Introduction

Hello, my name is Jen. I'm 29 and I'm a full-time nursing student. I just got a job as a Student Nurse intern at a hospital in my city. I've recently decided to really get serious about weight loss. I was always a thin child and teenager, up until the time I was about 19. Since then, my weight has gone up and down at different times but has always been on the higher side. Weight loss has been a goal of mine for a long time, however, I also have a genetic disorder called PKU that I have been trying to get strict with again which has been taking priority over my weight loss goal.

One hard thing about having PKU is that to follow my diet WHILE attempting weight loss is extremely difficult. I cannot eat foods with a lot of protein, so I can't have meat, eggs, dairy, etc. So when it comes to eating healthier, I don't have the option of doing the higher protein diets that many people do. It's mainly just an extra challenge when it comes to losing weight.

About a month ago, I downloaded the myFitnessPal app onto my iPhone. My starting weight was 185.0 lbs, and my goal weight right now is 130 lbs. I am 5'3". As of today I have lost 7.7 pounds just by strictly eating healthier and watching my calories. I go on occasional short walks during the week, however, my husband and I share a car, and I have a summer class and just got a new job, so going to the gym is difficult with my schedule sometimes. According to the goal weight and the time I wanted to lose the weight in, myFitnessPal said I should be consuming 1200 calories a day. The supplement I take for my PKU already provides 400 of those calories, so I can really only have 800 from food.

At first it was difficult, but now I am really starting to get used to counting calories everyday and the number one thing that I've eliminated is stress eating or eating when I'm bored. I've been drinking more water. Sometimes it's frustrating because weight goes up and down and also it takes a long time to see results, but I'm going to stick with it! I decided to make this so that when I reach my goal I will be even more proud!