Oh babe I am sorry that you are feeling so overwhelmed. You've done SO WELL so far. 20 lbs is awesome! Your determination is encouraging to me as well so please please keep it up

(((hugs)))

Hang in there Beautiful Ace! Sometimes you just have to work with what you've got.

It's dark winter where you are, stuff is happening around the house, you're in pain .... Planning, scheming, dreaming .... can help the time go by in a productive manner.

If your mother and aunt are anything like me ... almost any woman would like a hand in the kitchen. Once in a while, I wish someone would tell me what they want for supper so I don't have to decide!

You've already taken one of the hardest steps - you started the process, admitted you needed to make a change, and have already lost 20 pounds! Go you! You can absolutely do the rest that you need to do.

What Glory said about planning is true for me, too. I have to plan out what I'm going to do, what I'm going to eat, when I'm going to exercise, etc. Otherwise I sometimes feel like I'm drowning. Planning out foods and taking the steps you need to take to get them in the house might help you focus on things that are good and good for you - there are some of those out there, don't worry!

As someone with chronic back problems, I feel your pain- literally. I find that stretching daily really, really helps. There should be sites online that can help you find stretches that will benefit your back.

As for the cold... it is -20 below here right now so I know all about that. Cold weather can make you feel like hibernating.

I think you should just take some selfish time. Do some stretches, take a bath, journal, call a friend... etc.

Ace, everybody has days where we feel like giving up. Luckily around here we have many shoulders to lean on. Come back to this post sometime when you're feeling better and you'll realize you made it through.

*HUGS*

Hey Beautiful, you've done great getting the first 20 off. I took off my first 40 lbs without exercersing at all. Adding the exercise helps but it can be done without it. You sounded excited about the idea of planning and helping your mother and Aunt at the same time. Work with that, get them involved, the support for each other will be great for all of you.

Awwww.....

You are just having a rotten day, aren't you? You do something special for yourself right now to reward yourself for losing 20 pounds. Maybe put on some lovely smelling lotion to help that dry skin. (Frozen pipes=Winter=Dry Skin )

PLUS, it is a real accomplishment for you to recognize that you were having a bad day and needed some support so you came here instead of reaching for that ice cream, or brownies, or whatever your weakness is....

Scoot on over to the recipe threads and start to lay out some plans for the week so you take back control of what is going on and you'll feel better in no time.

You're dealing with a lot, but I'll tackle the back!

I hate getting injured because I really am terrified I will never exercise again and will gain all my weight back. I think it's important to figure out what you can and cannot do and keep yourself mentally in the weight-loss game at least. You don't want to injure yourself again. Think about talking to a doctor about your back, limitations, timeframe, etc. Then you'll know what you're dealing with. I think the lack of information is worse than knowing!

Hang in there!! Take some deep breaths!!!

Just a hug on top of the good advice already given. And just so you know that we all know you can do this.

Thanks ladies, I'm in the process of building myself a week menu, if all else fails, I can always eat the same things every seven days until I'm sick of it. lol

First off -

Okay, you've gotten great advice so far. And no more talking about giving up. THAT IS SIMPLY NOT an option. STICK with this, it is the most rewarding, most wonderful thing you can do for yourself. No reason on earth for you to not be the very best you that you can possibly. But do know, as worthwhile as this is, there's gonna be some rough patches. Know it, accept it and work through them.

I couldn't agree more about the planning. IMO, it is THEE most important aspect of a healthy lifestyle. ESPECIALLY if one wasn't/isn't accostomed to one. Like myself. Eating healthy doesn't occur by accident or on it's own. It's got to, got to , got to be thought out ahead of time. Give that shopping list to your mom/aunt. Let the house be stocked with good healthy foods - baby carrots, grape tomatoes, bell peppers, hummus, strawberries, oranges, pears, apples, sugar free ices, sugar free jello, etc. for snacking. Egg whites, oatmeal, high fiber cereal, cottage cheese, FF/SF yogurts for breakfast. Veggie burger type products, salmon, tuna, turkey and chicken breast, salad fixings for lunch. Chicken, beans, more veggies, more fish, more salad fixings for dinner.

Journal your food - you bite it, you write it. STAY ACCOUNTABLE, Journal your thoughts. Get your goals on to paper. It definitely will re-enforce them and make them more real - and attainable. Refer to that journal and add to it when you're having a crummy day. Keep your eyes on the prize!

And I agree with Heather. Get yourself to a doctor. TAKE CARE OF YOU. Find out what you can and can not do. TAKE CARE OF YOU. Become your very own best friend.

20 pounds is fantastic...It is more than 10% of what you want to lose. That's awesome.

I hate to tell someone not to exercise...but I lost at least half of my weight without any exercise program, and even now I am more lax about exercise than most folks. Add the fact that I am older with a slower metabolism and I can pretty much promise you that even without formal exercise if you watch your eating you will lose...more slowly sure, but then it will be easier to exercise when you feel better.

You can do this...the worst 10% is already complete!

What I do is every Sunday go through my recipes- I have books and I also use myrecipes.com (pick their healthy sections like cooking light not the southern living or other high fat meals) for ideas.

I write down all the stuff I need for each recipe, then go shopping for the week for that, then after that each day I make the recipes for dinner- it really helps me plan accordingly and get good meals all week

Course I won't lie sometimes I've tried something new and it's gross lol- those nights it's rasin bran or cheerios for dinner or something else healthy I can whip up quick

Hahaha, I'm sure not everything can taste as good as it looks on paper! I am making my menu right now, and I'm going to post it in this thread when I'm done and hopefully get some opinions on it and maybe some pointers.

LOL. When I read that quote, I think, hum then is a fork in it less fattening? heehee