[denen]

I recently ended my 19 year marriage, part of our trouble was that I got big after having our 3 children. I always assumed it was the stress that kept me from losing my weight, we would continually fight about how big I was. It seemed to matter a lot to him how I looked and the number on the scale. To me your supposed to love the person inside as well as outside....but I transgress...after being seperated for more than 8 months I find that the scale is going up not down. I really would like to be smaller and have always wanted to lose weight it just seemed that I couldn't now though it is a matter of health. I am now a single mother of three teenage children and want to be around to meet my grandkids yearssssss from now. If anyone has any advice please let me know.

[rainydays]

First of all, I'm sorry about your marital problems. What sort of food plan are you interested in? I count calories. It's free and it WORKS. If you have a smart phone, you can download an app. I use MyFitnessPal, but I've heard good things about many of them. You can also just use MFP and other calorie counters online.
What's your activity level? If you're not very active, I'd suggest starting out with some nice walks. Start with 10-15 minutes, and make it longer every few days. You'd be amazed how much exercise helps with depression. It helps me deal with my grandma's death (she passed in May, and we were very close).
Finally, if you can, get your kids involved! My kids are much younger than yours, but I love that I started while they're young, because they just see it as a part of life, like going to school, etc. They also like to join in when they see me working out. Even putting on some music and dancing around being silly with them burns calories. I bet you could get your teenagers to do that too, if none of their friends are around!
Best of luck. You can do this!!!!!

[bargoo]

You are right, anyone that loves us will love us no matter how we look. Good for you in considering your health and good luck. I know you can do it.

[Lovely]

Welcome to 3FC

Congratulations on wanting to make changes!

Have a plan. Have goals. We can't just wish the weight away. We can't pretend it will disappear if we aren't actively doing something about it.

You don't have to change everything all at once, but take a good hard look at your habits about food and movement.

Here are some starting suggestions.

1) Write down everything you eat for a week. Don't change anything... just look at what you're eating. Notice any patterns? Notice what kinds of foods you're eating? AND the quantities? Notice what you're drinking and how much?

2) Find support. You've reached out to 3FC which is amazing! Keep coming back If you have a support system around you (family/friends/weight loss groups) then reach out to them, as well.

3) Here's where "have a plan" comes in. Start adding in healthy habits. Bulking up on vegetables and fruits for parts of your meals and snacks. Cut out full sugar sodas and juices and start drinking water and/or diet soda. Look for opportunities to take the stairs or to park far from a store you're heading into.

This can seem like a daunting process. But, truthfully, it's worth every step. Cut up your goals into manageable pieces. Don't force yourself to change everything all at once if it seems like too much. Be proud of any and every healthy habit you start building up.

And, most importantly, never... never give up. There may be difficult days, there may be days when we make not-so-great choices, but it doesn't matter. If we keep returning to healthier habits, the weight will come off, and we'll never quit.

You can do this.

Do you have any ideas about what you'd like to do?