawn and I was going to start the challenge on Monday too.  I am 44 and a mother to two beautiful children.  I hope to improve my muscle tone and lose the extra pounds.  WOO HOO we can do it together :)

My name is Aimee, and Im starting on Monday as well.   Im scared to death!

Yeah, look at all of us. Don't we rock?!

I am starting my second challenge tomorrow. I completed my first challenge over a year ago and had so much fun doing it because I did it with a dear friend of mine. Life is much different for me now and I'm working about 3x as much as I was last year and I live in a new state with very few friends. I have accepted that my living room will be my gym. You can read more on my profile if you like.

I am excited to use this forum as my encouragement and motivator, posting pics regularly.

Having done this once before, I will tell you that you'll be eating so often that you'll never feel hungry. If you have a sweet tooth, use the protein bars as your dessert. Myoplex bars are super yummy, just expensive. I stopped craving sweets and instead craved veggies. How crazy is that?!

I was so happy with my end results but I'm almost back to where I started. :( I truly believe that this is a lifestyle change. This truly is body for LIFE. But it's so fun to get into great shape that it's worth it to make it your lifestyle.

Keep us up to date on your progress, everyone!

Erin

you look fantastic in your pics! I feel really encouraged because I think I'm fairly close to looking how you look in your 1st before pics, so that shows me how much progress I can expect to make in 12 weeks. Will you post some new before pics?

I have before and after and before pics on my profile. :)

Erin

Nice meeting everyone;)

Ladies who have already done this program before, it makes me feel so good hearing you say what a good program it is! I too feel like this has to be a lifestyle change! You ladies that have already done this do you use only the Myloplex or are their other brands that work just as well?

Hi mommy salada,

I actually didn't use myoplex at all in my last challenge. I think it is a good product and I've used it before, but in recent years I've found others that taste better and have similiar protein carb ratios. I actually prefer to make my own shakes with protein powder and other yummy and healthy ingredients. If you plan to enter the contest, you have to use at least one Abbott nutrition product, but they have more than myoplex. I did occasionally use the EAS Advantage ready to drink shakes and would have it with a carb, like an apple to make a complete meal.  If you really want to make this program work long term, it is best to find things that you like and can use for life. So, if you don't like myoplex, find something else. If you like it, use it! In the long run, your success depends so much more on eating the right amount of real and healthy foods and getting proper exercise than it does on supplement use. Supplements are just that. To supplement here and there as needed, but you can get fantastic results without using any of them if you have time to plan and make all your meals out of real food. If not, shakes and bars are a good way to stay on track. Try to find those with low sugar content and about 20 grams of fat and 20 grams of protein....although, I have to admit I used Zone and Balance bars a lot during my challenge because they tasted so great it felt like eating a sinful dessert in the evening and helped me stay on track.

I'm glad to see so many of us starting together. I've packed my meals for work tomorrow and I'm ready to go. Good luck to everyone.

You go girls.  I'm on board with all of you.  I have also done this before with great success (even with cheating a little).  I fell back into my old eating routine.  You have to eat every 2 1/2 to 3 hours.  It makes a big difference.  Good luck.