Posts: 1,510
9/14/12 9:55 P

Yea! I found the maintenance ticker! And I've been reading about all you folks for so long this evening, I didn't even think about a snack LOL.

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Posts: 5,952
9/14/12 7:17 P

Oh, yes, you belong!

current weight: 4.6  over

5 2.5 0 -2.5

-5

Posts: 2,258
9/14/12 6:08 P

No question about it, you belong here! to a great team.

current weight: 149.0

152 149.25 146.5 143.75

141

Posts: 1,510
9/14/12 4:35 P

Thanks for the welcome everyone! I just noticed a typo in my introduction. My first post when I joined SP was June 2010 not 2012, but I've spent all that time mostly lurking quietly. I hope to find my voice now.

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SparkPoints: (36,900)
Fitness Minutes: (39,044)
Posts: 2,276
9/14/12 11:18 A

Welcome, BROOKLYN_BORN! Nice to see another native New Yorker here. You've definitely come to the right place. We've got an active and very supportive team of maintainers and near maintainers here. Take a look around and feel free to start up a new thread if you've got any questions. 4A-HEALTHY-BMI, who's away this weekend, is a scientist and responsible for most of the charts and data you'll find around here. She'd be a great person for you to connect with and I'd suggest having a look at the blogs you can find on her SparkPage in the meantime:

www.sparkpeople.com/mypage.asp?id=4A-HEALT
HY-BMI

Please let me or one of the other leaders know if you have any questions and welcome once again!

current weight: -1.0  under

5 2.5 0 -2.5

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Posts: 7,421
9/14/12 9:51 A

Welcome, Brooklyn! My story is very similar to yours, only I still had 15 pounds to go when I found SP. That last 15 was a struggle and I still struggle with taking off the 2 or 3 I sometimes gain back. Like you I'm staying active here so I'll be sure not to let it get out of hand!!

I'll be 65 in January and am a retired accountant so we really do have a lot in common. Except location that is - I'm a Texan who has been residing in Georgia for almost 30 years. Isn't retirement grand?? We LOVE it!!

Have a blessed day!! Marilyn

current weight: 2.8  over

5 2.5 0 -2.5

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SparkPoints: (44,751)
Fitness Minutes: (42,884)
Posts: 2,285
9/14/12 9:00 A

Welcome home! You will love it here!

current weight: 1.2  over

5 2.5 0 -2.5

-5

SparkPoints: (120,769)
Fitness Minutes: (70,108)
Posts: 24,214
9/14/12 8:49 A

Welcome to the team! I hope you have found a home here!

Tracking really does make a difference. Having other's that share the same issues you have also helps.

Good Luck!

Posts: 1,510
9/14/12 8:40 A

Maybe I’ve finally found a place to belong? I was already on maintenance when I joined SP.

THIS was my original entry in JUNE 2012:
“I've carried an extra 25 lbs for 25 years. In the era of the "Biggest Loser" that may not seem like a big deal. I've always been told by family and friends that I could "carry it." The photo of me finishing a half marathon back in 2006 attests to that. Finally, on Jan 1, 2009 I decided that I just didn't want to "carry it" anymore, not for 13.1 miles, not up and down stairs, nowhere. Now, 22 lbs lighter, I never want to go back! Gradualism was my plan and now maintenance is my goal.”

I was successful because my running forum began a “healthy eating and living” thread where we supported each other much as happens here and tracked our food and workouts on another less comprehensive site than SP. I lurked on SP to read the articles which arrived in my email, so SP was also responsible for my success. I finally registered in June 2010 after reading “The Secrets of the 5%” and introduced myself as wanting to be part of the 5% who successfully keep the weight off for 3 years.

However, although I was inspired by the stories of others who lost incredible amounts of weight, I never felt comfortable writing about my own journey or struggles because I figured who would really care about a 65 year old 5’6 woman maintaining at 132-135 lbs. I never had a “tracker” because what would I track?

My 3 year anniversary of maintenance will be Thanksgiving Day. After my month long European vacation this spring I gained 4 lbs, not a big deal but I didn't want it to turn into 8 or 12 or worse. So I began actively participating in SP tracking and as expected, it WORKS. Calories in, calories out! As a retired math/computer science teacher, I love numbers and data and now I even find it fun to get Sparkpoints. I hope that means I’m here to stay.

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