Hi everyone as you can tell from the title I am new to this website. I would like to tell you about me, my name is Lisa (Red), 43 years old and live in New Jersey. Weight Loss for me is a never ending battle, I think I have lost and re-gained the same weight over and over again. I am now trying to set some goals to make myself accountable for what I do with my eating habits each and every day. I have been on many different weight loss programs, through out my adult life. I joined LA Weight Loss over a year ago and lost 65 lbs, but have recently gained back 25 lbs, which I am trying desparately to get back off again. I am now on Weight Watchers trying to stay as focused as I possibly can. Every day is a challenge and a journey for me, I am trying so hard to keep myself focused and really keep on track with weight loss yet again.

Thank you for letting me share of things about myself. I look forward to reading the posts here and posting as well. Have a wonderful evening and a great weekend as well.

Welcome Red,
I'm 43 and live in Bristol, England. I think the more you check in and read what others have written, the more you will discover that you are not alone.

I wouldn't say that I have always been concerned about being overweight. I had always known that I was heavy and as a result made several attempts to do something about it but I didn't go through life being obsessed about being fat. It was an inconvience. This all change last March when I stepped on the scales and saw that I now weighed 252 lbs. It scared me to the point that I knew I just could not carry on like this any more. Besides, at 43 why shouldn't I enjoy a life without all the aches, pains, out of breathe etc. etc.
I decided to start counting grams of fat. I also took up a special offer at a small gym near work as a means of increasing my excercise. I must admit I use to be rather inactive, to say the least. I now go to the gym at lunch about 3 times a week. I feel that my weight loss has been rather slow ( 15 lbs since March) but at least I am getting the results I want. I tend to work on building muscle at the gym. My head often has trouble remembering the fat vs building muscle sphew. In my heart I know that I am doing ok.

This is going to sound funny but you know how sometimes you only have to hear a song, smell a smell or see something and it reminds you of something.... well I think that the movie "Ground Hog Day" with Bill Murray represents my cause. I just kept waking up and trying new ways of losing weight only to fail. Next thing I knew I was waking up in the exact scenario all over again. When I need to focus on why I am doing this I think of that day in March and think that there is no way I am going to be that heavy again. I don't know if I will ever lose all the weight I should. I just take it one day at a time and look back at what I have accomplished. When ever I feel down I go and put on my favorite pair of jeans that I could never had worn before. I then look at my next pair that I am determined to get into.

Well I have probably worn you out.
Keep searching these pages for useful tips and support.

Hi Lisa, I just joined this site a month ago. I must say I feel great after a month of exercise and diet. I still weigh a lot, but I feel thin and this site is keeping me on track. Every day I check in on the "Check-In" thread, please join us if you'd like. We tell what we've eaten, the exercise we've done and what we skipped. We also share some of our challenges, ups and downs. It would be fun to have a few more people checking in.

Tina, your story is inspirational. I enjoyed reading about it, I know how you feel about never wanting to be that high weight again.

Good luck all!

sw210
cw202
gw 150
next weigh in 9/15

Hi Lisa, Tina and Tired,

I am also 43 and also tired of fat. I have been overweight or obese since around age 6. I was dragged to my first WW meeting at 8, where I learned that I could have a hamburger, but no ketchup. (At least that's all I remember). Since then I have tried starvation and manic exercise (which worked like a charm when I was 14, but now I believe it is a big reason why I am so BIG), Weight Watchers again, Slim Fast, Susan Powter (you know the bald lady that said "Eat all you want, it's non-fat!"), and Diet Center (which really did work for me, but I gave it up in favor of the non-fat craze). So now I am at the end of my rope, and am giving it one last try before I head to the surgeon's office. This time I am trying Sugar Busters, and I am very encouraged. What I like about it is that I don't have the feeling of being an animal in a cage, pacing in front of the bars looking for prey (or a well stocked refrigerator). That's how I have felt for years now, and no amount of food would satisfy me. But I find if I stay off the sugar I don't have that urgency in my head or stomach.

Another factor that was important for me is that I feel old. I have spent my whole life battling my weight, and I'm just tired of fighting and struggling. This is no way to live, so several months ago I decided I would have surgery. I researched for many months on what type I wanted, and after that told my husband about it. He couldn't believe we would need a second mortgage, and also couldn't believe I would opt for surgery instead of the simple (his word) act of staying on a diet. So here I am just one last time. I have been on SB (Sugar Busters, not South Beach - SoBe) for almost a week, and I feel really good. That is so important to me, to feel good. Lately, I haven't been able to stay on any diet for more than a week because I have been feeling crappy or tempted by cravings. So far I have none of either. I still haven't ruled out surgery, but I am going to give this my absolute, last ditch effort.

If you ladies would like, we could continue posting on this thread. I know that I avoid most threads because there are so many posters that I feel overwhelmed with trying to keep everyone straight, and there is SO MUCH to read that I spend hours on the computer, which puts me behind in my work.

Speaking of so much to read, this has been a long post, so although I could write a book, I must get back to other things. Hope to hear more from you all soon - Ruby

Geez - I am so flaky! I forgot to mention I have been on Atkins and South Beach with varying degrees of failure. I wanted to mention that to make the point that I am not taking this surgery idea lightly, but am at the end of my rope as far as diets go. Thanks for listening/reading. -Ruby

Hi my name is Julie I,m married I have 5 grown kids 7 grandkids have been a yoyo dieter for years Ifind it hard to stay on track and at 46 feel old and fat Ihave embarked on yet again another healthy life eating plan my downfall is always potato chips hopefully this time I,LL HAVE THE WILLPOWER TO SAY NO this is a first for me I have never used a computer before my husband is teaching me the basics hope I,M NOT TO BORING Well thats it for now BLESSED BE

Hi. I have been so moved by your stories. Julie, it's amazing to think you are my age (I'm 45) and you have seven grandkids, I have a four year old, nine year old and thirteen year old.

For me calorie counting has been a terrific way to diet. I can eat lots of things, but I don't eat desserts or drink alcohol because they are just not worth the calories. I get very hungry if I don't eat really great foods like yogurt, pb, almonds, fruits and veggies and other healthy foods. Good luck to all. I just keep visiting this site to get inspiration and encouragement. It's great to have a place where people understand what you feel like.

sw/hw210 (8/04)
cw193
current goal 180 by 12/31/04
gw 150

Hi tiredoffat great to hear from you 5 of my grandchildren belong to my eldest daughter they are all boys from 8 to 3 the youngest are twins the other two are girls 2 and 1yrs old I recently moved to Peakhill NSW I live in Australia the move took me 5 hours away from my family I DON,T see them often and miss them so much which is a factor in my weight issue I like to fill up on fruit and vegies to and when I look back as a kid they were the main source of my diet well nice talking with you bye blessed be

Hi Julie - don't worry about being boring! Everybody here has the same struggle, so we have heard it all before, BUT that is the reason we are all here - to know that we are not alone.

I know how difficult it can be to be away from your family. I live with hubby and two kids, but EVERYBODY else is 3000 miles away. It has been that way for over 20 years and I will never get used to it. If you are 5 hours away driving time, it should not be so bad, go for weekend visits often. Plus learning to use the computer will help when you can send emails daily to those you love. Just a suggestion: get involved with your new community - for example is there a mall walkers group? (Is there a mall? - I know nothing about Australia!) That way you won't be lonely, can see people everyday and get exercise at the same time.

Have fun learning the computer! -Ruby

G,day Ruby thanks for your input I see my family when I can funds are a bit tight the town I live in has a general store a milkbar and newsagents we have about 1,400 living here but we have a town 30mins away I get there about once aweek Itouch base with family & friends on the phone often I guess feeling sorry for myself is my excuse for the weight gain I,m 86kg around 192lbs and my goal is 70kgs about 150lbs I,ve been on a healthy eating plan for a week and lost 2kgs about 5lb mainly fluid but a start fingers crossed this time I,ll do it Bye for now Blesses Be Julie

This is a great site! Lots of positive energy. Julie, I know you can do it. Like the struggle I'm having now, I think we both have to redirect our eating energy to something else that fills us up. As I read your thread I was thinking that while I teach I am giving, giving, giving and that's why I crave food - I crave something to fill me up during the day. I probably could replace this with taking some time out in the day to read poetry (I like that), write in my journal or take a walk outside of school just to refresh myself for the rest of the day. I'm really striving for a lifestyle change, not just a get thin diet. My best to you. I'm sure your daughter with the five children misses you - she must be very busy.

sw210 (8/04)
cw193
mini goal 180 by 12/31
gw150

G,day tired yes my daughter is pretty busy her and her partner don,t live together but my son lives with her and the boys they adore him he has more control over them than their mum does so she,s lucky she has him I know what I,ts like to be a giving person sometimes it,s hard to say no . I too have to fight the temptation of quick unhealthy snacks I,m studying for my diploma in counselling and often find it easier to grab a biscuit instead of something healthy but I try to ask myself will it make me feal guilty after I,ve eaten it of course yes so I try to be good and have fruit instead. What grade do you teach and with such a demanding job how do you avoid food on the run and junk food well must sign off now bye BLESSED BE JULIE