Hello everyone!

I am totally new here. I have been quite unhappy with my weight for a while and while I tried a few times to do something about it, the results never stuck. (I suspect it may have something to do with the fact that I like food too much). Anyway, in short, I am almost 49 years old, 5'9" high and I weigh 200 lbs. Actually, I weigh a bit more than that - my scale at home (a cheap one from Ikea, at least 12 years old) is not showing the correct weight, my doctor's scale shows more but I never wanted to know exactly how much. But I am sure there is at least 5 lbs difference. Anyway, for my purpose, the old scale if fine.

I was never into dieting, and when I exercised, I was able to keep my weight quite reasonable. But quite a few years with a boyfriend who was also overweight and loved to eat took their toll. (We parted ways a year ago, but that's a separate story). I asked a nutritionist on another forum, a while ago, what are the best strategies for someone my age, and she replied (among other stuff) that at this age, the decreased hormone production may cause the fat from the extremities to migrate in the abdominal area. I had to laugh because clearly, in my case, the fat has already migrated!

I am determined to lose weight not by dieting (although I do have to adjust my eating habits to a degree) but by being active. I am a proud owner of a new treadmill. I got it a week ago. My plan is to use it every other day and walk/jog the weight off. (I also have a higher blood pressure - not critically high, but I am already on mild medication for it. That has to go).
My plan is to get down to 170 lbs and shed some inches. I find it hard to find anything to wear because I am relatively tall, and I have a big chest. North American designers don't desing for such body types.
Anyway, please wish me luck - I have no set date by when I want be at my goal weight but I would like to be at least 15 pounds lighter by my birthday in early August.

Hey Tomato, and

I wish you luck losing weight without much modification to your eating habits...for many of us, that just doesn't work, particularly as we get older. Weight loss for me has always been about 80% diet and 20% exercise...movement is a boost to what I'm losing, but never enough to generate losses all on its own. Your body may be different, and it may take some experimentation/trial and error to figure out what your body needs to remove excess weight. One thing is for sure, though...increased activity will DEFINITELY make you healthier.

The good news is, though, that minor modifications to your eating are really all that are needed to get losses going, especially if you add in plenty of activity. No "diet" necessary...just eating a bit less and moving a bit more.

Anyway, stick around, settle in, and keep posting. Can't wait to get to know you better!

It sounds like you have a good plan going there. Good luck with the weight loss. You say you like food a lot--do you enjoy cooking too? I'm not a very good cook, but I've found that trying out new, healthy recipes always makes me happy.

Welcome to 3FC!

Welcome to the forum tomato.

I have lost 70lbs. by walking. It took me a year to lose it. I walk 7-10 miles a day, six days per week. I adjusted my eating by giving up junk food and fast food eating. I also don't eat after 7:00 p.m. So it was really the walking that brought me the success.

I don't use a treadmill. I walk outside, not matter what the weather.

Good luck to you.

Annie

Hello! I, too, am 5'9" - (but I weigh a bit over 200) - and my b-day is later in August! Yay for August b-days!
I have been working out on my treadmill (if you have an iPod or a way to listen to music - I find that helps me A LOT with keeping a good pace and keeping motivated). I have been having a lot of luck with doing intervals - jogging a minute - then walking a minute, etc. Then slowly building up to jogging longer/faster.

Welcome, Tomato!
I started running/walking on the treadmill again last autumn, and I'm loving it. My cardio is much improved.
Best wishes to you!

I should explain what I meant by adjusting my diet a little ..... I already started to make changes at the beginning of 2008 - but weight loss was not the real motivation. I was in a car accident in November 2007 and because my car was really old, although with low mileage, the insurance company decided to write it off. I had to buy a new car and so I went, rather unexpectedly to having to pay mortgage AND car payments again. (The years without car payments were very nice and I got used to the extra cash). So I had to cut back on eating out, which really is a good thing because most places where I end up eating during the workweek are fast food places. (Did I say I love McD's fries? Too bad, I have to say good bye to them).
Now I cook all my lunches. I still have to learn to plan all the time - I plan MOST of the time, but there is a room for improvement.
I quite enjoy cooking (- I am not saying that I would not prefer to read a book instead) - it is a necessity but I don't hate it and most time, I am pleasantly surprised by the good results.

Re the treadmill - I am used to walking (I have 2 dogs) and we walk every day for most of the year (but I located in Canada and right now, we are buried under over a foot of snow and the outside temp is somewhere around 5 F. I read online that treadmill beginners should start at 2 mph, it seemed too slow to me so I pretty much went right up to 3.8 - 4.0 mph with a 2% incline (I adjust the speed sometimes since one leg seems to complain a bit). I don't think it's too bad for a start, but of course I hope to improve with time.
Again, thanks for the welcome, I am happy to be here.