This is it.
 

Okay, here is my story. I grew up skinny. I was actually afraid of food and did not eat much. When I married (as a teen) I was 5'7" and weighed 115 or so.
With the first baby, I gained 60 lbs. With the second, just 14 lbs, but I was about 145 for the next few years, and although I grew to 5'9", I thought I was obese. At 25 I got down to 125. Another baby at 29 and 60 more lbs. Four years later, another baby, and I hit 180, two years later, my last was born and after I quit nursing, I weighed 168. I learned to like food and became a good cook. I lost 25 lbs with Atkins in 1999 and kept it off for a couple of years. I crept back up to 186 over the next nine years. I am 53. Everything hurts. It is very difficult to exercise, but I am giving it a go. I am at the age where I don't give a fig about what people think of my appearance, but I am tired of feeling like a decrepit old lady. My daughter recently lost 25 or so lbs and she has become an exercise addict. She is my inspiration, and I am giving it one more try before I give up and resort to Mumus. Correction, I am not going to try, I am going to change my ways, exercise daily, and say goodbye to chocolate and wine.

I think I've met my twin. :) Except I didn't have that many babies....I've always battled the bulge, but it got progressively worse after being rear-ended twice, 11 months apart. I'm 57. I was addicted to wine...and came dangerously close to becoming addicted to chocolate this spring, six months after I quite alcohol cold turkey. I'm almost half a foot shorter, and yet I started 11 lbs. heavier than you are now. I've been at this 6.5 weeks, but I'm committed to this healthier lifestyle for life. I'm on South Beach, and gone from 0 minutes of exercise a year to an hour to 1.5 hours a day. Dancing. Pure, old fashioned "fast" dancing is my exercise of choice.

Anyow, we have a LOT in common, including live in California. (but I'm south.) GOOD luck! I highly recommend creating a blog (via this site)...a bunch of great ladies are very supportive (like they are here), and you can wax on all you want on your own blog.

Best of luck, and I'm here to tell you that if you really want it bad enough, you CAN make it happen! At any age! :)

Hi and welcome!

You are not too late to the game. You certainly can become more slender and fit! Make yourself at home, we're glad you're here.

Aha! I found you!! Heh, heh, heh!! If anyone can do this--it's YOU! I've told you time and time again, you can do anything you set your mind to and you know I won't shut up until you believe me! :D Look at what you accomplished while you were here--workouts, eating healthy--you are well on your way to a healthier you!! And I'll be here cheering you on all the way! :cheer2::cheer3::cheer2:

Hi and welcome to 3FC!


Hugs
Michelle