A friend told me about this site last year and it looked great. But I am a weight loss procrastinator. However, as I get older, my metabolism slows down, and I start developing health problems (sore joints, increased snoring and sleep problems, and probable GERD) I have come to the conclusion that I am at the end of my rope, procrastination wise.

A bit about moi - I am Canadian, a nurse, have a lovely spouse (who needs to lose weight with me), love to cook <gulp>, crochet and other crafts, and have two dogs, which, lets face it, are at their ideal weight, and exercise more than I do (go figure that, as I am the primary one to exercise them!).

Nice, I am jealous of my dogs (that is until I see what they get to eat for dinner!).

Anyways, I throw myself on the alter of your experiences and beg for help and mercy. I am sick of that acidy feeling, and the various aches and pains that no 30 year old should feel, 12 hour shifts or not. Also, I still harbour the fantasies of fitting into the leather mini skirts I use to wear (as does DH).

Hi Nox! I'm a Canadian nurse too! I guess that's why your post caught my eye. Actually I'm hanging around on the computer instead of doing housework and I fully intend to have a wee nap before supper
Have a read around at 3fatchicks, there's something for everyone. Every eating plan you could think of and all sorts (or not) of exercising. I'm sure you'll gather enough information here to come up with a plan that'll work for you.
I've never worn a leather mini shirt .... hmmmm

Hi, I'm not Canadian but i'm a Nurse here in the states. Michigan, right across the border! I agree, as I get older the matobalism just slows down to nothing. I can jsut look at food and gain a pound. And Loosing sure isn't as easy as it once was! I have to fight for every ounce now. I am facing health problems too. High Cholesterol and BP. The Dr. gave me 3 months to bring them down before putting me on meds. So i'm determined. This time i'm not dieting. I've been on hundreds of diets! This time I am eating healthy and watching portions. We know how, Why aren't we doing it? I don't intend to be one of those little old ladies on 20 medications!

Need another buddy?

On another message board I call myself otta-no-better. Lordy, we talk to our pts about stuff like this all the time but for ourselves? ... it's hard to do what we (intellectually) KNOW will work.

As nurses, we should know better - look at all the patients we care for with HTN, cardiac problems, diabetes, etc due to obesity - of course, we are also human too. I found it darn hard to resolve eating and shift work, and let's face it, the job is emotionally demanding, draining, and food can be a great comfort.

Besides - look at all the doctors out there who outsmoke and outdrink what I eat :>

Regardless, I sure could use all the help I can get - for one, I can't afford long term health problems as I get older - our benefits where I work suck, and I have no retirement benefits - I can't afford to be sick and old!

We could start a thread in the nutrition section about what food to take to work. I carry a huge bag and usually bring home left overs but it saves me from the cafeteria and the arrowroots!

Don't get me started on cafateria food! We've asked them numerous times to prepare mor nutritious food, but you go down stairs and there is nothing to choose from...unless you want pizzaand fried food! We do have a good, cheap salad bar. If I intend to get a sald a bring my own dressing from home. I take my lunch to work also but i'm open to suggestions on what to take. Usually it's a Packaged dinner, like Lean Cuisine or WW. I take a lot of fruit too, or healthy left overs.

Don't our benefits suck? We take care of sick people all our lives and when we retire we can't afford healthy care. At least in Canada you have health care!!!!

I do diabetic teaching all the time. I see patients give me "that" look. I know they are thinking "lady, you've got some nerve". We see all the complications of obesity.

I think we're ready to do something about it, don't you?

than it sounds like you guys do in the States - but trust me, the government is trimming all they can from it. Why not - afterall, they end up with life time pensions (and NICE ones) so they can afford private insurance or private care down in the States.

I am a bitter, bitter woman sometimes - afterall, we have been without a contract since last March, but can't strike - and they feel that the increase to cost of living (which is what they want to base any raise on, if we get one) is only 1.8%. I think it is pretty darn obvious, just from the leap in gas prices alone, that 1.8% is, to say the least, a bit on the conservative side.

Considering that increased fuel means increased costs in consumer goods, and the production costs - therefore, increased cost of living. Give me a raise based on how much gas has increased from just this Spring - not even last!


But I digress (feel my bitterness?).

That lunchtime thread sounds like a good one. I started taking my lunch very frequently because the cafetaria is sooooooooo expensive. They offer some healthy choices, but the prices are prohibitive. Also, the hours are ridiculous! They close at 2pm - often I don't get to lunch until then, or later.

We actually had a big newspaper article here in Toronto about how unhealthy the food choices are in hospital food courts.

Some examples are:

Hospital for Sick Children: Burger King, Tim Hortons (our major coffee and donut chain), an ice cream stand, and lots of chips and candies in the major chain pharmacy they have there.

Mount Sinai (where I work) - Second Cup (kind of like your Starbucks) - they carry a few wraps, but the display case is full of things like chocolate pecan tarts, donuts, cookies, etc (they are Dufflets pastries, which are WONDERFUL - but still!!!!)

Toronto General - Subway sandwiches, Tim Hortons, Second Cup, a sushi bar, a burger place, a pizza place

Sunnybrook - a fast food Chinese place, pizza, burgers, etc too.

Temptation is too close at hand, and as medical staff, we should practice what we preach - what kind of example are we if we are scarfing burgers from the food court?

That is so true! And I want to set a good example. But, the subway sandwitches are ok and some of the wraps should be too. Just check out the fat grams and calories. I was coming up on the elevator the other day and our head cardiologist was on so I hid my lunch! He does set a good examle, He's thin and eats well (from what I see). Our rehab Dr., on the othe hand, is about 5'2" and must weigh 300!

Reguardless, I am responsible for me. And I want to be healthy. So how about that food thread?

Looks like SusanB started it in the Nutrition section - check there

I just read the nutrition section. Got some good ideals. Thanks every one. How are you doing today? I started out good but then it turned ugly!!! I ate one of my husbands donuts for breakfast! Yuck....I'll really have to be good the rest of the day! You be good too...Freda