I moved to Newfoundland Last winter, from Southern, Ontario and found that II was feeling sad and cranky. when I realized I had not seen the sun in 2 weeks I added "D" to my daily supplements.

I use B-100 which is a nice little B Vitamin cocktail, which not only aids curbing cravings it also gives me a bit of a kick.

Butterfly: I am an all or nothing chick too... don't beat yourself up for starting over..... Embrace yourself for it!!!!

Thanks Everyone Sorry it has been a while since I have been on my computer has been given me problems and then my hard drive went out had to use the hubby's computer and it is slow as molasses.

Everyone has some good point thanks for the suggestions. To tell you the truth I jest had the Crap ola scared out of me I jest watched the Doctors and threw the month of Feb they are doing this thinkg where they take people with health conditions and scare them to make them realize what could happen to them if they dont take their health serious. The one today hit me hard their was a guy who has high blood pressure and pre diabetic and sleep apnia . I am currently taking meds for high blood pressure my doc told me that I am pre Diabetic and i probley got some sleep issues going on cause I wake a doz times a night. All I can say as they took him threw a mock medical emergency I seem myself sitting their and I dont want that I have to do something . I can't take it any more more...

So I have decided that since I only have like 400$$ bucks a month to feed a family of 5 then I have to have a plan that will work with me on this budget.
The one thing I came up with is eating Smaller more healthier options and try to burn what I take in on a daily bases. So how do I go about doing this and finding out what I need as far as calories and what to burn. Any help or suggestion are welcome....... I need all I can get...

Thanks Bonnie

Butterfly, I hope you don't mind me putting my two cents in because you may look at my ticker and think that I don't have a lot to lose so what the **** do I know, but I am a fitness instructor and my job is try and help people get fit.....and happy so I"m going to interject here.

There is equation that helps you determine what your calorie level would be....it goes by your activity level, your current weight, etc. I wouldn't make myself nuts with that at first. What I would do is make small changes at first. Do y'all eat a lot of vegetables, salad, lean proteins? Start changing how the whole family eats this way you won't be tempted to eat something high in fat and carbs. STart drinking half your body weight in ounces of water. Make some small changes for a week or two and see if it makes a difference....then at that point figure out how many calories you need to be at ...and start logging everything you eat somewhere..it can be on a notebook or better yet in something like fatsecret.com. That's what I use and it is FREE!!!
It doens't sound like youi have a lot of money to t hrow around on Weight Watchers but that is also a good program to help you make the changes you need to make. I personally like low carb programs like doing Atkins the right way but I am not a nutritionist so I won't make a suggestion. Trying to feed a family of five on 400 bucks...girl, I give you credit for being able to do that. But eating cheaply does not necessarily mean eating badly. Processed foods wind up costing more than fresh vegetables, fruits and lean meats in the long run. I noticed that when I look over my food bills,,,not that i eat much processed food now.
You live in South Carolina, not much snow there so try and just get out and walk.....build up stamina...don't try and do this by diet alone....make it easier for yourself by exercising and walking is a good exercise. I tell my students to add that to t heir week and they'll be surprised at how much better they will feel.

My mother let herself go...she is obese and now at the age of 74 has high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis from her joints not being able to carry all that fat around etc. I hate to see how she has killed herself slowly with food. So yeah, you should be scared and I like that that show had an impact on you and you're taking the steps you need to make sure you stay healthy......there is no price you can put on your health. You can do this!!!

Zumbachica thanks for the advice I have pretty much decided that too. I started after I got up from here and I got a large container and filled it with water . Then I drugged out my fitness dvds I have a collection of watp and Bl and jillian. I figured out that I would start small and as each week passes add something new and take something old away and see where it leads me . As I look at I have nothing to do but loose weight Right. So instead of seeing it as a diet I have decided to make it a life style change. As for the family we have been making some changes in our foods already. Looks promising . They are actually liking the fish I have prepared in the last months its not alot of been trying something new. ( Were Not Big Fish Eater). I am putting one foot forward and see where it leads me. Thanks A Bunch.

Excellent Bonnie!! You are off to a good start.....)))

Fall down seven times, get up eight. You can find a way. Good luck.

Hey Bonnie
Great job... getting started
I use a site Allrecipes they have menu plans for budget, specific calorie budgets, all of the recipes show the nutritional/calorie break down, so you know what you are eating. the best part it is FREE!!!

it might help

Thanks Izzadawn I will check it out..

Hello all after many computer problems I am back to say I have not begun to exercise I have been making some changes in our eating.We now eat fish at least once a week and we dont have alot of red meats Mostly chicken and Turkey. Now time to start the many of other things to get this going. Had a great Dr Apt yesturday he said my blood pressure was great and that my triglercides are lower then they were. So We are in the middle of planting a garden and getting everything ready for the summer. Matter of Fact DVD are pulled out and getting ready to start the main part Exercise!!! Even though my weight is at the highest that I have ever been I must move forward. I am the only one who can do this for me and I will . I know it will take time but Rome wasn't Built in a day so I can't expect everything to happen immediately Will put one foot in front of the other and get on track. Will let you know how my day is going!

Bonnie, I am so excited for you and your family... a walk to the park and playing with your children that is excersize as you learn that you are worth the effort your family will learn too... Keep it up and Don't give up !!!