For me, it helps to pick crochet projects that I can do quickly enough to not want to put down (if it's a project I know I can't finish, it's a little easier to tear myself away to eat meals and even snacks), but not so quick that I can finish in a couple hours..

Right now I'm going through a stuffed animal kick. It's the perfect project length and complexity for me. As the animal takes shape and develops character, I find it harder and harder to put down until I've finished (or at least reach a logical stopping point). If I'm working on an afghan with a repetitive pattern, it's a lot easier to put it down, knowing how easy it's going to be to start right up again.

I also don't use a pattern, so it's sort of like crochet sculpture. I have only a vague idea (and hope) that the animal is going to turn out the way I expect (or at least is a pleasant surprise), which makes it a mystery I want to solve.

Hi all! Guess what. I went to the doctor day before yesterday and I weighed 306. I had to return there for another visit today and I weighed 302. Yayyy!!! Four pounds gone in two days and only three more pounds to go until I'm out of the dreadful 300's. I have to go back for another visit in two and a half weeks for labwork for my diabetes, among other things. Maybe I can have a good report on my diabetes for once.

readyfreddy and dragonlady1978 - thank you for your support and advice. I save livestrong to my favorites. I think it looks great and will help me out a lot. Thanks dragonlady.

beerab - I will try it out for a week or so and see what I lose. I want to lose 2 pounds a week. I'd love to lose more than that to lose as much as possible for my youngest son's wedding October 1st. But I finally accepted that I will be happy with any amount I lose. I've already lost 27 pounds since January. It's not much but I wasn't trying the whole time.

amberelise - thanks so much for the tip about divorcecare. There isn't one in my town but is in Jonesboro, about 35 miles away from me. If I can come up with the gas money I plan on going. It's schedule says it has one more week left. I assume they will restart classes again soon. Oh, I'll check into clubs and such too. I wish there was a group of people playing cards and such. I would love that.

kaplods - congrats on the weight you have loss. I wish you continued success. There isn't a TOP's group in my area either. But, again, there is one in Jonesboro. Maybe I can find a TOP's group and a divorcecare meeting on the same night.

kaplods and beerab - I'll check into something alongs the lines of crocheting, knitting and such. I have this problem with my hands and I can't do too much of anything with my hands without them starting to hurt. I've had this problem all my life. I had heck getting through school with all the writing assignments. I could only write for a few minutes at a time. Anyway, maybe I can do that just when I'm able. I've always wanted to.

Well I guess I'll go now. I'm feeling pretty good considering how bad I was feeling just two days ago. Maybe there is life after divorce when your 53. Thank you all!

Hi Mary!

It is never too late to change your life. My mom was a yo-yo dieter her entire life and finally lost the weight at 60, and has kept it off for two years already. I know it is so hard to lose weight, but it really is a decision to put yourself first and stop putting food first. I still have binging issues on occasion, but the next day, I just start fresh. Even after 1 bad meal, I just think, 'oh well', I'll do better next time. I am an all or nothing person, and it is hard for me to learn and accept moderation, but I'm doing it slowly but surely! I always felt powerless to food and cravings, but I now realize that I have a choice every single day to put myself first and do the right things for my body. I am using loseit.com for calorie counting. I find the site really helpful and easy to use. I was on WW for awhile, but I think the points plus program is confusing and unnecessary, IMO. However, a lot of people like the support those types of programs offer. Just don't give up on yourself! You are never too old to decide to change your life. You do have that power inside you!

Thank you. Too bad about the TOPS group. You only need 4 folks to start a new chapter, so if you have several friends interested, you might be able to start one up. I know that's not for everyone, but it is an option.



I can relate to hand pain. I have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis and autoimmune disease affecting my joints (possibly rheumatoid arthritis and/or connective tissue disease), so I understand painful hands. My index fingers started getting knobby and knarled in my late 30's. Now you can see it in the other fingers, but it's the index fingers that are most affected.

It's a dilemma because working with my hands hurts, but when I avoid it, I have less range of motion and have worse and more constant pain.

My grandma used to say that crocheting hurt so bad it made her want to cry, but she did it because it helped her arthritis. I didn't understand that as a kid, but now I do. Move it or lose it, I guess.

Still it does make it hard, especially to learn a new craft. Knitting hurts my hands terribly because it's not a familiar motion to me (I'm much newer to knitting than crochet). Tunisian crochet (a slightly different form of crochet) also hurts more, because I don't do it as often.

Even learning a new stitch can be more painful, because the movement pattern is different.

Learning any of them as a new craft will be hard. You might want to consider a knitting loom. When my hands are really hurting, but I want to DO something crafty, I'll switch to a knitting loom like Provo Crafts knifty knitter. The movement is a lot easier on the hands.

Also ergonomic crochet hooks with thicker rubber, plastic or wood handles are very helpful for sore hands.